Ever since reading (and laughing) about the goings on down the Eyre Peninsula way between Lucy and Roachie, I have been waiting for the opportunity to share a goofball story with you all. Recently my mate
Bob has given me the perfect opportunity.
I was on a business trip in NQ and pulled into a
rest area late one night and what should I see, a big silver F Truck with a nice new Adventure camper on the back. I said "I know that truck" but it was late so I left it till the morning to say G'Day. Once we had re-acquainted ourselves again (it has been a few months since we have seen each other) and shared a few stories on what we had each been up to, I had to go back to work and vowed to catch up with Bob and his wife Robyn (who Bob was picking up from
Cairns airport that day) before I left
Cairns. I knew from our chat that Bob was heading further north from
Cairns but would be back to put Robyn back on a plane from
Cairns in a weeks time. Anyway, before my trip was to take me southbound again, I give Bob a call on his mobile. Out of range was the response I got, hmmm that's strange, they should be back by now I thought but left my message and hoped for a return call from Bob before I left
Cairns. The next night, I was woofing dinner down a local
Cairns hotel and the call came in, "Hey it's Bob how ya goin?" I said good mate I'll come and see you, save driving that big truck of yours around
Cairns. When I got to Bob's resort accomadation I see a big F Truck with mud all up the side and a winch cable strapped ominously around the bullbar as though he was using it so much that it wasn't worth winding back in after each use. "Geez it didn't take you long to find some fun" I said..."It's a long story" is all I got out of Bob "I'll tell you it all when we get upstairs" he proceeded to mumble. Upstairs I finally got to see and say G'day to Robyn (again it had been a while since I had seen her too) she said "I could have used your help yesterday, has Bob told you yet?" I shrugged and said "No tell me what has happened".
Bob had decided to take his lovely wife to Lakefield National Park north of
Cooktown for a couple of days. The park is still quite soggy and parts of it still closed from the wet. Bob and Robyn had a lot of fun exploring the wetlands and what have you up that way until Bob took a small track down to an isolated
camp spot. On route there was a dried up billabong that could not be avoided, "We'll be fine, I have the winch if worst happens" Bob says to Robyn. Low range and feed all 7.3 litres of the Effy to the wheels.....made it "No prob's" say's Bob to Robyn. Further down to the
camp grounds and it was not what they were seeking in an isolated
camp so back track they went....back to the dreaded "dried up Billabong from hell" all sweet, we made it through last time so we'll be fine reinforced Bob. This time he muffed it and bogged all 5+ tonnes of the Effy in the middle of the billabong. Oh
well, I will just pull out the winch cable and hook it around one of the many available trees to get us going again says Bob. "Stand clear winching" bellowed Bob's voice through the emptyness of LAkefield National park. Problem was nothing happened when he pressed the button on his remote. Try it with the cable connected....nothing happened. "Bob you better get me out of this" echoed a sweet voice that sounded much like Robyn only angry and she is never angry. Power cable on the winch had rubbed through and shorting itself out so there was no winch to help poor ol Bob out. Pushing 5 and a bit tonne through a soggy billabong was out of the question, digging was his only option....after many failed attempts to put logs and palm fronds and all sorts of vegetation under the Effy's wheels Bob resigned to the fact that he was seriously stuck. No mobile phone coverage of course but he had a back up Emergency plan. Out with his Sat phone and made the call to get help. This would have been a very big thing for Bob as he is not the sort of guy to ask if he doesn't have too. Dusk come and went and Bob and Robyn thought it was going to be a long night camped in the Effy waiting for help. Then Robyn says "is this place tidal? will crocs come up here with an incoming tide?" "Buggered if know" says Bob. "Ok youre camping outside so I know if there is any crocs around" says Robyn. Just about this time the cavalry arrived in the form of the local (relatively speaking)
Laura police. 15 minutes later after a quick winch, they were free from their despair, and Bob was saved a nervous night tiptoeing through the crocs to ease Robyn's nerves inside the Effy.
Pictures on Bob's camera were not ever going to get into my hands so I can't show you all their situation but suffice to say it would have been nerve racking for the pair of them. I know Bob and how calm he is but I am sure this would serve as a very serious lesson as to the dangers of solo travel. Fortunately Bob had covered all basis to help himself but sadly the newly installed winch failed (thanks to one of the major offroad stores here in Brissy for bleep wiring) fortunately the Sat phone did work and both Bob and Robyn can share their story around a campfire or two for some years to come.
Last time I reported on my mate Bob, his F truck was taken
home on the back of a Mack truck, this time it was recovered by a
police vehicle.....what next Bob? keep up the good work mate I love having these type of stories to look back and learn from.
Cheers Buddy,
Trevor.