We continued the drive north crossing the Jardine River with the Ferry before arriving in Bamaga. We had not decided where to stay so drove to Seisa to check out the caravan park there. We decided against it and chose Punsand Bay Campground instead. We got some petrol and groceries and headed further north. Punsand Bay sits just west of the Tip.

We set up camp and after lunch went for a swim in the pool - definitely no swimming in the lovely ocean 40 metres away from our camper as there are estuarine crocs aplenty. As we passed the restaurant on our way to the pool there were the Archer River motorbike group again! We had been stalking them. They are heading back to Cairns via the Barge on Monday (it arrives in Cairns on Wednesday).

After a swim and a bit of reading we headed off about 4pm for our trek to the Tip. We got about 3kms from the campground before we hit trouble. A creek crossing was to be our undoing. I got out and walked it, poking a stick in various places and waited for David on the other side. He started in and got about three quarters of the way before the front passenger wheel got stuck in a rut and there was not getting it out. I reacted fantastically going straight into panic mode! After having no luck on the UHF getting in touch with anyone, I decided to head back to the campground for help while David tried to dig the car out. So after a 3km jog I made it back still in panic mode, where I located some of the motorbike crew who helped us out in one of their support vehicles.

By the time we got back to David, someone had come from the other direction with the offer to help. The motorbike crew ended up pulling us out backwards no worries. We all waited to make sure the vehicle from the other direction got through before heading back to camp - the Tip (and Champagne bottle) would have to wait. Whilst turning the vehicle around we got a stick stuck under the car. I could not get it out and David came over to help. At this point I stood up and must have backed into a Paper Wasp nest! I screamed in pain as I got stung a couple of times. David jumped up to see what was wrong and he got stung once as well. I felt like they were in my hair and David was trying to get rid of them. We ended up running back to the car and speeding away.

Can you believe the day we had?? Started with the dead battery, then we get stuck in the creek and then we both get stung by wasps and boy did they sting. We thought that I had three stings, later that would be revised to six! (The next day one of the motorbike crew said there was a Croc nest only 500m from where David was on his hands and knees digging the car out of the creek. So I guess the day could have been worse)

When we got back to camp we went and had a drink with the motorbike group to thank them again for helping us out. By the way the car is fine just got a bit wet in a couple of places.

Saturday morning I woke up after a terrible nights sleep where the two further stings were found out as they were so swollen (one on the back of my head and one on my neck) I wasn't able to sleep on that side! As the morning progressed the sting on my forehead turned into two stings and just blew up.

We decided not to be hindered by my freakness (well I am Mrs Freak - I wish it was because I was a spectacular footballer like my husband, but alas no, my freakness stems from my reaction to bites and stings!). So this time we headed to the Tip along the main road (which was still a narrow dirt road with creek crossings).

The drive through the rainforest at the top was lovely, as was the walk over the rocks to the Tip and then the view at the Tip was amazing. I did not think it would be anything like it was, but the water was a gorgeous blue and the small islands just off the Tip so green. It was just a really gorgeous spot. After numerous photos with "the sign" we wandered about a bit before making the trek back.

We stopped at the Croc Tent on the way back to pick up some souvenirs and the owner, who was a nurse, she suggested it might not be a bad idea if the swelling didn't improve to make a trip into Bamaga to see a doctor. We thanked here for advice, bought our souvenirs and headed back to camp for lunch.

After lunch we decided a trip to the Doctor might not be a bad idea as the swelling was getting bigger and in places where it had not previously been. In fact, small children were starting to scream at the site of me (see photos).

We were worried there might be a huge wait at the hospital, as you would expect in Melbourne, however we got through straight away (there was no one else waiting). We spoke to a nurse who in turn put a call into the doctor on Thursday Island, as the normal doctor was on leave. This doctor prescribed some steroids, ibuprofen and paracetamol and we were given all these drugs for free.

After taking the first lot of medication, I took a nap and on waking the swelling on my head was massive! We had booked in for dinner at the restaurant that night for a seafood buffet. David suggested I put a paper bag on my head to hide the swelling but I decided to put a bandana on my head instead.

Dinner was delicious. We spent a lot of time with the motorbike group again. David was invited to join them for a ride to Somerset the next day.

I slept better Saturday night, however on waking Sunday morning there was still a lot of swelling.

David went on his ride to Somerset with the others. Whilst he was gone I have been writing this blog and a couple of postcards. It's taken all morning so I do hope you are all enjoying reading these. I have been told I'm not the greatest writer (I will never let you live that one down Barry!) so I do hope it is enjoyable reading.

David enjoyed his ride to Somerset Beach. This motorbiking business is so much easier for me and David when he's riding in a group. Later in the day we hopped in the car and headed to Somerset Beach so I could check it out. That night we were able to watch the Socceroos v Iraq WCQ.

Kylie