Monday 8 September 2014

Heading north from Weipa...

From Weipa we made good time back to the Peninsula Development Road (PDR).  Our intention was to camp overnight on one of the creeks between Bramwell Junction and the Jardine Ferry.  Much as the little boy in me wanted to drive the Old Telegraph Track, this is very much the domain of the foolish or heavily modified vehicles.  

Still, we decided it was worth a look - and stopped for a photo at the start of the track.

The start of the Old Telegraph Track

We decided to drive the first couple of kilometres to Palm Creek - where we stopped and had lunch.  The track looked absolutely awful, with a massive drop in, carefully widened with countless  door panels and wing mirrors, before a near vertical winch out the other side.  A good spot we decided to turn around - after lunch - and we returned to the PDR to continue our run north.


Er... Not this one @ Palm Creek. 

Our first option for camp was on Cockatoo Creek, just north of the notorious Gunshot Creek. The track we had elected to head in on (shown on some but not all maps) was barely recognisable as a track when we reached the turnoff.  It hadn't been driven in a while, and with a trailer on the back we erred on the side of caution and continued north.

The roads are well marked up here

Our next option was Sams Crossing - north of Eliot Falls.  We elected to take the bypass route in.  With eyes peeled, we nearly missed the turn off, marked with little more than a bit of tape between a couple of trees.

The bypass road into Sams Crossing

The track in was narrow, with very few passing (or turn around) opportunities.  Thankfully it didn't take too long and we pulled up just short of the creek in a great campsite.  With just a couple of other groups camped here, we wandered down to the creek to check it out.

It was even better than it looked

Just down at the creek was a glorious little swimming hole with a waterfall splashing into the pool.  The crystal clear water just made for a glorious swim.  After the best part of the day on the road, there was no better place to cool off.

It was worth it for this

Talking with a few of the other campers it soon became apparent we were very much in the minority.  Most of them had spent ages preparing for a trip on the Old Telegraph Track.  They were a passionate bunch of four wheel drive fanatics.  Most vehicles were heavily modified with large tyres and winches - and it seemed most of them were trying hard to give the winches a workout - and nearly all of them had broken something expensive.  We on the other hand had very much a touring set up - with comfort and longevity much higher on the priorities than capability.  

We decided to see what all the hype was about and take a drive down the Old Telegraph Track to check out not just the track itself but also Eliot and Twin Falls.

Getting there was good fun - and for the most part was a slow but simple drive.  Some eroded ruts made for some interesting moments - but you could make them as easy or as hard as you liked.  I was happy we had left the camper behind - as towing along here would have added a whole heap of complexity I didn't need.  

It is the creek crossings that make this track hard.  Our first creek crossing was simple enough - but with smaller tyres and longer wheelbase than most of the vehicles going through - I had to get my line right.  I did - but at one moment the left hand front wheel was a good foot in the air.  Despite all three helpers being armed with cameras, they missed the shot - and I was told in no uncertain terms that there was no way I would be going back to do it again.

Picking a line

Our next crossing was Canal Creek - another beautiful clear creek - again as easy or as hard as you like.  

Crossing Canal Creek

We were looking forward to checking out Eliot and Twin Falls - and they did not disappoint.  The falls were very picturesque - and we wasted no time in going for a dip at Twin Falls.
Eliot Falls

Twin Falls

The water was clear, refreshing without being too cold and we loved it.

Kicking back at Twin Falls

Still trying to get the hang of a selfie on the GoPro

We made it back to camp without any problems - and in no time at all The Little Helper set to work recreating the Old Telegraph Track around camp.

Recreating the Tele Track

Before heading back down to our pool for another swim.  It was simply delightful - and we pretty much had it to ourselves.

Our own private pool

We loved out little camp on the Telegraph Track - and whilst we only drove along about 6 km of its 127km length, we have no desire to haul our home along its length.  The boy's however have being infected with a bug - so I think this will be a place we will come back to - for a boy's only trip sometime in the future.

For now though the road continued north,..

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