Damo's Family Lap

[Rip'n'Shred]

The next day we decided to head out to Cape Melville. The dirt road to the turnoff to Melville was in great condition. A very easy 80km later we turned onto the Cape Melville Track at an old rusty tractor. This next 56km was very very different. Nothing too challenging, a bit tight in spots but very slow going, winding in and out of trees over a rough offroad track. About 3 hrs later, through a bushfire and past countless termite mounds, we tackled the only decent water crossing and came out onto the beach. What a beautiful spot. Definitely worth the drive. Unfortunately for us a leaking water tank fitting in the camper trailer restricted us to just 1 night at Cape Melville. I had a fish from the beach and got a threadfin, a shark and something else that I did know what it was. We had a bit of wind blow up just on dark and we could see the glow of the bushfire increase in size in the distance. At least it was heading away from us and we were hoping it would burn out by the morning.

Old Tractor at Cape Melville Turnoff


Melville Track




Backburning


Water crossing (a lot bigger in real life)


Cape Melville Beach


Cape Melville


Our camp


More Black rocks


Fishing with the boy


Sunset

[Cuppa]

You have photos worthy of an entry in our Dec/Jan photo comp ......just sayin'.

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...-17-Photo-Comp

[TPC]

You have photos worthy of an entry in our Dec/Jan photo comp ......just sayin'.

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...-17-Photo-Comp

Was thinking the same Cuppa, also the photo of the fishing on the beach is great.

[Rip'n'Shred]

1st October 2016
The leak from the water tank was a little worse than I thought. Overnight we lost all the water in the camper trailer tank. Lucky we had some drinking water in the Patrol but not enough for another night. So we packed up and said goodbye to a very beautiful isolated beach and took on the long slow drive back to the turnoff at Watoonga Ruins, then onwards back to Kalpower. We were a little surprised how much bushland had been burnt by the previous days fire that had all but burnt out now. We pushed on over some pretty badly corrugated roads, and our first session of rain to Musgrave Roadhouse. We added a little bit of expensive diesel, had a quick look around and pushed on to Coen.

Musgrave Roadhouse








Rain!!!!!



At Coen we had a look at the historical house with lots of old vintage bits and pieces that was free entry. A very educational experience for the kids, and the adults honestly. Had a quick beer at the Exchange Hotel across the road, and bought some supplies from the general store. We filled up some water and went just out of town to a free camp on the river called The Bend. What a great spot! Lovely cool freshwater river to swim in, drop toilet and even picked up a little bit of firewood as the kids were really keen for a campfire.

The Bend, Coen




The next morning we were undecided whether to stay another night or continue on our journey. After much debate we decided to pack up and head to Weipa, with lunch at Archer River Roadhouse. The Archer Burger and a can of XXXX Gold proved irasistable. Eventually we checked into the Weipa Caravan Park & Camping Ground for 4 few nights.

Archer Burger


Bound for Weipa, was tough going straight through this intersection!

[Rip'n'Shred]

You have photos worthy of an entry in our Dec/Jan photo comp ......just sayin'.

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...-17-Photo-Comp

Gee thanks guys. I think I will enter some.

Was thinking the same Cuppa, also the photo of the fishing on the beach is great.

Yep one of my favourites, we were a little croc shy, hence the distance from the waters edge lol

[Rip'n'Shred]

We checked into Weipa Caravan Park & Camping Ground for a few days. It was noticeably hotter here on the West Coast of The Cape then the East Coast. We made full use of the pool, despite it being quite warm and had an early dinner so we could join about half the other park guests around the big screen TV for the Sharks and Storm NRL Grandfinal. I met some friendly & cheerful German backpackers and we had a few beers & attempted explaining NRL to them. They were stuck in Weipa for a week waiting for a fuel tank and a shock to repair one of their 2 vehicles. Little did we know we would meet up with them several more times throughout the trip.

Weipa Sunsets


We tried a bit of fishing from the shoreline and had a few good hookups on light gear that we couldn't hang on to, resulting in snapped lines everytime. Good fun but.

Fishing spot


Hired a boat for a day and took off in search of some quiet areas. Found a perfect location at the mouth of a small river but quickly realised we were not alone. Just as the misses went to deploy the anchor, I spotted a croc about 3.5m long within about 6 meters of us! A quick pic and we were gone, out of there quick smart lol. Tried another spot just as the wind blew up which pretty much wrecked the fishing plans, but we still had a bit of fun.

Hire boat fishing




Spot the croc!!!!


