CAPE YORK TRIP DAY 24

9 July 2014

Punsand Bay – Loyalty Beach (25km)

We started the morning with a walk along the beach.  

There appeared to be old crocodile tracks in the sand at the end of the beach near a water channel with mangroves on the other side.

We packed up and made our way to Loyalty Beach.  Flora in her Skoda and we in our Oka left early to get to the campsite to get a good spot.  This was a more central location for our stay and more affordable.  We stopped at the Croc tent for a look and then continued on to arrive before 10:00am.  We were shown around but there were hardly any powered sites.  The sites are not numbered nor designated so it was a rather disorganised mess as far as where people were camping.  We found a suitable spot with power and grabbed it.  Not long afterwards Bob and Žydre arrived and we set up for our stay.  We put up our fly tent so that we could have a shady area to sit.  We were not on the beach but only a short walking distance away.  We just relaxed and enjoyed the day.

The day flew by very quickly.  In the evening we all went down to watch the sunset before dinner.

CAPE YORK TRIP DAY 23

8 July 2014

Bramwell Roadhouse – Punsand Bay (245km)

I really had not expected to be within coo-ee of the Tip – Pajinta today but that is what happened. 

At Bramwell one has the choice of going along the Old Telegraph Road or the Bamaga York Peninsula Road.  We were not going to do the Old Telegraph Road so set out on the bypass road.  It was generally a good road today.  There were some corrugations before the Jardine River crossing but they were not that bad for the Oka.  We were doing up to 70km in places. 

The vegetation was forever changing quite dramatically.  In one area there were no trees only medium shrubs.  Then there would be sections with really tall trees and thick vegetation.  Further on there was like a wall of trees.   It was very interesting to observe the changes.  Surprisingly there was a good stretch of bitumen just before Bat Falls.

We turned off onto the track for Bat Falls.  What a stunning place.  The falls were beautiful, the water clear.  Min and Bob went for a swim.   

Whilst the men swam us girls went for a walk looking at the interesting plants.  Beautiful pitcher plants were along the walkway. 

We were planning to go to Elliott falls on the way back but were picking up very mixed messages about the track.  Our primary concern was the Skoda but the camper trailer was also a worry.  So a decision was made for Bob and Min to go in the Oka up the Old Telegraph Road to Elliott Falls and the road out onto the main road from there.  A total of 21km.  Us girls continued on for 16 km in the remaining vehicles.  This was where the road came out from Elliott Falls.  We didn’t take long to get here.  It was very hot and there was little shade about.  We saw a very interesting miniature little gecko whilst waiting.  The men arrived over an hour later.  They had enjoyed their trip but Min said it was the worse lot of 4W driving that he had done and that the last part of the road was not doable by the Skoda or the camper.  The way into Elliott Falls from Bat Falls was also a problem for the Skoda as the creek was too deep.  So we knew we would not be going into Elliott Falls on the way back.

We continued on to Jardine River and went across on the barge.  

From here the road in many places was horrendous.  The corrugations were bad.  It was slow going for the Skoda and the Range Rover. 

We were so glad to see the Bitumen going to Bamaga.  At Bamaga we rang Punsand Bay and booked in for the night.  We got here latish.  It was too late to go to the Tip - Pajinta for sunset.

So we all went to the beach a few metres from our camp and sat and watched the sunset.  We couldn’t fully believe we were actually here – only a few kilometres from the top end of Australia.  We could see it from where we were.  We savoured the fact that we were staying at one of the closet places to the Tip in the area.  We were tired but excited.

CAPE YORK TRIP DAY 22

7 July 2014

The Bend, Peninsula Development Road – Bramwell Roadhouse (225km)

I woke to the sounds of birds to a lovely warm morning.  After getting ready Min and I headed back a kilometer or so to the dump point.  Then we headed back, joined the others and started making our way north. It was a good road as far as the Coen Quarantine Station.  From there the road kept changing from stretches of bitumen to dirt.  

We are driving along the Great dividing Range and its was nice to see more hilly areas after so much flat land. 

The prevailing winds are westerlies so all the vegetation on the westerns side of the road was covered totally in red dust.  So one side is green and the other reddy brown. 

Saw several bush turkeys, lots of termite mounds, birds.  The vegetation was looking a little more tropical.

After stopping at Bramwell Roadhouse we were taking some time to decide whether to stay or go on.  

Just after we decided to go on fate decided to step in and we ended up staying.  A passerby pointed out a problem with Bob and Žydres camper.  So we dutifully went and paid our camp dues and pulled into the bush camp by the roadhouse.  Apparently the blt of the shock absorber had come out.  Miin replaced the bolt with one Bob got from the garage here.  We enjoyed a pleasant evening here. 

The amenities block is always a useful place to find out things.   Here we heard from a couple who had experienced some aggressive behavior from local aboriginals. 

CAPE YORK TRIP Day 21

6 July 2014

140 km south west of Musgrove – The Bend, Peninsula Development Road (256km)

Another lovely warm morning greeted us as we readied ourselves for the day ahead. 

The reflections of the trees in the lagoon were so nice.

A ute pulled up in the morning with an aboriginal and a white fell.  They were checking whether we had a dog with us as they were out laying dog baits.  I had a chat with them about the road ahead and they warned us of several rough sections ahead. 

We passed some lovely orange flowering  fern leaved grevillea.  

It was also another day with lots of birds around.  We have really struck flocks of birds constantly throughout this trip.  Termite mounds continue to provide interest along the way.  As we travelled further north east we were seeing many more magnetic termite mounds.

It was another day of lots of dry creek crossings and some with water.  According to Flora “Yesterdays adventure knocked the stuffing out of me”. 

We past Oremis Station without sighting it.  Then the road improved dramatically.  Dixie Station looked impressive.  Before we knew it we were at Musgrave.  We filled up at Musgrave and had lunch.  The hot chips here were scrumptious.

Musgrave is an historic place as well as an important regional service centre as well as having an airport here.  It is the only airport I have seen where cows graze on and around the runway.

We were now on the Peninsula Development Road heading for the Telegraph Track and the corrugations were constant.  

The vegetation was dense as we made our way to Coen and there were cattle around.

We stopped at the pub for a beer and then drove a little way out of Coen to a place by a creek called The Bend.  It was a lovely bush camping spot but very crowded.  We set up camp, Bob went for a swim and observed late arrivals trying to get across the creek to set up on the other side.  We saw some very crazy driving and total disregard for vehicles.  Also there were many irresponsible campers here.

We were all feeling excited at being this far along on our trip – not that far away from the Tip of Australia – Pajinka.