The Bend Campsite, Coen, QLD

Day 220 – 24^th September 2011

The Bend Campsite, Coen, QLD

This morning we left Cape Melville NP. On the way out we had to pull out a car that got bogged in the sandy part. Luckily we didn't have any issues getting back to the main road. We had lunch at Kalpowar Crossing before having a look at White and Red Lily Lagoon in Lakefield NP. We filled up with fuel at Musgrave Roadhouse and continued on to Coen. The NDR became very corrugated with sandy bits so attention to the road is necessary when driving. We had a quick look around in Coen and moved onto our campsite for the night, a creek bed 3K north of Coen – a very nice free camping spot where you can camp on the dry sandy areas of the creek bed, have a swim (no crocs here) and sit back in front of a nice fire if you can be bothered.  We arrived a little late for this as it was a long day of driving but hope to enjoy the campsite a little more on our way back down.

Here we go a slow drive out of Cape Melville

Scenery along the 4WD track

4WD track

Scenery along the 4WD track

here we go again

......and again

One of many little alternative bypasses - always take the easy road

It's getting sandy.....

......someone had to get bogged

Helping our fellow campers out - always carry recovery equipment

Try again....and they make it

Another bogged camper - letting the tyres down

Travelling on again

We're out of the sandy stuff - recent burn-offs

Scenery - nearly there

ruins of 'Old Laura Homestead'

Back on the main road back to Kalpowar Crossing

Back over the log bridge

Scenery

Normandy River - Kalpowar Crossing

White Lily Lagoon

Magpie Geese....typical position....heads down bums up

Magpie Geese

Red Lily Lagoon

Red Lily Lagoon

Scenery - driving towards Musgrave

Scenery - hundreds of termite mounds

Musgrave Roadhouse

Back on the NDR towards Coen - getting sandy and corrugated

Scenery - thankfully there are substantial sections of the NDR which are like bitumen

Exchange Hotel - Coen (notice the hotel signage on the roof)

Woohoo :-)....brief moments of relief from the dirt

Bend Campsite - 3km north of Coen