Day 36 - Cape York tip and Somerset

Well the day had come where we going to make the last little dash to the point and the fabled sign.  It was a 15 minute drive or so, we took the short cut from Pundsand bay that joins the main road half way there.  It was a little more scenic and bumpy being impassable in wet.

Once on the main road, it wasn't long before we hit the car park.  This is where Charlie had to stop and the walking began.  Andi was less than pleased with the idea of along walk the mud flats but that soon was forgotten when we mentioned the sign.

We chose the lower route for the way there, and came back via the top path back to the car.  The scenery is stunning, with a bit of breeze to keep the temps down.

 The beach ... Hard to take

 Walking across the mud flats

 The fabled sign : "you have reached the northern most point of the Australian mainland". Whilst walking out to the sign Chris and I were commenting that the sign although a good moment to remember, is but a small part, it's more about the journey getting here, approximately 5100 kms seeing some amazing places on the way up, meeting interesting people, going over some exciting and shocking roads and sharing this all with an awesome family.  It sound a a bit clique but it is more about the journey than the destination.

 There are stone cairns everywhere, we think that the peninsula was covered in rocks and they have been collected and stacked neatly.  This is one of the more artistic ones.

There is of course a geocache here as well, only 4 on the peninsula all up.  Stu forgot his phone in the car so after he scrambled back to the car and returned there were phone calls to family members underway and messages being sent.  Surprising a fair bit of service!

 At the geocache

 The compass and distances from here to many places around the world.

Insert panorama for Stu's phone

We started to make our way to Somerset, another campsite on the eastern coastline.  It was the place the Jardine's and others established as the ruling headquarters of the region.  But in 1877 this was moved to Thursday Island due to strong currents, small to non existent harbour and issues with the natives.  Having said that it was lovely spot.  If we make it back up here at some stage, it will be one to come back to.

This is also where the graves of the remains of two aborigines were returned from Germany late last year after being taken for study in the 1800's.  No fan fair here, little signage about who they were.  More research required.

There is a loop road from Somerset that takes down the coast via the 5 beaches trail and then rejoins the major road further south. Although a bit rough and bumpy in places, it showed how just by going a little further how quickly you can come across more amazing country, a lovely feeling of isolation.

 Charlie's glamour shot

We returned to camp just in time for the parent patience to run out over the need for the boys to go swimming.  They must sense when we are about 30 minutes from home and start to act up.  The boys spent about hour in the pool till the shaded pool area even got Andi'schin chattering.

I eluded yesterday we went into the Sesia butcher to pick up some steaks and sausages.  After asking for some small steaks, we opened the packet to find three of these.  I must add that the three adults shared one for dinner and felt quite full!  That is the full size frying pan for a size reference!

The other two will be consumed to more.. mmmmmmm love a bit of cow!