CAPE YORK TRIP DAY 26

TRIP to11 July 2014

NGRUPAI - HORN ISLAND,  WAIDENE - THURSDAY ISLAND

It was an early start to the day as we had to be on the old wharf by 8:15am today for our trip with Cape York Adventures to Ngrupai or better known as Horn Island and Waidene - Thursday Island.  As there were 23 of us doing the trip they split us into two groups.  We were in the small group of 7 on a small boat whilst the others were all on the bigger boat.

What strikes one whilst making the crossing is that there are just so many islands here.  Between New Guinea and Queensland, Australia – within 200km range there are 157 islands of which 18 are inhabited. 

We made our way past several islands including Prince of Wales and Possession Island named by Captain Cook.  As we were travelling along Horn Island we saw a crocodile in front of the mangroves.

Horn Island has a very interesting museum.  We took our time learning about the forgotten Australians who had defended our country against the Japanese during WW2 from here. 

It is not far from here to Thursday Island.  It is a small island – only 1 square km in size with 3,600 inhabitants.  It was a very clean and tidy place.    It felt like a tropical island.

We visited the cultural centre that had been built by a chinese man.  It has a great display of artifacts from the region.   We then went to the Torres Strait Island pub or the Top of Australia pub for a delicious lunch of fish and chips.  

From here Frank our taxi driver took us around the island.  He was not only entertaining but very knowledgable and passionate about his home land. 

We went to the lookout and fort.  It is hard to believe but the fort was built to defend Australia from any possible invasion by the Russians in the late 1800s. It was an interesting fortification with three canons.  Only one canon had ever been fired and that was when a vessel had failed to identify itself.  After the canon shot it identified itself as a friendly vessel.

We then went to the local cemetery.  There were many Japanese buried here who died as a result of suffering from the bends as pearl divers.  

We then had some free time and went back to the cultural centre to take in more of the exhibition.  Along the way we came across a very interesting sign.

The ride back on the boat was horrendous.  We had sea-ruugations instead of corrugations.  It was roughish and it was bump , bump, bump over the waves. 

We had enjoyed our day out. 

CAPE YORK TRIP DAY 25

10 July 2014

The TIP - Pajinta (74km return)

This was the day we were all waiting for.  We were going to the Tip – Pajinta.

We set out in the morning along a narrow track.  We entered the main dirt road with its nasty corrugations and then some way after the croc tent we turned left to Pajinta.  It was a beautiful narrow track with thick vegetation bordering it.  It was very different vegetation to what we had seen earlier.  It was like going through a glen – a canopy above, dappled shade.  It was just beautiful.  We came to the end of the track near the water. 

From here it was like a pilgrimage walk up to the top end.  One had to walk along rocks up and down.  There was no board walk or path.  It was just a natural path of about 1.8 km.  Eventually we came to Pajinta – the Tip.  I just savoured the moment until it was spoilt when someone’s mobile rang.  Finally here we were at the top end and unbelievable but Telstra operates here yet doesn’t in so many places where it should. 

Just a short distance from the Tip is York Island on the left and another on the right.  There are just so many islands off the coast here.  The current between the islands was extremely strong.

I brought a bottle of champagne with me to celebrate the moment.  So we opened it and toasted being here.  We spent quite some time here.  

Min dipped his toes in the sea.  It was getting quite hot so finally we had to leave this special place and make our way back down to the cars.  We had lunch at the beach below. 

The tide was really out far.  We found a fallen log and sat there in the shade.  Flora set out to explore the shoreline but the rest off us started to worry about her being out in the sun with the reflection of the water with no hat on so we got her back.  Eventually we made our way back to camp after having a look at Seisia and Bamaga.  We stopped at the local butcher – how different from the butchers in the city.  It is an abbatoir and butcher in one. 

When we got back we found that the campground was filling up.  Everyone was wanting powered sites.  Many were claiming that they had booked them months ago.  The park staff solved it by adding extensions, power boards to the power stations.  There could have been up to 20 leads going off the one we were at.  It was so crazy and they told us it was all safe.

We all watched the sun set once again over the top end.  

To finish off the day Flora and the two of us went along to the sausage sizzle and to watch the last of the three State of Origin games at the camping ground outdoor restaurant/bar area.  Quite a lot of the campers were there being very vocal in supporting one or other of the teams.  Bob joined us for a while.  It was a fun evening.

It was a special day.