MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => Previous Member Trips => Trips, Tracks, Touring and Reports => 2011 Cape York Members Trip => Topic started by: McGirr on April 30, 2011, 10:32:11 AM
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Currently Archer river is closed but this can change daily. The rain has stopped and it will be interesting to see what the OTL is like once we get there.
There is plenty of time for the creeks and rivers to drop but there will be some water in them to make the trip exciting. Nolans creek will be the biggest challenge. Bring it on!!!
Mark
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The cruiser came back today with her new 12000lb winch on the front :cup: , like you said Mark................bring it on :cheers:
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JK, from all reports if your thing gets stuck you may need more than a winch to get it out. Maybe a earth mover ;D
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;D
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Heard on the ABC Far North today that road to Weipa is now fully open and that extensive road works are under way to repair flood damaged roads.
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Heard on the ABC Far North today that road to Weipa is now fully open and that extensive road works are under way to repair flood damaged roads.
Bummer well at least the OTL will gives us a challenge. Now where did I put my floaties !!! ;D
Mark
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It is only open if you are under 5 tonnes other wise you need a permit. ;D
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Not sure how I will tow that earth moving for Jk then at 5 ton ;D Can we share a wheel between us all ;D
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Lets hope by June that the creeks are down!!! Is the bloomfield track open yet? Or the bridge that washed away? Only 27 more days of work left, 5 weeks really thou - but gee im excited....
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Lets hope by June that the creeks are down!!! Is the bloomfield track open yet? Or the bridge that washed away? Only 27 more days of work left, 5 weeks really thou - but gee im excited....
This could be a problem as the causeway at bloomfield has been washed away. Plan B is the inland rd with a stop at the lions den on the way. The inland rd is about 3.5 hours which will give us plenty of time at the lions den and then onto Cooktown.
Mark
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With all this water around ... you could always do the CREB instead ..... should be easy with a camper on the back >:D
yogi
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With all this water around ... you could always do the CREB instead ..... should be easy with a camper on the back >:D
yogi
;D ;D ;D ;D
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JK, from all reports if your thing gets stuck you may need more than a winch to get it out. Maybe a earth mover ;D
With his tyres he'd probably just float across the crossings :)
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This was taken off another forum - but things look alright up there going off this fellas post....fingers crossed the water levels drop a bit...
I am currently in Siesha after driving up the last couple of days.
The PDR is very good in places and pretty poor in others, I would hate to see what some of the OTL looks like. I think the first few to go up there will need to do a fair bit of winching and shovelling to get through.
We went to Fruit Bat falls, Elliot and Twin Falls today and went down to Canal Ck to have a look, pretty rough. Also last night stayed at Bramwell Junction and walked down to Rocky Ck which is the first small creek before Palm Ck, it had about 3 ft of water in Rocky Ck which is normally dry. Someone late last week tried the OTL aand only got as far a s Palm Ck before they got stuck and spent hours winching and recovering.
I reckon another week or so before it gets doable but will need a pretty willing crew to get through. If Ic ould remember my photobucket password I would post some pics?
Anyway need to go for a fish at the jetty at Siesha then off to TI tomorrow!
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Yes this trip will be a great challenge. By the time we get up there we should have a clearer picture of what the OTL is like.
There will be a number of cars heading up there before us and hopefully they will do all the digging and making our trip alot easier. ;D
Mark
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:D Hi All,
Mark there was talk at one stage of the Cook Shire putting a transportable bridge in over the Bloomfield when things got a bit drier.
Paul
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I've bought a new shovel with your name on it Mark.
Bert
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I've bought a new shovel with your name on it Mark.
Bert
I can feel the love Bert. Is it for me to dig the toilet trenches.
Mark
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For those that are interested, here are a few photo's i found on another forum of the washed out causeway on the Bloomfield track. I along with a bunch of cars are also heading up this year, we will be shadowing you guys by about 3 days. But from what i have seen of your itinerary we will not cross paths. Your at Varillia when we cross over...
Seems like quite a bit of damage to be repaired. Final photo you can see the part that washed away to the right of shot.
Timbo
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is that the crossing near wujal wujal ?
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With the uncertainty of the road through bloomfield being down we will travel the coast road and detour up to Julatten on to the inland road and drop into the lions den for a drink before proceeding to Cooktown.
