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Clohesy River to Bridal Creek
At short notice Kevin and I decided to go for a drive and have a look around at some forestry roads in the Clohesy River area down to Dinden Falls.
Not expecting a huge day, we met up at around 8am at Kev’s place and took a leisurely stroll up to Kuranda via Holloways Beach so that Jordan, Kevin’s nephew could come along for a ride.
We checked out a few roads and as usual, all the good stuff that we were keen to have a look at had a locked gate preventing access. So as we were driving back the way we came we spied another track that seemed to have a graded entrance.
I think I said over the 2-way something like - want to take a look? With Kevin replying with something to the effect of - couldn’t hurt.
So we take the turn off thus commencing the start of - Kevin and James’ Excellent Adventure.
For a little while the track was a little mundane and I half expected it to open up to a forestry workers camp or something.
We then came to a down hill run to the Clohesy River. Just before the river entrance there was a particularly nasty muddy bank on the left and a rather large bolder on the right.
Unfortunately I had already committed myself and I was at the point of no return.
I must also point out that during the morning, I was feeling particularly lazy and didn’t put my set of MTR’s on, I decided to head off on my Grand Treks instead which were still at highway pressure. So, as expected, I had next to no traction to start with.
Kevin was riding on a set of Coopers ATR’s, whilst better than my shoes, he also faced the same problems.
Somehow I managed to get past the bolder without sliding into it from the muddy bank and then dropped into the river bed and rode through onto the other side. I kid you not, there were only inches to spare from striking the bolder.
Kevin followed and I decided then to make a cup of tea…Kevin needed a few moments to replace his rear left mud flap and I‘m sure he found it helpful to see me sucking back on my cuppa looking on.
It would seem that if you extend your mudflaps and like to drive into reverse, you tend to drive over it and thus tear it off.
Anyway, after that little obstacle was cleared and I finished my cuppa, we once again set off and approached a number of smaller water obstacles and washouts. It wasn’t too long until we confronted hill-zilla, the mother of all hills.
This hill seemed to go up at right angles and to top it off, the hill surface was loose rubbly stuff. It doesn’t end there, you also had to negotiate a number of trees, some were lying across the track and others were growing in the way.
It was precision driving stuff, it was difficult to not only get and keep traction but to also be undertaking a number of sharp turning manoeuvres as well. There was at least 2 occasions where I thought I was going to slide off the track into some trees or have a roll over.
That is why there are no photo’s going up the hill, it was near impossible to pry my fingers from the wheel. The hill by the way is a 630 feature, it’s high!
After reaching the top and admiring our efforts on our road tyres we once again set off, this time the track turned into dense rainforest and the track itself became the usual rainforest goo with washouts, ruts and drop off’s.
At least one of the washout’s would’ve concealed the entire rig if you fell into it and some of the ruts were just insane.
I lost count of the number of times we did water crossings but most of them had one thing in common, they usually had a sharp turn into or out of the crossing and some even required multi point turns just to get through. This meant that getting momentum was near impossible to attack the muddy banks that awaited us on the other side.
The other downside was these turns also concealed holes and other obstacles, this is were Kevin re-arranged his left step whilst negotiating one of these crossings.
Towards the end of the track, we were confronted with Bridal Creek. To get across the creek required a little detour through marshy land, again momentum was near impossible.
It wasn’t to end there though, the final obstacle? A 2 metre mud bank complete with bits of tree root sticking out now confronted us. Nice.
I don’t know how we did it, I got up on my second go and Kevin up on his first.
My words don’t do this track justice and I certainly didn’t take enough photo’s to show how much I love this track.
Here are some stats -
We took nearly 2 hours to negotiate approximately 5 ½ kilometres.
Our average speed was below 3 kilometres an hour.
We spent all of our time in either 1 or 2 low, mostly 1.
Kevin damaged his left step and left rear mud flap.
I shattered both of the ARB fog lights, I don’t know how, hopefully warranty will cover.
I rate this track as difficult. To do it on road tyres is insane. Call us insane but hell it was fun.
Anyway, below are a few photo’s, I think Kevin will post his a little later. Sorry there weren’t more, but due to the type of track it is, it was a little difficult to stop and take pictures.
(PS - I rate this track over the CREB track)
One of the crossings
A photo of a giant fig, pictured with the back of Kevins head to give you some perspective as to how big this old girl really is
Kevin negotiating the muddy bank and bolder before dropping into the water
Kevin negotiating the Clohesy River
Where’s my mud flap?
Preventative medicine, removing the other one before that ones get damaged as well.
Kevin about to enter a small crossing
The Prado’s dominate hill-zilla!
The water crossing that claimed Kev’s sidestep. Well actually it was the big lump of stuff on the other side just as he exited.
Kevin using some sort of technical device to fix up the side step.
Hill climb anybody?
Kevin negotiating the marshy area to get across Bridal Creek
Ahhh, black beauty emerging from Bridal Creek, possibly the best looking Prado around! Check out those hot grand treks!
