What a pearler....

 

    Yesterday we took a tour out the road to a pearl farm.  The road to the pearl farm...when I say road....I mean...well you can see......

    Of course like all good adventures, things took a turn, as did we...the turn off from this track....

...turned to this......


    A single lane "driveway".     As usual the adventure did not end there, naturally we met vehicles coming the other way.   There were spots where you could sort of pull off to allow the on coming vehicle to pass.....right up until the two german girls in the 2 wheel fdrive campervan ground to a halt in the middle of the track.


    I had pulled of the track to enable them to pass, but not being experienced in sand driving they found themselves "tractionally challenged"   With a bit of direction/advice we were able to get them around the now queue of vehicle behind us, and on their way.

    

        We arrived at the pearl farm, where we were educated on the life cycle, and the techniques used to encourage oysters to produce pearls.


    The tour included a boat tour showing how the oysters are care for on long line.   The oysters are maintained by a crew of divers and boat crews to keep them parasite free and healthy.



    The tour included the harvesting process.  Not just for the pearls, but for the mother of pearl (Nacre) that makes up the oyster shell.    There is an experimental process being developed between a medical compant and the W.A. University, to used this Nacre as a type of medical body filler for human boned.  Because it is a biological product  it can be used as a scaffold to eencourage bone growth in humans (after surgery or damage).

   

But, the primary goal is the production of pearls


Lile this 11mm beauty...





    After the tour we, of course, were directed to the showroom.   I managed to steer Bev away from the absoloutly amazing 22mm pearl on show, I said, "Where are you going to wear a 22mm pearl, especially one worth $250,000.oo?"      She agreed......and we returned to town.   (Don't worry...Bev got her pearl in Broome....)

    Tomorrow (Friday) we give Broome the brush off, and head towards Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creeek and Kununurra.....(our Plan "B")....road conditions around the Gibb are still a bit...iffy.... I guess we will just have to come back...

    













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