Cape York here we come. With three weeks off school, it’s time to get the trailer loaded, cancel the papers, lock the doors and leave the freezing weather of Victoria far behind. We have travelled the western half of the Big Lap back in 2013 that the Nomads have made their own. Now we can add The Tip to our CV – or we will if we make it to Cape York and back.

John started heading north on Tuesday afternoon, getting as far as Gunbar, just past Hay, where he rolled out a mat and climbed into a sleeping bag. Then it rained. And rained. Of course, he did pull the awning out from the trailer for cover, but when the water pooled in the canvas and the whole thing crashed down and hit him on the head, he figured it was time to start driving again. It was 5am. Next stop was just south of Barcaldine in Queensland where nothing much happened. Next day it was on to Townsville. After 2500km and 45 hours driving, he saddled up the mountain bike and got the blood moving for a couple of hours. After camping just south of Cairns on Thursday night, he finished off the epic drive and set up the tent for us at a lovely peaceful camping ground before collecting Ferg, Harry and me from our flight from Melbourne via Brisbane.

Arriving in Far North Queensland, you remember how vastly different this part of our country is to just about everywhere else. The massive rainfall up here makes green the main colour of life. It’s over cast and threatening rain with unfriendly clouds. But we have been allocated a spot in this camping ground in a terraced area where no one else has camped. Nice.

No crowds at this camping ground.

The Nomads are back to back in the next section, but we have a huge area all to ourselves. Even room to kick the footy. It’s 25 degrees and rather nice to wear shorts and a Tshirt in June.

The boys (all three) headed off on the bikes to check the fishing options along the river. They met a dude who knew all there was to know about catching fish there on the Barron. Tomorrow’s fishing date was set.