We were again on the road early after the kids had got their fill of the horses.  That is one thing that has happened on the road…the kids are loving the wildlife and any animals they come into contact with.

Soon on the road we hit the corrugations, good in most parts and really terrible in other parts.  At times we were cruising along at 90 klm/hour and at other 10-15 klm/h.  In fact at times we drove up the shoulder of the road to avoid the real massive corrugations…seems we were not the only ones taking this path given the well worn and firm tyre tracks made previously.

We passed through Coen and then onto Archer River were we stopped for lunch.  We had it on good authority from our good friend David Gall from Kedron Caravans that the burgers here were great…sorry Dave they were terrible, in fact the ones at Musgrave are the ones to stop for!!!

For a comparison of fuel prices.  Diesel was $1.60 per/L at Musgrave, $1.55 at Coen and by the time you hit the Archer River Roadhouse $1.85 p/L.  My advice fill everything up again at Musgrave or Coen.

After lunch we headed on again, bouncing around on the corrugations and by 2pm we were ready for a break.  We had just passed over the Wenlock River and stopped in at the Moreton Telegraph Station for a break and decided to stay for the night.  The camp areas are beautiful with lush grass and shady trees, great for an afternoon relax.  Unfortunately the amenities were a little ordinary and with only two showers, you need to be willing to line up for a while.  The stay cost up $25 for the family for the night.

The bonus for me was the Moreton Telegraph Station was set on the banks of the Wenlock River.  Time to pull out the fishing rods and try for the alusive Barra.  Down at the river bank I found the river to be running very fast and it was a matter of trying to keep a lure in the current whilst working it close to the snags.  This proved a little difficult and after losing two lures and no bites that was enough for me…a beer beckoned as did a shady tree.

You will also find a whole pile of merchandise for your Cape Trip and check out the photos of the Telegraph Track on the pin up board…good viewing and gets you just that little bit more excited for when you hit the track just 25 klms further up the road.

Have a look at this place on the way up…well worth a visit after bouncing around on the corrugations and only about 25klms away from Bramwell Junction and the start of the Old Telegraph Track.

Bushman Bud…Enjoying Australia

We left Cairns at lunchtime on 29/7 and headed for the Daintree.  The idea was to stop near the Daintree Village and make an early attempt on the Creb Track the next morning.  We ended up camping just outside Mossman after a black top drive lasting a few hours.  Time for a feed and early night…time to see if we could put up the camper trailer in under an hour too!!!

Well, the camper trailer proved to be easy and within ten minutes we were sat having a cold ale and enjoying the surrounding rainforest before an early night.

Waking up this morning (30/7) we were packed quickly and headed to the Daintree Village and towards the start of the Crebb Track.  Unfortunately, the track was closed after recent rain and more rain forecast for today.  It is not the place you want to be when it rains with very slippery and steep clay hills…in fact someone rolled their car there two weeks ago.

So it was with a little sadness that we turned around and headed for the Bloomfied Track via Cape Tribulation and onto Cooktown…we will tackle the Crebb Track on our return trip…one way or another.

The Bloomfield Track proved to be relatively easy.  It starts with a ferry crossing over the Daintree River (and a fee of $16), a number of klms of winding bitumen and then some very steep and winding (in places) dirt roads – nothing too slippery and where it may have been slippery it was concreted.  The scenery was however spectacular with coastal glimpes of palm beaches and gorgueos rainforest with much to see and do…for another trip.  There were a few small creek crossings which were shallow and really quite simple.  It was an enjoyable drive but unfortunately not the challenge we were expecting.

Leaving the Bloomfield Track we hit the highway into Cooktown for a final shower, top of the fuel and food supplies and get ready for the real adventure to begin.

Tommorrow we hit Lakefield National Park and then onto Lockhard River and the Telegraph Track.

Bushman Bud…Enjoying Australia

Tommorrow the adventure starts for real.  I have dreamed of this trip for many years, read hundreds of articles on the trip to the Cape and counted the days until I could finally hit the dirt of the epic trip.

We picked up our camper trailer today for 14 days and head off tommorrow once everything is packed and the van is stored safely away.  We knew that the van wouldn’t fit threw the Old Telegraph Track and the thought of not being able to complete this section of the trip was unthinkable…so a camper trailer was the solution.

We leave Cairns and head for the Crebb Track tommorrow camping somewhere along the Creb Track.  From there it will be on to Cooktown and into the Lakefield National Park.  We plan to head through Cooktown and Lakefield NP fairly quickly as we will bring the van back to both these areas later.  We do however plan to get out to Bathurst Bay and Cape Melville on our way back from the Cape…time permitting.

Locals advise us that the Telegraph Track is the worst it has been for some years after a massive wet season.  Apparently the first creek crossing on the Telegraph Track has been completely washed away and is just one big drop off with cars dropping onto their bullbars and then requiring winching out…we will see…the challenge is definately to complete the Telegraph Track one way or another.  Going to the Cape after dreaming about the Telegraph Track for so long and missing out would be too hard to bare…we will succeed.  As my friend Mr Gadget would say “you have a winch, well use it!” …and that we will.

Stay tuned, this trip is going to be an adventure to remember.

Bushman Bud…Enjoying Australia