Koby had his second trip to the river in July when we went for our usual “Christmas in July” week. His first trip there back in 2009 was our Australia Day week and wow, just the opposite in temperatures this time. He had a ball.
Naturally most of his time was spent sitting round the fire
But of course to do that everyone must make an effort to collect the wood
Just popping in to see if the neighbours have more to offer
You would think that they would leave at least a small scrap from breakfast
I.m still here
Six am each morning saw him off for his morning walk. Thanks “My Walking Mate”. Poo wasn’t so pleased when he arrived back. You don’t stay too clean chasing rabbits. Nothing that a sit in the sun and a quick brush couldn’t fix
Not a great lot to occupy our time down there but the men were kept busy trying out the “new toy” one of our friends had bought. An electric chain-saw. Made easy work of chopping wood. Once we stopped laughing at the electrical cords running from the “new inverter”.
So once again, like all our trips with our wonderful group of friends, another good week. Gee, life is good!
Once back from our trip up the Telegraph Track and a lovely farewell dinner with Plods friends at the Bamaga Resort the three of us were up very early next morning for our short drive to Seisia and then a trip on the boat to Thursday Island.
We were lucky to be given a guided tour of the island.
Interesting to walk round the Gun Inplacements. On our first trip here we had visited the Musuem so we did not need to do that again.
We then caught the small ferry to Horn Island and checked into the hotel on the island. Once again lucky to be given another guided tour by one of Plods friends and we got to see so much of the Island. A really beautiful place when you get into some of the quiet corners.
Like Thursday Island there are lots of reminders of how the island was during World War II. Horn Island played such an important part being the island that had the front line airstrip and from where all the action took place and where so many of our troops were stationed.
We spent an enjoyable evening on the Island and next morning was time to say goodbye to Plod as she took the ferry back to Thursday and then again to Seisa and we flew out of Horn Island on the Flying Kangaroo from that airstrip that saw so much action during the war.
The scenery once again was really beautiful
So once back in Cairns, we collected our car from Cairns Airport Parking, so happy we found them, couldn’t have asked for a better service and would recommend them to anyone needing to leave a car in Cairns for any length of time.It was then back on the road and another good road trip home. The end of a most enjoyable few weeks, so pleased we did it the way we did, enjoyed every moment of it. I always have loved tent camping, in my eyes that is really camping.
Its eleven years since Poo and I drove the full length of the Telegraph Track. A track, which I believe everyone with a love of 4wheeldriving and a love of the Aussie Bush should do once.
Plod , especially now she is up the top, and hearing more and more about it each day as cars drive into Bamaga, and she talks to people at the caravan parks, desperately wanted to drive down to the “Gunshot” to take a look. In the short time that she has been there she had made an overnight trip down the track to Nolans Brook where they camped on the north bank and watched cars on the way up tackling the last creek crossing.
So we planned an overnight camping trip down to the Gunshot and then we would camp at Twin Falls before our return trip. All to be on the Development Road.
Plod stood at the Gunshot and watched one vehicle winching themselves through and was thoroughly enjoying herself.
We had lunch at Fruit-Bat Falls and then moved on to the camping area at TwinFalls
Sitting round the fire that night she told us she wanted to give the track a go and see how we went. Lucky for her Poo had insisted on having a snorkel fitted and her vehicle lifted before she put it on the train and barge for Bamaga.
We were lucky enough when getting to Mistake Creek, our first “real creek” after our overnight camping that we had two cars with four southerners who offered to stay with us for the rest of the way. Without them we would not have attempted it. Thanks guys.
So Plod was in her element. After the second creek crossing we knew we couldn't turn back. We knew we could never get back up the bank so we had to go on but the Navara handled it exceptionally well.
The one crossing that was worrying me was Cyprus Brook. The log bridge there when we crossed years ago was the most scariest thing I had done, but lots more logs have been added and it really was a breeze this time.
Nolans Brook was nowhere as deep either, so we arrived at the end all very happy and Plod so ecstatic that she could now cross that one off her list.
So once again another two goods days.
Shopping done for Plod and her goods sent off to the wharf, we were ready for our flight. We don’t realize that those who live and work in these isolated places of our country have to wait for the weekly barge to bring their goods. No popping down to"Bunnings" to grab a few things
So it was aboard Qantas for our two hour flight to Horn Island. Then because of not being able to connect with the ferry from Horn Island to Thursday Island then the ferry back to Seisia we chartered a small plane to fly us back to Bamaga. They live “island time” but eventually we were on our way. Just beautiful scenery from up there.
Plod met us at Bamaga, so good to see her again and then because of work commitments for another couple of hours her good new friends took us up to one of those beautiful spots known only by the locals where we enjoyed happy hour sitting and watching a beautiful sunset.
Plod joined us for the sunset and a lovely meal at the “local” finished off an interesting and exciting day.
The next few days were spent lazily. Drove round through the communities of Umagico and Injinoo and made trips to Loyalty Beach , Punsand Bay and of course Somerset . This trip, instead of having to crawl up all those rocks to get to the the “Tip” we were able to walk on the sand as the tide was out so just a few rocks to walk over for the obligatory photo. The days passed very quickly
And we were there to see the unloading of the Sea Swift vessel which brought in our Cairns shopping
