I continued traveling north and took the turn-off to Portland Roads (the name of a settlement) and Lockhart River. This is a good track, crossing ranges and descending to sea level.
I visited Batavia Goldfields, long abandoned but still with some relics from the time it was active. It must have been a hell of a job to met the heavy equipment there. For the rock crusher it took 9 months to transport it from Weipa to its current location.
Portland Roads had some significance during World War II. Now it is the residence of very few people who are satisfied with little more than a bit fishing.
I made camp at Chili Beach, the inland camp sites were all pretty crowded. Before dinner a combed the beach and found the sea water very pleasant, 25 degrees or something like that. Because this is croc country, it is no place to go swimming.
