Evil Oddie

We had Cereal for breakfast because we needed get up and going very quickly due to needing to be at the bridge at 9:30am (it opened for 5 mins).

Dog in the Pantry

We got up early and had a good run to the bridge and we had some time to kill so we went to Red Beach.  We had a look around and Garry spotted a log that didn’t really look like a log. When the log moved, we were sure that it was a chomper.

Dog at Red Beach

We filled up at the BP 149.43L $216.52 (1094km since filled up totally – Cairns).  We stopped at the Bauxite Terminal to get some piccies and then we were on our way.

Dog & Glen checking out the Bauxite Process

We took the Batavia Downs turn off to get to the start of the Old Telegraph Line (OTL).  We stopped for more piccies at some huge Ant Hills.

Oddie & Dog with Ant Hill

Ristan was interested in checking out the Moreton Telegraph Station and we stopped there and got more piccies.

Dog with Telegraph Pole

Next stop was Bramwell Junction.  They guys had to fill up (again) Unleaded – $1.80 per Litre and Diesel – $1.86 per Litre.

Dog at Bramwell Roadhouse

Once everyone had had amenities stops, we started on the OTL.

Dog at the start of the OTL

When we got to the first creek crossing, there was a back log of cars waiting to get across.  A car had got bogged and someone was pulling him out.  We met quite a few people while waiting for the guy to get pulled out.  The Jeep went across first for our group and Scott drove it easily.  The GU was next and Glen had his frilly skirt firmly on.  A small log that the bogged guy had tried to use to get out, flicked up and hit the GU. Luke helped another guy towing a trailer down (snatch attached to the back of the trailer and the Challenger lowered the trailer slowly – releasing the pressure on the tow ball etc) and then the Challenger went across without a problem.  Garry and Ristan decided after a while that they weren’t going to risk their son’s Hilux through the crossing.  The Hilux took  Bamaga Road to the top.

Not long into the track, Scott broke his front driver’s side control arm and then noticed the mount to the rear driver’s side shockie mount had broken off.  The guys took off the control arm and the shockie and we decided to make camp so they could attempt to fix it.

Scott with his broken Jeep

We made camp at North Alice Creek.  They guys that we had met at the first creek crossing asked if they could camp with us and if we could all share a community fire.  These group of people were awesome.  They were quiet and even set up the fire for us.

A note here for Mick and Shaz – Oddie made like a bear in the woods at North Alice Creek…

We had Wagyu Steak and Mushroom Risotto for dinner.

Injuries & Ouchies:

Jeep – Front Control Arm
Jeep – Rear Shockie
Jeep – Castor Slap