Cape York 2015 – week 3 part 1

Day 16 Punsand Bay to Eliot Falls. 142kms 2 hrs 30 mins driving time.

The Suthos had been hearing a strange noise coming from under the bonnet and left early to head to Seisia and Top End Motors. Some bearing in some belt was not doing what it was supposed to be doing, but the mechanic did not have the part. We could get one to Weipa-8hrs away-or risk it! DSC04610
As The Chilli Capers are “all for one and one for all” we decided to risk it. 

One bonus of being at the mechanics was that we got to see the Austin 7 that is the same model and year as the first original car to make it to the Cape. We got to have a chat to the owner as well which was quite cool.DSC04613
On our way south we have to cross the Jardine river again and we just made it across on the ferry before the 12pm lunch time stop. DSC04625 DSC04624After lunch we continued south to the drop zone. Due to the restriction on the amount of alcohol vehicles are allowed to carry through certain areas in the Cape we had to offload some bottles on our way north. A waypoint had been created and we were successfully able to retrieve our red white and blue striped bag from the bushes!DSC06089

Then a short drive after an unexpected creek crossing, to our next camping spot at Eliot Falls to set up camp and have a swim.DSC_1903

Twin Falls
Twin Falls
Eliot Falls
Eliot Falls

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Clothes washing
Clothes washing
Eliot Falls
Eliot Falls

Day 17. Fruit Bat Falls and The Old Telegraph Line Track

After a slightly lazy start to the morning we headed to Fruit Bat Falls for a morning swim.

Isabel
Isabel
Abigail
Abigail
Wills in the waterfall
Wills in the waterfall
Annabel in the waterfall
Annabel in the waterfall

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Then back to camp for lunch before embarking on the Overland Telegraph Line Track. DSC04850 DSC04823This track goes along side the old telegraph line that linked Thursday Island and the Cape with the rest of the state. The first part of this line was established in 1885. The last telegraph message from Brisbane to Thursday island was sent on the 24th June 1964. As microwave towers took over and the line was dismantled in 1987, the track beneath is no longer maintained by anyone except the people that use it.DSC04812-001 DSC_0644 DSC04801 IMG_7824 DSC04839 DSC06219 DSC04845 IMG_7833 IMG_7841 IMG_7842 DSC06229It was great to do the creek crossings after all that’s what all the car-modifications were for!

Day 18 Eliot Falls to Chili Beach 388kms 5hrs 52mins driving time

Early pack up today for our drive south to Chilli Beach. We have to get back through the unexpected creek with our trailers on! IMG_7956 IMG_7948 IMG_7937 IMG_7926
We all got through with no winching required! Yay.

A quick swim / bath at fruit bat falls then onward south. The day was fairly uneventful, until we tried to find our lunch stop at Batavia Downs where there are ruins from the Gold mining era. It was a narrow track and we drove around for a while trying to find the location of the ruins when Sardine 2 slashed their tyre on a fallen dead tree.

Sardine 2
Sardine 2
Batavia Goldfields
Batavia Goldfields

DSC06260Further along the Portland road to Chilli Beach Hot Stuff 2 had a trailer uncoupling!DSC04886The road to chilli beach has many crests and dips, s-bends and creek crossings so a slower trip than expected but a lovely drive through the iron range national park.IMG_7969 IMG_7978

Day 19 Chili Beach

After a walk along the beautiful, but very windy Chili beach, and cracking open a few coconuts, the Scott’s and Jardines went into the Lockhart River township. DSC06280 DSC06283 IMG_8021 IMG_8060 IMG_8039The Arts Centre was the reason for our visit. The arts centre was set up for local artists and receives government funding to help them exhibit their work not only in Australia but for some of them overseas as well. We got to meet some of the artists and see their amazing work.DSC_2011 IMG_8986 IMG_8988
Our lunch spot was closed but we managed to get an ice cream from a man in his undies!

We bought some local seafood and headed back to camp where team Hot Stuff had been having a relaxing day.DSC_2012 IMG_8076 IMG_8081 IMG_8085

Day 20. Chili Beach to Mareeba 730kms 9 hrs driving time

A 7:30 start this morning we had our biggest day yet.

Goodbye to the beautiful Chili BeachDSC06285

 

It was a day of lots of driving, but of course not without excitement.

Firstly the Landcruiser
Firstly the Landcruiser
then the Disco
then the Disco
Red dust everywhere
Red dust everywhere
Lunch in Coen
Lunch in Coen

and dinner in Mareeba, where we rest our heads for the evening.