Just got back from Cape york

Hi All
Just got back from Cape York and wow what a trip. It really is a great destination and a lot of fun.

Highlights: creek crossings, The Archer River
Lowlights: None, except maybe a total lack of fish

I wanted to get an oil change in the Patrol before the drive back to Sydney and used the following mechanic:

John Mitchel
36 Water St Cairns
07 4051 0766

I cant recomend this guy more highly. His business is signposted as an Alfa Romeo specialist but he drives a Patrol and is an avid four wheel driver.

I rocked up on a Saturday and asked if he could do an oil change for me that same day as I was heading to Sydney then next day. He said he would do it for me and then to my surprise asked me if I wanted to have a look under the car whilst it was on the hoist to see if I had done any damage up on the cape. We both went over the car with an inspections light, he cheched diff oils for water, tightened my wheel barings, drilled holes in the botom of the flaired wheel gaurds to let the accumulated mud out (apparantly a common thing on GU's).

All I asked for was an oil change. Also he noticed a loose bolt on my roof rack realised it was striped and got a replacement (Rhino) from the Opposite Lock store in front of his workshop (differnet business).

Great guy and great service. He can also reccomend great places to eat in Cairns and some great Scuba Diving spots.

At the tip we stayed at Loyalty beach which is a great sopt to stay. Droped in to have a look at Punsand Bay and must say that reports of its demise seem a little unfounded to me, it looks good too. However would stay at loyalty beach again because of it proximity to the fishing at the wharf at Seisia.

Creb track was closed whilst I was there but access to Roaring Meg falls was open from the north.

Next time I think I will take two cars so that I dont fight with my grilfriend over who gets to do the driving. We did the OTL track on the northbound and southbound trip and after having spoken to people who only did parts of it and traveled the development road the rest of the way I am sure we took the better option. The northern part of the develpment road is apparently quite badly corrugated and a miserable drive, the southern part is a bit better.

Cheers for now