Cape York - Thursday 8/9/11

Up with our little black alarm clock again this morning.  Jim & Craig went straight off to do some fishing - right down at the mouth of the Jardine.  1 1/2 hours later they returned (empty handed) and we could finally have breakfast.

around 10.30am we were all packed up and ready to move on to our next camp.  Firstly we showed Jim & Ev the Radar Tower and the camp area at Mutee Heads.  Then onwards east to the old Linesman Hut on the north bank of the Jardine, upriver of the ferry.  Tour Master Jim firstly went west from the ferry to try find a camp someone had told him about - no luck.  We stopped for lunch in a clearing.


Linesman Hut - Jardine River

Then we had Tour Master Stork leading us east by GPS co-ordinates to find the Linesman Hut - played where does that track go more or less, until we finally found our way to the hut.



Jardine River at Linesman Hut

 Really lovely campsite, but someone was already camped there!  We followed the track west along the Jardine, past 2 other campsites (outside of the NP) and further into the bush.  Came across a potential campsite according to Craig, had a nice sandy beach in front but flattened long grass to camp on (not really comfortable with the long grass - snakes and all). So after a group discussion the majority voted to go back to one of the first 2 campsites we saw - not to everythings liking this decision.  Looked at the first one we came to, then walked over to the other one closer to the hut - better, it was larger, flatter & had more shade - everyone was sick of the sun.  Decision made, setup camp around 3.30pm. 



Jardine River Campsite

Jim & Ev went for a quick dip in the shallows of the Jardine & eventually I got Craig to do the same (he was a little bit hot & grumpy).  It was a family affair - Craig, Boris & I went for a tub.

View from campsite

View from campsite

Very pleasant campsite all in all. 




We ended up getting neighbours in the other campsite, but there is enough distance between them that you don't feel camped ontop of.  Cooked dinner over the campfire on the tripod, afterwards we had some chocolate for dessert.  Again Ev & I went off to bed & the boys stayed up for a bit, sitting around the campfire.
Maximum temperature today was 39.5 degrees!