Tuesday morning we left Gnylmerung and drove up a track along the coast to Tappers Inlet. The track isn't on any maps. Came to the inlet where there was quite a good looking boat on a trailer parked in the bush with the key in it, full of fishing gear, lures, sandshoes etc. all ready to go. We haven't seen anyone for 10kms. A really nice spot.
Drove a bit further up to the point, there's a "traditional" Aboriginal shade area here that they must camp at. Went down to the beach for a walk.
On our way back we went down a side track and came across a partly built house with a tent and a generator but no one about.
Then drove out and up to Chile Creek where we booked into the community to stay for a couple of nights. The camp spot is a bit ordinary but went for a drive around and onto the beach for a distance and stayed for a while as it was much cooler on the beach They say it's fairly safe from crocs to swim here. Back at camp we met a bloke in a Prado who warned us about driving on the beach as it's pretty soft and he had trouble getting off, we had done it and didn't have any problem.
Wednesday drove up to Kooljaman at the top of Cape Leveque, it's a very expensive up market resort sort of camping area.
Then drove around to One Arm Point and checked into the Office and paid our $10 each to enter the community. Bought bread and milk at the store, then went around to one of the beaches for lunch, the tide was coming in and the current passes at around 12 knots, it's fierce. Then to the Trochus Shell Hatchery for a tour at 2pm. It was really interesting, the guide was a character and the highlight was feeding the Barramundi. Amazed at the speed that they strike at, made a loud popping sound as they broke the water to get at the bit of fish being held up for them. Here and all the places we have been we have only seen white people, the Aborigines own everything and the white people work for them Then back to Chile Creek for the night.
This morning we packed up and drove to Djoodoon, a pretty ordinary track in. Surprised how much water in holes on the track, we are told this is still from the wet. We ground to a halt in one really big one, fortunately with the diff locker on we were able to reverse out. We decided we would ring Geoff at Bully's camp to see that we were on the right track, he said no problem, I'll come out and get you in. He came in about 5 minutes in a little Suzuki and walked the hole and found a less deep track through. We followed him to the camp without any trouble. It's a beautiful spot, we are parked on a sand hill overlooking the bay, a great spot to camp.
Geoff is a real character, 56yo with a long scraggly beard. He is pure white but classified Bardi Aboriginal, is accepted as such by the local community, so he tells us.
We have a group of men from Adelaide alongside us, they have been coming up here for a few years have two boats and are well provisioned. Takes them 4 and half days from Adelaide and they are staying 2 and a half weeks. They broke a trailer spring at the hole we had trouble with yesterday. Took them 3 hours to get out.