Old Site rd (Lockhart River-Permission is needed)

[Stacky]

The locals wanted to show us a secret spot out towards OLD SITE thats great fishing. We were the first to push the road through after the wet season. There was 2 Nissan Patrols (a ute and wagon) and my Troopy. We set off around 11am on a Sunday and the trip was suppose to take about 45minutes to get to the destination.
First up......
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/4wdriving/IMGP2019.jpg
I got bogged after both patrols had been through with their Muddies on.
And then....
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/4wdriving/IMGP2021.jpg
The Nissan had to run the winch out twice to cross this creek. The sand had silted up at the crossing and was very soft. While walking the sand would shift around your feet and cause you to sink quickly. The next crossing we walked, had us running for our lives as a 3M Salty launched across our path to get to deeper water.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/4wdriving/IMGP2024.jpg
We had to find or make a new track several times. sometimes the grass got higher than the roof on the Troopy. The local boys were standing in the back of the ute up front and telling the driver which direction to head.
The wagon had copped a stick that punctured up through his radiator which we plugged with another stick but we had to stop at every crossing to refill it. A log must have caught the edge of my wheel which caused it to flick up and smack into the passenger door and leave a memorable ding.
By the time we got to our destination it was an hour before dark and the fishing was fantastic. Although there were no Big Barra we still had fun catching some 50 odd Barra around the 50 cm. I had released all my fish and the locals took only some home to feed there families. Sorry there were no photo's of that but the girls wouldn't come down to the waterhole with the camera after that Croc experience.
We returned home that night at around 10:30 pm.......what a great way to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon.

[dave]

Great story and pics. looks like a nice track to get in :rolleyes:

[ant]

Stacky,
Mate those sort of trips are what makes living in the Cape worth it. Well done for getting out there and giving it a shot. Shame on the girls for not taking pics of the fish!!

[Stacky]

It was a good trip,

This year i'm gonna let it dry out a bit more and head further south of 'Old Site'. South of 'Night Island'. An inland track from a place the locals call 'Nundah'. I have got a few land owners that are keen to get down that way as it has not been accessed by road since the cyclone a few years ago.

I am told by a few that still access the area by boat, that it is beautiful unspoilt country so i will have plenty of photo's this time and a lot more Croc cautious as you are a long way from help.

Can't wait

[batesy]

Stacky, I bet this yarn will be making Ant wish he was still back in Napranum teaching kiddies and not stuck in the basement of his million dollar mansion in Cairns!

[xina]

Don't forget to take the metal detector Stacky. That's Gold country down that way, if you're going to be anywhere near the Claudie. Mad Fred Jensen had a good sized dope crop in that area in the mid-late 80's.
xina.

[Stacky]

Xina,
I didn't think there was metal in that sought of gold.
I'm surprised you mentioned the metal detector because i have been considering purchasing one. Maybe i could find a BIG GOLD NUGGET and set up an Eco lodge at King Park (aahhh! dreaming again).
Batesy,
Sometimes even i feel like i don't get out there enough, so i'd hate to be sitting in a office at Cairns and looking at all those photo's of the new Capeyorker mag being published.
But to make Ant feel better we do sacrifice a lot over this side compared to Weipa or Cairns though, i've forgotten what fresh milk and bread tastes like. I think if i had one can of bourbon i would be tanked (can't wait.....what a saving).

[batesy]

Xina,I think if i had one can of bourbon i would be tanked (can't wait.....what a saving).


Used to only take Ant one drink to be blind drunk too ... now he needs a whole bottle. And even then it can't take the edge of his depressing life!!

Talking about depressing life -- I just saw a fella walk into his house with a 80cm barra.

Those good tides are starting to show up.

No Ant, that said 'good tide' ... not 'good and tired'. You probably can't even remember how to read a tide chart!

[ant]

Batesy,
I know that alcohol is not the answer. But until I find 'the answer' I am content to explore and exploit other options to their fullest extent.
By the way, if you just saw a fella walk in with an 80cm barra, what the hell are you doing in front of a computer? At least I have a justifiable excuse!
You are living in paradise my friend- get out and enjoy it while you can.

[batesy]

Batesy,
what the hell are you doing in front of a computer?


Too busy reading this stupid site.

[moo-moo]

great pics .hope to see you all on my way up there

[Stacky]

I went out this road again just last weekend. It's a lot drier than the year before but was still an adventure. I will post some more pics when i get some time.
We are heading out there again early tommorrow hunting and fishing for a day. If we make it home again safely then i will add more pics on this thread. It's well worth getting permission to check this country out.

[Stacky]

Some freinds tagged along in their zook to another secret spot out that way and it turns out that 4wd would not engage. Which resulted in a car with an inbuilt wading pool.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/4wdriving/P5040008.jpg

This recovery was repetitive for the next 6 or 7 crossings out and then back. We still had fun though.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/4wdriving/P5040013.jpg

Pushing our way in to a fresh water creek.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/4wdriving/P5040014.jpg

There's the rainforest boundary ahead. The creek is in there somewhere.

I walked a couple of K's through rainforest along the creek and fished the deep holes on the bends. It only resulted in finding a croc slide, a couple of small fresh water Barra and perch. I didn't carry the camera for that part though.
Noticed heaps of fresh pig diggings and went out again the next weekend in a mates Landrover for a hunt. It resulted in smashing the front end of his bar in by hitting a boulder in 1 of the crossings.

A note; only use Landcruisers if you want to get home safely in 1 piece.

[Stacky]

The bar busted at the welds underneath. Better then caving in the radiator i suppose.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/4wdriving/P5100098.jpg
This shot is me snatching another landrover owner out of the river at Coen.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/4wdriving/IMGP2004.jpg

[geoffjy]

Whats the road like out that way now Stacky?

[Stacky]

ATM it takes an hour to get to 'Old Mission', it's probably the best it's ever been. I've been out that way 3 times in the last 2 weeks.

I'll put some pics up later.

[Stacky]

AAAHHHHH!!!!

These pics gone too!!!!

I was messing with photobucket........i'll see if i can get em back up.

[Stacky]

I got em back on here..........