Ayton Camping Ground–18/09/11

Cadet Reporter: Michael Gavin

6.00am revelry, with all ready and packed well before 8.00am, including breakfast and chit chat in the stunning camp kitchen.

Slow start with a visit to local bakery for morning tea supplies and then out of town.   The arrangements were for everyone to make their way to Ayton under their own steam.

First stop being Black Mountain – a National Park mountain range with all the rocks a black colour – some sort of lichen.  Then on to a unique pub called “The Lion’s Den” – first established in 1875 and held within the same family to 1964.  The pub has a lot of very strange memorabilia and pictures displayed – a favourite haunt of bikies apparently.

Then onto the sleepy little village of Ayton – an old caravan park, but with a generous camp kitchen with utensils etc and entertaining area plus pleasant garden surroundings, including lady finger bananas, coconut palms plus many others and colourful waratah ginger in flower.

The first three to arrive were Tony & Jen, Dean & Karen and Michael & Dot.  After tent setup it was off to the beach.   Dot found a coconut just off the beach and for the next half an hour or so, Tony & Michael wrestled with taking the outer husk off…chisels, hammer, screwdriver and bow saw were used.  Finally success and we were able to get milk from the coconut and then sample the meat.  The half of the coconut meat was eaten and the rest taken back for the others at camp.

Peter D & Sue, Greg & Wanda were next to arrive and all except Tony & Jen undertook a sandy track, just above the beach,  to the mouth of attractive river.   The deep sand was challenging in places, but the experience built up over recent weeks enabled us all to get through unscathed.  No sign of any crocs, however mud crabs attempted to steal bait from hand line.

Then off to Bloomfield Falls at Wujal Wujal – quite spectacular for the dry season.  The 600 m walk was through the higher level dry rocky river bed. In the wet season the walk in would be under water, plus the water going over the falls would be up to 5 times wider and this would be extra special.

The aboriginal communities at Wujal Wujal, Bloomfield and Ayton were well presented and we received friendly waves as we drove through.

Peter C & Jill P bypassed Ayton and went onto camp in the Daintree….will catch up tomorrow to get their details.

We all retired to bed after usual get together in the camp kitchen area….all relieved that the strong gusty wind experienced in Cooktown was not here.