Travelling up Cape York 1-8-22

[Big Red]

I drove North to Coen and camped at "The Bend South" where i had the place to myself.
After a couple of weeks of looking i found a silicon pop up bucket at the general store [my canvas folding bucket won't stay up by itself] so to test it out jumped in the river and got wet, grabbed a bucket full of water and went back to the car, soaped up then poured the bucket over me to rinse off before going back in for a swim ... Luxury !

[Big Red]

Wednesday 3-8-22:
It is such a great spot and no one else is here so I decided to stay and dragged out the solar mat as the roof panel is shaded by the canoe and the side panel is shaded by the tree as well as the cloud cover is not helping.



I waded across to the other side and threw over some wood for tonights fire.



A dragonfly I spotted.



I was watching a 4wd touring video while sitting in the canopy when i heard a car so looked out the kitchen side and saw a caravan coming down the hill and on past me to another spot 100 metres down stream ... i didn't take much notice to the noises after that until I looked out the sleeping side and looked back .... Un effin believable



there is another spot on the water 200 metres downstream but this clown parks on top of me ... they got out and waded into the middle of the river to soak so i decided to try and move them along so got out of the canopy naked.
I did think about wadeing out for a swim but the water is cold and i'd embarrass myself more than them.



All that room and they have to park 2 metres away from me ... you wouldn't even get that close in a crowded caravan park.



Later on I lit a smokey fire and sat out beside it eating my dinner but the woman walked around to the back of the van to get something out, looked over at me and said sweetly "hi, how was your day?"
Doesn't look like they are going to move so i'll just have to ignore the imposition.
Turns out the bloke was from the caravan downstream and its a lady on her own... If they are friends then why didn't she camp down next to him? weird stuff indeed.

[Big Red]

Thursday 4-08-22:
Was an overcast day and i started watching Netflix and binged a series so didn't do much at all.

[Big Red]

Friday 5-8-22:
My near neighbour packed up this morning and drove down to the other caravan where the bloke was packing his up, then a woman emerged from the van for the first time in 3 days and got into the car and they left along with everyone else ... i had the place to myself again ... lovely

[Big Red]

Saturday 6-8-22:

Up at dawn again
Once again i spent time talking to visitors and swimming ... not much else.
Tonight a couple of women came over to have a swim and one is from Jacobs Well ... don't know her or hubby but its a small world. bit packed in this area tonight.

[Big Red]

Sunday 7-8-22:
This morning I packed up and headed into Coen to stock up on food then hit the road north.
Just after the fruit inspection stop I turned west into Oyola Thumotang NP and made my past the Rokeby Airstrop on my way to First Coen River Site for a look … the clutch was playing up a bit but still drove ok.

[Big Red]

Sunday 7-8-22:
This morning I packed up and headed into Coen to stock up on food then hit the road north.
Just after the fruit inspection stop I turned west into Oyola Thumotang NP and made my past the Rokeby Airstrop on my way to First Coen River Site for a look … the clutch was playing up a bit but still drove ok.

[Big Red]

On the way out I stopped at Mango Lagoon and had a look over the car … could not find any leaks, fluid was still full so I drained the clutch slave cylinder then couldn’t get it to bleed up again.
I took the bleed nipple out and found a 750 mm flavoured milk container was a tight fit so I used it to pressurise the reservoir until it started to siphon on its own and put the nipple back in and topped it up … clutch works fine again but will see how long it lasts.

[Big Red]

Next I had a look at Chong Swamp which is a day use area.

[Big Red]

I drove on to Second Coen River Site which is quite a nice spot under the trees.