Stocktake

Well, it has been great to just sit back and relax with friends. On the way back to the van we noticed some Grey Nomads in a free camp at Mt Molloy. We called in to chat and found that other Grey Nomads we knew were also joining them there. So on the Saturday we quickly cleaned up and packed up. On Sunday went to church, then straight out to the Rifle Creek Rest area which is 1km past Mt Molloy.
So over the past week we have enjoyed scones, pikelets, and pavlova with them








Brandt of course kept on with the cleaning out of the car, borrowing a vacuum cleaner which was powered by our generator


Now we are back in Mareeba, the car having the diff locks and rear air bags looked at. By mid week we hope to be back on the road again.

Weipa

At Weipa we did a tour of the mine - bauxite - which they say is one of, if not, the best quality in the world. It ends up as aluminium. The operation is simple really. Just scrape of the topsoil, dig up the bauxite and when there is no more in that particular site, put the topsoil back and regenerate the landscape.
















Brandt took a half day fishing trip. He brought back a third share in the only fish landed. A Spanish Mackerel.
From Weipa we took two days to return to Mareeba and the comfort of the caravan. The stopover was at Musgrave. Our route from Musgrave took us through the Lakefield National Park.
Back at the van it was time to sort what we had left. I guess I kind of over catered. The cupboards are now full of non perishables.

The fishermen - Umagico and Vrilya Point

The evening before we left Umagico the men decided to hire the camp dinghy and go fishing



First drag the dinghy to the water


Then off


Notice John sat on the bow to keep the stern high enough to miss hitting rocks.
They returned at dusk with one shark and one Spanish Mackerel. They said they lost three sharks and another large unidentified species.

Next on to another fishing spot at Vrilya Point. This meant driving down another 4wd track, the highlight of which was crossing the wood log bridge


The sign on the right says


Nobody, it seems, takes heed of that sign.... so across we go. (the sign was not there on our return journey)





And up the other side


(notice that the women get out to take on the role of photographer)

We have another beautiful campsite up the beach at Vrilya Point.





Of course, with setting up camp goes the gathering of fire wood. This time our vehicle was called into play. Brandt returned with a roof load of wood


which he proceeded to chop and he, John and I stacked it


I have said that when that supply runs out it is time to move on. The fish are biting so there may be another gathering of wood before we leave here. Oops did I say the fish were biting. Well they stopped biting so, on Saturday we left. Unfortunately on the way out John ran out of brakes and had an argument with a tree


Fortunately there happened by a party containing 2 mechanics, an engineer and a physiotherapist. After a couple of hours they had repaired John's vehicle enough for him to make his way out.
We will probably continue back to the caravan on our own as they now have to wait to see the outcome with their vehicle.

Location:Vrilya Point S 10*56.614' E 142*09.132' elevation 1m

The "Tip"

Friday 6th July we got up before daybreak and set off for the 35km trek to what is locally known as "The Tip". The road was comparatively good, the corrugation no worse than that of the Development Road.
The following road sign intrigued me. I still have not discovered the difference between overtaking and passing.....



There were many others with the same destination as us. That meant a queue formed at water crossings


Once there, as the tide was out, we had the choice of walking along the beach and having a short climb at the end, or going up and over the rocky path


We chose to go along the beach and return the other way











I managed to get a photo of the sign but had quite a wait till we could get our turn standing under the sign









OK the only way now is South!
Took a visit to Somerset, where we had lunch


Then John suggested we go back by a 4wd track he'd seen on a map. It skirted and sometimes went along the beach before heading inland and back to the road. Off we went. Sorry no photos as I was either holding my breath, had my eyes firmly closed, or was searching for where the track left the particular part of the beach we were on. (we actually met one car on this track, but saw plenty of recent tyre tracks so were confident we were getting there. Even so there was considerable relief when the route headed inland and the track started to look like a road again).
Called in to Punsand Bay next. It is on the Western side of the peninsula.


A beautiful setting providing both cabins/chalets and an area for camping


And right on the beach

Location:Cape York Queensland

The OTT- Old Telegraph Track

Bramwell Junction is where one makes the choice of either Development Road or OTT.
In 1883 John Bradford surveyed a route for an overland telegraph line. Completed in 1887, the line, a series of repeater stations and an underwater cable to Thursday Island, allowed communications with Brisbane by morse code. It operated until 1987. It has now been replaced by a microwave link and a fibre optic cable from Cairns all the way to the Top.

We drove down the OTT a few km to Palm Creek, which is the first crossing. What a challenge it is. We camped there for the night and enjoyed the "entertainment" provided by the enthusiasts who just had to prove that they could do it!





We decided that the need for our vehicles to be reliable was greater than the need to boost our egos and returned to Bramwell Junction, drove 50 or so km, then rejoined the OTT.
We travelled South and completed two crossings (twice). Then continued on to Gunshot. I had heard a lot of terrifying stories about Gunshot, but the men calmly walked and talked over all the options. John chose one route,



and Brandt chose the other


I stood at the bottom and took videos of them both (at the moment am unable to post videos)
Free-camped the night at Gunshot, then on to swim at Fruit Bat Falls





also had a swim an hour or so later at Twin Falls (which is alongside Eliot Falls)
Then a short drive to Canal Creek where we set up camp for the night.

The next day decided to see how far we could go on the OTT - we knew that the last crossing was a mess and were not even contemplating trying to cross it. Don't know how far we went before turning back. I think the last crossing we did was Cannibal Creek. Brandt had several attempts before making it. The rear view of our vehicle shows how much of the creek he gathered when he had to roll back and try again.


So back to the Development Road, up to Jardine River and across on the ferry $66 which is for the return crossing and also covers our permits for any bush camping we may do while on the Cape.
Found a nice camp on the beach at a place called Umagico. It is 4km from Bamaga, so is pretty central.

Chilli Beach and a taste of 4 wheel adventure

Even though there was no available camping sites for us at Chilli Beach we went and had a look anyway. It reminded me of the beach at Kimadan PNG.



Managed to find a spot to camp in the rain forest nearby. Learnt that, because of the shape of our tent, if zips are not done up and it rains the rain gets inside, makes puddles on the tent floor and in general wets everything.

Had a puncture - actually noticed that the tyre was a little flat when we pulled in for the night and by morning it was dead flat. So first job for Brandt (while I mopped out the tent) was to change the tyre.


Heard about a 4 wheel track back to the Development Road so decided we'd have a look and see what it was like. (took 4 hours to drive 41km but well worth it).


Picturesque countryside and plenty to challenge the driver both on land








and across water








Eventually met up with the Development Road again



and made our way past Bramwell Junction, on our way to Palm Creek


The ant hills were quite a land mark.