Thurs, 2nd Aug, 2018 Bush camp by Archer River to Gunshot, old Telegraph Track, Qld (exploring)

Clear sky again. Warmer morning. My thermometer had died so no more temperatures!!

I thought Mal was just trying to keep a clean car but his wiper squirty bottle isn’t working and the dust builds up on the revision mirrors – safety first.

Back out and on to Archer River Roadhouse.

A memorial to Toots was out the front.

Inside there was another sign about the book written about her.

More information boards about the Cape.

We tried out Russell Hinze's chair - room for two.

Across the causeway over the Archer River and onto the next section of bitumen.

Stopped at Portland Roads turn off as Malcolm’s bonnet catch was coming loose.

Checked out the big sign across the road. David from Chuulangun Campground drove out so I asked him about the road conditions – he said it was corrugated. He gave me his card if we want to stop at the campground.

Continued along the bitumen. I think this is the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve.

Left turn to Weipa - the sign could be redone.

We continued north – 357km to the Tip.

The dirt road is narrower now.

Using Wikicamps we looked for somewhere to stop for a cuppa. Turned off to check out Rocky Creek but it wasn’t very exciting. Had our cuppa and a walk around.

Continued on and crossed the bridge over the Wenlock River. Someone left their sign high up in the tree.

Up the hill and we turned into the Moreton Telegraph Station and campground.

The weather station.

Checked out all the history and information under the old telegraph station.

Great comparison photos of dry and wet seasons.

Getting across the Wenlock River before the bridge.

I wandered over towards the river and check out the water monitoring station.

Lovely and green here – they have lots of water to keep it that way.

Found a great map that I missed before under the house.

Heading back out I spotted the telegraph poles and the remains of one of the rafts used to ferry vehicles etc across the river.

Bright green ferns stand out in the burnt landscape after a recent fire as we continue north. Still lots of vehicles heading south so there might be room for us up there!! You can see which was the wind blows the dust as one side of the scrub is red and the other is green.

Past the turn off into Branwell Station which now has accommodation etc. Pulled over beside the ‘big’ ant hills near Branwell Junction Roadhouse. I looked for old photos of the times we have been up here but they are buried in a box – I mustn’t have scanned them.

It is called the Junction as you either continue up the ‘original’ Telegraph Track or take the Bypass Road.

Had to take a photo of the Toyota’s with their bonnets up.

Had lunch under the shady trees near the roadhouse then checked out the number plate tree.

Another good map of the old Telegraph Track and the Bypass Road. Will drive up the track from here and see if we can get to Palm Creek to camp tonight. Hoping to check out Gunshot and Nolans Brook too – only to look at, no crazy 4 wheel driving for us.

Grabbed an icecream then the boys checked out what the problem was with the Toyotas – they were from Maryborough. A rubber or something – good old Gecky had one in his box of tricks which fixed the problem.

Went around to the other side of the roadhouse and up the Old Telegraph Track. Good for the first part.

Then it became eroded so we decided not to continue. Back to the roadhouse and onto the Bypass Road. Good advice on the sign.

Nice wide road.

Lots of recently burnt area and some still burning. Mr Goanna played chicken on the road but we missed him.

Change in the vegetation as we enter the Heathland Reserve.

Turned off to head back to the Old Telegraph Track. Back to a narrow road and lots of corrugations. We keep in contact with the others all the time checking they were all ok with the conditions so far.

Dark clouds have come over as we continued along the track.

Turned onto the Old Telegraph Track and headed down 7km to Gunshot Creek. It is a famous creek crossing for the crazy 4WDers. We are just going to camp and hopefully watch some others tackle it. Pretty good track to start then it got a bit woobly.

Spotted an old telegraph pole.

Then came a bit that was eroded but there was a clear track across it.

Pulled in to the camping area back from the creek and parked. Went for a walk down to the creek. A couple of exits this side.

A few parts left behind!!

Walked down the other exit to the creek.

There was another entrance to the left and I spotted a chap on his bicycle in the creek.

Crossed Gunshot Creek – only shallow here and lovely and cool and clear. A couple of drops of rain fell from the dark clouds – hope there isn’t more as this dirt isn’t nice when it gets wet.

Looking back up to where we walked down then up the creek where the ‘chicken’ entrance is around the corner and all the other entrances/exits depending on which way they are going. We did the Old Telegraph Track on the first trip with Graeme and Anne in our dual cab – we must have been crazy. We came from the south and down one of these but it wasn’t as steep as some of these are. I remember meeting up with another couple of guys and we worked together to get through. They had a lovely dog called Bandit.

Walked up the creek to the ‘chicken’ entrance. The chap on the bike was carrying his bits and pieces around to camp for the night. A bit deeper in this section. He is from Italy and has rode up from Tully. He is carrying 38km of stuff including big boxes for his drone etc. He had run out of battery so I offered to charge it for him.

We helped carry his things up and then as he said he hadn’t eaten lunch yet and it was 4pm I said cook your pasta on my stove as it will be much quicker. He was most grateful to meet helpful Australians – he obviously has met some that were not too helpful.

We set up camp too.

We heard a vehicle coming and went down to watch it come through. There were three guys from Sydney and they spent some time discussing which one to do. In the end they did the ‘chicken run’ as the driver said he still had a lot of country to cover and didn’t need a wrecked vehicle – smart lad. I stood in the creek and videoed them. I had put my thongs up high but the water pushed up as they came through the deeper bit washed over them so I had to quickly grab them then video the next section when they turned the corner and went up the exit.

After a while we heard more coming – 5 vehicles came through. They only did the ‘chicken run’ too. I took more videos. The last car was towing a trailer and he whizzed through and we thought he was going to come up the other side but he backed up and came up the same track.

Our route for today.

The sky started to clear as we enjoyed our drinks. Nice breeze blowing. Got the fire going and we all enjoyed our showers.