Telegraph Track

We drove along a portion of the northern section of the Telegraph Track to view the action.

Chris and I had travelled the track in a Nissan GU in 1997

so we had no reason to acomplish the feat again.

Just as we first turned onto the Telegraph track my Ipod played Dire Straights, Telegraph Road.

Weird heh!

Pitcher plant.

Fruit Bat Falls

Twin Falls

No Fruit Bats at Fruit Bat Falls.

They moved the colony to Twin Falls

A bunch of bats just hanging around.

The famous Gun Shot Creek crossing.

On our first trip here there were 3 drops to the creek.

The left side one hasnt changed. It is straight down into mud.

This day we counted 12 drops.

A wild looking bunch of bikers arrived at the crossing
and were contemplating the various ways down.

The ride was hard and hot so they cooled off.

A monument to the vehicles that made it through. (or maybe not)

Green ants nest, a common sight up north.

Umagico

Paradise lost.

We drove along the coast in the village, Umagico.

What a great place for a beach house.

Unfortunately this and other buildings were derelict.



Thursday Island & Horn Island

We boarded the ferry for a day trip to Thursday Island and Horn Island.

Graham and Nev. 

Phil and Gae.

Lionel, Marg, Greg and Judy.

The ferry ride was too much for some.

The approach to Thursday Island.

View of the township from the Green Hill Fort, one of Australias first defence posts.

Museum in the underground bunker at the fort.

A great view to the gap between the islands.

the local school built this impressive outrigger.

A colourful Frangipani

Japanese graves at the islands cemetery.

The approach to Horn Island.

 Horn Island was the first and most frequently attacked target in Queensland

and was the most-northerly allied airbase in Australia during WW2.

As such, it was utilized by thousands of aircraft,

both American and Australian on their way to New Guinea and elsewhere.

The area around the airport is littered with many remains of WW2 aircraft wrecks.

Ammunition storage area.

On the trip back to the port I was reading a book published by our guide about the role Horn Island played in the war and found my fathers name in a list of serving soldiers stationed on Horn.

He was an anti aircraft gunner. Dad may have been in this very area.

Mutee Head

We went for a drive to Mutee Head with Phil and Gae.

Here is the site of a WW2 Radar Station.

There are other remains around the area.

There is a beautiful beach and aqua water at Mutee.

Also a great camp site. Tight for our van but not impossible to get it in.

(Note for a future trip.)

Seisia

We decided to make a base camp at Seisia in the Loyality Beach Caravan Park. Not a beach for swimming because of the crocs and other marine creatures that inhabit the area.

We did not encounter any.

Happy hour.

Marg and Lionel

enjoying the sunset with an appropriate beverage.

Palm Cockatoo visited the camp.