Some scenery shots
At short notice Kevin and I decided to go for a drive and have a look around at some forestry roads in the Clohesy River area down to Dinden Falls.
Not expecting a huge day, we met up at around 8am at Kev’s place and took a leisurely stroll up to Kuranda via Holloways Beach so that Jordan, Kevin’s nephew could come along for a ride.
We checked out a few roads and as usual, all the good stuff that we were keen to have a look at had a locked gate preventing access. So as we were driving back the way we came we spied another track that seemed to have a graded entrance.
I think I said over the 2-way something like - want to take a look? With Kevin replying with something to the effect of - couldn’t hurt.
So we take the turn off thus commencing the start of - Kevin and James’ Excellent Adventure.
For a little while the track was a little mundane and I half expected it to open up to a forestry workers camp or something.
We then came to a down hill run to the Clohesy River. Just before the river entrance there was a particularly nasty muddy bank on the left and a rather large bolder on the right.
Unfortunately I had already committed myself and I was at the point of no return.
I must also point out that during the morning, I was feeling particularly lazy and didn’t put my set of MTR’s on, I decided to head off on my Grand Treks instead which were still at highway pressure. So, as expected, I had next to no traction to start with.
Kevin was riding on a set of Coopers ATR’s, whilst better than my shoes, he also faced the same problems.
Somehow I managed to get past the bolder without sliding into it from the muddy bank and then dropped into the river bed and rode through onto the other side. I kid you not, there were only inches to spare from striking the bolder.
Kevin followed and I decided then to make a cup of tea…Kevin needed a few moments to replace his rear left mud flap and I‘m sure he found it helpful to see me sucking back on my cuppa looking on.
It would seem that if you extend your mudflaps and like to drive into reverse, you tend to drive over it and thus tear it off.
Anyway, after that little obstacle was cleared and I finished my cuppa, we once again set off and approached a number of smaller water obstacles and washouts. It wasn’t too long until we confronted hill-zilla, the mother of all hills.
This hill seemed to go up at right angles and to top it off, the hill surface was loose rubbly stuff. It doesn’t end there, you also had to negotiate a number of trees, some were lying across the track and others were growing in the way.
It was precision driving stuff, it was difficult to not only get and keep traction but to also be undertaking a number of sharp turning manoeuvres as well. There was at least 2 occasions where I thought I was going to slide off the track into some trees or have a roll over.
That is why there are no photo’s going up the hill, it was near impossible to pry my fingers from the wheel. The hill by the way is a 630 feature, it’s high!
After reaching the top and admiring our efforts on our road tyres we once again set off, this time the track turned into dense rainforest and the track itself became the usual rainforest goo with washouts, ruts and drop off’s.
At least one of the washout’s would’ve concealed the entire rig if you fell into it and some of the ruts were just insane.
I lost count of the number of times we did water crossings but most of them had one thing in common, they usually had a sharp turn into or out of the crossing and some even required multi point turns just to get through. This meant that getting momentum was near impossible to attack the muddy banks that awaited us on the other side.
The other downside was these turns also concealed holes and other obstacles, this is were Kevin re-arranged his left step whilst negotiating one of these crossings.
Towards the end of the track, we were confronted with Bridal Creek. To get across the creek required a little detour through marshy land, again momentum was near impossible.
It wasn’t to end there though, the final obstacle? A 2 metre mud bank complete with bits of tree root sticking out now confronted us. Nice.
I don’t know how we did it, I got up on my second go and Kevin up on his first.
My words don’t do this track justice and I certainly didn’t take enough photo’s to show how much I love this track.
Here are some stats -
We took nearly 2 hours to negotiate approximately 5 ½ kilometres.
Our average speed was below 3 kilometres an hour.
We spent all of our time in either 1 or 2 low, mostly 1.
Kevin damaged his left step and left rear mud flap.
I shattered both of the ARB fog lights, I don’t know how, hopefully warranty will cover.
I rate this track as difficult. To do it on road tyres is insane. Call us insane but hell it was fun.
Anyway, below are a few photo’s, I think Kevin will post his a little later. Sorry there weren’t more, but due to the type of track it is, it was a little difficult to stop and take pictures.
(PS - I rate this track over the CREB track)
One of the crossings
A photo of a giant fig, pictured with the back of Kevins head to give you some perspective as to how big this old girl really is
Kevin negotiating the muddy bank and bolder before dropping into the water
Kevin negotiating the Clohesy River
Where’s my mud flap?
Preventative medicine, removing the other one before that ones get damaged as well.
Kevin about to enter a small crossing
The Prado’s dominate hill-zilla!
The water crossing that claimed Kev’s sidestep. Well actually it was the big lump of stuff on the other side just as he exited.
Kevin using some sort of technical device to fix up the side step.
Hill climb anybody?
Kevin negotiating the marshy area to get across Bridal Creek
Ahhh, black beauty emerging from Bridal Creek, possibly the best looking Prado around! Check out those hot grand treks!
Some scenery shots
. So I have taken them both off until I decide what to replace them with.
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