Inskip Point soft sand, the complete story.

[Jeepers Creepers]

OK, Mrs Creepers said, you can't tell the full story, as the folks concerned may read it on here. 

Well, she's gone out, so now you'll get the full story of us getting bogged in the soft stuff. 

We arrived at Inskip at about 6:15 on the day in question and spent a few minutes dropping some air out.

Now, for those that know Inskip, two vehicles and trailers parked say 50 metres short of the barge, from back at the dirt, would appear to have arrived at the barge, would they not?

Once you start onto the sand, your head turns immediately to the right, thus allowing the driver and crew, a decent look at Fraser and with the water sparkling clean and with a gentle ripple on it from the north/west breezes, it sort of takes your attention briefly.

It however, did not take long, before we realised just how soft the sand was that fatefull Friday. We were plugging through and going good as we came up on the right hand side of a stricken early model Nissan Patrol and the 4wd in front of it preparing to give him some snatch.

Oh Sh1t, i mumbled to myself, as we were slowing down now at a decent rate until a bit past the Nissan, we became stationary.
I jumped out, mentioned to the guy with the snatch, if we could be next and looked at me like I'd just been given his missus one.
Oh well, dig, dig dig, drop into low range, a few inches back and blast off.

Ha, we're moving and got a bit of a run on too, until it was stopsville again.
Same trick again, we're off again, but a shorter gain this time.
This happened a few times, so i wont bore you with every minute detail

By now, we've all but caught up with the other two stationary 4wd's, and it was obvious, that at least one of them was stuck and still with a bit to go to get to the barge.

Oh well, so now it was time to pool resources.

The bloke that came around the front of the nearest 4wd, was sort of side on to me, but  as he turned, i thought OH MY BLOODY GOD.
He looked like he had two frying pans for ears.
I kid you not, a Volkswagen with the doors open had nothing on this bloke, so i nick named him Panhead and not because he had a Harley either.

Panhead has asked his mate, could he snatch him out and his mate goes off. I've already done it once, I've gotta drop the trailer off again and stormed over to his Toyota and drove it up the barge waiting area.
I thought to myself, at least he isn't bogged, but what a unit.

I said to Panhead, mate of yours? and he replied, brother-in-law.
Mrs Panhead was starting to whine now about being "over it" and i thought, what a lemon she was. No help, stand around bitching about being bogged. Wheres a good bird dropping when ya need it.

We were all pitching in to help Panhead and not going too bad.
For some reason, only known to him, his dopey brother-in-law who we might nick name Dufus, decides to drive his 4wd and trailer back from the barge area, bringing it around in a huge circle anticlockwise to come back to left side of Panheads 4wd, only to get his bogged as well.

So, now we have 3 to dig out. I couldn't believe it, he was fine, all we had to do, was all pitch in, but no, Dufus Donelittle decides to bog his as well. No sense being left out of the fun now, is there Dufus.

Then we all turned, as the first old Nissan has come to life back along the sand.
This thing sounded like it had pretty stout small block Chev in it and in low range, at about 9,000 rpm, its come flogging past, rooster tails of sand going everywhere, followed by his mate.

They drove straight onto the waiting barge, never to be seen again. Didn't think they looked like they wanted to help.
I should've got Mrs Jeepers to drop her cans out and see if it would've helped.
Wouldn't hurt, that's for sure.

Ya still with me? Hang in there.....

A fellow working on the second barge, carried over 4 Max Traks and i was so happy at the sight of ém,  i wanted to root him then and there on the sand.

We got stuck into getting Panheads ready, with the plan to have one under each wheel. You see, when Panhead bogs something, he really bogs it
Dufus wonders off with 2 and starts working on his own and I'm now starting to get the sh1ts good and proper, as no-one seems to be working towards a common result.

Dufus wedges 2 Max Traks under his front wheels and gives it the berries.
All you hear, is the tyres spinning on the plastic. Yep, has ém upside down. Old Einstein can't ever get a frigging Max trak up the correct way. He should donate his brain to science, they wouldn't get too many that are brand new and still in the wrapper.

It was around then, another 4wd got stuck to the right of us and not long after that, a landcruiser got stuck back behind us and to one side.

With this many people, i told Panhead, yell out when you give it the berries, we'll all push from the trailer and don't lift until you get to the hard sand by the barge.

He yells, we push, back wheels trying to pull it out, front one sitting there.
You sure you're in 4 wheel drive i bellow and everyone in a 5 klm radius checked if they were in or not. 

A very sheepish, yes came from Panhead and all of a sudden, bugger me, it drove out and we got it sorted.
Dufus was next, at least he was in 4 wheel drive.

