Loyalty Beach and the top end turned out to have a bit more to do than we realised and rather than the 2 nights we intended staying, we ended up staying 4!
State of origin was a blast (although I was in bed after about half an hour), I couldn't believe how many people were there! The khaki boys (one of the car groups that we met on the track) were there in black tie and boardies, while the rest of the caravan park and locals sat divided under their team's flag. There was a little local boy getting right into it, think he was doing most of the yelling! They had a $2 sausage sizzle bunnings style (although I did turn around at one stage and see flames as high as the cook's head...luckily I had had my fill by then). None of us had eaten sausages since we left so we devoured them, I ate 2, Az ate 4, skye ate 3 (I think) and swifty had 5...still a very cheap dinner.
In the middle of the night, after the celebrations had abated, we heard horses...how random we thought and looked outside. There were a heard of brumbies running between all the camps. That totally explains all the manure I had seen on the ground - I had thought they were just fertilizing the grass!! Hehe. When we finally woke up there was a nice fresh pile next to swifty's car. Apparently they come through once a month or so.
We decided to head to the Tip...we stopped in at The Croc Tent, which is literally a tent on the side of the road, selling souvenirs and giving out information. We got our directions and continued on to the Tip carpark. It's about a 15 minute walk from the carpark, over rocks and bush. The sign that you see is positioned right at the end of the rock island..so you clamber down the rocks to get the obligatory photo. Ian, one of the WA boys, told swifty to take his fishing rod, so after the photos and after we'd seen a charter boat haul in a huge mackeral in front of us, he cast aa few lures. We were all so anxious for him to catch something - would be a great story! Alas, while he had a few fish swimming aaround, he didn't hook anything. We headed back to the cars along the 'low road', which was through mangroves..I was on definite croc watch then!!
Az and I decided to head back to town and swifty and skye continued on to The Beach Loop, which took them around 5 beaches. Az had heard from a local that the jetty was good around 2.30-3.00, so he fished and I had a snooze in the car - I was a bit grumpy, no food, water or food and in the sun..not a good combination for a happy camper..hehe. When I woke up, I took the truck for a spin...my first drive. Am happy to say she's still in one piece :)
I went and got a BBQ chicken, they have BBQ chooks up here!! The first ones we've really seen since leaving the big smoke. Took it back to share with az, he was famished too. He didn't catch any fish..other than a bit of bait.
I drove back to camp and took some photos of the sunset over the ocean, such a treat.
The next day the boys decided to take the tinny out into the big ocean, about 6km to the first island..were out there until about midday - they came back to tell us that their fish had been stolen by a 3m shark coming up to the back of the boat...they were both so sunburnt, they were,kt able to do much for the rest of the day. Although we all went down to try and get the tinny up to camp. We didn't have a trailer and the sand was like mud, so the wheels we had to walk the dinghy up the beach were getting bogged...so we decided (naturally) to hook it up to the 4wd and tow it...swifty had hooked the boat anchor into the tow bar (I can see you all flinching now) and az and I were pushing the boat from behind. It was like slow motion, the car drove forward, the rope tightened, then the anchor released and came flying back right at me....I was glued to the ground, I could see what was happening and knew it wasn't going to end pretty..but still couldn't move. Luckily, it landed just in front of me. There was an old guy on the beach, stubby in hand, just shaking his head and walking away. We ended up getting it back to camp with no injuries.
We were talking to our next door neighbours and the oldies about where they were headed next. Everyone was talking about Vrilya Point..lots of Cherabin (bush prawn/yabby things) and good fishing. A day after everyone had left we thought we'd give this Vrilya Point a go. Az and I left town first, as skye and swifty were waiting for the bottlo to open, so we thought we'd mosy on down and check it out. Took about 2.5 hours from where we were staying.
The track into the beach was insanely corregated! I mean so bad the whole dash of the car was rattling by itself. And oh so noisy! Felt like it went forever (24km)!! We had to cross another log bridge, which was a bit sketchy, if we put the tyre in the wrong spot we could have got stuck, as there was a gap just about the size of our tyres. This is where we saw the oldies cars but no oldies - think they were doing the old telegraph track again. While we waited for S+S to arrive, we drove down to the north side of Vrilya and checked it out...very pretty! Total beach front, with crystal clear aqua water..stunning. Looks like there were some people there who had been camping there for a very long time!
We headed back to the freshwater crossing where we'd meet S+S, and had a bit of a dip.
Once they arrived we drove down the south end of the beach (all 15km of it!) On the beach, which was pretty fun. The sand was so soft! Saw heaps of campers dotted all the way along, so we went right to the end, which was just near the river mouth. Great spot!! We ended up spending 3 nights here. Best sunsets yet..seriously stunning!! We were set up on a spot just above high tide line, complete with it's own rope swing. There was a slight wind blowing, which actually got a bit fresh in the evenings. Az was keen to get the boat in the water, so next morning they got it in the water. The first night the boys went to investigate the river mouth, and decided to put some crab pots in, and after dinner went up to check the pots..bingo!! So as an after dinner treat, we had crab! Yummmmm!! Each couple took turns with the tinny and Az and I went all up and around the river, searching for crocs (I was right in the middle of the boat, all limbs firmly inside the boat!) But we didn't see any! Az did find some good spots for the crab pots though, so went back later to position them in the new spots...we didn't end up getting anymore crabs that we kept, they were all too small. I even caught one on the beach when I was doing the dishes!! Az loved taking the tinny up the creek at night looking for crocs, given half the chance I reckon he'd have probably wrestled one if he could! They finally spotted one at night, not very big though. One day he spotted one sunbaking in the spot that Skye had been fishing earlier that day!! There was a couple a few sites up that were there for 10 weeks!! This place is super secluded, no running water, no amenities at all. They had a big fishing boat there too. Az took the couple next to us up the creek at night as they hadn't seen any crocs and were keen to see some. The wife was apparently packing it, and her husband was playing on it, slapping the side of the boat etc. Poor love!
After 3 days of looking at ocean we can't swim in and that have no waves, az and I decided it was time to move on and start towards a surfing beach...via the inland. So we left S+S and headed back. We got back to Coen on our first day, which was filled with snake sightings (yuck!!), a car accident, cows leisurely crossing the road and Aaron's highlight of the trip, meetin Roothey from 4WD Action. We pulled up for some fuel at Archer River Roadhouse and when I got back from the bathroom and paying, here he was having a good ol' yarn with him. They were going to Chilli Beach the next day (which is where we had wanted to go originally but decided to go towards surf instead). As we were driving off, Aaron says excitedly, I should of got a photo with Milo!! Who is apparently Roothey's car..he was like a star struck kid!! Was great to see him so excited!
Yesterday we did a bit of touristy stuff and stopped in at Laura's Culture Centre and read about the area. Then we drove to Split Rock which had all the aboriginal rock art. Was great to see! We continued on to a lookout called Earl James Lookout - on top of a hill...super windy!! We even got our jumpers out and went to bed as soon as we had dinner!!
Today we're heading to some hot springs, can't wait!! From here we're heading towards Longreach and then back to the Coast to 1770...then on our way back to the GC. Az is on thinking overload, he's got plans for the caravan and all sorts of stuff!!
Thanks so much to everyone who's reading the blog, it's been great hearing from you and loving the comments. Xxx
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