Chilli Beach July 6 - 8 2019
 
  our first afternoon. We opt to be lazy. A simple stroll (at least 100m) along the beach as the sun went down.

There is little wind.

Looking south to Cape Griffith.
     
  And looking north towards Cape Weymouth (just out of sight) and Restoration Island.

The island is where Captain Bligh landed after the mutiny. Around 1789. We aren't sure why its called Restoration Island.
     
  We've seen this odd ship previously. At Somerset. We still don't know what purpose it serves. And still can't read the name.

We feel like we are in Dorset. With Cape Weymouth, and just around the corner Portland Roads.
     
  Day two we opt to walk northwards. An interesting bit of coastline, Cape Weymouth is inaccessible.
     
  "Dave" lives on Restoration Island. A couple of restored WWII houses. A bit of a media tart, plenty of places to find the story.
     
  We find our way inland a bit to a reasonable road. We saw some of these flowers in one place near the tip of Cape York. The red stands out well.
     
  A different Dave who lives at the end of this road. We'd spotted the 50m of 25mm thick 100mm diameter polythene pipe. Spin welded from 10m sections. It was lying on the beach. Dave decided it may be useful some day so towed it home.
     
  This flower was pointing down.

So we pointed the camera up.
     
  We are back at the campsite after a circuit of about 8km.

Opposite the campsite is a small island. There's a distinctive granite pyramid.
     
  Another evening stroll. Cape Griffith in the distance.

There are coconuts the full 9km of beach.

With impenetrable coastal bush behind.

There's also more of the pumice we saw at Cape Tribulation. Apparently from a 2013 underwater volcano in the Kermadec Archipelago (of which Raoul Island is part). The raft of pumice was spotted by an airline passenger who recognised it.

Lots of damage from Cyclone Trevor (March 2019) which crossed the coast just south of Lockhart River.
     
  A special night. We'll dine out at "Out of the Blue" cafe in Portland Roads.

We are the only diners. One of those special places one remembers. A relaxing time with good food.

The pic on the sign is of a WWII US Liberty Ship at the timber wharf (since demolished). The village was already part of the supply line to the Batavia Gold Fields (where we crossed the Wenlock), its a natural anchorage.
     
  Population 8 - 10.

The cyclone left few leaves on trees and a big cleanup to open roads. It will take a few years to recover. Meanwhile no fires at Chilli Beach as there is so much dead wood to feed a forest fire.
     
  A memorial to the men Kennedy left behind. Two of them were rescued from this bay in 1848.

Nearby is the rusting support for a gold stamp which arrived just in time to be too late to be of use in the goldfields.
     
  There are a couple of yachts at anchor in the roads. Something pleasant about the light.
     
  The remains of the wharf. The timber part is long gone.
     
  Another day, we walk south to Chilli Creek. About 6.7km, not the advertised 5km.

While the difference may not seem a lot it adds 3.4km to the round trip. 3 hours instead of 4. Which is not really a lot .... until one considers my PMR and the potential for not being able to chew all that has been bitten. While the symptoms are reasonably under control experience suggests pacing oneself, a balance in which overdoing things is to be avoided, seems important. I manage, but there's usually a cost.

The first croc we've seen on Cape York. We've seen lots of warning notices, and at least one track. We've been told about tracks at this creek, we think we were lucky to see the croc. Its "big".
     
  We are on the right hand (true left for pedants) bank. The croc was cruising along the edge of the mangroves on the far side.

The creek is surprisingly wide for one that is only a few km long with little water flowing in. Presumably its very tidal. Chilli Creek and Wilson Creek join somewhere up there.

I should have carried the fishing rod.
     
  A couple of people we'd met last night in Portland Roads. One cod caught. They were leaving as we arrived.

Cape Griffith in the background.
     
  There's a small granite outcrop partway along the beach.
     
  And a different looking sandpiper. Along with a few other sea birds along the beach.

Chilli Beach is strange for us. The beach is quite beautiful, but how many pictures can one take of the same thing.
     
Rainforest Camp, Iron Range National Park July 9 2019
     
Gateway
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