and the cape york road carnage continues...

Submitted: Saturday, Aug 13, 2011 at 11:57
ThreadID: 88447 Views:4079 Replies:5 FollowUps:4
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Three deaths in the past week with the third death just above archer river roadhouse earlier this week. Also a rollover just above bramwell junction, driver was lucky.

My blog will follow in a couple of weeks after arriving back in cairns, just arrived at bamaga.
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Reply By: Member - Scott A (NSW) - Saturday, Aug 13, 2011 at 15:37

Saturday, Aug 13, 2011 at 15:37
Will be interesting to read.

Plan on heading up in May / June next year.
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Reply By: CSeaJay - Saturday, Aug 13, 2011 at 16:59

Saturday, Aug 13, 2011 at 16:59
Sad

Sadly though I am not surprised. With the roads opening up one sees more tourists there, and some speed way beyond what the road conditions allow
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Follow Up By: Member - blackbird1937 - Saturday, Aug 13, 2011 at 19:50

Saturday, Aug 13, 2011 at 19:50
I agree that some are driving very hard as in 05 we were some kms south of the Jardine ferry when a young female driving a troopie rounded us up at a fair rate of knots on a right hand curve in the scrub that we could not see around . The road was very corrugated . We think she was trying to get to the ferry before it stopped for the night . We had to wait for 2 nights at the camp ground near the ferry for others but did not see her again so she must have made it even though we expected to see her stacked somewhere .
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Follow Up By: Member - OnYaBike - Saturday, Aug 13, 2011 at 23:22

Saturday, Aug 13, 2011 at 23:22
And a lot of the locals coming to Cairns for shopping etc tend to drive through in one go.
They know the road well but it doesn't allow for the effects of fatigue or coping with the unexpected.
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Reply By: Member - Bucky - Saturday, Aug 13, 2011 at 23:41

Saturday, Aug 13, 2011 at 23:41
i'machocoholic
There is a wreck on the back of a tilt tray truck, here in Weipa...
Seen it near panel one of the 2 BP servo's

Bugger me SLOW DOWN YOU IDIOTS

We travel at 80 max, and if need be 5 km/h,
Not 100+ because it ain't bloodywell safe
Some DH toldmme that he travels at 140,
I called him a cockhead, and walked away.

Where is the common sense ?

And still they do run up behind is with lights blazing, and passing in blinding dust
BLOODY IDIOTS !
no sympathy from me

Cheers Bucky
AnswerID: 462529

Follow Up By: Wilko (Parkes NSW) - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 07:23

Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 07:23
Agreed Bucky,

Its natures way of self regulating, You just hope they dont take out an innocent traveler.

80 clicks is plenty and you can actually see the scenery, I prob sit on 70 cause I take my time, There is no rush to get anywhere, just the joy in traveling in the bush.

Cheers Wilko
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Follow Up By: Member - Bucky - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 08:46

Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 08:46
Valid point Wilko
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Reply By: Member - Kiwibound eventually - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 07:43

Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 07:43
We arrived at Punsand Bay Camping Ground late Saturday afternoon having driven from Eliot Falls. We have now driven the Old Telegraph Track from Bramwell Junction to the Jardine River old ford entry before returning to take the barge across the Jardine River.

We have found the majority of the drivers are very sensible. We find that by deflating the tyres to around 25 psi or less we can travel at up to 80 kph on the main roads. We find we feel far less Corrugations than travelling at 40-50 kph like some people do. Of course out on the OTT the speed is right down to around an average of 20 kph if you are lucky. We have not been overtaken or overtaken anyone without first a call on the radio requesting the same.

We are saddened by the deaths and we have seen quite a number of badly damaged vehicles. We would recommend that if a driver has little or no experience of travelling on gravel roads they should get prior experience by doing a 4wd course, joining a 4wd club or join a tag along so that they have the support they need.

We are taking our time and expect the return trip to Port Douglas to take us at least three weeks. There are a number of places (Chilli Beach, Eliot Falls, Punsand Bay for example) that we could have stayed much longer than the 2-3 days we have. This is a great trip.
AnswerID: 462537

Reply By: Member - Kiwibound eventually - Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 07:46

Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 at 07:46
We arrived at Punsand Bay Camping Ground late Saturday afternoon having driven from Eliot Falls. We have now driven the Old Telegraph Track from Bramwell Junction to the Jardine River old ford entry before returning to take the barge across the Jardine River.

We have found the majority of the drivers are very sensible. We find that by deflating the tyres to around 25 psi or less we can travel at up to 80 kph on the main roads. We find we feel far less Corrugations than travelling at 40-50 kph like some people do. Of course out on the OTT the speed is right down to around an average of 20 kph if you are lucky. We have not been overtaken or overtaken anyone without first a call on the radio requesting the same.

We are saddened by the deaths and we have seen quite a number of badly damaged vehicles. We would recommend that if a driver has little or no experience of travelling on gravel roads they should get prior experience by doing a 4wd course, joining a 4wd club or join a tag along so that they have the support they need.

We are taking our time and expect the return trip to Port Douglas to take us at least three weeks. There are a number of places (Chilli Beach, Eliot Falls, Punsand Bay for example) that we could have stayed much longer than the 2-3 days we have. This is a great trip and we want to be able to look back on the experience positively and continue on with our trip around this great country.
AnswerID: 462538

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