EOI -> Cape York Trip 2010

dibs · Post by **dibs** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:24 am

still hoping to join in

me mrs and the lib

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:33 pm

for anyone considering the trip I found an excellent series of videos on youtube that show the conditions of the road really well.

Search for "Capr York Action Chap" on youtube. There are about 12 videos all up. Really good watching!

DavesB4 · Post by **DavesB4** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:22 pm

This may be a bit early yet.

I still have a plan to join in this trip, but I really want to know what the grand plan for side trips and such is.

I need to take some time off work for this and I need to plan that too. I have already pre-empted about 5 weeks off and it would be my guess that around 2 week of this would be in the Cape.

I am not really concerned about being able to drive my stocker Outback up the main road - if a Wicked camper will do it the OB will - but am interested in which of the other roads up there it will and will not handle. I am planning to go to Normanton either on the way back or way up there to ride the Gulflander and I have a visit to both Winton and Longreach in the book as well. Obviously some 'touristy' trips around Cairns are a given too - the Kuranda railway and Skyway for one. Are we planning on driving up (or back) via Cooktown and Cape Tribulation?

I have around 8,000km as a guesstimate from Sydney and back.

My accomodation plan is a tent - takes about 15 mins up and probably 20-25 to pack it down again. Any experienced campers? will this work "up there"?

I have been watching those youtube vids but some of them are a bit daunting - particularly Gunshot Creek!!

Can anybody give me any clues?

Post by **yarney** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 7:34 pm

I found these pics of The old Telegraph Track.
Some creeks are a bit deep tho.

http://www.4wdaction.com.au/forum/album.php?albumid=172

Jan

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:02 am

good find Jan. Thats exactly hte sort of info I have been looking for.

some creeks are just not an option for us (Nolans Brook for example) but you just do the sections of the OTL that are possible and bypass the rest

daza · Post by **daza** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 12:31 pm

yarney wrote:I found these pics of The old Telegraph Track.
Some creeks are a bit deep tho.

http://www.4wdaction.com.au/forum/album.php?albumid=172

Jan

I couldn't drive all those thousands of kilometers there and back on the road knowing i'd bypassed all of that.
Daza.

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:04 pm

you dont bypass all of it, just the ones that are too deep for a suby.

what would you do daza? Sink your car?

There is more to the cape than just the OTL

Post by **yarney** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 2:22 pm

daza wrote:I couldn't drive all those thousands of kilometers there and back on the road knowing i'd bypassed all of that.
Daza.

You can always get a big snorkel (that's very big);) remember the Niva!

Jan

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:12 pm

vincentvega wrote:you dont bypass all of it, just the ones that are too deep for a suby.

what would you do daza? Sink your car?

There is more to the cape than just the OTL

Dane, I was under the impression that Nolan's was not bypassable if you are on the OTL, gunshot yes, Nolan's no.

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:03 am

true mate, which just means I wont be doing that section of the OTL

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:03 pm

Big Bird is keen for dragging subies through big water holes Dangerous

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:11 pm

I won't be going when you guys do unfortunately. Mark does have some evil plans for dragging switched off subies through with tarps over them

hes a funny bastard

DavesB4 · Post by **DavesB4** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 7:28 pm

This has all been a bit quiet for a while. I thought it time for a bump.

There has been a date mentioned of 1st June until 27th June. Is everyone OK with that - or is there a better time that suits more people?

I have tentatively blocked out between June and August until it all firms up. I will need to be firming up my leave applications in the early part of next year and I would love to know that the date was firm around February and no later.

Has anyone got a full list going - or is it going to be one of those things that we won't have commitments on until the week before we depart?

Xtreme_RX · Post by **Xtreme_RX** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 7:45 pm

Is the date mentioned ok with anybody wanting to attend this trip?

DavesB4 · Post by **DavesB4** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 6:15 pm

Hello again

Am I the only one that appears to be interested in going on this trip??

My planning is well under way. I have chased up and watched a few videos. The most useful and current I have found is Pat Callinan's 4X4 series one. It gave me some comfort about tackling this trip.
I have a kit of camping stuff and spares in the build and being readied.
I have my leave planned - but not committed yet.

I still have no idea how "extreme" (or not) this trip is planned to be and nor do I have any idea of an itinerary of any sort. I would like to tackle the Telegraph track in my standard Outback and my research thus far indicates that I have no need to be diving into flooded creeks or swamps to be able to do that. I believe that there are sufficient detours available to be able to avoid those crossings and creek entries that would trouble my car. I have no intention of filling the car with water under any circumstances. The computer is in the LHS footwell and it will not like being wet. If this is not the case - I am quite prepared to drive right up the main road. My goal is the tip - I have no plans to destroy the car getting there.

How far in advance do we need to plan so that this all comes off and we all are properly prepared for this adventure?

I understand that the current start date appears to be 1st of June. Where is that date - Brisbane somewhere or further north?

I am planning on a visit to Normanton, Longreach and Winton on the way back as well. I can probably "do my own thing" once we get back to Cairns.

The next 6 months is really going to fly - I think we need to begin firming some things up a bit.

Oh ....

... and if no one else ends up going I most probably will do it myself anyway. I need a road trip big time.

bluesteel · Post by **bluesteel** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 7:47 am

im still very keen

got the time off work, so just got to get there in something reliable!

wagonist · Post by **wagonist** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 9:29 pm

DavesB4 wrote:Hello again

Am I the only one that appears to be interested in going on this trip??

My planning is well under way. I have chased up and watched a few videos. The most useful and current I have found is Pat Callinan's 4X4 series one. It gave me some comfort about tackling this trip.

I have a kit of camping stuff and spares in the build and being readied.

I have my leave planned - but not committed yet.
I still have no idea how "extreme" (or not) this trip is planned to be and nor do I have any idea of an itinerary of any sort. I would like to tackle the Telegraph track in my standard Outback and my research thus far indicates that I have no need to be diving into flooded creeks or swamps to be able to do that. I believe that there are sufficient detours available to be able to avoid those crossings and creek entries that would trouble my car. I have no intention of filling the car with water under any circumstances. The computer is in the LHS footwell and it will not like being wet. If this is not the case - I am quite prepared to drive right up the main road. My goal is the tip - I have no plans to destroy the car getting there.

How far in advance do we need to plan so that this all comes off and we all are properly prepared for this adventure?

I understand that the current start date appears to be 1st of June. Where is that date - Brisbane somewhere or further north?

I am planning on a visit to Normanton, Longreach and Winton on the way back as well. I can probably "do my own thing" once we get back to Cairns.

The next 6 months is really going to fly - I think we need to begin firming some things up a bit.

Oh ....

... and if no one else ends up going I most probably will do it myself anyway. I need a road trip big time.

Just remind me, it's been a while.
The Telegraph track isn't the main road up?

If I'm correct, then if you've got a standard height Outback, then you should be prepared to accept that you are going to damage the bumpers on this track.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 6:45 am

Last time i was up there i saw a commo up towards the top, still with all bumper's attached, there is an easy way and a hard way through most spots.

wagonist · Post by **wagonist** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:30 am

There's a road straight up the middle which any 2wd car with normal clearance can do with no problems in the dry. It has no creek crossings (except for the ferry at the Jardine).

It also has no scenery.

Fatz · Post by **Fatz** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:13 am

wagonist wrote:There's a road straight up the middle which any 2wd car with normal clearance can do with no problems in the dry. It has no creek crossings (except for the ferry at the Jardine).

It also has no scenery.

would be boring as hell and no point IMO