Cape York 2020

Hot, hot night again and even felt a few drops of rain but nothing too exciting. Everyone keen to pack up, and go. It is truly beautiful spot but not a skeric of shade to be found. We drove out and onwards and eventually found the Moreton telegraph station, a site that until now had proved to be quite elusive. But it’s closed and that’s our morning tea spot, sadness... Subsequent to writing this post, we have heard it rained that afternoon and dropped 65mm on the car park. We split with the group a bit further on as they embark on the Frenchman’s track. We believe there was some rain in this area last night so it might be a bit slippy. Glenn,  Carol, stu and I continue on towards chilli  beach going the long way, will probably still take a few hours. It was a long drive and the first 10k off the PDR was simply atrocious but then gave way to the usual bitumen then gravel roads. Also the occasional creek crossing which kept it lively. Nothing too taxing tho. This area encompasse...

Phew, a pretty warm night again (funnily enough)  Now begins the journey south. After the brains trust met and decisions made that we will head to Captain Billy’s Landing on the east coast. But not before returning to the big smoke of Bamaga for a bit of shopping and refueling. We took a detour on the way to the Jardine ferry that took us to the head of the Jardine. An area that was used in the past for crossing. The crossing is still very evident and also fairly apparent that it still gets used despite being closed.  I really expected to see crocs on the shore here, serious crocodile country. Anyhoo.... Back on the Jardine ferry and onto the PDR ( peninsula development road) Standard old drive along the PDR, fair amount of cars still heading north. Travelling pretty fast so probably in a hurry to get to the tip before the rains come. Found the signage to the national park the journey into Captain Billy’s Landing is about 27km of single track. It’s beautiful, back to the rainf...

An early start today as we are off on an adventure. We have  a little trip planned to firstly visit Thursday Island and then a tour of neighbouring Horn island. We have organised the trip through our camp ground and the owner has also offered to drive us to the jetty ( not far , next beach)  We had concerns parking at the jetty, just because of the safety of leaving everything we own there for the day. So this option worked perfectly. Onto the ferry for 1 hour trip to Thursday Island, again marvelling at the turquoise blue of the water. Met Liberty who is husband of the husband and wife team running the Torres Strait Heritage tour company. This bloke knows so much, a TI native but could seriously talk under water and then some. We visit the cemetery, which we have been to before. Memorable because of the huge amount of essentially unmarked graves of the Japanese pearl divers. These guys gave their lives in pursuit of fortune. It is widely assumed that they died from the “bends...

Today is the day!! We are finally off to the tip and the most northern part of Australia. Breakfast, packing up and the herding of cats, we are off. It’s not far.. back out on the road to Somerset and turn left. Through the beautiful rainforest again and the road ends at the beach.  The area has been overtaken by a bunch of young folk that I think have  forgotten to go home. The path to the tip has us clambering and climbing over rocks ( don’t remember this bit from previous) only to be rewarded with incredible views. Made it!  A new sign but that’s the only change. The obligatory photos were done. Singles, couples, families and the entire group of Cape Crusaders. It’s damn hot as we make our way back to the cars. The other half of our crew are heading for Somerset today and the 5 beaches drive but as we went to Somerset yesterday , we have chosen to head into Bamaga and explore the site of some wartime plane wrecks. DC 3 and Beaufort bomber. We also came across a WW2 fue...

A fairly low key day planned as we are staying here in Punsand Bay another night. We are avoiding getting to the actual top of Cape York until we meet up again with the others so we can do it together. We are expecting them to arrive here at the grounds this afternoon.  Heading off about 8 with a plan to drive to Somerset and again revisit some memories of the last trip. When we were here last, we sort of stumbled upon the area and were taken by its beauty. Somerset is an area of historical significance with European settlement dating back the 1860’s.this is where the Jardine family lived and there graves are still here. Once on the road, Glenn is concerned with some warning lights on dashboard so we return to camp to have a think and perhaps call for an expert. With the help of the crew here at the camp ground they tell us of a very busy mechanic in seisa beach who will help us diagnose the issue🙏🏼. So off we go again, in the opposite direction to seisa, should only take half an...