The OTT....on the way up!

We're back from our 2009 Cape York Adventure and still smiling.

Had an absolute ball and can't wait to try it again.....soon.

As you'll see, lots of challenging 4 wheel driving which had the boys debating and discussing and reliving all the best bits late into the night. As per usual, the photos just don't do any of this amazing trip justice....nor do words for that matter. But they help us relive a brilliant couple of weeks and hopefully give you a taste of what's up there in the north, waiting for you to explore and experience.

As to the big question....would the Terracan survive??? You'll have to wait for the next post...."The OTT......on the way down!"

BTW, a big shout out to our Carry-Me-Camper buddy: Wayn'o from Weipa. We passed Wayn'o on the bypass track at Gunshot. The brave lad had given it a red hot go, but sadly on that day, no go. Funniest thing....he knew us! He's been following our blog! Small world! Thanks for your feedback Wayn'o. You're a legend!

And now....the proof is in the pics...................

Preparing the first crossing...Palm Ck. If you can survive this one, you can do 'em all. Maybe?

The Nav takes on crossing one. That drop is much steeper than it looks and the fine white dirt on top takes away your traction, so be prepared to s-l-i-d-e.

The Nav's through....now the Terracan has a go. Phew! Made it! We're off to a ripper start on the OTT.

The first wet creek crossing....Ducie Ck. One of the easiest and dirtiest. No swimming here.

Jon makes it through Gunshot.....not in the Navara though. We decided to give the poor girl a day off, after all, we still have a few months of traveling left to go.

The entry to Cockatoo Creek.....which is followed by dodging the holes in the creek bed....then avoiding the ruts and the rocks on the exit bank. Great fun!

The reward for surviving the southern section of the OTT......2 amazing days at Eliot and Twin Falls. Fantastic swimming.

How lucky are we? We had delightful Fruit Bat Falls to ourselves for the afternoon.

The exit out of Canal Creek was pretty soft and sloppy. 3 attempts on this slope and we got through. Meanwhile, Dad had crossed further east in the Terracan and couldn't make it up the bank. So, he had to reverse back into the creek, do a 12 point turn and cross back onto the south side, before trying a different route.

Crossing the Jardine River by ferry is more expensive, but it's safer! Funniest moment: the guy who sells you your ticket asks what make of car you have. Dad told him a Hyundai Terracan and he just looked blank. Never heard of it! We wonder if we just made history....The first Hyundai to the Tip!

Made it! What a great feeling! I want to do it again....and again....and......

Jon's pretty happy we made it to the Tip too!

It's God's own country up here.

The Trek - the first few days

Lakefield National Park would be beautiful in the early dry. For us, in the late dry, it was a place to breeze through fairly quickly. But historic homesteads, loaded mango trees and lagoons teeming with bird life, as well as the European tourist crashing his motorbike in the bulldust pit right in front of us, made for an entertaining day of driving.

Up through Coen and out to Chili Beach in Iron Range NP we drove. CB has to be one place most people would consider 'paradise' to look at. White sandy bay lined with coconut trees, clear water lapping oyster-laden rocks….very nice! But who knew paradise could be so windy??? Mum and Dad had to do a 2.30am shift of their tent just to get a break from the constantly flapping fly. But we really enjoyed the 2-day break out there on the east coast.

Next it was a 5 hour drive across the state to the other side…Weipa in the west. We arrived to smoke-filled skies and a really hot Sunday afternoon. But there was a pool….ahhh! Relief! A one night stay in town was followed by Maureen’s wonderful town and mine tour. We got to see the bauxite mining process ‘up close’ and see where the raw material that Jon works with in Gladstone every day comes from.

Back on the Peninsula Development Road and with the Old Telegraph Track firmly in our sights, we could feel the excitement building. The real adventure was about to begin. The dream was about to become a reality. And the question we had asked as we left Cooktown was about to be answered.....

Old Laura Station in the middle of Lakefield NP. Looks mighty dry now, but lots of green mangoes on the trees.

Kalpowar Crossing in Lakefield NP. The brave fishermen took on the barra and crocs....

and lost.

Day 2 and the UHF antennae is stuffed. Oopps. The rot that started in Kakadu has truly set in. Fortunately we were still able to be in contact with our 4WD buddies 'TC2'....that'd be the 2 in the Terracan.

The boys get into the oysters at Chili Beach in Iron Range NP on the east coast opposite Weipa.

Chili Beach....windy but beautiful.

Strange critters in the NP up this way:))

Our campsite in Weipa.

Bauxite mining near Weipa.

A memorable day in Weipa....Nathan calls to tell us he is getting married to Tatiana.

Let the (Fun &) Games Begin!

As Mum and Dad Van Itallie departed, Mum and Dad Litzow arrived….with (Kirsty’s brother) Nathan in tow. With the full team now assembled, our Cape trip was ready to begin.

We enjoyed the winding roads through the Daintree rainforest as they took us into a new Top 5 campsite….Noah Beach (just south of Cape Tribulation). Nestled under a rainforest canopy and only metres from the white sand and azure waters of the ocean, this was a perfect base for a bit of Fathers’ Day exploring in the area. We even found a nice, croc-free swimming hole to enjoy.

The Bloomfield Track has to be one of Australia’s top drives for those lucky enough to own a 4WD. It winds its way through rainforest on the edge of the east coast, offering stunning views out over the reef and ocean. Creek crossings, an ice-cream stop at the famous Lion’s Den pub and a waterfall swim in a ‘local secret’ were some of the highlights as we made it to Cooktown.

We had a great 2-night stay with ex-Gladstone friends David and Emily. Jon caught his first fish of the trip….so what if it was a tiny herring to be used for bait! Cooktown has a very colourful history and it was great to stand in places where Captain Cook had stood over 200 years before us and enjoy a lovely dinner over the water at D & E’s favourite restaurant ‘Cook’s Landing’.

We farewelled Nathan before hitting the road for Cape York….just the Terracan and the Navara, and the question: “Will we make it to the tip of the top in one piece?” (Actually the Navara drivers thought no such thing, but they did wonder how the Hyundai would go.)

PS...Taking too long to load photos with only 2 bars of service, so you'll have to check back in a week or so to see them....sorry:(