Top of the world!

After travelling 4500km in 19 days we are finally at our destination - well not quite as yet but we are set up here at Loyalty Beach and will rest a bit before heading south! This morning we set off early up the track and soon hit the main road which was like a highway after the corregated track. We called into the Fruit Bat Falls and they were beautiful - and a safe swimming spot where several people were enjoying a swim but we had our thoughts towards getting north. I know lots of kids who would have had a ball there. 

         

We crossed the Jardine River on the most expensive ferry ever - it only took about 20secs to get across and cost $145!!  I reckon  a bridge would be the way to go! 

         

We headed to this camp spot and it's spacious and relaxed and after much deliberation, set up overlooking the no - go sea and Torres Strait Islands. We must be very nice people as despite the many vacant camping sites, these funny 4 fat people, who were next to us at Weipa, set up very close by! Can you see their tent and vehicle behind the horses? (And another Ultimate camper?)

       

 

There are these horses everywhere and they wander around the camp and even try send get into the rubbish bins - why I don't know! They don't belong to anyone and just roam about everywhere. Some are very attractive but most are a bit mangy! 

They say a mans work is never done and these 2 had a go at plumbing this morning and with success too! 

      

Now it's the next day and we have achieved our goal and reached the most northern point of mainland Australia! Darryl can tick that off his list now!  The drive there was beautiful through a lovely rainforest - one of the most picturesque drives you could go on.

       

Then we emerged from this forest to a car park and the beach! In typical Queensland style, there was no signage, so we walked along the beach seeing the tide was out, then clamoured over some rocks and reached our goal. We posed for the obligatory photo then Dennis surprised us by whipping out a Ford flag and posing with that!

        

We left there and drove to a beautiful beach overlooking Augusta island and enjoyed our picnic lunch there. We walked along the beach - with a wary eye out for those pesky crocs - it's such a shame these beautiful beaches can't be utilised. 

        

Our trip to the supermarket in Bamaga was very quick as the prices were atrocious - we did purchase a box of xxxx gold stubbies for $66 and a cask of wine for $25! We also found out that we aren't supposed to be drinking bottled wine as it's illegal to have glass up here! So we'll have to drink what we've got very quickly!  We haven't been impressed with the towns up here -rubbish everywhere, dilapidated houses, mangy dogs and no nice lawns, parks or gardens! We certainly wouldn't want to make our home up here!

We are now cooking a camp oven roast over the campfire and it's a glorious evening. Tomorrow we are doing a tour of Thursday Island and are looking forward to a relaxing day. 

So the very satisfied campers sign off tonight happy and content. Love to you all down south! 

Xxxxxxx

Ps I am having some publishing issues so please excuse me if they don't present properly!