The "Trip to the Tip" team of June 2009

Phil, Tom, John, Brian, Wayne, Ian, Brian Marko, Tim, Steve.

Press to view Movie clips in HD on U-Tube a great selection of clips

that show the diversity of the Far North Queensland regions trails and water crossings.

Thanks to Tim for the encoding and up-loads

View Compile Movie 9.5mins duration on You-tube or view below embeded.

Or you can view individual clips below

 

 

one of the "Old" DRZ400's traversing one of many rivers in the Far North Of Queensland

 

 

"Tim" fording a stoney river crossing at speed

 

The Dusty, extreemly corrugated "Telegraph Track" the main road north to the "Tip"

 

 John traversing a Longer river Crossing

 

Marko "Up the tree" looking for nuts

 

 

A wrecked Toyota Landcruiser quietly "Rusts" in the tropical heat

 

 

The Team take a break at Batavia Downs

 

 

Carrying the Suzuki's one by one across the very deep Pascoe River crossing.

Tom, Brian, Wayne and Steve carry the last of the Ten Suzuki's across the fast flowing Pascoe River.

 

 

we assisted a weary fellow "off road" traveller (Nikita), checking her front trye pressure.

 

 

Warrick from Adelaide in South Australia made the very Long Haul to the Tip in his restored Ford, a tough bone crunching journey indeed, he was aided by two of his mates in a support 4x4 ute.

 

Tom on the keys playing "Hearts n Flowers" in the Lions Den Pub for the dusty Bikers, he played the piano because his Violin was in his kit bag back at camp.

 

 

the "SEXCHANGE" Hotel in Coen a great place for a pit stop n larger.

 

"Loyalty Beach" at high tide

 

 

Sunset on "Loyalty Beach" at low tide "Tims Pic"

 

Fishing at Sunset on "Loyalty Beach", keeping a careful lookout for hungry crocs "Tom's Pic"

 

Earlier travellers rustic accomodation on "Loyalty Beach"

 

 

A "GT" made great entertainment on our day off fishing the coast of Thursday Island.

Yes, we did a "Kiss and release".

A gentleman of the road, and a great fellow rider, "Phil Randall",  his character, wisdom and bike exploites are a credit to the Human Spirit, you can view them at   http://picasaweb.google.com.au/phl.randall

Taking the "fastest way" off the boat to grab a bite to eat on Thursday Island, NOTE brian has "crocs" in hand, he didn't see the real crocs behind him in the water.

 

Eliot falls a great place to take a "Dip". landscape image

 

Archer River Landscape Image

  Archer River Landscape Image

  Archer River Landscape Image with Biker's camp A river typical river of the Far north of Queensland

The "Tip" of Australia    A landscape image

Cooktown Foreshore with the "Music Boat"

 

Cooktown Foreshore "The tides out"

The Bikes get a well needed service after the 1200Kms trek, at Loyalty Beach camp site.

 

A short "Wrap" of the Tour.

Day One, put on the riding gear, introduced myself to my bike and fellow riders for the next 8 days, a well "broken-in" "Hired" 08 Suzuki  DRZ 400 with 15,700k's on the clock. New rear tyre, chain and sprockets, great variation of riding companions too, from a 21yo to a 70yo ledgend.

Heading up the range to Kuranda, took a right and did the obligatory single track test to check our riding skills (Yours truly did a face plant in the pine forrest to see how it feels) then headed out through the Daintree, crossed the Daintree River by ferry,  passed Cape Tribulation rode thru a rain shower,  the overnight stop was a little pub, the The Lions Den Hotel, accommodation was a wobbly bunk house on stilts, sleeping was like being on board a "drifting ship".

Day Two, on to Cooktown. named after Captain Cook chose the location to beach and repair his ship long ago. Then we headed into some really nice flowing trail riding, getting permission to enter a "private station" was a unique ride thru many low land stoney creek crossings beneath a beautifully shaded rainforest canopy.

A short stop at a relic of the old gold rush days, "Old Laura Cattle Station", Derelict now and preserved as a museum, An overnight stop,  at a nice little spot called Kalpower, to the awakening that we were to be sleeping in very basic small tents, and on inflatables, some less inflatable than others, for the next six days.

Day Three, As a consequence of the booming tourist trade, these Far North queensland roads are being continually up graded, wide  long expanses of gravel and  sand, fast and boring, but the old DRZ handled the corrugations and loose surfaces.

