Current Road Conditions.

[McGirr]

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 

[jk]

The cruiser came back today with her new 12000lb winch on the front  , like you said Mark................bring it on 

[SteveandViv]

JK, from all reports if your thing gets stuck you may need more than a winch to get it out. Maybe a earth mover 

[jk]

 

[barraboy]

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.

[McGirr]

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 !!! 

Mark

[jclures]

It is only open if you are under 5 tonnes other wise you need a permit.

[SteveandViv]

Not sure how I will tow that earth moving for Jk then at 5 ton  Can we share a wheel between us all 

[ML-VR08]

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....

[McGirr]

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

[yogi]

With all this water around ... you could always do the CREB instead ..... should be easy with a camper on the back

yogi

[Frostd]

With all this water around ... you could always do the CREB instead ..... should be easy with a camper on the back

yogi

[Symon]

JK, from all reports if your thing gets stuck you may need more than a winch to get it out. Maybe a earth mover 

With his tyres he'd probably just float across the crossings

[ML-VR08]

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!

[McGirr]

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. 

Mark

[Paul and Bern]

  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

[bert56]

I've bought a new shovel with your name on it Mark.

Bert

[McGirr]

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

[Timbo2002]

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

[TroyE]

is that the crossing near wujal wujal ?

[McGirr]

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

[bert56]

No Mark, it's to fill in all those big holes in the road I keep hearing about.

Bert

[Frostd]

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.

[McGirr]

We can always park some nissans in the water and drive the toyota's over them 

Mark

[jclures]

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.