Caravanning Cape York 2009

Wondering if any other members are heading to/in the cape over the next few weeks. If so you may pass a slow moving Evernew van with Graham & Ann displayed on front and rear, give us a call on 40 if you want to have a chat. Tow tug is silver Navara D40 duel cab with canopy. Van has red Honda SL 230 on the a frame.

We've been on the road a month now, our trip is roughly going as per our Cape York 2009 Trip plan phase 1 of the 3mth trip is completed, ie going to the caravanners Thargomindah UWE and then onto Cooktown. Next 4 week phase begins Monday after our 9 days R&R here in Cooktown, we're all rested and ready to head north as per our trip plan, final maintenance completed today, removed spare wheel & jerry cans from the rear bumper to give extra clearance and reduce chance of damage on sharp/deep washaways/creeks. (after seeing van similar to ours that has just returned from the tip, like ours the van didn't have high cutaway rears and had damaged rear tyre/fuel/carriers bent up from dragging thru crossings, and this was caused on the main PDR washaways somewhere, not the Musgrave/Lakefield/Battle Camp Rd section) anyway thought it easier to change the bits around here instead of later at/if we come across sharp one or worse still after we damage same from dragging thru somewhere.

I'd picked up and fitted a new replacement rear canopy window for the tug at Cairns, (was broken b/w White Cliffs & Wanaaring) so during our rest here, I modified our stone guard to the same as it was on the old tow tug, also taped cardboard over the window. Stripped out the tub liner again to plug some holes I'd missed sealing previously to try to keep the dust out. the jobs a pain, but hopefully we have got all the holes plugged now, so should keep MOST dust out.

From all reports by guys that have come back from the tip in past few days, the roads are pretty good except around Bramwell. So come Monday we'll be heading up Battle Camp Rd thru Lakefield NP to Pandanus for the night and roughly following our trip plan from there on.

cya
Graham