The Telegraph Track

Its eleven years since Poo and I drove the full length of the Telegraph Track. A track, which I believe everyone with a love of 4wheeldriving and a love of the Aussie Bush should do once.

Plod , especially now she is up the top, and hearing more and more about it each day as cars drive into Bamaga, and she talks to people at the caravan parks, desperately wanted to drive down to the “Gunshot” to take a look. In the short time that she has been there she had made an overnight trip down the track to Nolans Brook where they camped on the north bank and watched cars on the way up tackling the last creek crossing.

So we planned an overnight camping trip down to the Gunshot and then we would camp at Twin Falls before our return trip. All to be on the Development Road.

Plod stood at the Gunshot and watched one vehicle winching themselves through and was thoroughly enjoying herself.

We had lunch at Fruit-Bat Falls and then moved on to the camping area at TwinFalls

Sitting round the fire that night she told us she wanted to give the track a go and see how we went. Lucky for her Poo had insisted on having a snorkel fitted and her vehicle lifted before she put it on the train and barge for Bamaga.

We were lucky enough when getting to Mistake Creek, our first “real creek” after our overnight camping that we had two cars with four southerners who offered to stay with us for the rest of the way. Without them we would not have attempted it. Thanks guys.

So Plod was in her element. After the second creek crossing we knew we couldn't turn back. We knew we could never get back up the bank so we had to go on but the Navara handled it exceptionally well.

The one crossing that was worrying me was Cyprus Brook. The log bridge there when we crossed years ago was the most scariest thing I had done, but lots more logs have been added and it really was a breeze this time.

Nolans Brook was nowhere as deep either, so we arrived at the end all very happy and Plod so ecstatic that she could now cross that one off her list.

So once again another two goods days.

Off to the Top of Australia

Shopping done for Plod and her goods sent off to the wharf, we were ready for our flight. We don’t realize that those who live and work in these isolated places of our country have to wait for the weekly barge to bring their goods. No popping down to"Bunnings" to grab a few things
So it was aboard Qantas for our two hour flight to Horn Island. Then because of not being able to connect with the ferry from Horn Island to Thursday Island then the ferry back to Seisia we chartered a small plane to fly us back to Bamaga. They live “island time” but eventually we were on our way. Just beautiful scenery from up there.

 

Plod met us at Bamaga, so good to see her again and then because of work commitments for another couple of hours her good new friends took us up to one of those beautiful spots known only by the locals where we enjoyed happy hour sitting and watching a beautiful sunset.

Plod joined us for the sunset and a lovely meal at the “local” finished off an interesting and exciting day.

The next few days were spent lazily. Drove round through the communities of Umagico and Injinoo and made trips to Loyalty Beach , Punsand Bay and of course Somerset . This trip, instead of having to crawl up all those rocks to get to the the “Tip” we were able to walk on the sand as the tide was out so just a few rocks to walk over for the obligatory photo. The days passed very quickly

And we were there to see the unloading of the Sea Swift vessel which brought in our Cairns shopping

On our Way to the Cape

Well we finally hit the road for our trip to Cairns to make our flight to Cape York to visit Constable Plod. What started out in the planning to be a six week caravan trip ended up being a nine day car trip. With the installation finally of the new kitchen which they all tell me was fifteen years overdue, time just ran out so instead of meandering up and around slowly we took the small car and tent. And we enjoyed every bit of it. So easy. Our first night was Pomona with rellies, then it was Bargara, a beach we hadn’t been too.

Then a stop at the Clairview Caravan Park. What a great night. Home cooked meal and a great singalong band. Really enjoyable. Morning coffee with a view like this

 

On then to Proserpine, Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour.

Thats where Poo decided he had found the block of his dreams. How would the view be if you built here.

Did spend a night at Bowen but decided that Bowen was the most unfriendliest town we have ever been in and that we will never return. One side trip we did make was to the Wallamann Falls outside Ingham. The highest falls and yes they were really worth the trip.

We then made our way on to Cairns after a night at Kurrimine Beach and drove on up over the Daintree Ferry to have a look once again at Cape Tribulation. A really beautiful area of Queensland.

Then I crossed another off the “bucket list”. Have a few times now driven up the coast from Cairns and always said I would love to camp at Ellis Beach. That park right on the beach has always taken my fancy so we decided to take the opportunity and stay for two nights. Took a beachside cabin and it was just paradise. One step off the deck and you were on the sand.

Feeling relaxed we drove back into Cairns itself, had a few shopping chores to do for Plod before we left for the Tip, so another two nights in Cairns and we were ready to board the Flying Kangaroo. A great few days .