Hi again

On our way to Normanton we camped for 2 nights at Leichhardt Falls, enjoying a swim in the cool fresh water below a small water fall. We camped beside the river (presently just a creek) at the top level and swam in the pool the middle level – but the risk of crocodiles in the bottom level was too great so we didn’t swim there.

Normanton is a town of about 1500 inhabitants, about 40 km from the Gulf of Carpentaria on the Norman River. The famous explorers, Burke and Wills, camped near here before making their final push to the ocean 170 years ago. It is amazing that they made it here from Melbourne, the first Europeans to cross the continent from south to north, without the technology and knowledge that we take for granted today. A prominent feature in the town is a replica of an 8.6 metre crocodile that was shot near here in the 1960’s.

Karumba is only 70 km from Normanton and we enjoyed it more. The caravan park is quiet (because everyone goes fishing for the day) and our site was very shady. Only about 500 people live here and they talk very proudly of their fishing (this year is the worst for 20 years, Ted’s fishing trip was not very successful) and their sunsets (not as good as ours at Brighton) but we still had a good time.

On leaving Karumba we took a 540 km rough road to Chillagoe. The short cuts to the tip of Cape York that we had intended taking did not eventuate because of roads being closed so we had to go via Chillagoe. Along the way a camp site beside the Gilbert River was very peaceful, with a clear sky reflecting in the blue water and freshwater crocodiles sun baking on the sand bank opposite.

Further along the track we camped beside the road in a very remote location, with only 2 vehicles going past during the night. The sunset reflecting on the side of the dusty caravan looked pretty.

This was one of the roughest roads we have been on – corrugations, bull dust holes, deep ruts, rocky stretches, washaways and dips, quite deep creek crossings, with an average speed of less than 50 kph. We saw hundreds of cattle, brolgas, wallabies, bustards, red-tailed black cockatoos, 2 snakes, eagles, jabiru and lots of large hawks – a very interesting 3 days.

Chillagoe is an interesting town because of its limestone caves but we did a cave tour here 9 years ago so didn’t see them this time. High quality marble is mined here, so good that some is exported to Italy, and large blocks of marble can be seen all over the district.

Today we drove 380 km to Laura and we can now say that we are on Cape York. Tomorrow the real fun starts as we head north for 3 weeks before returning to civilisation again in Cairns.

Hope everyone is well, as we are. Love from Ted and Jo