Bamaga Road – nearly there.

Our usual 8am getaway, heading north from Moreton Telegraph Station. Initially following the Telegraph Track but beyond Bramwell Jnct, that becomes a serious 4WD track so we turned slightly NE on Bamaga Road which follows the Divide. (no slowing down for creek crossings for most of the rest of the day, but still some very corrugated sections. We didn’t seem to have climbed much but at times it seemed if you stood on tip toes you might be able to see both the Gulf and the East Coast. Especially in a couple of places where the vegetation had changed to heath-height.

The excitement of the morning was at morning tea time when a diesel smell was noticed – and we were dripping fuel. We had arrived at the car park for the Fruit Bat Falls and a designated swim. So after cake and drinks, we got changed in the facilities provided and left the ‘mechanics’ to sort it out.

A nice pool but enough water coming over the low falls to make it difficult to actually reach the wall behind the falling water. Photo below. Entry to the main pool is down to the left across a rock platform. A pleasant interlude, especially as there has been little swimming to now because of croc danger. When we got back to the bus, the driver had remembered a grandfather’s tale (as opposed to an old wives tale) that you could use soap to seal a hole in the petrol tank. 100km later, it seems to be working ok. Hope he gets back to Cairns on Sunday with our bags. (We fly back with hand luggage only.)

Next obstacle was the Jardine River which is crossed on a small vehicle ferry. It has been intermittently out of action over the last month but a bit south of there we were passed by the Outback Spirit bus ahead of us, having left his group to cross to Thursday Island this morning. Same itinerary, 2 days ahead of us. (There is another bus 2 days behind.) so if he got this far, the ferry must be working. And there it is.

So we’re almost to Bamaga. Only one more stop at the crash site of a DC3 approaching the old aerodrome just south of there in May 1945.

and to round off the daily report, two vegetation shots. The first of the unusual heath lands mentioned above, taken from the bus so not the best quality. The second of a Pitcher Flower plant – they are carnivorous, presumably insects go into the deep flower looking for nectar and get caught in something sweet and sticky! This one near the Fruit Bat Falls.Also, if I can make it work, a tall termite mound at Bramwell Junction.

Tomorrow an early start. Hopefully get to the Tip.

Often at this end of a blog the blog troll decides I’ve done enough and won’t let me go back to fix typos. I expect by now you can figure out what I meant to say!