Saturday 20 August – 16,278 Km
An interesting night – the wind howled around the cab all night – made a peculiar whistling – despite chauffeur packing out the gap between the toolbox and Djan. We missed the vol-au-vent bird. In the morning Jamie and Lewis played on a coconut tree log – whilst Rachael and Trev went for a walk along the beach. Was hoping there would be no accidents, as they tried to balance 'walking' on the rolling log, being egged on my chauffeur all the while. Slowly decamped and decided we had to explore the 'Cafe' sign further up the road. When we had passed it yesterday, it took me quite a while to register to what I had just see – in the middle of the rain forest, miles from anywhere there was a 'Cafe' sign. Rachael confirmed to me I wasn't hallucinating. So we all checked it out, sure enough, it was for real, and what a delight – Portland Sands used to have a long jetty, nothing there now but a sheltered bay, mangroves, crocs, flowers everywhere, half a dozen houses clinging to the hillside and this little cafe on the verandah of this house. Civilisation in isolation :-). We all had morno's of peacan pies, various teas and hot chocolates. Checked out the local knowledge of the Frenchman's Track which we wanted to attempt later that day. Were told it was only 12 km from the main track before you came to Pascoe River, which was the main obstacle, so it wasn't too far a treck to go and check it out. However, weren't warned that there was nowhere to turn round once you got there and decided to chicken out – at least not with a trailer, which everyone had recommended not to take. This only spurred Trev on even more to have a look see. We followed the track to the Pascoe River Crossing and pulled up short of the steep descent to the actual river while we performed the dutiful professional 4WDriver activity of checking the track first. Trev and chauffeur hiked down the rutted steep descent into the water to check the depth and the severity of the exit. First impressions were not encouraging, especially from what we had heard from previous people. Unfortunately, these “previous people” hadn't recognised that we were members of the Mitsubishi 4WD club, and there is not much that would stop us in our tracks. We reviewed the best line in, across, and out of the rocky exit and decided it was doable (after lunch). So after a quick salmon sandwich – keeping fishing smelly tins away from crocs, the boys decided the best angle of attack was for Dmax to go first, in the even that Trev and the trailer had trouble on the exit. Other than a slightly dented front bash plate the Dmax walked down the slope, swam across the river, and waddled up the steep rocky exit without missing a beat. In the meatime, a Prado coming in the opposite direction waddled down, swam across, needed a couple of goes at the exit and was then on its way. Then it was Trev's turn, who also accomplished the task with no difficulties. After speaking to the Prado man on the condition of the track we were about to engage, we were told there were some quite rutted sections ahead and the Wenlock River crossing would be no problem. As we subsequently found out, it was very rutted, but no problems. Despite meeting a number of vehicles at the Wenlock crossing exit who were having difficulty getting up and suggested that we winch ourselves out, Dmax would having nothing of this and waddled up the more challenging exit followed shortly after by Trev from whence we continued our merry way in to Weipa to catch up with Richard and Helen. Still no sign of Michael. We arrived in Weipa and watched the sunset over the Gulf of Carpentaria (having been on the other side of the cape for sunrise), feeling very proud of ourselves and our vehicles. It had been a very good, encouraging day. A very good warm up for the OTL (Old Telegraph Line).
Sunday 21st August
Lazing around the Weipa Caravan Park – washing, etc. cleaning and tidying up getting ready for the next part, whoopeee. Drove round to the Albatross Hotel for a couple of coldies and to stock up on some medicine to take up to The Tip
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