b'we met on our trip, was made easierwith the assistance of other helpfultravellers.With Nolans mastered, wethen popped out to the PDR and up tothe Jardine Ferry to cross this mightyriver on the ferry.Mutee Heads beachwas our destination for the night.Thisbeach camp was a peaceful spot afterour action packed day.Waking to the lapping waves on thewide beach front we were thankful nocrocodiles had drifted in overnight.Weexplored the old WWII radar tower over-looking Mutee Heads then drove to themouth of the Jardine River where itExit of Gunshot Creek flowed into the ocean.This was a vast,wide, sandy estuary, but still no crocs!The next two cars also drove straight Several people were in the blue grey Back on the PDR we stopped to viewthrough, with one needing a pull out of mud hole up to their arm pits so we the WWII remains of a DC3 plane thatthe steep rutted exit.A group of fellow elected to stay on the bank and watch crashed near Bamaga.We restockedtravellers ahead of us on the track them.Here we chose the steep drop in supplies at Bamaga before headingoffered some advice regarding the best followed by a short drive out with the north to the Croc Tent to gain someway to avoid the deep rock holes of the water up to the bonnet level.The other local insight into the Somerset 5Cockatoo Creek.Once again walking it entry was not as steep, but appeared beaches drive.Lunch was enjoyed atand marking possible obstacles with much deeper. The exit was quite Punsand camping ground where wehuman beacons saw all vehicles gradual and sandy. were to spend the next 4 nights.Oursuccessfully cross this steep sided, fast The final crossing on the OTT was tents overlooked the beautiful whiteflowing creek. Deep mud puddles of Nolans Brook, which we had heard a sandy beach, which provided a perfectSheldons Lagoon were prodded with great deal about.When we arrived spot for the lovely sunsets for thesticks to gauge their depth before there were 11 cars queued up in front of following days. Once again, thedriving through them. The wooden us so we had plenty of time to plan our Achtung crocodiles sign preventedbridge at Sailors Creek was in poor attack.Unfortunately we saw two of even the thought of a dip in thecondition and therefore unusable, so the those 11 cars drown in the very deep turquoise water. With hot water,creek with a very big jump up exit was water of the crossing.We knew we showers, washing machines, a pool, athe way across.We reached Fruit Bat were going to need a pull once we bar and restaurant, this was a greatFalls for lunch then we all had a lovely drove the very steep entry into the deep northern retreat after many days out onrefreshing swim in this idyllic spot.The hole at the entry point so we asked the tracks with bush and beach camps.water was warm and the water tumbling driver of one of the successful crossers Next morning we headed off to The Tipover our heads and shoulders was to pull our first car.With the bridle on via the 4WD Roma Flats track. The walkexhilarating.With more falls beckoning, the front recovery points, a snatch strap over the rocky headland waswe then drove on the Eliot Falls where and winch extension attached to the punctuated by rock cairns built up bywe set up for the night before returning rear of the car that was already across, fellow explorers. By 9.30 we were atto the refreshing water at The our first car gingerly slid down the steep The Tip, or Pajinka as it is referred to bySaucepan, Eliot Falls and Twin Falls. entry then the tow vehicle pulled the theaborigines. We had plenty of timeThe pampering of fresh, warm water floating car until it could get some sand to photograph our momentous achieve-was a great reward for the challenges of under its wheels for traction.And out ment as the wind blustered around thethe day. we drove!We then proceeded to pull rocks. With York Island in the back-An early start was needed for the final our other two vehicles through success- ground we proudly stood clutching theday of the OTT as there were many fully, and the car behind us so that the sign: You are standing at the northernwaterways to be explored.We saw next group of cars had an anchor point. most point of the Australian continent.many campers as we drove through This crossing, as with many challenges (To be continued)Canal Creek, all eager to offer adviceabout the best way to cross and exit thecreek.Sam Creek with a sandy bottom,was quickly upon us, and again manycampers here.Entering Mistake Creek,the side walls were very deep and nar-row so careful wheel placement wasrequired, but the creek crossing wasquite easy.At Cannibal Creek, even theeasy entry was very steep with a deepdrop off.The creek was not too deepand the start of the sandy exit wasstraightforward.However, the steepclimb out was very soft and rutted anda pull was needed for one of thevehicles. The old log bridge over theCypress Creek required careful wheelplacement to ensure a safe passageover. At Logans Creek we caught up At the Tip of Australiawith five vehicles and a boat trailer.26 MARCH2020 TRACKWATCH'