Day 88 Monday 4th October 2010

Pictures of the DC3 crash in 1945 about a km short of Bamaga airport







Hi Folks,

Our last morning on the Cape. We packed and said our goodbyes which we started last night. I should also modestly mention I won the "Guess how many km the bus travelled competition" My prize a packet of snakes!

This morning we stopped on the way to the airport to view a DC3 wreck.

At the airport we said final goodbyes to the travellers going back in the hold of the freighter and waited for the plane. The 2 hour flight passed quickly thanks to todays papers being available and we were soon shuttle bussed back to Lake Placid.

Miraculously our camper when unpacked was not mouldy. We did a basic setup and headed out for food and a movie.

We had a great time on the tour. The guides were terrific. The food was nearly all cooked on the fire in camp ovens and was of great variety and flavour as my waistline will attest. We saw a lot of unique things and our travelling companions were a great bunch of people with whom it was a pleasure to travel. Tomorrow i will catch up on the blog after sitting up till midnight here writing this. It has already rained lightly a few times since we have returned to Cairns so I am hoping for fine weather.

Day 87 Sunday 3rd of October 2010

The Tip with York Island in the background


We made it!


There is one in every crowd

Our Penultimate day at Punsand. We headed off in the bus around 8 towards "The Tip". First stop was Pajinka a derelict resort that could not survive a fire a few years back. We walked through the rain forest and up and over a headland to "The Tip" of Cape York where we took the obligatory pictures of all and sundry and announced our achievement to the world via SMS. After morning tea we drove to Somerset an old plantation from the turn of the century. After viewing some ancient graves we had lunch and drove back to Punsand via the Croc tent a temporary souvenir stall on the road side.

On return to camp I threw caution to the wind and swam in the pool my first swim in 15 days. It has been torture watching my companions swim in tropical streams.

Tonight we have to finish our alcohol. We fly to Cairns in the morning. Hopefully to an intact car and camper.


Heading to the tip!

Day 86 Saturday 2nd October 2010

View from fort on top of TI

Hi Folks another huge day for the travellers.

We took the punt out to the moored inter island ferry. An hour across the water at around 38km/h and we were at Thursday Island(TI).

We boarded the tour bus on the wharf and went up to the old fort on the highest point above the town to view the gun emplacements. Apparently only one was ever fired just the once. The fort was built in the late 1800's to repel Russian invaders. Successfully it seems.

A little bit of free time saw us in the coffee shop having expresso's before back on the bus for a short trip over to Horn island. We had lunch at The Resort and viewed a private museum focussed on Horn Island operations in WWII when an airbase was located there. This was followed by a driving tour around the gun emplacements and aircraft wreckage.

Returning to the jetty we transferred back to TI and filled in 40 minutes until the ferry returned to take us back to Punsand. Motoring back the wind had picked up and the ride was pretty bumpy. Susan through a combination of ginger tablets and determination conquered her usual motion sickness!

We viewed from the water the obelisk marking where Captain Cook claimed the east coast of Australia. Then returned to camp for nibblies,drinks,tea and the usual evening activities.

Tomorrow.... "The Tip"



Ferry Out to TI


Pan around TI from the fort. Was a windy day as per usual.


Susan arriving back on shore and declaring her motion sickness cured. The voice in the background is an inebriated yokel trying to control his deranged dog.

Day 85 Friday 1st October 2010

Papuan Frogmouth

Hello from our last camp site at Punsand Bay Lodge a stones throw from the beach.

Pity about not being able to swim in it. We do have a smallish pool.

We actually finished breakfast this morning at Elliot Falls before the scheduled start time such is the enthusiasm of the campers. We travelled back down the teeth chattering road back to the Bamaga Bypass Road. The trip was uneventful and we crossed the Jardine River on the ferry at morning tea time. $190 for the 19 people on the bus. From there an easy drive to Injinoo, Bamaga, Seisia (for lunch) and then to our spot for the next 4 nights. Punsand bay is 14 km by road from the "Tip" Tomorrow Horn and Thursday Islands.

cheers Simon


Bush Turkey nest.

Ignore the narrator, the nest needs to be 33-35C and only the male tends it. The fact the female is digging is probably in preparation for laying.

Posts updated.

Hi Folks i have updated the posts going back to the 24th of September with a bit more text plus pictures and videos. You might want to pop back and check it out ....I will try and get the last 4 days done tonight ... phew .. Cheers

Day 84 Thursday 30th September 2010

Golden parrot tree Grevillea pteridifolia


Golden parrot tree Grevillea pteridifolia


White Lip Green Tree Frog in toilet bowl


Termite mound


Amethystene python


Amethystene python


Amethystene python

Hi Folks,

Today's blog starts last night remembering we were camped overnight at Moreton telegraph Station. Tea was Spanish mackerel absolutely magnificent.

The highlight of the evening was when one of our party discovered an Amethystene Python a mere 3 - 4 metres long, initiating a flurry of photo activity and a late night (10pm).

We awoke to a light dew and a cool 23C morning.

Following breakfast and packing we headed to Bramwell Junction where we viewed giant ant mounds and had an ice cream. The roads are still pretty good with nothing that would have bothered the Pajero and the camper (yet).

From Bramwell we travelled along the southern bypass road stopping for morning tea at the Kennedy Expedition Lost Camp LXXIV. We then cut back to the Telegraph Track and the road started to deteriorate! We joined the Telegraph Track which was narrow and very bumpy.

After travelling through Cockatoo Creek lunch was at Fruit Bat Falls. A nice swimming hole for those without sores on their legs. It seems to be getting better so I didn't want to risk getting it wet. It's very hard to stay out of the water on these hot days.

After lunch we travelled the mercifully short very corrugated distance to our camp site at Elliot/Twin falls. A terrific spot with lovely streams ,pools and water falls for swimming. I washed my feet and sandals while others bathed(sighs).

Cheers Simon


Tutles at Sheldons lagoon


Saucepan swimming area.


Twin Falls

Day 83 Wednesday 29th September 2010

Tawny Frogmouth at Moreton


Bauxite Stockpile


Bauxite loading

Hello from another terrible Cape York location at Moreton Telegraph Station.

A damp humid night at Weipa which didn't allow the clothes to dry overnight. Our 4am toilet break was interrupted by Susan's necklace breaking and the broach falling to the ground in the dark. Forunately she found it by torchlight. She returned to bed to read rather than sleep, swatting 2 blood filled mosquitos even though we had no bites! Susan rushed to use the dryer in the laundry. We packed away our damp bedding and tent. Bacon and eggs for breakfast.

We left the kiosk at at 8:30 for a tour of the town and the Rio Tinto bauxite mine.
The bauxite layer is about 3 metres thick below the top soil and is mined with front end loaders and luggers. The material is screened and washed and mostly shipped to Gladstone for smelting.

After the tour we returned to the shops for a coffee and a browse. We departed at 1230 with an uneventful run to the camping ground at Moreton telegraph Station.

Very nice location.