Daniel and Marysia around Australia: Wonga Beach, Goodbye Stew and Les.

Stew and Les on the Tip of Cape York

Our time had come to say goodbye. We stopped a couple of nights at Wonga Beach but we shared dinner with the locals at the caravan park to celebrate someone's birthday and those who attended brought a meal to share. It was another great night.

Next day we took a trip out to Mossman Gorge and had a plunge in the water. It was really cold but very refreshing. As Daniel and I were making our way to the car to gather up lunch I noticed a couple they approached us and asked us from where about in Melbourne we came from and I said that they probably speak Polish. They did! we have mutual friends back home in common. What a small world this is!

Our final night together with Stew and Les was lovely. Dinner, drinks, gifts exchanged as tokens of thanks for the time spent together. Les got to read out her poem that she'd made to express the Cape York journey.

Here it is:

To The Tip And Back

We met Marysia and Daniel our Cape York companions on a Wednesday night at the Cairns campsite. We spent some time planning this trip so we could get safely to the tip. Well leave the caravan, the caravan stays, our tent is the accommodation for the next seventeen days

We set off from Cairns on a sunny day but things didn’t start off the right way, see stew went to Bunnings to get some timber, got back to the car and it could have burned to cinders, cos he had a mishap and it could have been dire cos he’s car nearly set on fire

Our first big stop was Chilli Beach, we knew this place wasn’t out of our reach, but there was a storm not long ago and it brought heaps of rubbish up onto the shore. We drove down the beach to do some fishin and Stew just kept hoping and wishing that a fish would jump right on his hook and at last we’d have something to cook. He struck it lucky and got a hit then he was as happy as a pig in shit. We did Chilli Beach and we also did Weipa, he fished some more and he got a keeper.

After a few more days we hit the Telegraph Track but once we’d started there was no turning back. The creeks got deeper, the tracks got rough but that didn’t stop us cos our men are tough. After crossing Palm and Dulcie creek we Came upon Alice but that was so weak. We came upon Gunshot the one that everyone fears, and it nearly brought our men to tears, so to get across and have some fun we decided to do the chicken run, it was the cowards way out so everyone told us, so the guys crossed the water and we took the photos.

That night we settled for Elliot falls as a campsite base so we could recall how much fun we’d had that very day and hope it would carry on that way. The falls where beautiful, the saucepan cool and we just jumped right in that pool. We had a swim and it was amazing and then we spent some time just lazing. Fruitbat Falls was our next destination for another rest and relaxation, the water was clear and so pure we had a good time that’s for sure.

We stayed in Seisa but it wasn’t very nice so the next day we headed to paradise. Punsand Bay was the name of this site, it was that nice we stayed for two nights.

The next stop the tip, the tip of Australia at this point you can’t go any further. Me and Stew ,Marysia and Dan we’ve come as far as we can. The four of us have made it here we’ve had a top time that’s no fear, but now we are all down in the mouth cos the next part of the journey is heading south

This part of the trip is almost to an end and well have to say goodbye to our friends, but we’ll keep in touch they will be on our mind cos good friends like these are hard to find.

We’ve had good food and good beer to, but the cask wine was cheap but what can you do, but now’s the time to start the diet give up the booze and start to be quiet, cos the tip has been done, there’s no misgiving, now were on our way home to see the kids and make a living.

By Lesley Treagust

We had such an amazing time with them. Stew and Les were great companions. We'll be catching up with them in October closer to their home. We'll definitely see them again next year when visiting Brisbane. Take care guys, you're the best!