I'm on top of the world!!!! A euphoric feeling I had today, like that feeling Jack had as he stood at the front of the Titanic. After reaching Bamaga yesterday I thought about making a B-line for the Tip but I thought I'd rather do it when I'm refreshed and with a clear mind. Last night I met a lovely couple named Casey and Sam. They made some room in their ute and had the honour of giving me my final lift to reach the Top of Australia. As I woke up this morning I had a brumby (Australian horse) lurking outside my tent.
With our morning coffee, it was the magic moment: we were all on our way to the Tip of the Lucky Country. Casey and Sam first wanted to stop at the Croc Tent where they sell all kinds of souvenirs as well as T-shirts with "I made it to Cape York." As if we all haven't seen enough dirt roads already, we would encounter even more dirt roads on the final 30 km push to the Tip. The journey included the fording of a creek and then parking at the beach, where it was a scramble up some rocks.
The final destination was within our sights, and before long, we were there! I made it to the northernmost point on mainland Australia with glee. What a journey! What a moment! Myself with Casey and Sam!
The Tip is only 10 degrees south of the Equator. South East Cape, in Tasmania, is at nearly 44 degrees south. I couldn't stop feeling the euphoria.
Across from the Tip are York Island and Eborac Island. The Gudang/Yadhaykenu people are the traditional owners of this land, and know the Tip as "Pajinka." Along with reaching the northernmost point of mainland Australia, I also found the northernmost geocache. Coverage is surprisingly great at the Tip despite there being none for hundreds of kilometres around. Whilst I was planning to fly Juliett (my drone) at the Tip but decided not to when I saw an airplane and helicopter flying about.
At the Tip I met another person with highly ambitious goals: he rides a wheelchair with tank-like wheels for travelling across many different surfaces.
He was able to get across the beach at low tide and then his friends helped carry him the rest of the way. Regardless of what kind of condition you have, when there's a will, there's a way.
Casey and Sam decided to do some other stuff, so I told them I'd find a lift back. Another couple named Ian and Lynette were on their way back toward town but planned to visit Somerset Beach first. It worked out well because there are two geocaches out there and I wanted to see as much as possible. The entire area from Bamaga to the Tip is beautiful, and it certainly doesn't feel much like the rest of Australia. I envision myself being in Fiji or perhaps Papua New Guinea. After a brief stop at Somerset Beach for a stroll and some photos, we stopped at Punsand Bay. A well-deserved pizza and a glass of wine would be my treat for making it to the Tip, whilst Ian, Lynette, and their friends all had a beer. I did it! I can't believe I pulled it off...and I certainly did it the hard way. A girl working at Punsand Bay even recognized me from Airlie Beach. On the drive back to Bamaga, we checked out the wreck of a WWII-era plane near the airport.
Ian and Lynette would drop me at the campground afterward where I'd smile all afternoon about yet another accomplishment. During a pandemic, it's been extremely difficult due to having little versatility regarding travel. However, I've done my best to be resilient, and the journey to the Tip shall be as special as walking the Inca Trail, climbing Mt. Fuji, and reaching Antarctica. I'm not done yet; I still have a lot more to see and do and many more places to go. This evening I walked along the beach to the campground at Loyalty Beach. Another spectacular sunset...
Whilst I've spent a fair bit of money on this journey, I have to remember that I've saved the biggest expense: driving and vehicle maintenance. I sat with Ian and Lynette and had a few glasses of wine and then some guys recognized me from Airlie Beach. I shared some comedy with them and then they shouted me a glass of wine whilst I told them all about my journey to the Tip.
What a day. What a journey. What an experience! Today I stood on top of Australia and I did it in pure "Chris Farrell" fashion.