Musgrave Station for lunch and then a long boring trek up the main road to Coen.  Corrugations, loose sandy surfaces dead animals, dumped vehicles, and dust from passing traffic, topped off by an enjoyable diversion along a rutted out little used rocky "Old Road" back entry into Coen.

Coen was last century, an outback gold mining township, these days it boasts a great pub, a few small shops and some Tourist venues, plus has Mobile Phone coverage.  Tents up again, on the sandy Coen river bank for the night.

Day Four, a short ride straight up the main Development road to the Archer River Road House,  put the tents up again on the sandy river bed , met some fellow Bike travellers and shared a few cool drinks that night at the "Archer".

Day Five, Back on the freshly serviced bikes, more corrugations and then off into the Lochhart river area and across the Wenlock and Pascoe Rivers. The Pascoe river was deep and rocky, riding it is out of the question.

We carried all the bikes through the river, with two sticks through the wheels,  hoist to waist height and go, a sandwich of edible meat and chutney and homebrand budgie bar, washed down with river water for lunch, then it was off along the Frenchmans Track back to the main highway and the Moreton Telegraph Station.

Moreton is on the Wenlock River, we had crossed it earlier, our ride leader, saw the opportunity to give us a demonstration of his riding skills by showering us with sand,  only to loose the front wheel and sprawl himself inverted spectacularly in the sand right at our feet.

Then it was on to Bramwell Junction and the start of The Old telegraph Track. Put the tents up again, this time on the grass, and, we had a hot shower.

Day Six, The telegraph track has been the trip of many over a lot of years,  gravel,  rocks, soft sand, hard packed sand,  river crossings  and  washouts,  that all go together to make it a most enjoyable day.  Great level two riding, with all the variations.

A fast Lunch stop with another sandwich of edible meat and chutney and homebrand budgie bar at Elliot Falls, boots and all swimming for the tourists. Crossing the Jardine River by ferry,  a bit more main road,  and on the last 30 km leg to the cape through the most magnificent  rain forest track I had seen all trip, Much prettier than the Daintree. 

Then a short walk around the beach and rocks to the cape "Australia's Tip".  Pics and back slapping all round, and back to the bikes for the last run to Loyalty Beach camp site and put the tents up for the last two nights.

Day Seven, A fishing / sight seeing trip to Thursday Island, and a must-do stop at the TI bakery for cakes/pizza/chicken rolls/choc bars/chips, all washed down with a great coffee. Fishing expedition was largely uneventful, Ian caught a quite large "GT" Great trevally, a nice fish indeed.

Day Eight, The last day, pack up our gear, catch the plane back to Cairns, pay for a "Maxi taxi" and pick up the rest of our gear from storage, a great meal and "team bonding" that night at the "Rattle n Hum" pub on the esplanade, plus some well earned lagers, The next day some Go-kart racing prior to leaving on our flights home.

Rap up,

A demanding trip on man, machine, and wallet . Riding well over 1200 kms, spending upwards of $16K for the two of us, and some riders taking a "closer look" at the tracks than was planned.

Probably 60% was on main roads with the rest being assorted tracks, sand , gravel, and many river crossings.

A big thankyou to our fellow travellers/riders,  for without them there would be no trip to share.

"The journey is more important than the destination"

Thanks to Phil, Tim & Marko for keeping the Trip log.

 

 

PS 

 

If, I were to do this ride again with fellow riders, say upto six max, I'd suggest a 4wd and trailer, tow 4 bikes into the region, have that 4wd loaded with gear/fuel the trailer used for bikes and gear, and have it follow on the main roads parralell to bikes riden on tracks, each day say 1-2 guys could travel in the 4wd and get a break while the rest rode the trails. Hire Sat Phones for comms, one in 4wd one on bikes. GPS in both as well for location reports. use garmin sat Navigation for logging distances / locations each day.

Food / drink could be carried or purchased along the route, basic tents as back up only, Good accom facilities are available along the main route north, so "ground dwelling" is definatley not recommended, to enjoy this trip a good nights sleep is vital.

There are "Long haul" road sections that could be more socially achieved inside a 4wd  with some friends and drinks, not "fanging" for hours on boring dirt roads.

Comparing the cost of a "self plan" as above compared to the costs of a "Guided Hire Tour" it would be more than halved, even factoring in Fuel/food/accom to get there and back from a southern OZ location.

Tom