Wed, 8th Aug, 2018 Seisia Campground, Seisia to Moreton Telegraph Station campground, Qld (exploring)

Lovely sunrise colours. Tide right out with mackerel clouds.

Heard this crunching noise then spotted a Great Palm Cockatoo eating the Coastal Almond tree’s nuts.

Packed up and headed into Bamaga. I walked back to check out some plaques I spotted. Bamaga is named after a Saibai Islander, Bamaga, who brought his people here in 1946.

As well as the horses roaming the streets they have the usual wandering dogs.

Headed out of town towards the Injinoo Airport. More horses and a pony. Sadly there was a dead one by the road too.

Found the DC3 plane wreck from 1945.

Walked further along the road and found more bits of the plane that had ripped off as it came through the trees. This wing must have wrapped around a tree looking at the curve in it.

We followed another track and found the fuel dump – plenty of old drums lying around over a large area.

Note off Margaret’s Hema – As Japan pushed down through Papua New Guinea during World War 2, the Cape became a major base for Australian troops. In this period many planes crashed and wrecks of a DC3, 2 Beaufort Bombers and a Kittyhawk fighter can be seen near Jackey Jackey Airfield (now called Injinoo).

We found one of the Beaufort Bombers. It was spread over a large area.

Back across the end of the airport runway which has cattle grazing at one end of it.

We drove in to find the Kittyhawk but we found another plaque for the other Beaufort Bomber inside.

Some interesting artwork. I could have used that painting on my van – 2 geckos travelling.

Outside was a memorial to the people who lost their lives in the plane crash at Lockhart River in 2005. We remember that well.

Nearby was a plaque about Jackey Jackey who was Kennedy’s companion.

Watched a plane take off. Reminds me of when we used to watch Dad fly down to Brisbane for work and when he returned. We would hang off the wire mesh watching the planes landing and trying to be first to see him get off the plane. So different nowadays at Cairns Airport.

Back to the turn off and up and down the dirt road till we joined the Bypass Road. Straight ahead is the Old Telegraph Track down to the Jardine River but you can’t cross there anymore.

Around to the ferry and straight on board and across we went.

Very corrugated on this side of the road. Onto some bitumen. Passed the turn off to Mistake Creek then road works. The water truck had just been through so we were flicking up mud.

We pulled into a parking area near the track into Fruit Bat Falls and had our lunch.

Very smoky – the wind is blowing from the east so something is burnt over there. Passed the turn off to Captain Billy’s Landing. We will come back another time and do these other east coast beaches. Pretty yellow flowers on the trees.

More roadworks near the turn off to the Heathlands Ranger Station. Mal is fascinated with how corrugations form in one spot but not another. We had an in-depth conversation over the UHF while we were driving along.

Heading back into the big ant hill country.

Stopped at Branwell Roadhouse so Bob could top up his field then continued on to Moreton Telegraph Station to camp for the night. I spotted more plaques as we drove in – about the bridge and a telegraph station overseer.

We paid our camp fees and picked a spot on the other side in the bush rather than the lush grass area.

Bob and Margaret were driving with their windows down so Bob was getting a hair colour change. With his wild eyebrows we all reckon he looks like Jack Nicholson.

Went for a wander and found photos of the Great Palm Cockatoo. It is their mascot and is on all their things for sale.

Some laughing kookaburras landed in the tree near us and had a wonderful cackle.

Dug out the barra fishing rods to try our luck down at the Barra Hole in the Wenlock River. Checked out some graves as we went.

Bit of a walk past all the other camp facilities. A tour group driving old land drovers we having a cuppa. Two chaps were making repairs on a fuel tank that had split.

Down the track to the river. Had a good look around and didn’t spot any crocs or croc evidence.

Steve showed Malcolm how to cast the lure and after 4 casts he hooked a little barra. I managed to get it on video. He was very excited. Too small to keep but he has ticked that off his bucket list.

Bob put his lure in a tree so Steve went for a long walk downstream and across to retrieve it.

We flicked and flicked but couldn’t get any more action. Mal headed back so Steve flicked the lure for a bit and parked it on a rock so another trek down and around to retrieve it.

Time for drinks so we headed back. Noticed this concrete thing which Steve thinks could have been for a flying fox across the river.

Our route for today.

Had dinner then played Skipbo – very funny!!

Lovely clear sky tonight.