Cape Upstart. Jan 1st & 2nd 1971.
Cape Upstart adventure, Jan 1971: a gruelling two-day trek from Kingfish Bay to Moonlight Bay in extreme heat, swims despite sharks, fishing, and hidden grotto waterfalls. A challenging North Queensland hike that reveals the wild beauty and mystery of Cape Upstart.
Jan 1st & 2nd 1971.
Party Alan Aitken, E. Kelly
Route for access see Peter Reimans Report on Upstart Easter 1969.
What happened:-
Great party of two left t'ville at 2 a.M on 1-1-71 to arrive Guthalungra cross roads at 4.A.M. To pickup Jeff Robinson, of whom no more was heard. Crossed creek on to Upstart at low water.
05:12 in beautiful weather, boiled billy, After crossing and swam, sharks notwithstanding. Exceptionally hot at Kingfish Bay. Climb to Moonlight Bay in temp 104°f and high humidity. Party dehydrated and suffering plunged into water hole at Moonlight Bay at 13:00 hrs then slunk under the she oaks and hid.
Two fish caught 1 trevalley 1 shark (trevalley eaten).
Very strenuous return to freshwater creek before Kingfish Bay on the morning of the 2nd january. Total immersion in cool cool pool for 1 hr effected a cure and the creek was explored to a waterfall above a blue grotto.
Very mysterious religious atmosphere. This creek warrants a further trip.
Arrived back at cape creek crossing where kind fishermen ferried hairy buchwalder across. This saved an overnight camp to wait for low tide next morning.
Beaut trip which proved that once Upstart has your attention you will return again and again.
Bow down you worshippers.
E. Kelly
