Day 22 – Loyalty Beach Cape York

Although this was a rest day it wasn’t so much for Bruce, Liam and Clarky as they worked for most of the morning, changed 3 rear tyres, replaced air filters and repaired a few things that needed attention. After lunch most had a quiet “nana nap” but Liam and Mark went to have a look around Seisia including visiting the local market, and chatting to a few local kids about the bikes and then headed off to look at the WWII plane wrecks near Jacky Jacky Airport, but without luck.

That evening Pauline served up an outstanding meal at the Fishing Lodge, fresh caught whole barramundi, mussels, salt and pepper squid, Spanish mackerel, numus, salad and pear shaped baked mashed potato which Liam thought was the most creative way he had seen mashed potato presented. Eating a meal like that sitting right on the beach was a first class experience.

After dinner we were joined by Joste, a young German who was making a thorough tour of Australia, Carl and Debbie a young Australian couple who in their words were “doing a lap of Australia” and Ben an Aussie guy from Sydney travelling on his own. Joste had us laughing so much we almost cried as he relayed his experiences about eating wildlife, including seagulls. His advice on avoiding worms and cysts “”fry all meat for a very long time”.

Loyalty Beach Fishing Lodge turned out to be an excellent place to stay. While not flash it was right on the beach and had a great atmosphere.

Brief mention needs to be made of the visit of Bruce, Liam, Clarkey and Mark to the Seisia Fishing Club the night before. Being the only entertainment available it brought the locals out and the local band was pretty good with a mix of Island music and rock ‘n roll. Clarkey celebrated completing the Cape to Cape ride with an impressive solo dance to April Sun in Cuba. Closing time at the Fishing Club was early, 10pm and Mark kindly drove 2 of the staff and their boyfriends, who had all been drinking, back to the Resort in their 2 door Hyundai Excel. Liam and Bruce did not think it possible to get such a heavily laden small car through the deep water crossing it had to get across, however applying local knowledge it proved to be no barrier to the Hyundai getting through much to their surprise. All is on video.