Tip Top Two

Crossed the Jardine but the road didn’t get any better.

Not far to Siesia. Our map shows that the ferry service to Thursday Island operates out of both Punsand Bay and Seisia so a phone call to Punsand Bay Camping Ground because that’s where Alan & Barb are booked in seems like a good idea for this nights accommodation. Well says the man, your map is out of date – the ferry does not operate from here any more. So, Seisia would seem to be he best place to work from. In we go to the Seisia Camping Ground. For the privilege of putting up our own tent we gave them $48.00 per night but we did get a hut with a kitchen bench and sink and space to place our table and chairs under cover and dogs and horses to share it with. But, we did also get Joy and Tony as neighbours and that was real good cos they were a font of information. We put up the tent again and we didn’t argue once. And, despite the constant winds, horse intrusions and dogs over the next few days it stayed up. Whats more, we had a great view…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theres a lot of military history to this area including the airport which was originally put in by the yanks in the second WW but it was missed by a few planes the remains of which are scattered still throughout the bush…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both are marked on the maps but on the ground directional signage is pretty scarce – very hard to find. Quite chilling once found though.

Booked the boat to Thursday and Horne Islands at a concessional rate of just $202.00 each. The boat departs from just around the corner at 8.00am (shudder). Whoops, no seasick pills for Jude, O Oh. Nowhere to purchase either. This is going to be fun. Well, four boat trips later and stormy seas on return we have one new brave sea traveller. We can go anywhere now, even take a sea cruise!

Thursday Island is the local administrative centre for the Torres Strait Islands and is surprisingly well settled. It also has a fortress dating back to the 1880’s set up like most of the others of the period around Australia to combat a Russian invasion. It has 3 6″ guns all of which are the originals. It has a battery which now houses a museum and its fascinating….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few nice buildings….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and a drive past the cemetery complete the sites of Thursday Island. On to Horne island. Lunch at the Horne Island Resort (which is corrugated iron mostly) and museum. Mostly photographic and word history of the region it covers the pearl diving period and the local WW II experience. Then on the bus for a tour of the WW II sites of interest….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not every day you pass a truck at sea. Plane wrecks, gun emplacements, control bunkers, slit trenches in concrete, all remnants of WW II. Thousands of troops on the islands, no action. Japs dropped some bombs though.

The ferry to TI from Seisia takes 1 1/2 hours, the ferry from TI to Horne just 20 minutes but all in all we spent nearly 4 hours on the water. The trip back was rough but Jude handled it well.

Next day, finally, to the TIP. This was to be the whole ‘raison d’etre’ – this is what we came for. On the way we stop at the Croc Tent…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and Punsand Bay. Decided to take the short cut from Punsand Bay to the Tip. Ha! Shorter but how slow…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and we also had a water crossing deep enough to splash over the bonnet. But, a 2CV also made it as did his support crew in a Mercedes motor home. Sort of dulled the challenge.

 

 

 

 

 

The walk up the rocks to the Tip was still a challenge for those of us not as fit  others and the wind threatened to carry us over to TI but we did it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

but even here you get graffiti. Bit sad really.

You really do have to want to do this. Its not an easy experience. But we’re now two of those who have – it feels great and its another one off the bucket list.

Thursday morning marked the turnaround. Hereafter we’re heading home. Filled up at the Thursday 15c off service station for only $2.23 per litre. Everything comes into Seisia/Bamaga by barge twice a week…

 

 

 

 

 

 

and gets carted up the beach. No wonder its expensive – they have to be careful of crocs. Hah! Crocodile warning signs everywhere and still not a croc to be seen. And that one back up there at the Croc Shop is stuffed.

Its now nearly 4 months since we left on this journey and the adventure continues. Tonight we made Bramwell Station for a night of FNQ outback entertainment and bush tucker. We wimped out, largely because of the wind and opted for a ‘donga’ at Bramwell but boy did we have a good sleep on beds and it was only $100.00. Now we could have had a donga with ensuite but at $270.00 thought the walk to the dunny would be better for us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On to Laura for the next overnight but a couple of breakdowns slowed us as we assisted so it was late and still windy by the time we got in. Bugger it – no tent again tonight.  A beaut new motel, an ensuite and great beds, it was almost worth any money. After 8 nights of sleeping on 2” foam on the ground these beds were nothing short of blissful.

Back to Cooktown and  finally our own beautiful bed. One night in the caravan park, one night in the free camp and on we go to Mareeba