Cape York et al. - August

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Coming down the other option was also interesting, I knocked down a tree (only small) on the track to give me some clearane and make sure the trailer didn't go into a wash out. I was impressed - only a small scratch on the Sahara.



Down the track and across Cockatoo - another fine crossing, crystal clear but with a few decent holes.



There is a great little area on the North side of Cockatoo for lunch, shade, toilets etc, A nice spot to chill for a while.

The lovely Fruit Bat Falls.



It was at this point the whole 'train station' smell came back at me, this was the smell, this was the problem.

There was nothing positive about this camber. Shit, not here, not now!

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The wheel was hot, it smelt like Central Station.

The inner bearing collapsed (a while ago) I ripped the wheel and hub off. The rollers from the inner were everywhere - I was lucky this hadn't seized and snapped the axle stub. The stub was damaged but not on the faces where the bearing sat, thankfully. The inner was metal shards, the seal was melted. The grease was burnt and dark. Always a problem with dragging a trailer off road, sometimes the most obvious mechanic failiures go unseen for a little too long.

The Hub wall was missing a piece on the inner and fractionally expanded the sleeves so the bearing was loose and the new seal was useless.

A couple of blokes at the falls came over, blokes we had spoken with back at Bramwell. Both subject matter experts and very helpful - mechanics. This is the stuff that counts, people helping people out to make sure you're not stuck. Love this place and teh fellowhip that is attached.

Quite a handy place to carry out repairs actually. While these guys did this



I was doing this



Bit of metal putty and some profanity to restore it to its former beauty



and new bearings and grease and we were limping our way to new parts at Bamaga. Advice from the mechanics was avoid all water crossings' it should be good for at least 100kms on these roads!

Sadness set in - At Fruit Bat falls is was goodbye to the OTT and onto the SuperHighway - for now anyway! At 6pm we left the falls looking for a campsite.

Fire seemed to be all around us, along the road and in the distance, it was incredibly smokey. It was time to pull up, feed the kids and plan for tomorrow. We found a lovely little quarry that gave us great clearance on all sides should any fire come near.

After dinner we could hear the crackling of the fire not too far away. We climbed the rock / soil mountain and saw the great glow of the fire around us, pretty impressive really. Who would have thought, other than being a road worker or dying for the dunny, that a quarry would be useful. I have a new found love for these piles of dirt! I couldn't help myself and took a run up and slid down the side on my arse, I got gravel rash and holes in my footy shorts but it was fun. It was like reliving the days when I went to the footy and slid down the grass hills on the empty cardboard beer cartons. It was a good moment.

The morning after at 'The Quarry'

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Day 12 - 11 August

The Quarry to Punsand Bay via Bamaga Spares

Out of the quarry real quick. I had enough of the wet, smokey now mud filled quarry. A quick trip to the Jardine Ferry and over to Bamaga.



A few hours with Andy at Bamaga Spares (who reminded me of Alan from Terrain Tamer) and we were off to Punsand Bay for a few days. Andy was great and if you have any trouble up this way make sure you speak with him. I had a new complete hub getting flown in (soonish) and I could do those repairs at Punsand kicking about in sand.

While I was at Bamaga Spares the damage became apparent, there was a great new 150 Prado in the lot, written off from death at Nolans. It was heading south for auction. 17 or so cars so far (that they were aware of) that died from Nolans! When I was at the workshop the recovery call came in to collect a failed crossing of the Jardine. A few trailer shells lay about the place, stripped of the valuable geart and left. A trailer the day before was sent by truck back to Melbourne - a costly exercise no doubt.

Punsand was a great place to stay, we only opted to camp here because it looked a bit further out of the way in comparison to Loyalty Beach. It is only 25 kms from Bamaga and about another 6kms to Seisa. There is a good supermarket at Seisa with good stock and reasonable prices. A 30 pack of Tooheys New (from Bamaga) set me back $65 from the local and limit was one per car (you couldn't buy any alco pops with the same order either), but you could come back in an hour and have another go if needed.

A good supermarket at Bamaga also. Definitely check out the Bamaga BakeHouse when in town.

The Croc Tent (on the way to the tip and Punsand) is well worth the visit, great local knowledge and tips and some great souvenir items.



The afternoon was spent setting up the camp, hanging out on the beach and getting food and other gear from Seisa. Time to kick back and have a couple of days here. A visit to 'The Tip' tomorrow.

Caught up with the mechanics that helped me out at Fruit Bat. Their 2 cars and one other got stuck and flooded in Nolans. One car got through (he was hooked up with a snatch to another car on the other side). They loved it!

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A great place, no mobile reception (except on the beach) which is great. Fired up, exhausted kids to bed, and some ice cold beer.



The beach is great, a relaxing spot, warm, nice breeze, close to the esky, kids love it and heaps of friendly travellers sharing the experience so far.

The beach has a moderate slope which provides too much deep water for two sharped teeth kinds. Locals say best no swimming.



