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And this is where he got stuck....
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Last edited by Brett1979; 04-10-2012, 09:42 PM.2005 120 series V6 Grande, 2 inch susp lift (King/EFS combo), 32 inch MT’s, Safari Snorkel, rear diff lock, breathers, Light Force spotlights, UHF, dual batteries. -
He sat in the water for a while this bloke and probably had water halfway up his shins, but eventually he got pulled out. The "jockey" then hooked up two snatch straps together to make one extra long one for the tour guide to pull the next car through. The tour guide pulled every car through that was in his group and this feat took a long time as they had quite a few cars to get through. They just kept coming & coming.
The "jockey" was the little bloke who was in the water pulling the strap from the tour guide's vehicle to the vehicle about to be towed. He did this for all the cars. He was a paying customer taking part in the tour and man he was a crack-up. He had a sharp tongue and kept the jokes rolling one after the other and kept everyone amused the whole time. All eyes were on him. What was even funnier was this bloke had a really high pitched voice like he'd just been sucking on helium (that's why we nick named him the jockey). He was halarious.
Last edited by Brett1979; 08-10-2012, 06:57 PM.2005 120 series V6 Grande, 2 inch susp lift (King/EFS combo), 32 inch MT’s, Safari Snorkel, rear diff lock, breathers, Light Force spotlights, UHF, dual batteries.Comment
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And the snatching continued....
Last edited by Brett1979; 08-10-2012, 07:49 PM.2005 120 series V6 Grande, 2 inch susp lift (King/EFS combo), 32 inch MT’s, Safari Snorkel, rear diff lock, breathers, Light Force spotlights, UHF, dual batteries.Comment
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I stopped taking pics for a while and just enjoyed the show. After careful consideration the jockey then decided to be towed through the right hand entrance. It was a bit shorter to the other bank but it was deeper.
Last edited by Brett1979; 08-10-2012, 08:39 PM.2005 120 series V6 Grande, 2 inch susp lift (King/EFS combo), 32 inch MT’s, Safari Snorkel, rear diff lock, breathers, Light Force spotlights, UHF, dual batteries.Comment
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After spending a bit of time parked in the one spot, attaching the snatch strap and the jockey cracking some more jokes out aloud for the crowd's amusement, he entered the water at a controlled pace. You could see this guy's rear end floating a little bit just after he entered the water. Without the aid of a strap he would've very quickly gotten stuck and flooded his car.
Last edited by Brett1979; 08-10-2012, 09:24 PM.2005 120 series V6 Grande, 2 inch susp lift (King/EFS combo), 32 inch MT’s, Safari Snorkel, rear diff lock, breathers, Light Force spotlights, UHF, dual batteries.Comment
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A Patrol went next and decided to follow the same route as the jockey. The jockey resumed his role of hooking up the snatch strap to the vehicles being towed. And then it was a 100 series Cruiser with a camper trailer taking the plunge.
Last edited by Brett1979; 09-10-2012, 07:42 PM.2005 120 series V6 Grande, 2 inch susp lift (King/EFS combo), 32 inch MT’s, Safari Snorkel, rear diff lock, breathers, Light Force spotlights, UHF, dual batteries.Comment
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This poor bugger with the V8 Landcruiser ute was waiting for 2 hours before he had the opportunity to cross Nolan's and continue south. The tag along tour(s) this morning just kept sending car after car across and this guy had to wait until they finished. His partner was on the bank next to us photographing other cars crossing and chatting to us on and off. This was good to watch as not too many cars cross it heading south. It was real finger nail biting stuff when he was parked on the other side for a couple of minutes before he drove into the water. The tour guide was a good sport and backed into position again to be able to help should this guy get stuck.
