Hi Everyone
Just some info for those of you going to the Cape soon. The road to the Weipa/Cape turnoff is rather good and the drive into
Weipa is good also.
Weipa was great as usual, perfect weather and a nice place to fish and relax. The road through Batavia Downs was good too with only one really slippery crossing. The O.T.L was so much better this time than 2 years ago and we made good time on it too, just watch out for the bulldust holes along the way. We hit one not even doing 50klms and we almost flipped the 4BY. At Palm Ck they are using the bypass track now and the old one is very washed out and almost dry. Maybe in time they will reuse it again. The Dulcie is deep so pick your path accordingly and if you have a
snorkel then you will be ok. Gunshot was good going down it even though there is a very deep muddy drop off at the end of it. If you stay within the wheel tracks going down it and you will be ok. We had heard that two 4WD’s with trailers had turned over whilst going up it on their return journey (and another one had a mishap while we were in Lakefield on our way
home). I’m sure more have come to grief on it since then. Calamody was a bit of a shocker, we got thrown around on the deceptive jump up coming out of it. It has probably been leveled out by now. Cockatoo Ck was good going down it but it would be quite slippery on the southern side by now. The road to Elliot &
Fruit Bat Falls was rough as usual with Scrubby Ck getting soft on the bottom and quite slippery on the northern side as more people use it. We didn’t do that part of the O.T.L. but headed to the ferry on the northern bypass road. The ferry is $88 per car “only” and for what, a permit and a black garbage bag? I would love to know what they do with the money. Old Barnsey used to only charge $20 when he used to do it. The road to
Bamaga is pretty good and they have actually done some good work on the road into the towns. Maybe this is where the ferry money goes? We did
the Horn Is tour which was pretty pricey but really
well worth it. If you are planning to go make sure you get on Venessa’s bus, she is very good. We had a stop over earlier on T. Is before heading to Horn Is but didn’t do that tour, we just browsed around in the “one” main street there. Our highlight to the TIP was another “sunset” viewing with wine and nibbles. If you go this is a must, it is so peaceful and so pretty. Pajinka is still run down and disgustingly shameful, which is a shame as I remember how nice it was while camping there in ’88 with the kids. Maybe one day “someone” will get their act together and get it up and running again. As for the “grog” thing it IS being monitored and the sign for this is right at the Ferry, how smart!!!. We were checked for grog and breath tested near
Bamaga the day we left. A 24 pack of 4X gold will set you back $48 at the
Bamaga canteen. The south bypass road was very corrugated, so what else is new…lol The road through Heathlands to the Dulhunty R was quite good. The road going south into Lakefield from Nifold Plains to the Kalpower
Ranger Base is very badly wheel rutted so watch out for them. A near new 4WD found out the hard way and completely totaled it on a corner there, not a pretty site. We had heard later in
Cooktown that the people involved were all right. The road to the Bloomfield/Wajul Wajul is exempt from grog but go off of it and you could be in deep trouble. We didn’t know about this being a “dry” area until we saw the sign at the Lion’s Den (another, how smart!!!)
All in all, if you plan to go take care and take your time and allow for delays.
Only one last hint:- watch out for the “IDIOTS” that think they are the only ones on the road. There were a lot of near misses and if only people didn’t let their brains or what little they had go on holidays too we would all be safer.
: )