Caravan around Australia

 There are no activities planned for today, as the one we wanted to do, is tide dependent and won't be on again until the 8th. It was a mud crabbing expedition with an indigenous guide catching crabs in the mangroves with a metal hook and then returning to the community to eat the catch for lunch. Maybe at one of our other stops a similar opportunity will arise. We did go for a morning walk and it was allowed to go into the Church today, as it is not Sunday. It is the original structure built in 1934 by a German Pallotine Brother, Joseph Tautz.  Handbuilt from local mangrove and bloodwood timber, with the ceiling lined with paperbark insulation. The Presbytery is also still standing. Inside the Church has a strong Indigenous decor Sadly, the Presbytery has not fared well and is run down and unused. Another important ritual today is to get a loaf of bread baked at the community bakery, which bakes 3 days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, reputedly making the best bread on t...

Whilst in it Sunday, some parts of the Lombadina community are functioning. The campground office is open, as is the craft centre, although half an hour later than advertised. The shop was not open when we went to have a look, despite advertising it is open on Sunday from 9 am. We are probably too early, but are heading off to Cygnet Bay later this morning to tour the Pearl Farm. The store should be open tomorrow The medical clinic Christ The King Church There are a few colourful murals in the vicinity of the school The school looks very new, modern buildings, a large canteen that appears to serve breakfast and lunch  for students and an undercover basketball court. Some of the school buildings   Undercover Basketball Court The community also has it's own bakery which has a wood fired oven and has been operating for 25 years. Tomorrow is a baking day, so we hope to get some fresh bread. On the way back to our van we noticed the craft shop had opened, so went in for a quick loo...

  A few hours of straight roads and not much to see fills in our morning on the way to Lombadina. There was a glimmer of hope when we saw a sign to Beagle Bay, and an indication that they had fuel and food, maybe a cup of coffee was a possibility. It was only 5 km off the main road, so worth a try. Expectations sank as we approached the Community store. Visitors are required to register at bthe store and pay a visitor fee of $15 per adult. there is no visitor accommodation in town. It was clear that coffee was out of the question. It is a small aboriginal community which became a Catholic Mission in the late 1800's, and served as a home for Aboriginal children separated from their families during the Stolen Generations. Today, the Church is the drawcard for visitors, renowned for it's intricate interior. We took a photo of the outside of the church and moved on. Onward towards Lombadina, we reach the Djarindjin Roadhouse, on the main road at the turnoff to Lombadina.  The road...