The Old Telegraph Track

At the beginning of the Old Telegraph Track is where the real Cape York adventure really begins.   It is 90 Kms of SERIOUS 4WD.  We have a new found respect for the word serious when coupled with 4WD. The Old Telegraph Track with narrow unmarked roads,  sandy bogs, mud bogs, deep river crossings, earns that title.
The Bramwell Roadhouse is located where the The Track or OTT (as the locals call it) splits off from the easier bypass road. We stopped in for the best burger yet.  This is a place to check for information, and find out about the road conditions on the OTT. At roadhouse parking lot was a few dusty vehicals decked out with snorkels, super tready tires, suspension springs, winches and a few tough lookin young bloks fumbling around and about their vehicals with tools in hand.    The roadhouse motife sported picture collages of  damaged, bogged, and over turned vehicles that The Track had claimed. This was clue number one.
 After striking up a conversation with a few travellers we felt confident that the Landcruiser 100 series would take us through.
We were like babes in the woods or even city folk out here. Here is how the OTT adventure began..and ended. 

Narrow sandy begining for several Kms. Easy driving as long as there isn't any oncomming vehical. No where to  pull off with scrub on the edges. There were several tracks splitting off.  Wondering which way? No signage, No mobile coverage, no GPS. No map,  Noone around. Can still turn around and go back.

Here a moment of disbelief that we are on the right track. Steep, uneven, enterance with mud bog and logs.  Must have missed a turn off. We checked out another track that went off to the right but it ends quickly so we go back and are pretty sure we missed a turn.
Suddenly four other cars show up. Then another six. This IS our first crossing. Everyone is out of the cars sizing up the first challenge. About half of them turn around and go back.  We watched as the first four cars go through, slipping and sliding and a bit scary to watch but all go through. We decided that if we go right inbetween the groups then someone will have to pull us out to get through:) A smart plan eh! The rest of The Track we stay tight to this group of four cars.  Known as Team Tasmania, they don't mind us tagging along as they have done this before.

 But no turning back now. We never saw a single car behind us after this. Dont think they made it.

Crossing #3-travelling up the bank to miss the pothole.  Then the crossing is a breeze.

Funniest sign on the track : This is a tree-Prado Interuptus

Gunshot Crossing is the one that The Track goers fear the most- To the left is a steep drop off. To the right is a bumper cruncher.  The steep grade with the loose sand sends even cars with super treads sliding to the bottom.  After the turn at the bottom is a river crossing and a tree decorated with memoriablia left by those who have made it through but often not unscathed. Amongst the memorablia left behind is a good collection of car parts like running boards, bumpers, flat tires, boken axels, and even flip flops.

One of our new found friends going Gun Shot with trailer.

 
Six hours later we are crossing the last bit of croc infested water late into the night but all is good as we made it. And we would do it again in a heart beat!