Blog Lucky 13 - 30th June to 11th July 2013

Sunday 30th June - we left Weipa and took the bypass track via Batavia Downs, and then continued to Bramwell Junction Roadhouse, where we were set-up by lunchtime. Had a burger at the roadhouse, and took a drive along the first 4km's of the Overland Telegraph Line (OTL) track to the first creek crossing - Palm Creek - very interesting, and a lot harder than I expected.

 

Back to camp, and I managed to stake a tyre while not looking and drove over a fire grate - an expensive mistake, and a pain to change the tyre with all the dirt and dust. Just as I was finishing this task, a lady came up to us to ask us to rescue her hubbie and 4WD which was stuck in Palm Creek - another drive along the track, and hook up the winch to pull him out of the mud. While I was there some others were coming back south along the track, so spent some time watching them too.

Monday - left the camper at Bramwell, and decided to go for a look at Gunshot and Cockatoo Creek crossings. First was Gunshot, which certainly lived up to its reputation - very steep, very tall and would need a strap on the back to get down.

But there are chicken tracks, so not all that scary. Then onto Cockatoo Creek crossing, which many were saying was the hardest this year - looked to be fairly simple to me, just a bit deep in places. Back to camp for a quiet afternoon.

Tuesday - time to head to the top, stopping in at Fruit Bat Falls for a swim - what a magic place this was, after so many beaches but nowhere to swim due to the croc's.

 

 

 

Then it was a short drive to the Jardine River ferry - $145 for a return journey of about 50 metres, but better than risking the crocs. From here we were booked into Alau Beach at Umagico - an Aboriginal community campground right on the beach - a very magical place indeed.

Wednesday - left camp and drove to Bamaga, Seisia, past Loyalty Beach and then to Lockerbie, where we stopped at the Croc Tent for some info. Then headed for Pajinka (The Tip of Oz) along a narrow bumpy track. Parked the car at another lovely beach,

 

before a short walk over the small rocky hill to finally arrive at the sign saying we were at the northernmost tip of the mainland.

WE HAD FINALLY MADE IT after many, many km's of dust and corrugations. Then back to camp for some lunch and relaxing before another sunset.

Thursday - what an appropriate day to do the tour to Thursday Island and Horn Island. We were really looking forward to this day out. The ride over on the small boat was rough, meaning the return journey was going to be worse. Once on the island, we had a look around town before the taxi picked us up for our tour of the island - the fort and cemetry were interesting, but the rest of the tour was a let down.

After lunch at the pub, it was back to the boat for a quick trip to Horn Island, after a quick diversion to buy a crayfish tail to cook up the next day. The museum at Horn Island was OK with a lot of info on WWII and pearl diving, but that was all we saw on the island. Back on the boat, and the return journey was VERY rough, and we got soaked in the 2 hours it took to get back to Seisia. Not a very good tour (in my opinion anyway).

Friday - went for a walk along the beach before breakfast, and then ended up having a very lazy day chatting to all of our neighbours about their travels etc. We were camped next to a Tasmanian cray fisherman, so he and his wife gave us tips on how to cook the tail we had bought the previous day - we both loved it - finally another seafood that I really like. Cooking instructions were to boil for 2-3 minutes which helps to release the flesh from the shell, and then fry in butter - yummo.

Saturday - got up early, and left camp at 8.30am for the trip back to the Jardine, and then our overnight camp at Eliot Falls campground along a very rough track. A quick set-up and then time for a swim - this is what we had been looking forward to. Had a swim at The Saucepan first,

and then wandered down past Eliot Falls for some photos,

and finally to Twin Falls for another swim.

Back to camp for lunch, before another swim at The Saucepan in the afternoon. I can now see why this was so hard to book a site for.

Sunday - went for another swim before breakfast, before packing again, and continued south to Bramwell to pick-up our alcohol we had left before heading north - BIG fines for too much alcohol in Aboriginal communities. Stopped in at Bramwell Station, but the festival had finished - missed it by 2 hours - and then continued on south, with lunch at the Wenlock River, and camping at the Archer River Roadhouse for the night.

Monday - continued south via Coen, and then stopped at Musgrave to ask about the road conditions across to the Gulf - we were told it was quite good but with a few patches that were not recently graded. We met another couple who were also wanting to go this way so joined up with them for the trip. The first 80km's were perfect, with lovely smooth gravel and 80-90km/h. But once we caught the road crew and their graders, it fast became worse, and was more like a 2-wheel track, with patches of bulldust to catch you out for the next 30km's. Then it became good again, and a friendly water truck driver suggested camping at the Alice River a bit further up the road. Spent the night chatting with Elly and John, and brushing dust aside.

Tuesday - continued on with Elly and John until we met the Burke Development Road, and from here it was good road all the way into Normanton. Met a 3-trailer petrol tanker road train along the road, and made sure we pulled right off to give him all the track he needed - the dust they kick up is amazing. As we arrived in Normanton, we booked our tour on the Gulflander train, and accomodation in Croydon, with a return train journey the next day. Settled into the caravan park and had a swim in the big pool - was nice to go swimming again after a 32C day.

Wednesday - up early to be at the station by 8.00am for our train journey to Croydon on the Gulflander - a 151km, 5 hour trip on the heritage listed train and tracks.

The rail motor was built in 1950, and the motor driving it was 78 years old, with a top speed of only 30 mph. The railway was built in 1891 using a steel sleeper system due to the sand and floods along the line. This makes it able to withstand the harsh conditions, but also makes it very bumpy. The line was originally built for the gold rush in Croydon, bringing supplies to the town, and taking the gold out to the port for sale. Arrived in Croydon, and spent some time having a look around at all of the historical buildings, including the courthouse, police quarters and jail.

Stayed at the pub that night,

and chatted with the Gulflander crew into the late evening over several beers and dinner.

Thursday - another early morning to meet the train again at 8.00am for the return journey to Normanton. Stopped along the way at the Norman River bridge to get some photos of the Gulflander crossing the bridge,

before jumping back on board for the final part into town. Too hot for lunch, so back into the pool for a cool-off. Still quite warm as I type this at 9.15pm, so will be another night without the covers on.

More to come soon

Di and Hammo