I remember when.........in The Cape

[Scorcher]

For those of us that have caught "Cape York Fever", and seem to be driven back there time & time again, we have witnessed a great deal of change throughout the Cape.

As time goes on, memories sometimes become a tad scratchy.

However, I remember when........

The Croc Shop was located on the banks of the Wenlock River below Moreton Station. It was 1987, and just to get to the other side of the Wenlock River was a feat in itself.

Once successfully across the river, we were met by Linda and Co, in a makeshift canvas tent set up. Cold Coke, cold Mars bars and a few Cape York trinkets were the order of the day.

Always in search for information about places to visit on the Cape, Linda was the person in the know. This time, information about a little track leading to the Gulf, just short of the Jardine River. Blink and you'll miss it, hit the Jardine, and you've gone too far.Go across a log bridge over a little creek (Crystal Creek), and wind your way along the track till you hit the water......Vrilya Point !

Back then, vitually untouched, and rarely visited, except by locals or the more adventurous travellers.

A quick swim in the Wenlock, a second Coke & Mars bar, then off we headed in search of this oasis. Paradise found !

[Nedly]

You make it sound fantastic, wish we had made it up there a lot earlier, last year being our first visit.
In fact, we met Linda last year, at her Cooktown shop, lovely lady with lots of stories.

[Scorcher]

I remember when........

Driving across the Wenlock River in 1991 turned to dissappointment, when we noticed that The Croc Shop was no more.

Where would we get our "must see while at the Cape' information from? Let alone our Coke & Mars Bar fix !!

Disappointment turned to excitement, when we arrived at the old Jardine River crossing the following day, to realise that the Croc Shop had relocated to the southern bank. Bigger and better than the previous site at the Wenlock River.

Once again, Linda gave us directions to another one of the Cape's hidden secrets. It was a place that her family had spent a wet season a few years earlier.

We were to follow a faint track just past an unnamed creek north of the Dalhunty River on the Telegraph Track. Head west for a few hours, cross across Boggy Creek (a major challenge early after the wet), then continue following a series of old "shot" lines to the west coast. Back then about an 8 hour trip all up.

The end result, the beach south of the Skarden River. Another very little used place, easy access to an awesome fishery both within the river and outside reef areas.

We visited this area a few more times after 1991, having the place entirely to ourselves on each occasion.

Today, the combination of the Kaolin mine and the actions of several groups of badly behaved travellers has resulted in access being closed (or restricted to a select few). Paradise LOST !

[ant]

Scorcher,
It is that last point you mentioned that makes me hesitant to say too much as, unfortunately, a lot of people don't respect the areas as much as we would like them to. I am very reluctant to say too much and I know this may come across to some as being a little harsh but I like to know that the areas I visit will (hopefully) remain as I recall them.

[Scorcher]

Scorcher,
It is that last point you mentioned that makes me hesitant to say too much as, unfortunately, a lot of people don't respect the areas as much as we would like them to. I am very reluctant to say too much and I know this may come across to some as being a little harsh but I like to know that the areas I visit will (hopefully) remain as I recall them.

Hey Ant,

I (and others I'm sure) fully respect your position on this point. I'm sure the last thing you want to see at one of your secret spots next time you head up that way is all of us waiting for you :)

I think that that is one of the things that lure many of us back time & time again. Always looking for somewhere new to visit by researching, chatting to others, looking at maps, google earth'ing etc. The Cape has so many hidden secrets that need to be respected. A number of places now have restricted or no access, which is a shame for all those that treat it with the respect it deserves.

I have been lucky enough to visit The Cape on 9 occasions from 1987 to 2006. We're heading up there again in 11 weeks (countdown has begun) to enjoy everything that the Cape has to offer.

During that time, we have witnessed a great deal of change, some for the better, a lot for the worse. Obviously this is seen through our eyes, where we try to get away from civilisation for a while. Others I'm sure would be happy to see a concrete road all the way to the tip, so they they could pop up for a weekend in their family station wagon.

Back to the maps.....

[Scorcher]

Has anybody got any stories to tell about changes over time???

As soon as I work out how to upload photo's onto the forum (for that matter, also how to view those ones already there - they won't open up for me), I will try to post some photo's of a few of the things that have changed over the past 20 years.

Scorcher

[xina]

Hi Scorcher,
I'm going to be busy 'till next week, but I'll be interested to see what you have. When I lived there unfortunately, I didn't have a camera, so don't have any Photos of that time. I'll get my thinking cap on.
Cheers,
xina.

[Scorcher]

Hi Scorcher,
I'm going to be busy 'till next week, but I'll be interested to see what you have. When I lived there unfortunately, I didn't have a camera, so don't have any Photos of that time. I'll get my thinking cap on.
Cheers,
xina.

Hi Xina,

Between the usual crowd that I have travelled with over the past 20 years, we probably take 500-1000 odd photo's ("odd" being the operative word in many cases) on each trip. And that was before digital camera's !!

I started going through some of the albums today - plenty of shots before the causeway went in across the Bloomfield river, many photo's of us crossing the Wenlock River before the bridge went in, many photo's of the Vrilya Point Lightship wreck 20 years ago when it was much more substantial than nowadays, and some old "Croc Shop" shots. Still looking for some shots of the old punt used to cross the Jardine River.

If I get the chance to scan them, then work out how to upload them, I'll throw a few up on the forum.

Those were the day's.............................

[xina]

Hi Scorcher,
I can't wait. I left Temple Bay in 1985/6. I got a shock to hear about the bridge over the Wenlock, and there was no causeway at the Bloomfield back then. I went over that track pretty soon after it was put through. Was disgusted at the amount of Rainforest destroyed to put that road through.
Cheers,
xina.

[ant]

Scorcher,(and the rest of the Croc Crew)
What you are talking about here would make an ideal article in the Cape Yorker mag. If you are interested let me know. I can scan both prints and negatives, and also transparencies. Time is not on my side for the current edition (2008) but we could really make something out of this for the following annual edition.

[Scorcher]

Hey Ant,

Sounds like a good idea.

I'll do some research over the next month or 2, and have a chat to the rest of my gang, to see what we can collectively come up with.

Our trip in late May/June will quickly consume any spare time shortly, so I'll discuss it further when I get back.

Scorcher

[Nedly]

Mate of mine did the Cape about 20+ years ago, I'll see what I can get from him next time I see him.