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Private Notes
Jase and Simon are off once again to seek out new adventures somewhere off the beaten track. This week they are starting off their exploration through Cape York by visiting the Beck Museum in Mareeba, Queensland to find out more about the World War II history that was dug up by the late Sid Beck.
The Beck Museum is filled with military relics through the ages, and the boys can't help but marvel at the collection including the P-39 Airacobra pulled from the Jardine swamps. The old M3 Stuart and Saracen tanks are worth taking a spin around the property in a 'Jase vs Simon' race for bragging rights.
They finally get this show on the road and head north, but it isn't long before someone gets hungry. Jase starts this trip with a hearty beef stew simmered in the camp oven.
Back on the road the next morning, trouble strikes. The warning lights on Jase's dash are lit up like Christmas, but the boys press on knowing they've got a few days offshore for it to fix itself. So they cross the Jardine, but soon they have another unexpected stop which puts the boys on their best behaviour.
As seen in the past series, Jase has an interest in the military history that comes with his trips to the top of Australia. So he visits Jackey Jackey Airfield or Higgins Field, which is still in use as Bamaga Airport today, where the land is dotted with historical wrecks from the 2nd World War.
Then it is time to get the big boat into the water, and they're headed to the islands. But a beach launch proves to be softer than planned, so Simon helps with the first recovery of the season. Soon they're off and before long they meet up with Mario, the mayor of Hammond Island. Mario gives Jase and Simon a tour of the island including the old military bunks and communication stations leftover from WWII.
And the guys can't be out in these beautiful waters without going out and seeing what they can get on the line!
Jase and Simon are on Hammond Island, and Mario gives them a tour of the historic St. Joseph's Church which was hand-built by the locals with iron works leftover from the Army barracks, blue granite from quaried from the island, and stained glass windows of beer bottles.
They head out on the big boat and head across the Torres Straits to Booby Island. After a tricky landing, they get a look at the old lighthouse settlement which was demanned 20 years ago. They take some time to imagine what life would have been like if they had grown up at the lighthouse.
Rumors of a subterranian post office inspire the guys to do a bit of rock climbing around the coast. Old-time mariners would drop off and pick up mail from this cave.
You know the old saying about time and tide, and that means getting back to the boat brings a bit of a challenge. But once they get moving, there's some shipwrecks to check out. They can't resist a dive around a century-old shell of a 1903 shipwreck.
In a spot like this, you want to have a seafood lunch. They do a bit of spearfishing and come up with a cod and some painted crayfish... perfect for a battered cray cook-up.
On their way back to the beach, they get a look at Hammond Rock. The current rushes around the peak which makes it look like a ship sailing through the water.
Back at the island, the boys are challenged to a fishing competition. It's time to prove their skills against the locals who aren't going to go easy on these guys.
We start this episode with a review of the All 4 Adventure Rulebook.
The boys are ready to head out from Hammond Island with the goal of reaching Saibai Island, Australia's northern-most territory. They have been granted permission to make a stop at the now-uninhabited island of Naghir, where they find the old settlement. They also get a chance to fish the waters surrounding and manage to pull up some lunch and more!
Jase cooks up a meal fit for these castaways.
After stopping at Moa Island to fuel up, the boys take heed to the warning of the locals and abandon their run to the Saibai due to the strong-winds warning. That stretch of ocean will have to be another adventure.
After 10 days out on the Torres Strait, Jase and Simon return to their vehicles. And there's that pesky dash light problem to deal with straight away. But first... they have to get the boat out of the water.
Jase cooks up some breakfast for Simon and some new friends. And when a local wants to show you the best secret fishing spots, you don't pass up an opportunity like that! However, there's more trouble with the boat ramp, but thankfully the trusty Bamaga Police are there to lend a hand.
Later the guys try to make the run out to Croc Island. They get as far as they can in the trucks before having to turn to the ATVs. Along the way, they stop at Somerset, a place rich with maritime history. Then they build their signature ATV barge with the tinnies and get their little bikes across the water. It's some tough going, but they finally get to see the creatures the area is known for. There will be no night fishing in these parts!
This episode, Jase and Simon start out from Sesia at the top of Cape York and head down the Ussher Point track. They're on the hunt for a Bell P-39 Airacobra plane wreck rusting away on the beach. But the track turns to sand, which means tyre pressure needs an adjustment if they have any hope of getting to an oceanside campsite.
They head out on the buggies to navigate the headlands to try find the wreck site. Jase and Simon take a moment to remember the story of these pilots who ended up on this beach.
However, the problem with coming down a sandy hill is always getting back up. And as predicted, it becomes a challenge for both trucks dragging trailers.
The fellas think the next challenge is finding an overgrown track, but an even bigger challenge comes in the way of a faulty gearbox which means it's time to head back to civilization. Allan's Automatics in Cairns comes to the rescue with a loaner gearbox, and three days later, the boys are back to where they started.
The track to the Escape River offers much resistance in the way of fallen trees, overgrown branches, and wasp nests at every turn. How much can they take?
