We do think that Michelle would be proud of what we have done! Our 4WD hero and a person we strive to be like… off road! (Refer South Australia’s posts…)
The first day was up the Bloomfield track, through the Daintree and some lively inclines and declines, nearly 30 degrees, but concreted… an easy first test! I’m sure this was planned to make sure that cars and drivers were in good shape for what was to come.
That night at the iconic ”Lions Den” hotel, between Cooktown and Laketown, we were still fairly dust free, confident and itching to get into it! Which happened the next day, as we got our first taste of the PDR, (Peninsula Development Road). The main road up Cape York to the tip and is a mix of sealed surface and corrugations.
Being close to the wet-season, the road is being ignored, so its hard to describe what its like driving for hours on these corrugations… the size of waves on a stormy day. There were times where the far right shoulder had become the main road, as we tried to find a smooth path. Consistent and unrelenting rattling! Every few hours we would stop and check that everything was still attached and intact. (Roof racks, suspension, fillings and retinas!)
Then we got to Bramwell station, the beginning of the OTT! In the afternoon we took our first drive down this track, that has not been maintained since the 80’s, and it showed its age!
We got to Palm Creek, which is known to be one of the most difficult crossings, the energy changed! Looking straight down the 4 meter vertical drop, we were all wondering how and if we were going to get out of this alive!
Turns out the creek crossings are mostly easy, it’s the damage to the banks on either side that make them difficult. Hoons push the pedal to the metal and spin their wheels, churning up the ground… digging and destroying all!
With silent relief it was decide to take the by-pass … and cut back in near gunshot! Now the sound of a ‘by-pass’ might sound like a nice little road taking you around the obstacle… it is not! The by-pass is a track that people hammer down and cause more corrugations, washouts and general messiness! While you have no option on the OTT to go very slow and carefully; people speed down the by-pass!!
Then we got to gunshot!
We did not do that!!
We went about 50m to the side and went down a more realistic/less damaging entry and used the trusty maxtrax to help get down slow and steady and then get us up and out!
Well some of us didn’t make it up as easily… and our winching skills where put to the test…
After getting all car’s through unharmed… we were confident we could tackle anything… until just past Cockatoo creek and another crossing stopped us, as we could not safely get everyone across! Better safe than sorry we doubled back to the by-pass and a few more hours on the PDdddddRrrrrr.
A whole new meaning to shake, rattle and thankfully no rolling!
Clive Gold 
Ok, got gunshot now.
Gunshot ….. Faaaaaarrrkkkk!!!!
Amazing videos 😎👍, glad you got through them all safely