Yesterday we arrived at Lizard I. took a short rest and then climbed up the most amazing hill and the most difficult trail I have ever been on. There were lots of rocks to climb over, a steep grade, parts of it in the hot sun, and a couple of slopping rock cliffs to walk across. Jim, Bob and Maggie of Ocean J. and Bill and I from Crazy H completed the hike and signed our names at the top. It took about 3hrs it was 2.5km but not sure if that was one way or both ways. We at the bottom are at sea level so the height was about 350meters which is about 1200 ft.
This was the same hill that Capt J Cook climbed to find his way out of the reef system here. Cook actually did his climb in Aug too but a couple hundred years ago. We tried to imagine him in his heavy clothes and leather boots climbing across all that rock. Of course I was whining and saying "are we there yet ?" The trail just seemed to go on and on. But the view at the top was magnificent and one could really see around 360 to view the way through the reefs. It was worth the climb in the end. We saw many of the other participants of the ARC with their signature in the book too.
Matt and Bob went snorkling on the coral on the southeast side of the island. They both said the fish looked immense and healthy. They saw a lot of sharks. They said the coral was beautiful and colorful. This time of year there were supposedly no jelly fish and too cold yet for the crocs to travel here.
So as I wait for the others to wake up we start our trip around the top of Australia. Our plan is to sail directly to Darwin and perhaps catch some of the late starters too. It has been a wonderful adventure to explore the east coast of Australia. And what a wonderful way to top it all off with the climb of yesterday.
Rosemary, Bill and Matt