Then Panheads wife says, oh look, the barge is nearly back.

I very politely, but forcefully said, yeah, forget that, no ones getting on unless we are all out of here. We leave no one behind.

The last bloke who got bogged sighed a bit of relief, as i think he thought he was going to left behind.

We came out next, and we were right.

Then the next one, and then the next one.

One fellow made sure the Max Traks went back to the right person.

Once i was on the barge, i went to check everybody was on and all good. 

All up, about an hour and twenty i think it was, which wasn't too bad, all things considered.

One thing i can tell you, last time I'll ever leave the tyre pump at home. I was reluctant to drop the pressures any more than i had, as i knew we'd be right, once on the island.

[D4D]

 

[Jenko67]

Good story mate,. that is my biggest fear, getting stuck in the sand... and the pain in the a$%# getting it out...

[Symon]

Cool story, and well told.

Reminds me of a time I got stuck on soft sand about 50m from the exit off the beach at Double Island Point.  Fully loaded with a camper in tow.  By the time I had dug in front of the wheels and dropped the tyres down to 10 PSI at least 20 vehicles had driven past, not one of them even slowing down to see if I was OK.

Not wanting to have a go at you, but any time you head for the beach you need to have a compressor with you.

[Jeepers Creepers]

Hey Jenko,

Let me know next time you're in the area mate.

Hey Symon,

I did know to take the compressor, i just forgot it. Would've much rather forgot something else i think.

Hey D4D,

No pics of the bogging, but check out the boat grounding pics in the trip report section. sure feel sorry for the guy who owned the boat, but a once in a life time thing to see a boat destroyed so badly.

[Chris-Vi]

The sand is really soft at Inskip at the moment. We had trouble getting into a camp site up there last weekend.

[Rumpig]

I was reluctant to drop the pressures any more than i had, as i knew we'd be right, once on the island.

great story Jeepers, but there in lies the reason so many people get bogged at Inskip, they don't deflate their tyres either enough or at all, especially with the lack of any recent rain. i'd rather spend 10 minutes reinflating tyres, then trying unbog a vehicle in the hot sand.

[Jeepers Creepers]

great story Jeepers, but there in lies the reason so many people get bogged at Inskip, they don't deflate their tyres either enough or at all, especially with the lack of any recent rain. i'd rather spend 10 minutes reinflating tyres, then trying unbog a vehicle in the hot sand.

Yeah, i know, but it was when i was airing down, i relised i'd left the air pump at home.

[DannyG]

LOL Good story mate you should be a writer for a magazine

[brickiematt]

Great story Jeepers Similar thing happened to us at Inskip last year. Being our first time driving on sand, we had a good look before we went out. Sand was really soft and the ruts were deep, so we aired down to 20psi, lined her up and just gave it the berries. No worries, made it to the barge and we let out a big "WooHoo" with a few high fives thrown in! Jumped out expecting our mates to be right behind us, but instead saw them stuck probably 100m onto the sand. We turned around to help them out and promptly got bogged ourselves!! I reckon at least a dozen cars went by us without even a glance, let alone a "want a hand mate". We eventually got both cars out, learning some good lessons on the way.
Just astounded me that so many people could not be stuffed to even offer their help.

[Rumpig]

Yeah, i know, but it was when i was airing down, i relised i'd left the air pump at home.

if you forget it next visit, you can always air up at the places that sell fuel on the island, or when you exit the island you can pump your tyres back up at the servos at Rainbow. if you drive at a reduced speed on the bitumin, it won't harm the tyres for the short drive to Rainbow, heaps of people reinflate their tyres back there.
cheers.

[heath74]

Great story mate.  That's the very reason my compressor lives in the car now!

[Foo]

A fellow working on the second barge, carried over 4 Max Traks and i was so happy at the sight of ém,  i wanted to root him then and there on the sand.

You wanted to what?

Was up at Rainbow last weekend and the sand on the south side of Double Island was very soft.

Foo

[edz]

Bricky not condoning the trucks all going past you , but Given that a lot of first timers hit the island,
They think, well you got stuck if I stop I will too, So I wont .. And lets face it a lot dont have any recovery gear with them either .

[Sicilianmama]

Great story! We've been to inskip a fair bit before we got the camper. I really want to go with the swan but am terrified of getting bogged.

[nbd73]

Probably been posted before somewhere, but what is the general consensus of members RE tyre pressures for sand. Jeepers, 24psi is quite high for sand in my experience having been driving on all of the SE Qld beaches both as passenger and driver for the last 30 years.
I have always aired down to 18psi, towing heavy about 20 in the back, and never had a major problem. Just wondering why 24 was your limit. No offence intended, good to hear other opinions and experiences
PS have never rolled a tyre off a rim etc, just drive to the tyre condition ie max speed 60 (you're on holiday, what's the rush), no sharp turning, braking or accelerating and its all good for me.