Last edited by Brett1979; 09-10-2012, 08:29 PM.2005 120 series V6 Grande, 2 inch susp lift (King/EFS combo), 32 inch MT’s, Safari Snorkel, rear diff lock, breathers, Light Force spotlights, UHF, dual batteries.Comment
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This guy made it look so easy. He just drove a straight line at a slow and steady pace and the car maintained traction the entire time. He didn't even walk the crossing which was amazing.
The 2nd picture is of our campsite in a clearing on the outside of the donut. The main camping area had an industrial bin too which was was handy. We had a nice clear creek a few steps away just upstream of the crossing to swim in. And there was this rusted chassis abandoned in the bush near the crossing.
Last edited by Brett1979; 10-10-2012, 06:53 PM.2005 120 series V6 Grande, 2 inch susp lift (King/EFS combo), 32 inch MT’s, Safari Snorkel, rear diff lock, breathers, Light Force spotlights, UHF, dual batteries.Comment
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Later on in the way after a few hours of relaxing quietly we heard the sound of a car engine approaching which was something your senses were heightened to at Nolan's (when you were high and dry). We made our way down to the water and low and behold, all these campers were coming down out of nowhere. We didn't even know there were that many campers staying here. But when a car engine can be heard in the distance, everyone converges on the water in no time. It was a pretty good experience. Everybody would chat to the stranger next to them and find out about their trip and so far and so forth and talk about the crossing. It was a good vibe plus we had two comedians in the converged group that stood next to water cracking jokes and sharing a laugh with us all.
The 3 drivers parked their cars back up the track out of site and all stood on the southern bank for a few minutes having a smoke and looking at the water while discussing the crossing. After a few minutes they flicked the smokes and jumped back in their cars without even getting their feet wet. The first car plowed in fast and hard and then got stuck a few seconds later in the middle. His mate was waiting on the north bank and was in the process of filming it and had to quickly ditch the camera to rush in and grab the winch cable. I guess he wasn't expecting him to get stuck. He hooked the bare steel cable up to the already ring-barked tree and the driver began winching himself out.
That's the "recovery mate" filming his drowning buddy with the handy cam before eventually catching on to the fact that the car wasn't coming any closer any more. We all quickly realised these guys were really unprepared for this crossing. Their wives chatted to us for a bit after they all crossed and mentioned they had constant problems on the way up and were frequently fixing things. Me thinks the way they plow & bash their cars through things without having a proper look might be partly to blame.
Last edited by Brett1979; 10-10-2012, 07:41 PM.2005 120 series V6 Grande, 2 inch susp lift (King/EFS combo), 32 inch MT’s, Safari Snorkel, rear diff lock, breathers, Light Force spotlights, UHF, dual batteries.Comment
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Good photos. Makes you wonder what people are thinking at times...Winston.
White 2009 120 Series D4D GXL manual.Comment
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Thanks winniliss. I thought I'd report on our stay at Nolans in good depth because a lot of people are fascinated by it but know so little about it. Nolans is an important decision for a lot of people who've done a little research when embarking on a Cape trip up the Telegraph Track.... Do we cross it, do we bypass it??? I can't help anyone by directly commenting on whether they should drive it or not, but I definitely would recommend a night's stay here to experience the entertainment this crossing has to offer for the bystanders.
When he drove out the other side you could see the water pouring out of his drain holes at pressure. He was sitting in the water for about a minute so the water would've gotten a few inches deep in his car too. Afterwards the handy cam man attached the winch hook around the base spring of the UHF antenna on the bull bar (I know WTF right???) and then pressed the "in" button on the winch control until the cable tightened and antenna quickly bent over at 90 degrees like a broken twig and then the hook nearly flew off the end of the antenna because it was bent and kinked at such an angle. The driver was yelling at him to take it off after the antenna bent over on itself without barely having enough time to react. I'd never seen or heard of someone doing before and it was becoming more evident these guys were their own worst enemy. When their wives told us of their trip problems afterwards it really made perfect sense to me how they would've gotten themselves into trouble most of the time.
