Sunday 22/06/25 arvo…Back into it.
Joe & his daughter Pamela leave from Weipa about 3:50pm, and drop me off at a spot on the Billy’s Lagoon Road (which I walked to Mapoon 2 or 3 weeks ago), where 1 map tells me that there is (or was) a track that goes through to Bamagar Road.(they took the photo on their phone, so I'll have to get it when I see them next)
[Pic from Joe goes here]
drop me off at a spot on the Billy’s Lagoon Road (which I walked to Mapoon 2 or 3 weeks ago), where 1 map tells me that there is (or was) a track that goes through to Bamagar Road. If so, this will save me 20 or 30 km rather than going down to the Batavia Downs Road, which would save >50 km from sticking to the PDR (Peninsular Development Road), and have less dust too.
The road at first:
Looking back:
Looking forward:
I am a little hopeful, because the same map found me the Billy’s Lagoon Road, originally, which went well, and saved me a lot of dust, and at least a day. But, I know this road might not still be there, or might be over-grown so much it is not worth it. Every step I take, I am more committed to it. I think I have about 5 days of food and water. And Dad’s UHF, on chanel 24, or 40, if I do get close enough to civilization. I remember my (invisible, senior) walking partner, creative love, or providence, or thoughtful commitment, or … & take heart again. Jo and his family have been good friends letting me park my car at their place & stay with them for ~4 days.
I am surprisingly emotional as I say Goodbye, and kiss Joe (as well as Pamela). Around 5pm.
This is to get me started, on the road, again, since Joe drives off to get stuff, and his new wife, from Cairns tomorrow at 4am, and won’t be back till Wednesday night, late. So the earliest I could get dropped off at this spot again would be Thursday morning.
I decide to go on into the cool dark evening, till something stops me, since I have my head-torch.
I gave to go through a Lagoon or creek with water half way up my calves. The trolley handles it with everything in it, though the bottom of the cardboard lid will start disintegrating, made to handle rain, not immersion.
Then as I wander on I find a couple Deb & Tim, lounging back on beanbag armchairs by a small Smokey fire (against mozzies). Deb is a shift-worker (nurse) from Weipa, getting some chill-time out this way, by a cul-de-sac near the next creek-ctossing. How surprising! For me, and for them. They talk, offer me a cold beverage, and are surprised to hear me say I have a map that says this track goes through to Bamaga road. Deb lets me take a shot of her HEMA map to show the creeks I have to cross: from Dropped Pin on Left to Bamagar Road on the Right… (West to East) & that is the Wenlock River at the top..
They suggest I camp there for the night, I can use their fire. And then do the crossing in the morning, They have checked this Lagoon for croc tracks and are hopeful of yet getting some fresh-water prawns to throw onto the fire (No such luck). But I start unpacking in the light of their camp-site as they pack to return home for work the next day. Thanks for filling me in… crocs likely to be in Cox’s creek, & Moonlight creek, which my track must cross (similar to the one I have crossed so far, and this one (Vera Creek, or was it Vivian Creek? - about knee heigh at the crossing). And thanks for your cold beverage, and message from Deb, to say G’day to her friend at the Bamagar pub. Deb & Tim whom I met near Weipa, at “Vera Creek”, say G’day Zan!
I don’t think to get a pic till their ute is heading off into the scrub:
This is my gear, after I laid the tent out by the fire (behind the fire is a tree, then a metre drop to the creek, knee-deep clear running water, no crocs to be seen)
I’ll do this crossing in daylight tomorrow, or decide to turn back. I have a wash in the creek and hit the sack by 7:30 or 8 pm.
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