[Jeepers Creepers]

On the way off the island, 20 in the jeep and 16 in the CT.
I've never been a big fan of running tyres that low, but i am now.

By the way, how did you know the name of our boat? "What's the Rush?"......

[nbd73]

There are definitely drawbacks to running below 20psi but as long as you are aware of them and drive accordingly the benefits are worth it. Its interesting to note that whilst general consensus is that lower tyre pressures help protect tracks and put less strain on your vehicle, no official body (such as the government) will ever advise doing it or not. I believe this has something to do with insurance companies, specifically relating to hire vehicles. I wonder if I rolled my car on deflated tyres whether my ins company would pay up?
As for the boat, you're pulling my leg aren't you?!!

[Footy Shorts Shane]

Cool story. I'm sure I've met Dufus and Panhead. Actually, EVERY time I'm up at Inskip, I'm sure I bump into them.

As for towing people out, well every now and then I have a "nice" moment. It's rare and short lived, but does happen. So if someone's stuck, then I'll help them out. If they're stuck and someone's in front of them ready to tow them out, well then generally I'll keep going.
If they're on their own, I'll think first of all, "Why are you on your own? Why hasn't anyone else stopped? Is it because you're an obnoxious xxxxwit, and three others have tried to help, but gave up on your personality, and drove off?"

This time last year we spent a few weeks up there. The sand was the softest I'd ever seen it. We towed so many people it wasn't funny. I reckon it would be less than five actually said thank you. One pr!ck tried to take off with my snatch strap.

Some of the said bogged people, can't be helped. They are far too stupid, shouldn't be allowed to drive anywhere, let alone the beach, especially with kids in the car. These people really do my head in. It's not my fault YOU'RE bogged. It's not my fault it's 37 degrees. It's not my fault YOU married that screaming banshee who's too pedantic to get out of YOUR bogged over glorified family sedan. It's not my fault your kids spewed all through the back of your car. No doubt you would be in a crap mood. I would be too, married to that, a car that stinks like spew and bogged. But no, I'm not, so don't have the sh!ts with me. I'm the one offering YOU assistance. I'm the one getting burnt to a crisp, trying to kneel on the shadows why I try to dig YOU out. MY wife and kids are the ones standing over there, in the shade of a tree, bored as bat sh!t, because we felt sorry for YOU. WE were on our way to the beach to go swimming and fishing. But now WE are digging you out of your hole! A "thank you" would be nice.

Not having a go at anyone here, I'm not saying this IS anyone here, nor is it everyone that gets bogged, BUT, it is happening a LOT more often. So the next time you're bogged on the soft sand and someone drives right on past you, they may well be a self absorbed pr!ck who gives a sh!t about no one, or they may well be over the last week of towing people out of what is usually a self inflicted situation. Remember, we're on holiday too..........

Shane.

[Footy Shorts Shane]

Great story! We've been to inskip a fair bit before we got the camper. I really want to go with the swan but am terrified of getting bogged.

If you're worried about getting stuck, don't go now, the sand is VERY soft. Go after it has rained a bit. You'll drive around 90% of the time in 2wd.

Shane.

[Mallory Black]

Great story Jeepers!

We're praying for some rain to fall on the 28th cos come the 29th we are there regardless!
And yes it's a shame about how many people don't help but that's the Me Me Me attitude we see a LOT round there especially at holiday time.

I also think that it should be mandatory that people who venture onto full sand islands like Fraser and Moreton that if they don't have appropriate recovery gear they should cop a fine.

And I think it was my first Fraser trip that I found out my prado has a rev limiter!

[Jeepers Creepers]

Quote.... "As for the boat, you're pulling my leg aren't you?!!"

"What's the Rush?"..... See, i told ya.

[Bill]

Great story and very well written...
Bill

[brickiematt]

Bricky not condoning the trucks all going past you , but Given that a lot of first timers hit the island,
They think, well you got stuck if I stop I will too, So I wont .. And lets face it a lot dont have any recovery gear with them either .

Yeah edz, I'm not suggesting that there's any obligation to stop and help (as the risk is there that they themselves will get stuck),  but I guess I was kind of expecting it as that is what I would do if the situation was reversed.
Anyway, no harm was done, and as I said, a good learning experience for us.
Cheers
Matt

[xcvator]

Quote.... "As for the boat, you're pulling my leg aren't you?!!"

"What's the Rush?"..... See, i told ya.

Now that's one helluva pile of grass clippings