The road through lakefield to Kalpower is closed also until August. We do not need to travel this road as we join the main road at Laura travelling the battlecamp rd from cooktown.
Mark
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No Mark, it's to fill in all those big holes in the road I keep hearing about.
Bert
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http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/about-council/community-engagement/current/current-projects/bloomfield-river-crossing-reconstruction-works
During construction, a temporary rock crossing will be built allowing 4WD vehicles only limited access across the river. Crossing times will be advertised shortly.
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We can always park some nissans in the water and drive the toyota's over them ;D ;D
Mark
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You might have to check the tide times if they are going back to a river crossing. Years ago at the original crossing I sat there for an hour or so for the tide to come down so I could cross.
Yes mark you had better let the Nissans go first, that’s so they can pull the Toyotas out. ;D
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It will be a great pity if we cant travel along the Bloomfield Track as it is arguably the most scenic of the whole trip. A great drive. I have heard that the council are trying very hard to get the track open ASAP as it is effecting all the tourist bus trips ect. The tide is low in the arvo which may suit us.
Martin
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It will be a great pity if we cant travel along the Bloomfield Track as it is arguably the most scenic of the whole trip. A great drive. I have heard that the council are trying very hard to get the track open ASAP as it is effecting all the tourist bus trips ect. The tide is low in the arvo which may suit us.
Martin
We will be crossing around lunch time. Martin I will let you arrange the tide.
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Just saw that the crossing is again open to 4wd, RACQ still marls the road as closed but open to 4wd. So good news for all of us heading up in a few weeks.
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Yah... Now for our group we just need Cape Melville open on our way back and every thing is perfect - again :laugh:
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Steve That road is very rough heading in there.Long stretches of sand as you get closer to the beach.The track from Kalpower has some water crossings that will be deep and you cannot walk them due to big crocs. I would suggest the way from Battlecamp rd and allow 2 days to get there.
Mark
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I'm leaving Townsville to "the tip" on the 11th June via PDR & Telegraph Track, so should be interesting judging by all comments & post read.
Last update from 20th May 2011 ... http://www.cooktownandcapeyork.com/cook/roads ... Lakefield & Melville NP's closed; PDR open as are most other tracks north of Musgrove Stn with care.
All going to plan will be at the tip late June (just before you depart) so if I get a chance will update with track conditions as I find them.
MrWilson
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Sounds as though the Swaggers on the Cape Capers are in for an interesting trip . Good Luck :cheers:
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Thanks Mark. Will look at it on our way back down from the Cape.
LAKEFIELD NATIONAL PARK - OPEN only as far as the Kalpowar Crossing - There is a locked gate at the Kalpowar Crossing. For Camping Bookings when open contact Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services (QPWS) Ph: 1300 130 372. Bathurst Head and Cape Melville are still closed. Likely to remain closed until late July/August 2011.
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28th May Update
As we will not be on this part of the road till we come back the road between Lakeland Downs and Laura very rough and corrugated. Laura to Weipa road is good. Courtesy of a client of mine who just drove it.
Mark
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Regarding the bloomfield crossing here is the tide chart;
Saturday 25
Time Height
0513 1.88
1148 0.92
1834 2.09
We should not have a problem.
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this link will give you lots of current pics of creek crossing up there.... http://forums.overlander.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=70649
these guys are just completing their CYMC (Cape York Misers Challenge) and have been doing regular updates on the trip report. basically they all had to buy a cheap fourby and try and get it to the cape and back, original target was $3K for vehicle and fuel, but it's not a figure set in stone.
cheers.
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this link will give you lots of current pics of creek crossing up there.... http://forums.overlander.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=70649
these guys are just completing their CYMC (Cape York Misers Challenge) and have been doing regular updates on the trip report. basically they all had to buy a cheap fourby and try and get it to the cape and back, original target was $3K for vehicle and fuel, but it's not a figure set in stone.
cheers.
Looking at these pics there is still plenty of water and the amount of 4wd I have seen heading north this will be a great adventure. The OTL looks the toughest I have seen !!! Bring plenty of :cheers: to cure the nerves !!!
BRING IT ON !!! ;D ;D
Mark