Old Coach Rd and The Creb Track

After 5 weeks together and a nights stay at Bramwell Station we said our goodbyes to Tina, Paul, Zaeja and Alari. Paul had a few car issues he needed sorting out and decided to fast track it back to Cairns. 

Us on the other hand still had The Old Coach Road to Maytown and The Creb Track that we wanted to still complete. 

Bramwell Station

Ella's cheeky new friend

Saying goodbye to friends 

Old Coach Rd/Maytown

First stop was the Old Coach Rd to Maytown. 

After a quick stop in the town of Laura to stock up on supplies we were soon headed towards our next 4x4 adventure! 

A car the same as this was the first at ever to drive to the Top of Cape York! 

On the road to Maytown

After driving roughly 20kms down a dirt road, we officially arrived at the start of the rocky 1st gear, low range rock hopping track. 

The next 5hrs were spent negotiating steep hill climbs and descents over large jaggered rocks. 

At one stage we saw thick, black smoke ahead. Rounding the corner we ran straight into what was quite a intense bushfire that was right alongside the track. With nowhere else to go, we managed to make our quickly past the flames and away from the raging fire. 

Negotiating the track 

Arriving in Old Maytown we explored what was left of this once thriving mining town. 

Driving down the Main Street we loved reading the plaques that had been erected on each site to explain what each ruins represented. 

Maytown 

From Maytown and the end of the Old Coach Rd, we headed over to Palmer River Roadhouse to spend the night. 

After such a intense day of driving we decided to treat ourselves to one of Palmers famous Steak Sandwiches. Wow... They were huge!!! And just delicious! 

Steak sandwiches at Palmer River 

The Creb Track

The next morning we drove back towards Cooktown and after an over night stay at Archer Point we then down towards The Creb Track. 

This way to the Creb! 

90km of extremely steep 4x4 tracks that wound through the stunning Daintree Rainforest. This is one track I would not like to be on after any form of rain! 

The track itself is mainly clay, and after even the smallest amount of rain becomes extremely dangerous to drive on. 

Lucky for us we had clear skies! 

After another full day of driving we decided to have a overnight stay near the end of the Creb. 

Setting up along a river crossing we had the place entirely to ourselves. 

We had a huge bonfire and swam in the crossing. Laying in bed that night I fell asleep listening to the sounds of the Rainforest. 

The Creb Track

The next day we made our way back to Mt Carbine and our Caravan.

After 6 weeks and 4550km of amazing four wheel driving, we had completed what we set out to accomplish.

What an adventure! On our travels around Australia we have had so many amazing adventures and seen so many breathtaking sights.. But I think Cape York has to be up there as one of our favourites! 

Next stop... A 1700km race down the coast to catch up with all the family on the Goldcoast!! 

Xx 

Cape York - The Old Telegraph Track

The Old Telegraph Track

**unfortunately a lot of the 4x4 action shots in this blog are alittle blurry due to them being taken from various video footage.. 

Day 1
19 days after we left our caravans at Mt Carbine, 1850km of 4x4 tracks and corrugated dirt roads, we finally arrived at the beginning of the famous "Telegraph Track."
After a few quick photos we were soon on our way!

So many termite mounds!

In no time at all we had reached our first 4x4 challenge, the Palm Creek Crossing. 

Palm creek 

Exiting Palm Creek 

A steep drop into a hole not much wider than the car, into a puddle of mud, and a reasonably steep rocky climb out the other side greeted us.
Both cars tackled this crossing with no hassle, yeah!!! And we were soon headed towards the Dalhunty River Crossing. 

Arriving here we decided to set up camp here for the night. Although only lunch time, we were in no rush to complete the track. With some safe little swimming holes, we had a great day chatting with other people passing through.

Dalhunty waterfall 

Our little egg relaxing with a friend and a beer in the Dalhunty River. No cracks... yet!! 

Us!! 

Day 2 

Today we arrived at one of the more well known crossings, Gun Shot. 

With approx 8 different entry points, there were plenty of possible ways to tackle this one... With saying that, they all had extreme steep drops into varying depths of boggy mud below... 

The original Gunshot on the right. The one on the left is just as high... But not quite a vertical drop! 

Gary and I discussing whether I do or do not attempt this one... ;)

View from the top of The original Gunshot

The steep drop into the water below... 

The original drop though stood out from all the rest. This one is clearly for the clinically insane! A pretty much vertical straight down drop longer than the average car, that sent you nose diving into a deep, muddy puddle. 

