The road less travelled

 After leaving Cape Flattery, we head off again, destination Lakefield National Park. We decided to take the most interesting way through Wakooka and Cape Melville NP. We estimated that we should be on the road for about 6-8 hours. We needed to get to Musgrove to refuel which was on the boarder of Lakefield NP. Well, we always said that we wanted to get off the beaten track on this holiday and today we did exactly that. The road looked like no one had used them in ages. There was ruts, holes and boggy sand continuously and James effortlessly manoeuvred Ivan through. The going was slow but time just flew past as we went on, I was always hanging out the window taking photo after photo!

 after a few hours, we still hadn't seen anyone, we started to look for a place to stop and have a break, when the road got even more rugged when, uh oh, James hit a rut and the car would not move. after a few attempts, out came the winch but it wouldn't work! James was trying everything, and Daniel and I were running collecting rocks to give the tires some grip. James said, we may have to dig our selves out otherwise we are staying as who knows when some one else comes through! After awhile, James changed the winch over to the main battery and luckily the winch worked and pulled us out! We had been having problems with our batteries not recharging and this was why the winch wouldn't work.We found a place to stop and have a break and eat some lunch. It was a little bit weird being all alone in some wild country, even though it was beautiful.

 After a couple of hours we did pass another two cars who said that the road ahead appeared to disappear but it was OK. The road was always changing from sandy, rocky and then pot holes big enough to stop you. We came to another section that we knew we wouldn't get out of without the winch. At least we were prepared and even though it was really boggy, we got out.

 Back on track, the landscape continued to change and as we were told the road did disappear into long grass for a bit! The next thing we hit was miles of bull dust. It was so thick and fine that we couldn't see the Tvan behind us.

 The sun began to set and we were getting close to Kalpower Camp, we crossed the flooded cause way in the dark, and got cracking in setting up camp. We were exhausted and dusty but on a high from a very adventurous 7 hour drive! If the Old Telegraph is anything like this then we should be fine!