Cape York - 2015!

[Les PK Ranger]

We used to catch then like that in NQ as kids Richard . . . a heavy fishing line (hand reel) steel trace wrapped around bone from the butchers, throw out a little and peg reel on sand.

Line goes taut, hand pull in slow and steady, 2nd person ankle deep (we didn't have those little animals called crocs at home though !!) with heavy net on broom stick at the ready and scoop em up

We used to make a net with ~ 1/4" steel rod hoop and chicken wire basket, tough enough to cope and they don't get tangled up or cut a normal net.

 

[BarKer]

We used to catch then like that in NQ as kids Richard . . . a heavy fishing line (hand reel) steel trace wrapped around bone from the butchers, throw out a little and peg reel on sand.

Line goes taut, hand pull in slow and steady, 2nd person ankle deep (we didn't have those little animals called crocs at home though !!) with heavy net on broom stick at the ready and scoop em up

We used to make a net with ~ 1/4" steel rod hoop and chicken wire basket, tough enough to cope and they don't get tangled up or cut a normal net.

Luxxxxuryy... We used to wake 3 hours before we went to bed, get beaten to death by our dads and we had to catch fish to feed the whole village...

Sorry Les, couldn't resist...I got nothing on the fishing...

 

[Les PK Ranger]

Was up there recently, went out to the Don River mouth where we'd go crabbing, looks a lot smaller area now that it used to as kids.
We'd usually take home 4 or 6 legal muddies, we were 15 / 16 ish year olds.

Fishing was great too, we'd squid and fish off the local jetty, and dad's boat would be out I dunno, maybe 20 times a year, just after dawn, turn of the tide (low) and maybe a couple of dozen good sized reef fish in an hour or so (plenty of little ones put back to grow some more), then back to an island sand spit to clean em up.
Red Emperor, Snapper, Trevelly, Cod, Weatheries, and the odd Coral Trout, heaps of variety.

Freezer would be put to good use and a feed once a week until the next outing.

I was told that fishing etc isn't a patch now on what it used to be, kinda fished out I guess, which is a shame.
My older brother goes up there regularly, and when he isn't nearly drowning after their dinghy goes arse up occasionally (well ok, it was just once), they do still catch good hauls of muddies in the creeks from a nearby beach hut, it's like that XXXX Island commercial where they go

 

[richardlnsw]

Luxxxxuryy... We used to wake 3 hours before we went to bed, get beaten to death by our dads and we had to catch fish to feed the whole village...

Sorry Les, couldn't resist...I got nothing on the fishing...

Nice to see another Monty Python fan

 

[coolumbla]

here was me thinking the thread had gone quiet!
Have just realised 7 weeks
better get the stuff i was putting off done
Mrs C now realises its 5 weeks I'm away !
Tyres ordered
New UHF in ( amazing what i had hanging around the shed)
rooftop console ordered
New radio going in
winch rope replaced
was actually looking at my rods and wondering which ones to take
Probably not many trout where we are going!
alternative 2 is to go into a shop in cairns and say to a man "need rod!"
I am one of those fishermen , not a catcher man!

"whole village??? we used to have to feed who town with half a loaf of bread and bit of moldy cheese"

 

[hiluxdriver]

First post has been updated with a meeting point in Cairns on the 9th, and Yobboford has been added to the confirmed list, my contact details added as well as UHF details.

This is about as structured as it gets for me so if you think I have left anything out please let me know. Some questions have been raised about the itinery that maybe there are one or 2 days that will be stupid long and others not long enough. Itinery is a guide only. No doubt it will be chucked out the window after a few days and we just go with the flow. But thanks to Richard we have a booking at Punsand Bay so will have to be there on that day. Everything in between can go however it goes.

We may also have a mild celebrity join us at Lions Den on the way up so get excited (if not already).

 

[Jaye]

First post has been updated with a meeting point in Cairns on the 9th, and Yobboford has been added to the confirmed list, my contact details added as well as UHF details.

This is about as structured as it gets for me so if you think I have left anything out please let me know. Some questions have been raised about the itinery that maybe there are one or 2 days that will be stupid long and others not long enough. Itinery is a guide only. No doubt it will be chucked out the window after a few days and we just go with the flow. But thanks to Richard we have a booking at Punsand Bay so will have to be there on that day. Everything in between can go however it goes.

