Bush Tucker

 Since we have been travelling, we have only had to resort to tinned spag once and I have been trying to put tasty, filling and good food on the table each night. Some times this has been a challenge, once at Archer Point, the wind was so strong that it kept blowing the gas out and we had to build a make shift barrier, move the cooker and cook bloody fast. That night we had coconut beef curry and rice.
 Other times, like at Port Stewart, I had precious little left due to a malfunctioning fridge. That time we had Chick pea soup and fried chorizo and James made a fine damper.
 Daniel caught a good size barracuda and we were told that they weren't that good eating. Not to waste fresh food, especially when food up here is SO expensive, eg; 3 chicken legs $13.50! I cut up the fish, marinated it with garlic, chilli and terriaki. Stir fried it with some veges and had it with rice..it was very tasty and the fish was great eating.
 I have learnt to make a little go along way and there is no place for a fussy eater. Daniel has had to learn to eat things he wouldn't at home and it hasn't hurt him at all. Iv'e always said that there is nothing wrong with cooked carrots!
 Check out whats been on the menu:

Browning the meat for my cowboy stew with dumplings.

I prefer to cook on the fire as I love the smokey taste the camp oven gives the food, plus it is usually one pot cooking, less washing up!

Simmering beautifully.

Yum!

You just can't beat fresh fish baked on coals.

Asian soup with pork dumplings, noodles & cabbage. Daniel didn't even pick out the cabbage!

A stir fry always goes down well.

 When you get enough coals, then you can bake anything you want. We tried the old humble roast chook and see for your self how it turned out.

Season chook and veges.

Good coals top and around the oven.

Sit back and relax while it roasts.

The roast was sensational! 

My place of work..and I love it!

Making it to the Tip.'

 We can't believe that we are almost to the very top of Australia. Six weeks exploring this beautiful country, we have almost completed our first goal of this journey. We decided not rush and spend a day or so camping at Patterson Creek, just a bit north of Loyalty Beach. Our fellow travellers joined us, and we spent a day relaxing and getting a few jobs done, well the boys fished and I got a few jobs done! Patterson Creek was a nice little spot but the crocs kept wrecking the crab traps. James heard later from a local that they never put their traps out there without letting off a few rounds off in the water to scare off the crocs. If I had known that I wouldn't have gotten out of the car!!

Setting crab traps..watch out for crocs!

 The following day we parted company with Sean and Kate, making plans to meet up at the top. We mucked around getting a few things in Seisia and then headed off. We turned on the GPS and it showed us a few tracks to take. We followed the first one and you all know how we prefer to take the road less travelled, well this one has never been travelled at least for a few years anyway. The road just veered away and started taking us away from the direction we wanted to go. Turning around was no easy feat in Ivan and in doing so we broke off the telephone aerial. We went back to where the track should have been but it had disappeared in all the over growth and Daniel had to scouted around and found very faint tracks. Now, maybe we should have turned back but we didn't, for what ever reason we kept going! The track was long ago gone,  and Daniel had to keep scouting trying to stay on course. We had to cut away fallen trees and James at one time had cut down a tree to allow us through! I decided it was a safer place to sit in the back seat while the boys worked their way through!! It took us over two hours to get through about 20 ks of bush! When we got back out we saw that the second track on the bloody GPS was now the main road through! Poor old Ivan got scratched and battered, we did more damage in those 2 hours than we did on the whole trip getting to the Cape! Well at least you can say that we are not scared of a challenge!
 Salvation was found when we pulled into our camp spot. Cable Beach, right near the water in a beautiful bay, just south of the Tip. It was beautiful and the weather was fantastic. Thank goodness!

Looking south from our camp spot.

You can see the tip from here!

After inspecting the damage to the car and The Tvan, which luckily was only superficial, we unhitched and continued on to the Tip. It didn't take us very long and there were quite a few people heading up and returning. The view was spectacular and as we climbed over the rocks, we could see the end, the very northern tip of Australia. We had some one take a photo of us, and then unlike everyone else, we found a little spot under a tree and spent about half an hour reflecting on our 6 week journey to get here. We didn't want to rush, and quickly the crowd left and we sat there right on the edge of Australia, just us , the Scarpias'. 

..almost there.

We made it!!

Reluctantly, we left, leaving the Tip for others to enjoy and headed back to camp for a well earned cold drink and to relax. It was time to stop and enjoy our beautiful spot at Cable Beach.

Cable Beach was in fact, too nice to leave, so we stayed an extra day. Daniel and fished, catching some queen fish and Daniel caught a strange looking fish that neither one of us had ever seen it before. We found out from Sean that it was an ramora, the sucking fish that hangs off the bellies of sharks, and judging by the size of the ramora, its host would be of a fair size. We quickly threw it back and decided not to chance our luck by not having another quick frolic in the water shallows like we did just before Daniel caught the romora!! Thats the problem up here, the water looks so inviting but you never know whats lurking just below the surface. James and I have had a few very quick, shallow dips but Daniel is too smart!

 

Creature from the sea..the fish, not Daniel!

 Our days here were fantastic, Daniel and James fished and I did some painting and reading, and in the afternoon, james set up the Cable beach spa...hot water at sunset with a view people pay millions for, just a fitting way to finish our stay here.

Too good...

 We didn't want to leave, but the boys were trying to get onto a charter and we needed to be in Seisia for that so we had to say our good byes to Cable and also farewell to our traveling friends. This time we stuck to the main road and got into Seisia in about 20 minutes!

Too beautiful...