They set up camp at Sad Point and make a few friends along the way. They hit the Escape River in the tinny in order to make it out to Turtle Head Island before nightfall. Once there, they lend a hand to Rusty and Bronwyn who put the boys to work harvesting mabe pearls. With the meat leftover from production, Jase whips up Bronwyn's Pearl Oysters.
They can't leave without a bit of night fishing off the jetty, and the monsters are biting!
Jase and Simon head down the track to Captain Billy's Landing with the goal to head up the beach to find a secret waterfall. They are greeted by windy conditions and a sandy track down to the beach. Once they get to the first headland, they go from sand driving to rock crawling and can't afford to get stuck with the returning tide.
They make the call to turn back with the trucks until they have a dropping tide to give them a bit of extra time to pass the headlands. So they take the buggies down the beach to explore and see what has washed ashore. Then it's back to camp for a cook up finished off with some caramel dumplings.
The next morning they set off up the beach again with an outgoing tide to give them some more time to navigate the boulders dotting the headland. They do some landscaping with winches to clear the path for the trailer and to get up and down the rock ledges.
Back to the sand above the high-tide mark, Simon manages to get himself stuck. They also make the call to scout ahead in the buggies and determine whether they'll make it to the river in the trucks. The big trailer gets left on a dune to save some effort dragging it to the river.
The boys get out the inflatable boat to head upstream not knowing how soon they'll have to portage through the shallow spots. Evidence of crocs puts everybody on edge, especially as they set up their rustic camp for the night.
The next morning it's an early start with high tide filling the river basin. Eventually, they ditch the little boat and finish the trek on foot. The water is clear, but Simon spots a big black croc which inspires a change of direction. So they head for the hills to steer clear of the wildlife, but it's slow going and hard terrain when you're wearing thongs.
Back in the low country, they follow the river through some beautiful pools and eventually they find the promised hidden waterfall. A perfect spot to shed a layer of dirt!
Jase and Simon head back down the river in the rubber boat on their way back from the secret waterfall in last episode. It's a good time to drop a line. Jase catches his big toe, and Simon catches a big barra!
Back at the trucks, they cross to hook up the big trailer again, and then have to make their way back through the rocky headlands. As the tide starts to turn, some trouble comes up.
Just as they are about to head for the Frenchman's Track, a terrible noise brings them to a grinding halt... literally. The bushes in the trailing arms have collapsed, and this does not bode well for any progress they'd planned for the day.
Instead they head for Weipa to wait for a plane to bring some spare parts. To pass the time, Jase cooks up a special choc chip cheesecake for Simon's birthday.
After using the airport parking lot as a makeshift workshop, they are back in action heading east again. 90mm of rain fell overnight making the track a bit greasy. It also means the river is higher, so they make the call to wait until morning to cross the Wenlock.
Instead of falling overnight, the water has risen. Simon walks the crossing, but once Jase starts heading down with the truck, it becomes clear that it's not going to happen this time. Unfortunately, getting back up the bank proves to be a serious challenge even after taking off the ATV to lighten the load.
They determine the best way out is up the parallel track, but doing a 3-point turn in a rapidly moving river isn't without its difficulties. But soon they are pointed in the right direction and are able to winch off Simon's truck.
Back up on drier ground, Simon manages to roll his trailer. This track is really giving these guys a run for their money, but thankfully the trailer survives.
Jase and Simon are head up into Iron Range with a stop at the Batavia Goldfields, a mining camp started in 1892 and still producing almost 100 years later. They also stop to marvel at a military test blast site which still leaves a scar in the landscape today.
They finally reach the overgrown Iron Range airbase and relive a bit of the history of that area. And then it's time for Jase's cornflake barramundi cook-up.
From there, the guys set off again, but the rain slows them down. They are scheduled to be out at Haggerstone Island and don't have time to wait for the tide. So they back the boat in and hope for the best. Finally with the help of some local blokes, they are floating and head out to sea.
They meet up with Roy and Anna Turner at Haggerstone at their remarkable home and find out how Roy got the nickname "Gouger". They also help the Turners stock their larder by going out to get a few flavorful fish... but as ususual, they're not the only ones after these reef fish.
After a look at Forbes Island, they head back to the mainland and invent the longest, rockiest boat ramp in the process.
Jase and Simon change out some gear to get from Lockhart River to Laura before trekking out to Bathurst Bay, which gives them a little more trouble than they were bargaining for.
Jase and Simon head back through Bathurst Bay, and it isn't going any easier in this direction. Things go from bad to worse when Simon blows a diff. There is a lot of mud to cross, and Jase is left to haul both trailers and give Simon a tow which takes the bulk of the day.
The next morning, the guys get right back into it. Bog hole after bog hole, and then an alternator goes down... which inevitably causes the battery to run low, and it's only a matter of time before the computer goes down in the truck. Ahh, technology.
As they near civilization, Simon heads off to meet the helicopter while Jase limps the 2-wheel drive back to Laura before getting picked up in the chopper. Then it's off to check out a trio of waterfalls that have rarely been filmed. The scenery is stunning, but with the sun going down and the wind picking up, it's time to get back to the bird.
Eventually, they make it back to Cairns sounding a little worse for wear after this epic adventure. It's all worth it in the end after experiencing these amazing secrets of the Cape!
