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Published: July 24th 2009
I think I really should proof read some of these blogs before I post them. Oh well, you can all gather what I mean.
We made the decision to start heading south instead of going to Thursday Island. We found out the ferry cost $100 each. We thought the money better spent on the boat ride out to the Great Barrier Reef. The wind was getting stronger and each day getting cloudier. This is not what we came north for, more cloud, no way; more sun, yes please.
We stopped to look at the WWII plane wrecks at Bamaga Airport on the way down. No signs, just dots on the map and the rest you have to figure out for yourself - a bit like directions to the Tip of Cape York. Discarded 44 gallon drums were laying everywhere in the bush, all rusty and falling apart. Probably from the war, but you would think that someone would tidy them up & dispose of them properly. Anyway, found the Beauford Bomber and tried to find the Kittyhawk also supposedly there. The track got narrower, but we pressed on a bit. We had assumed where the arrows pointed left at
Kingfisher at Bamaga Airport
He was just sitting there waiting for his photo to be taken, then flew off :)the “Y” intersection that it was one way and went in a loop. We were wrong!! We finally found a place to turn around and head back through the tight track. Sometimes we only had an inch or two to spare between a tree and our bull-bar or camper. When we got wedged against a palm tree and Rod noticed that a lug was missing from the side of the camper. On closer inspection, we were missing 3 lugs from the side. Don’t know where they went, but looked and Kate found the one that just came off. After much juggling found our way out and continued on.
Anyway we past Eliot Falls around lunch time, but pressed on to Bramwell Junction and had sausage rolls and icy poles. A tourist had just left Chili Beach in Iron Range NP and had said it was blowing a gale. The weather is supposed to get worse before better, so we made the hard decision to not visit Chili Beach until next time we visit Cape York. Pressed on to Archer River Roadhouse $1.75, topped up with fuel and had yet another icy pole. Finally stopped around 5pm at “The Bend”,
Coen. This is just a roadside rest area beside a river with a toilet. What more do you need for an overnighter?
Up the next day and headed to Musgrave Telegraph Station. Topped up with fuel again, only $1.54, getting cheaper. Drove into Lakefield National Park and looked at Hann Crossing. Nice place, but kids would have been bored and annoyed the heck out of us. We went to the toilet before looking around a bit more and almost got eaten alive by mosquitoes - at only 11o’clock in the morning!!!
Lakefield is a very dry National Park, but the river areas are very pretty. The roads are a bit rough, with very little, if any warning of dips in the road. Saying nothing of the thick sand, bull dust and rocks. Saw a strange shape on the road in the distance that looked like a large stick or piece of log. As we neared it, realised it was a goanna and grabbed some photos. His colours were stunning. Brown and dull one moment, then as it approached the grass and weeds, picked up the sun on his skin and became a golden colour. Very good at hiding
I would guess.
Continued on through the self-registration station and out through Old Laura. The road was really good again for a while, because it was the main road for a couple of stations. Once we turned off, then the road got really rough, almost like the big dipper in a few places where the water runs across the road. Up through the hills (very pretty) and down again through a mountain range - just not sure which one. My poor Brutus (car) got airborne not once, nor twice, but about 6 times today. Naughty Rod just grinned and said “I slowed down as much as I could”. He really enjoys it underneath as long as the car doesn’t get damaged. Just like a big kid really.
We stopped at Isabella Creek to see the little waterfall and take a photo. Rod looked out his window and saw a turtle in the middle of the road. Took his photo, but when the kids tried to get closer, he ran under the car. I’ve never seen a turtle run so fast on dry land before. We tried to scare him out from underneath, but he would move from front
Bamaga Bypass Road
You can see how wide the road is in some places. to back of the car, then one side to the other. He liked to hide behind the wheels, and we were worried if we left, the car would squash him. We found a stick and nudged him out towards the creek. Finally success and we could be on our way.
Arrived in Cooktown around 3.30pm and booked into the Caravan Park. Went down to the hardware store to try and get some replacement lugs for the camper, to no avail. The Mitre 10 store stocked the wrong brand, so we will have to wait until Cairns. Splurged out with fish & chips for tea from the wharf. Yum, freshly caught local fish - Mackerel.
The kids were excited to hit the bitumen and get normal phone service both at the same time. They enjoy the bush, wildlife and different experience, but enjoy the cities as well. Time will tell what they will enjoy most as they get older.
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Naomi Nielsen
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hi from the Nielsen family
Hi Everyone, sorry we havent emailed earlier , but we have been enjoying following your trip and the kids love the photos esp. the lizard and Eleanor loved Katie's hair and now wants hers plaited like that!!!! Well its freezing cold down here, Jill, Nathaniel finally fits into Alex's home knitted jumpers and that they are keeping him lovely and warm and as cute as a button, he turns 3 next Tuesday , amazing how fast the time flies, Thomas is crawling now and Eleanor is keeping us all in line!!! Bye for now keep safe and have a wonderfull time. P.S Mike delivered the possum boxs a few weeks ago. Lots of love the Nielsens.