We may also have a mild celebrity join us at Lions Den on the way up so get excited (if not already).

I'm hoping it's either Warwick Capper or Tania Zaetta. Either or would be good value I reckon.

 

[underdog]

here was me thinking the thread had gone quiet!
Have just realised 7 weeks
better get the stuff i was putting off done
Mrs C now realises its 5 weeks I'm away !

7 weeks!! I've still got a snorkel, long range tank, bullbar, winch and another pair of roof racks to install yet Flip; better pull my finger out.

 

[richardlnsw]

Hi Jase, Sally at Punsand Bay is cool so if you don't want to have to be there on a certain day it's no problems at all. The only reason I booked was I thought that you wanted us all to camp together for the 4 nights up there. I can easily cancel the group booking and we can just grab whatever sites are available (it is a big camp ground) when we get there, it just means that we probably will be spread around but that also means if we are going slow we don't have the commitment of having to be there on the 14th. I wont lose the deposit, she will just hold it until we get there. I am easy either way but I will need to know very soon as I will need to cancel the group areas that are booked, let me know.

Thanks mate.

 

[richardlnsw]

Hi Jase, I will meet up with you all when you come through Cape Tribulation.

I will be there from the 29th May until meeting up with the convoy, if anyone wants to get up there early and relax for a few days this is where I will be.

Click on the "contact us link" for directions.

Cape Tribulation Camping - Cape Tribulation

 

[Jaye]

Hi Jase, I will meet up with you all when you come through Cape Tribulation.

I will be there from the 29th May until meeting up with the convoy, if anyone wants to get up there early and relax for a few days this is where I will be.

Cape Tribulation Camping - Cape Tribulation

I may get there a few days before the rest as I will be "between jobs" and may head off early. Be chompin at the bit, you should know how it is.

 

[Hobbsy]

Mmmm tania zaetta!

 

[richardlnsw]

I may get there a few days before the rest as I will be "between jobs" and may head off early. Be chompin at the bit, you should know how it is.

Would be awesome if you could get up there early, it's a great place to chill, plus it would give me someone to share my milk and cookies with

Oh and by the way... Tania Zaetta wearing Warwick Capper's short wouldn't hurt either lol

 

[Hobbsy]

Has anyone looked into insurance cover for the OTT? I believe it's a gazetted rd (whatever that means?!?) so we're still covered, but can anyone confirm that? Should I get in touch with my insurance agency and ask? Is there some other cover I should look at? I've heard that RACQ cover may be worthwhile???

 

[Towie]

Here is a few pics of Palm Creek last week fella's it will be dug out & smoothed over by the time we all get up there but this is a sample & its your first crossing on the OTT.
Southern Entry.


Northern Exit

 

[richardlnsw]

It certainly has changed over the last 5 years Towie!!!!

As for insurance I have checked with NRMA and I am covered, as long as the road is OPEN!!
Roadside assist will help for breakdown as well, although by the time they organise someone we could probably have it fixed with the amazing mechanical talent we have on this trip.

 

[Hobbsy]

Good to hear nrma will cover us.
How gnarly does that exit look!! Can't wait!

 

[underdog]

It certainly has changed over the last 5 years Towie!!!!

As for insurance I have checked with NRMA and I am covered, as long as the road is OPEN!!
Roadside assist will help for breakdown as well, although by the time they organise someone we could probably have it fixed with the amazing mechanical talent we have on this trip.

Just FYI, remember that debacle of mine on our new years trip? That was NRMA... have already had one hearing; expecting plenty more.

 

[Wang]

Here is a few pics of Palm Creek last week fella's it will be dug out & smoothed over by the time we all get up there but this is a sample & its your first crossing on the OTT.
Southern Entry.


Northern Exit

Thought it be a lot wetter for this time. year

When do they run the grader/dozer through

 

[Towie]

ASAP after the wet season usually May but this year has been extremely dry i know people that went up last week could not do the entire OTL but still went to most places.

There is alot more bitumen up there in the last 5 years they do intend to black top it to the Tip for Buses etc... less maintenance too apparently but we will see how the bitumen holds up i guess.