At the Cape at last

Submitted: Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 14:40

ThreadID: 87500 Views:2356 Replies:5 FollowUps:6

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SIF4X4

After putting this trip off for the past 30 years we have finally reached the top of Cape York and are camped at Umagico Campground...absolute beachfront.

Its overcast today with 28 degrees. We towed our 32 year old caravan up here with the 17yo diesel slug and the only thing to go wrong was the RH mirror falling out this morning on some bad corrugations. Ran 25psi in the tyres and never went over 70kmh. Left Laura on Friday.

There is only about 70km of bad road(corrugations) for the entire trip from Laura to Bamaga and quite a number of bitumen patches along the way. Creek crossings still need care and there is plenty of dust as mentioned before.

Now to kick back and take a month or two to explore the Cape.

Cheers

Spero

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Reply By: Nomad Navara - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 14:51

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 14:51

Congratulations, enjoy your time there, weather sounds great, very cold in vic.

AnswerID: 459647

Reply By: PatrolEv - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 16:26

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 16:26

G'day,

Congrats, I am very jealous!!!!

I am very interested to know more about your 32 year old caravan and 17 year old tug.....what are they??? Any pics you can post??

Great stuff!!!!

Cheers
Ev

AnswerID: 459653

Follow Up By: SIF4X4 - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 18:44

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 18:44

Ev

Its an old 14ft Millard Poptop with 14inch wheels, a Treg Hitch and a Springover.
The tug is a Nissan diesel with 425,000km on the clock

Cheers

Spero

FollowupID: 733272

Reply By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 16:53

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 16:53

Good to see you got there at last Spero.
I would imagine there will be a lot of vehicles going up that way over the next month or two, so maybe the corrugations will be worse on your way back.

Sounds like you have got it sorted out with lower tyre pressures and keep the speed down.
Just shows what you can do if you take it easy, even if you have older transport.

Dave

'Wouldn't be dead for quids'

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AnswerID: 459659

Follow Up By: SIF4X4 - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 18:47

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 18:47

G'day Dave

Oh well if the corrugations get worse I can drop the tyre pressures a few more psi and go even slower. At slow speeds I have been getting 12.5/100 with the old tug. It still doesn't like hills though

Cheers

Spero

FollowupID: 733273

Reply By: Fatso - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 19:19

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 19:19

Good on ya Spero.
You're a legend mate.

AnswerID: 459674

Follow Up By: lizzyb74 - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 20:40

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 20:40

ditto to what Fatso says!! Great job!

FollowupID: 733295

Follow Up By: SIF4X4 - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 22:08

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 22:08

Thanks for the Legend status, tho some might not agree.....LOL

FollowupID: 733305

Reply By: Member - OnYaBike - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 19:44

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 19:44

Hi Spero
I replied to your Coen post but it was only after I got home that I realised that it was you who wrote the excelllent Maytown post that i bookmarked for future use.
Are there many people at Umagico? I would think it quieter than Seisia. We visited Loyalty for a feed at the outdoor restaurant one night and if you camped there you wouldn't want to snore - you would wake the neighbours they are so close.

AnswerID: 459681

Follow Up By: SIF4X4 - Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 22:07

Monday, Jul 11, 2011 at 22:07

Only 3 camps here and all spaced about 80 metres apart...lol. I think that the place had been run down and is now under new management and it is being refurbished. It's not the flashest but we have been bush camping for 60 days now so this is comparative luxury!

FollowupID: 733304