Cape York or bust May 2012

[JamieC]

Waiting with baited breath. Doing this trip next June.

[derek11]

Here we are now at Nolans Brook, everybody pulled up to check this out and try and decide which line we are going to take thru this. The right hand line was a deep hole (up to the arm pits when walking thru ), and a steep rise on sand, we discarded this way. The left hand line was deep for most of the crossing with a sharp rise at the end and we discarded this way as well. The line we chose was thru the middle slightly to the left, that way appeared to be the shallowest ( water up to mid torso about 1/2 way then a rise up on sand that felt firm ). The most capable 4wd in our group went first and did the crossing no problems, next was another lifted, big tyred rig and he also got over but looked to be a bit slower. Next i went as i didn't want to be the last when it will be the hardest to cross. The Prado got midway and started up the sand bank and slowed right down but appeared to be inching forward, when we slowed right down the Prado was leaning on the passenger side abit and water was coming into the cabin at a rapid rate, time sort of slowed down when our feet are getting covered in water but the boys told me when we had stopped moving and by the time we were snatched out was about a minute, in that time the water had filled the cabin to just under my seat base, and on the Helga's side about 2" above the seat base. On getting to dry ground and opening the doors there was alot of water. The Prado also would not start up either which worried me heaps. After that all the vehicles were snatched thru from one side to the other, i wished we had also been snatched thru that way as well.

[D4D]

I'd say there was a bit of sphincter clenching going on in that Cruiser

[derek11]

Just before Nolans was a deep long water crossing that i dont think has a name but it was one of the deepest, my wife Helga doesn't do water crossings well but all this trip so far she hasn't said anything or screamed. I told her before we left that we will be going thru water and not to scream because i will need to concentrate, this crossing i think we both held our breath as it was quite deep and being the last in line i didn't know whether the bottom would be to soft. The Prado went thru no problems and when i get photos of us going thru i'll post them here.

[derek11]

Now on to Nolans Brook which i've heard so much about, with lots of vehicles being swamped and written off. Before Nolans the track had some deep ruts which one of the vehicles in our party had to resort to using his winch to keep going.

[derek11]

Next up was Cannibal Creek which was quite deep with a steep slippery exit, but all got thru ok and we continued on to Cypruss Creek, the one that has logs over it to cross on. A sharp turn right after crossing the logs puts the vehicles at a extreme angle that tests the nerves, just take care and go slow.

[derek11]

We continued on after the slippery white soil of Canal Creek through some good 4wding track to Sam Creek which would have been a good camp but we continued on with the idea of camping at the Jardine at the old crossing on the south bank. The 8 vehicles before us this year had done some track building which helped us at Mistake Creek. All was going well with fun 4wding.

[Lorenzo]

I was going to look at a 23 day trip (3 weeks of annual leave + 2 extra days off the weekend) and pretty much gun it from Melbourne to Cairns in 3-4 days, then take 6-7 days to get to the tip, 6-7 days back, then gun it back home again. This should leave plenty of the so called 'emergency time' up our sleeve...

Ok I'll shut up now, keep going with your trip report it's brilliant!

[derek11]

Mate that's awesome! How long all up did it take you to do cairns -> tip and tip -> cairns? Were you rushed at all or did it easy?

I'm looking at doing this trip next year, just trying to convince some people to come up with me... maybe have the 2013/2014 G2G up there?

I actually drowned the Prado at Nolans Brook but basically from Cairns to the tip 4 to 5 days easy but there is alot of places to camp along the way making that time longer.

[derek11]

After Fruitbat Falls we decided to push on to one of the creek crossings we will encounter. First up was Canal Creek with its clear water and white soil. All the vehicles took the line thru the creek of straight across, i took the track to the left that i've seen people take on youtube. But the main 4wding is on the north side scaling a hill where the track goes, all vehicles made it to the top with much wheel spinning with their diffs locked, Pete's Hilux was second last and he made it with some good guidance from his brother-in-law Dillon. Now my turn, slowly going up and relying on Dillon to guide me up the front left dropped in a hole, i indicated who is guiding me and Dillon thought someone else next to him was but he wasn't, so i reversed down a little and this time walked the Prado up with the traction control working well and good guidance. (traction control doesn't destroy the track as much as diff locks it seems). The traction control on the Prado was impressing everybody on this trip, especially me.

[Lorenzo]

Mate that's awesome! How long all up did it take you to do cairns -> tip and tip -> cairns? Were you rushed at all or did it easy?

I'm looking at doing this trip next year, just trying to convince some people to come up with me... maybe have the 2013/2014 G2G up there?

[derek11]

group shot swimming at Fruitbat Falls

[derek11]

at Fruitbat Falls

[derek11]

Cockatoo Creek was the next creek after Gunshot and that was another creek that required extreme care, rocky bottom but big holes that had to be avoided, the line we chose for this is sharp right just as you entered, skirt around a large rock/ledge, ease your way across and sharp turn left near the north bank than out. All got thru without much of a mishap, 2 vehicles scrapped their side on tree roots on the south bank. Now onward to Fruitbat falls for lunch and a swim.



think this might be Bertie Creek.

[derek11]

At Gunshot there was no way any of us was going to attempt one of the famous down ramps, basically 90 degree walls so we all took the track to the left which is called the chicken track, easy as.