After many versions of a planned timeline to get to the top of Cape York Peninsula, and much deliberation about how far to take the caravan, we finally settled on bringing the trip forward, racing (at our "race" pace, which is considerably slower than most of the other "racing" traffic on the road!) up to Bramwell Station, leaving the van there and taking the tent to the top for five nights. Then we would be back at the van in time for our next lot of work. The disadvantage was that we had a short and fixed amount of time for the top, but the advantage was that without the van we could drive a bit faster and could pull over easier for other traffic or if we wanted to stop and look at something (mostly a bird). The other advantage was that we could be up and on our way back before the school holiday traffic when the roads deteriorate at a faster rate. In hindsight, I think we made a good decision.
Lunch stop on the Peninsula Development Road (PDR)
Our first night at a gravel pit south of Laura
At the start of the dirt, just before Hann River Roadhouse, Dazz let the air down in the tyres all around.
Camped on the river just north of Coen
Little Egret
White-throated Honeyeater
Looking out from a pull off on the side of the road
Our lunch stop at a dam on the Bamaga Road (after turning off the PDR)
There was evidence of recent burnoffs along the sides of the road, and they were clearly nice cool burns. In places the grass hadn't even completely burned, and the trees hadn't lost their leaves. A bit further north we came across smoke from a burn that was still a bit more active out to the east. It was exciting the birds of prey as they were hunting the animals escaping from the fire. Not having the van on meant we could pull up suddenly when we saw a bird we didn't recognise.
Nankeen Kestrel - not a new one, but not a bad photo. When we first saw it from a distance we were hoping it was the harrier that had landed.
We stayed the night at Bramwell Station, and then left it and the kayaks in the storage area to continue north.
Bramwell Junction
The terrain through this part of the cape seemed to change quite regularly. It was a really interesting and enjoyable drive... apart from some of the sections (mostly on bends) that were really corrugated!
Getting up high for the view.
Casualties of the PDR - probably from people going to fast and/or tyre pressure that were too high for the corrugations.
Our friends we met in Etty Bay sent us a map pin of where they camped and saw lots of White-streaked Honeyeaters. We stopped there, and at a couple of other pull off places in the same area, but it was rather quiet. There were a couple of grevilleas flowering, and we did eventually manage to spot a bird feeding briefly before taking off again. Even though this is a very bad photo it was enough to identify it as what we were looking for.
White-streaked Honeyeater
The reward after a good morning of driving was a swim at Fruitbat Falls. The temperature was perfect, the water was beautiful and clear, and there weren't a lot of people around.
We went a bit further on to the Eliot Falls campground and set up the tent before walking around to check out the falls.
The next morning was beautiful so we went for an early walk and Dazz hunted birds.
Fairy Gerygone
Tawny-breasted Honeyeater
Graceful Honeyeater
The pitcher plants and waterfalls were a lot more cooperative.
After we packed up we had a swim at Twin Falls and had it all to ourselves!
It was lovely and peaceful and it was hard to tear ourselves away, but the Jardine ferry and The Tip awaited us...
