Cape York 06: Day 6

Four mates ride dirtbikes up Cape York Australia.
Day 6: The tip!

We a sleep in and then sally forth for the ride to the top. There are two ways to achieve this, inland to the main track, or the back road from Punsand bay. We take back road of course. The trail is deep sand, only one car wide and an absolute hoot. I am having a ball right up to the point where I see Peter waiting across a puddle for me. 'Woa! Whats going on here?' I think. I plow through the quagmire with nary a worry. Peter had got bogged in it, the rear of his bike was covered in mud. We await the other two riders who have no drama either. Craig refuses to believe my directions and takes another route, he swears we are trying to kill him.

From here I totally loose the flow in the sand. Running at the back of the group I can not get the bike up on the plane, the KTM is trying to kill me. 'What the?' I ask myself after holding my third massive tank slapper in line. 'Goose relax you dick head! Drag the rear brake and off we go, fast!' Yeah, that's it. I am soon carving my way through the sand with aplomb once more. At the conclusion of the short cut the sand dissapers and is replaced with a hard packed dirt road to the north. In places we are fully shrouded by thick tropical forest and the intense day light becomes a muted glow. We burst from cover to find ourselves at the now abandoned resort of Pujinka at the base of the climb to the tip.

Parking the bikes we take most of our riding gear off and proceed up the headland that makes the tip, jutting into the Torres straight. Its a tricky climb as not all the rocks are solidly placed. Care is needed. We stop to take photos all over the place. At the tip we gather around the sign placed there and shake hands. Congratulations all round. Now where are the beaches to tear up?

Once back at the bikes we gear up and back track slightly looking for the turning east to Somerset. Somerset is the long abandoned Jardine family homestead on the eastern side of the tip of Cape York. The trail is a mix of hard packed dirt and deep sand, wide enough in places to two track. I watch Peter struggling with the DRZ's rear end again, then dispatch him with a pass at close to a hundred and ten kilometers an hour. The KTM loves this open stuff and laps it up like a thirst dog. As we reach the eastern shores the track narrows passing Somerset. From here deteriorates into a heavily rutted, sandy beach track, hugging the coast line south. Under the sand is ancient volcanic rock forming the headlands that seperate the sixteen beaches we have come to tear up on the bikes. Riding now at the back of the group, I arrive to see the boys are already on lap ten of the first beach.

These beaches are phenomenal fun. Flat, compacted sand surface up to three hundred meters long and a hundred meters deep from shore to waterline. What a hoot. Round and round second, third gear power sliding the whole way. Just about everyone falls over at some stage or speed. I was unable, or should that be unwilling to get the KTM into third gear. Better a little chicken than a cooked Goose.

Having done our best we head back Punsand bay and have a beer or three. The bikes get a bit of due care and attention with a nice cool drink of oil.

Punsand bay.

http://www.punsand.com.au/
Address: Lot 11 Punsand Bay Via
Bamaga QLD 4876

Phone: 07 4069 1722
Fax: 07 4069 1403

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• motorcycle
• cape
• york
• australia
• motorbike

[Quadcoaster]

It has really changed her also , More and more people . I would say enjoy ALL of it when you can and realize that you have the Best Place Ever to Ride !

[az09983]

trust me with all these ethnics comin ova we will be like japan in no time and its really sad

[Quadcoaster]

AUSTRALIA ,

Appears to be The Finest Spot on Earth ! It is not too crowded with people . You guys have a really Great Place to Live !!

[kickittome70]

BMW's going home on the boat - poofs

[follettazzo]

fucking great man, really the best cross spot ever!!!!

[beachedasbro94]

haha nice guys

[GemsofWisdom]

Cool. I made to the tip in 04 from Ireland, ok Carins with StayUpRight Motorcycles. It was Class. We did drag race on the beach.

[scarygood48]

exactly my thoughts

[sedative3145]

that looks like so much fun. I need to go to Australia, I need to do allot of shit.