We don’t set up camp at Fitzroy because of the danger of crocodiles
N 23°27'29.3" E 150°02'10.0"
Day: 246 Stage three / total expedition days 637
Sunrise:
05:28
Sunset:
18:51
As the crow flies:
18,1
Daily kilometers:
37
Total kilometers:
6823 km
Temperature - Day (maximum):
39° degrees, sun approx. 59°
Temperature - Night:
20,7°
Latitude:
23°27'29.3"
Longitude:
150°02'10.0"
Fitzroy River-Camp – 18.01.2003
After Sebastian bites into one of the bushes while running, he immediately spits out the grass in disgust. He shakes terribly and it only takes seconds for him to vomit. “Poor thing. I wonder what he got there?” Tanja asks. “I have no idea. He’ll probably recover soon,’ I reply, a little worried. Sebastian throws up a few more times, spitting up horrible smelling saliva, until he actually recovers. “Camis walk up!” I shout and continue towards the Pacific Ocean. Rain clouds pass over our heads almost every day, blocking out the sun’s biting rays for hours. Our bodies work like machines. We covered 229 kilometers in the last seven days. The proximity to the coast and our destination gives us energy. In the afternoon we cross the wide Fitzroy River. The small waves of a huge water hole lick at the narrow concrete crossing over which we lead our camels. Just one rain shower would flood the ford across the huge riverbed and make it impossible to cross. We are happy to have overcome this obstacle without any problems. Although we’ve already covered 35 kilometers today, we can’t set up camp on the banks of the Fitzroy. It is known that dangerous saltwater crocodiles live in this river. Many a camper who has made himself comfortable next to crocodile waters has lost his life. Sometimes the crocodiles come ashore at night and fetch the deeply sleeping human prey from the tent. A terrible thought. We walk another two kilometers until we find a place to spend the night in a dried-up side river.