This one was definietly off my list! Although I was considering taking its sister drop alongside.... Although not quite as steep, (not steep still equalled a nearly vertical drop.... But just not quite...) And still a deep, muddy puddle to make my way out of at the bottom... 

Arriving here we were greeted by a guy who had taken his trailer down one of the 5 smaller drops... And who's trailer had hit the back window of his car and flipped on the way down... Ouch....
Amazingly enough he was able to flip his trailer back over, and after covering his broken back window in cardboard and with a few extra scratches to his 200 series landcruiser, he was soon on his way again! 

Preparing to pull the trailer back upright with a snatch strap... 

The uprights trailer and the broken back window.. 

Before long atleast 15-20 cars had joined us and we all had a great time watching each other tackle Gunshot.
When my turn came around I choose to take one of the steep but smaller drops on the side. As tempted as I was to do the second biggest drop.... I was nervous about damaging the car when it sank into the near on 1m deep muddy puddle below..

Bit blurry... (These are still shots taken from a video of my turn on Gunshot..) 

Hitting the bottom!

Making my way out. I did it! Woohoo!!

Woohoo! Feeling pumped afterwards! 

Nobody out of the crowd who had gathered to tackle Gunshot that day was game enough to tackle either of the two big drops either!
Eventually though, one of the guys, Todd, who
had previously tackled Gunshot, said he would winch himself back up and take the third biggest drop back down again and offered to winch me back up and follow suite too!
I was possibly keen... Right up till the part where his car bottomed out whilst been winched back up gunshot and ripped the back side panel and bumper of his car off!!!
Unfazed and still managing to smile over the new modifications to his car, he soon showed the crowd gathered below how to tackle this part of Gunshot! He made it look easy and I was impressed! 

Todd winching back up.... And ummmm... Modifying the back of his car... 

Still smiling despite the damage :)

The crowd at Gunshot! 

Both cars at the bottom of Gunshot 

Our little egg was most relieved to of survived Gunshot 

After spending the majority of the day watching and assisting people tackle Gunshot, we eventually headed off towards Canal Creek.
Arriving here we set up camp right alongside the track which ran straight through the crystal clear waters of Canal Creek.
We then spent the remainder of the afternoon soaking in this little piece of paradise.

The girls enjoying Canal Creek 

  

Day 3 

Today we spent the day checking out and swimming in various swimming holes. From Eliot Falls, Twin Falls, The Saucepan, Sam Creek and then setting up camp alongside Nolans Brook.

Twin Falls 

Elliot Falls 

The girls relaxing near Twin Falls 

Fun times 

We crossed numerous water crossings, some deep and with steep drops into them. Most notable of the steep drops into water today was the Canon ball crossing.

Water crossing 

Dropping into Canon ball crossing  

The waterfall at Sams Creek 

Tyres off the ground action

We crossed the log bridge which made some serious cracking noises as we inched our way across, and slowly rock hopped the last 10km of the track to Nolan's Crossing.

The creaky log bridge 

The girls testing out the bridge 

Setting up camp again right alongside the track, we had a great viewing spot to watch as other cars crossed the deep, sandy crossing.
With deep crystal clear pools, some that were about 2m deep, rope swings and plenty of action to watch we had a great time camping here for two nights.

Nolans Brook 

Crossing Nolans

Tori sitting back at camp 

Day 4
Today we spent the day watching as other cars and even two motorbikes tackled Nolans. We cheered people on and offered them advice on where best to cross.
We messed around with the rope swings, and Gary built a log ladder for the kids to climb up. 

Day 5
Today we set off to finish off the Telegraph Track. We drove to the original Jardine Crossing, which is now only rarely used mainly due to the large water crossing and a large tree that blocks the exit.. (Though not impossible to manoeuvre around as we find out later in our travels when we heard that someone managed to make it across and around the tree!) 
The main way now is unfortunately via the Jardine ferry though...

 Ticking items of the Bucket List! 

Telegraph Track, DONE N DUSTED!

Our new sticker for the Car! 

Ella and I with our "I drove the Telegraph Track" tops! (Yes Ella did drive 15km of the track, crossings an all!)  

So after a few last small water crossings, some boggy sandy patches, corrugated and pothole filled road we had made it to the end of the Telegraph Track!!

Wow, what an adventure! Although with plenty of places on the Cape to still visit... And with plenty of rough roads to still tackle.. Our Cape York Adventure was far from over..... ;)
Next stop.. Mutee heads, Seisia, The Tip and everything inbetween!

Xx