North side of the OTL.

 We had such a great day on the OTL, not only was the driving exciting, but also the scenery was spectacular. It was for ever changing and even though we were expecting crowds, we didn't see many people at all, we felt like we were on our own.

It was getting late so, we made our way to Twin Falls camp ground where we heard was very popular and has great swimming holes. We got there and were very lucky to get a great spot along side our travel companions, Darren, Kate & Blake. The place was very crowded but it was so refreshing to swim in these beautiful swim holes.

 We made plans to get up early to check out Fruit Bat Falls before all the bus loads of oldies arrive. We got there before 8 and it was all ours. We swam for an hour and as we were leaving, you guessed it, a bus full of oldies arrived! A beautiful spot made more special because we had it to ourselves.

After our swim it was back to camp for pancakes and then pack up to tackle the rest of the OTL.

We had heard that the last creek crossing, Nolans Creek had claimed 30 cars in the last 2 weeks and we were advised not to cross it. We didn't want to put the car at risk but I know James was disappointed. 

We decided to do the rest of the track until the Nolans bypass, then go back to check out Nolans from the north and see what it was like. I only hoped we wouldn't get there and have James think that he could have crossed it after all!! When we arrived, a car was preparing to get his mate across. The wives were out with the cameras and after he gave us a small lecture on how he was prepared and that's why all the other cars failed, told his mate to come across. Glad we got there in time, we stood on the bank to watch the show! The driver went into the creek like a bat out of hell and and spear nosed his car and tailer into the soft sand and got promptly bogged. The creek was deep and his car quickly flooded and killed the engine! He might have known what to do, but he should have told his mate! Their pride was further hurt when Daniel said that even he knew not to race into the water [ remember Daniel knows now how to cross rivers!],and three year Blake declared,"Those fellers don't know what they are doing" We decided to leave them to lick there wounds, after they rejected our help to get the car out. We saw them a few days latter and apparently all was well. Luckily it wasn't us, although James still felt he could of done it!

 Nolans Creek, it looks mild but it ruined a few holiday plans!

It wasn't long before we made it to the Jardine river and caught the ferry over to the tip. We made it and over the next few days, we are going to explore the very top of Australia and see where we end up. We will keep you posted!

The Old Telegraph Line.'

 This is what coming to the Cape was a lot about. Taking on the Old Telegraph line challenge! We had heard all the do's and don'ts and the you- might-have-to, along our travels so we were beginning to get an idea of what was ahead of us. I was, as you might suspect, a wee bit apprehensive and concerned for the car and Tvan's well being, but both James and Daniel were excited and couldn't wait. I must admit, we had already been through some intense situations and came through ok and with all the other travellers doing the same thing, there really wasn't a reason to worry, but that's my job to!
 We arrived at Bramwell Junction to fuel and get some local advice, That being;" Palm creeks a bit tricky but hey, thats what youse have come up here for!!"So off we went, let the adventure begin!!

 As we set off we passed a few cares that had decided not to go through the first crossing at Palm Creek undeterred we continued on and came to a collection of cars and some guys hard at work with shovels, picks and logs trying to make the road a bit more passable. James got in to give a hand, we didnt come all this way to turn around at the first crossing!

 After lots of discussion and picture taking, The first car was ready to go through. Getting down the make shift road was ok, but getting up to the other side was the tricky part, it was very narrow and boggy. The first 2 cars had to be winched out' that was expected and then it was our turn. I stayed on the southern bank to take the pictures and James got the car ready, assuring me that he wont "gun it"! He set off and with my fingers crossed he set off and got up half way before the winch crew got in. The mud was thick and sticky but with the retrieving gear all was well. Too much excitement for me, we decided to set up camp there before we tackled the rest of the track. Other cars came through, and every one was throwing dry sand on track and winching those who needed, out. A young family, who went through first also camped with us and we decided to do the rest of the track together. It was an exciting day and we couldn't believe we were finally doing the OTL. What will tomorrow bring!

The start of Palm crossing.

A muddy stop!

 She's stuck!

 ...and now she's out!!

So after a beer and a good feed we hit the sack ready for the new day. The sun was up and we were ready for the challenge. Sean and Kate and 3yr old Blake were along for the ride so off we set. Next crossing was the Dulcie river, the travelling along the OTL was awesome, we cant believe how beautiful the land is around us so now, I will leave you and let the pictures speak for themselves. When they can't I will. Enjoy the ride, we did!

 The Dulcie River.

 Got through that easy!

 Tall termite hill, one of thousands!

 The OTL, they did it hard back then!

 Alice Creek.

 The beautiful Dalhunty River. For me, the most beautiful, unspoilt part of the OTL. No caravans here! We stopped, swam and had coffee.My kind of place. Daniel was itching to drive, so check out what happened next!

 Who is driving this rig?!

 ..Oh never mind, it's only Daniel!

 Hey, Daniel stop! Wait for me!!

 OMG I just drove that!

 Bertie Creek..east peasy.

 Crunch time, the Gushot. The crossing that gave me nightmares and made tow drivers rich!

 Here we go...

 James, I always had faith in you.

 We did it!!!!!

 Our contribution to the gunshot wall of fame..a ginger bundi  beer bike. We got through, and as James and Daniel said: " it was a piece of piss!!" Go Team Ivan!!

 We stopped at Cockatoo creek for some lunch and reflection. Next stop was at twin falls for some R & R and a swim.

 so we leave you here and will fill you in with the Northern end of the OTL. What a day , we had a ball.