Friday, 30 August 2013

Cape York 1. (kurumba to Coen).


On the drive to kurumba, the wind was howling across the salt pans, which at times made it difficult to see the road. Kurumba is famous for its fishing on the Norman River and in the Gulf. Extremely pretty, however yet again you cannot swim in the waters due to the large Crocs that lay in wait….. We were talking to a ranger in the coffee shop and he told us about the problems they have with dogs and cats here, they can still shoot dogs & Cats, they get $10.50 per dead cat!!! The other night he caught a 20kg cat!!! On the drive here we saw thousands of cattle, hundreds of Brolgas, horses and lots of big dead pigs on the side of the road. We went to the Barramundi Discovery Centre, hoping Steve could get close to a Barra and it is closed until further noticeL The Agile wallabies seem semi tame round here as they enjoy eating the grass roots at the back of our camper. Steve went on a fishing charter and we didn’t have fish for tea!!! We had 6 nights here whilst the car was fixed, which without a tinny was probably 5 nights to many. We also cross the Great Dividing Range, 270m. We also are now where the big fruit bats are, at night you can hear them going over the tent.
 
Dusty Salt Pans.
 
Steve by the Norman River.
 
A Brolga came to visit.
 
Kurumba.
 
Kurumba.
 

Finally we leave kurumba behind, heading North to Kowanyama, well we decided this peninsular should be called Billabong Peninsular (Not Cape York Peninsular), as it was a very poor wet last season, yet still there is water everywhere. No wonder the pigs love it up here, the population of pigs is around 3 million!! We bushed camped somewhere 200klm South west of Musgrave. The wild life and bird life is amazing.  We leave our bush camp behind and head to Musgrave and onto Coen. We were lucky enough to find another free camp by the Stewart River, and after checking out the rocky area decided we would have a wash here, and we saw no sign of Crocs!!! The road changes often, sand, shingle, Bull dust, clay, dry creeks and unexpected big dippers, even caught Steve by surprise!!
 
Cattle at 1 of the many Billabongs on our way to Kowanyama.
 
Alice River Crossing.
 
Half way over Alice River.
 
A lone Jabiru.
 
Our camp by Mosquito water hole. (We think).
 
Feral Cattle mixed with Station Cattle. 
 
Distances from Musgrave.
 
Musgrave Roadhouse.
 
Me at Musgrave Roadhouse.
 
Tractor pull for charity going through Coen.
 
Steve at our camp by the Stewart River, Coen.
 
Steve at the Stewart River, soaking his feet!! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

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