Carried out the first 5000km "being on the road oil and filter change" in the shed of the camp ground, thanks to the park owners. Also found the 2nd battery had died, possibly due to the vast corrugations, so another $220 later we were good.

Chatted to a few other travellers that afternoon and made some plans. One lovely old bloke stood out as a seasoned Cape York traveller and was very helpful. Little did we know we would also meet up with him several more times throughout the trip.

More to follow........

[Rip'n'Shred]

Leaving the next day was a bit delayed as we learnt that Weipa was the last of what is called cheap grog, and the bottle shop didn't open until 10am. So we done some groceries, stocked up on some beer and set off at about 11am.

Before we even got out of town the alternator was doing some funky stuff to the volt gauge. Pulled over and had a look and found the alternator was nearly red hot! Charge voltage was bouncing between 9 and 15 volts. I assume the regulator melted so back to my favourite Weipa auto parts supplies for a replacement. I was surprised they had one in stock but at $500, they don't come cheap. Not much choice so here I am replacing it in the carpark of a play ground for the kids. Didn't take long and we were off again.



We took the Batavia Downs Station track about 70km out of Weipa heading for Bramwell Station. It's a 39km track that cuts out about 125km backtracking the PDR. Had a pretty cruisy trip to Bramwell straight past Morton Telegraph Station, which we plan on visiting on the return trip.



We spent a night at Bramwell Station and were treated to a hot meal and cold beers. After the kids went to bed we consulted the maps and were a little nervous about tackling the Old Telegraph Track solo, mainly because of the issues of Weipa. We planned to stick to the PDR for now and have a look at Fruit Bat Falls and then jump on the OTT avoiding the tougher south end creek crossings. Tough decision but we were nervous of the unknown (if only we knew lol).

Road From Bramwell Station to Bramwell Junction


Bar/Diner at Bramwell Station


Bramwell Station Sunset

[Rip'n'Shred]

7th October 2016

So that's pretty much what we did, quick photo at the start of the Old Tele at Bramwell Junction and went for a dip at Fruit Bat Falls.



Near Bramwell Junction


Fruit Bat Falls (a bit dry)


We then took on the OTT and pulled up at the creek crossing about 1km north of the turnoff. Straight away the misses was packing it! She was not giving approval here! Lol. I coaxed her around a little and we took it on. Boy it was deep! A little water over the bonnet, but plenty of traction on the rocky bottom.





A stop for a bit of a swim just a few km up the road at Twin Falls had us ready to continue on the journey. Caught up with a Ranger for a chat on the track along the way which helped us decide not to camp in national parks sites without bookings as he said he would fine us. Cheers lol

Elliot Falls


Twin Falls

[Rip'n'Shred]

We pulled up at Canal Creek for 2 nights of free camping near the creek. Great spot with not many other people around, until the second night when along comes the old fella and the 4 Germans with another bloke in tag along! Of course we insisted they join us and our quiet little camp site became very cosy with an extra 4 vehicles, a trailer, a quad and a dog with 6 more people lol. We had a great night catching up and decided to all finish the OTT together the next day. They also had another family tagging along that they met that where camping back at Twin Falls that would catch up in the morning.

OTT somewhere


So the next day we had a Landcruiser ute towing a trailer for the quad, a Navara, my Patrol towing a camper trailer, Germans Triton and Pajero both petrols, and a Hilux with a camper in tow all making our way north on the Old Tele Track. It did make progress slow but the reassurance of help at hand made up for it.

We made it through all the crossings, some requiring a little help from shovels, max tracks, and the little Hilux winched out of Mistake Creek with the heavy camper in tow.

Sam Creek


Sam Creek Chicken Track


Sam Creek Exit


Mistake Creek


Mistake Creek


Mistake Creek


Mistake Creek Exit - The Patrol didn't use any maxtracks lol


Mistake Creek


Mistake Creek Exit - Hilux just before winching the rest of the way out

[Rip'n'Shred]

Cannibal Creek - Crazy Germans!!!


Cannibal Creek the other side


Cannibal Creek Hilux following the Patrol


Cypress Creek Log Bridge


We all camped that night at Nolans Brook and had a few bevies around a camp fire after swimming near the big tree that lay over at a strange angle. Not sure what happened to it.

Nolans Brook


Nolans Brook


Nolans Brook Camp Panaramic


Nolans Brook May 2012


The following day we went seperate ways again. The other family and us decided to go around and take the ferry across while the remainder of the group took on the Jardine River Crossing. (I still regret not doing it in hindsight). We ended up in Punsand Bay for a few nights with the other family.