And then his mate who was originally holding the handy cam was up front & centre. He still didn't walk the crossing and thought it'd be a good idea to drive the exact same line.
Last edited by Brett1979; 13-10-2012, 02:21 PM.2005 120 series V6 Grande, 2 inch susp lift (King/EFS combo), 32 inch MT’s, Safari Snorkel, rear diff lock, breathers, Light Force spotlights, UHF, dual batteries.Comment
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Handy cam man in the Cruiser also further ring-barked the same tree by winching off it without a tree trunk protector.... Naughty naughty....
The red Cruiser ute who was the 3rd and last vehicle in their party also followed the exact same line and got stuck in the exact same place.
Last edited by Brett1979; 10-10-2012, 10:20 PM.2005 120 series V6 Grande, 2 inch susp lift (King/EFS combo), 32 inch MT’s, Safari Snorkel, rear diff lock, breathers, Light Force spotlights, UHF, dual batteries.Comment
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Although the red Cruiser wasn't stuck in Nolans for long, it still took on some water which poured out when the driver's side door was opened. After all cars had crossed the blokes parked behind each other on the exit track a little further up. They stayed there for approx 45 minutes with the engines idling the whole time while they squeezed water out of their children's belongings that were on the floor behind the front seats and also tried to soak up water out of the carpets with towels and cloths.
Afterwards they walked the crossing for a bit and realised the left bank was the best option. The darker bloke with the handy cam came up to us at our camp site and asked if we crossed Nolans. We were honest and said we hadn't. We had a bit of a chat and then they continued on their way.
I do feel sorry for these guys in the fact that they wouldn't have seen anyone on the track for ages most likely, and then they park 20m up from Nolans to look at the crossing and stumble into the view of 30+ people who heard their diesel engines approaching from a mile away and were eagerly waiting for them to cross. Talk about pressure. They took it in their strides though.
Last edited by Brett1979; 10-10-2012, 11:18 PM.2005 120 series V6 Grande, 2 inch susp lift (King/EFS combo), 32 inch MT’s, Safari Snorkel, rear diff lock, breathers, Light Force spotlights, UHF, dual batteries.Comment
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Nearly 2 hours later at 5pm two more cars rocked up on the southern bank. Both the drivers only knew each other from the previous few crossings leading up to Nolans. They kept us hanging with a little friendly banter going back and forth between them and the crowd with whether they'd cross that afternoon or not. But after a little deliberation & joking around they decided to cross. Both drivers had crossed Nolans before and knew exactly what they were doing. The older bloke was already saying from above the bank to the younger bloke they'd hug the left bank and drive in an "S" shape. The younger bloke walked the crossing thoroughly, covered all routes and himself deemed the left bank as being the best option.
Last edited by Brett1979; 11-10-2012, 08:16 PM.2005 120 series V6 Grande, 2 inch susp lift (King/EFS combo), 32 inch MT’s, Safari Snorkel, rear diff lock, breathers, Light Force spotlights, UHF, dual batteries.Comment
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Sadly (the others didn't want to go) but we missed Nolans on our trip....would have been fun to go for a look....but we never had any intention of doing the crossing and were on a time frame, anyway maybe next time...by the way I value my vehicle and dry clothes and camping equipment far to much which is why I wouldn't even attempt the crossing.
Great report mate, far far more involved than the one I did, but your trip was also more exciting....it's certainly a magical part of the world up there...must do it again sometime150 Silver Diesel GXL Auto with ECB Bullbar, Toyota Factory towbar, Black Widow Drawer system with Fridge slide and cargo barrier, GME UHF 3340 Radio, Waeco 50 Litre Fridge, Rhino Racks and Rhino Basket, ARB Awning, IPF XS Spotties, ABR Sidewinder Dual Battery system,Airtec Snorkel, Bilstien Shockies, King Springs, Poly Airbags and BFG A/T''s. Now towing a semi offroad Lotus Freelander 18.6 Van, with all the bells and whistles.Comment
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