The pool here is great as well (for Victorians anyway - cold at first).

It was good spending some time here to kick back, unfortunately the extended tenure here said goodbye to Vrylia and Captain Billy. Sacrifices. I think I can handle it!



There's the 'tip' - beyond that land yonder - a visit soon. Nearly there!

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Day 13 - 12 August

Trek to 'the tip' a moment in our history.

We took the back road from Punsand to The Tip - you could roller blade on this sucker.

It began a while ago and we are nearly there. I don't know if I should say this publicly but I will anyway, I did not know what came over me but on the final approach toward the destination I had this overwhelming emotional feeling come over me. Am I going to cry? Just start sobbing for some reason like an uncontrollable feeling of patriotism or when each of my children were born (its okay I didn't). Was it the challenge of getting here, the great friendships, the credit card dent after $65 cartons? Whatever it was it was damn worth it. (If I did tear up of course I would have self reported to the Toyota Country Border Security (CBS) Team)



We're here, we did it, we made it.



A toast at the top!



Finally a drive along the beach to this lovely little creek - which I have now been told by the local fishos is really good for fishing (preferably in a boat). It reminded me of Hunters Creek near Cape Leveque, stand here and watch all the good stuff cruise past, and if lucky you will get one and have the best marinara ever. When I come back I will be having a go here!

If you go for a drive up here, don't be worried about the sand (even if it looks soft) it is as firm as some of Hugh Heffners body parts.



Sighted today was heaps of fish and crabs, bush turkeys (still alive), The Northernmost point of the Australian mainland, and of course Clem (fishing for his dinner!)

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Day 14 - 13 August Punsand Bay

Call from Bamaga Spares - hub and parts have arrived. Take a drive, explore the back road linking Seisa with Punsand - a nice drive and good fun. Parts collected and I will think about doing that tomorrow. Check out some back roads, do a little shopping and with a low tide for 5pm, target the 5 Beaches run (from Somerset) for 2pm.

Some really great tracks, not tricky but just good to be getting dirty!

A memorial to the Jardines and Maj. Herbert Somerset 'Boy' Vidgen - a family blood line of pearling, cattle, pioneering and involvement in WWII.



Onto the 5 Beaches run - nice drive. Some pics for those that have not been there yet. A good easy track, tyre pressure is a key here for the sand. We had a chat to a nice fella from Victoria earlier who was still running at 40 psi and was having a little trouble. He was grateful for the info and he may purchase a compressor for future journeys. I was running on 20 psi around here.







Have I said how happy I am with the Prado yet!

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The beaches were beautiful, it was windy, and we sighted a lot of the rubbish like at Chili Beach. If people actually lived here there would be an outcry and politicians would be taking note.

Maybe a job for the 4WDriving First Party?

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Some more of the 5 Beaches - tracks and cars and stuff. Really like the KDSS on the Prado - came through with the goods with articulation on many occasions.

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The back road again and oops, stuck in the mud.



There was an accusation that there was some purpose behind it?



A quick double line and gone - not too long!



Back to camp, get the fire going and cook some potatoes and damper with the kids to accompany the lamb chops and salad. So hungry on this trip and the food (and beer) tastes good.

Nearly had Kangaroo tail soup after one was trying to read the Sahara Bar ARB sticker on the way home; I'm glad it bounced away unscathed.

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Another 'hard to take' day at the Cape.

What a great place, repairs scheduled for tomorrow, running out of time to get back home!

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Day 15 - 14 August

Time to do some repairs and check all running gear across the car and trailer for departure.

3 sets of bearings, 3 seals and a complete hub ordered in (two complete changes and a sparey); which should be set to see the trip through (or so I thought)

First things first though, coffee on the beach and some great play time for the kids. Swim in the pool and a meeting with the local friendly sow called piggles.



Some sand sculpting



Fresh bacon?



And the other 3 little pigs (gorgeous of course)

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Onto the business end.

Off with the old (thank you for getting us here - a short life ending in the bin at Punsand)



and on with the new



A real interest from the little ones, another great lesson in life!



Everyone had lost interest by this stage but the other side had to be done too.

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Air pressure check thanks to my trusty assistant and green lights are on! Prado all checked, just screaming for a new filter.

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Day 16 - 15 August

A visit to the crash sites of WWII - now really nothing but a tour spot, but couldn't help thinking of all the diggers (and coalition) doing their best to protect the shores. Another real heart felt history lesson.

The amount of aviation drums around when you start walking through the scrub is amazing.

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Hi Keeper
Thanks for the great Trip report and photo's.
Making us wishing we were back up there. Loved Punsand Bay
On the filter I picked up a Uni Filter snorkel beanie, and tried it out on the weekend Border Track convoy.
Sandy tracks mainly but being dry some dust was kicking up. The beanie had a layer of grime on the intake surface that other wise would have been down the throat.
Cheers Troy