Olsen's Tours and Training Blog

This morning we began our trip southwards from the top of Cape York. Our first stop along the way was at an old World war 2 plane wreck. Our next stop was at another WWII wreck of a DC3.

From the wreck site we travelled a rough track back to the Bamaga road and them onwards to the Jardine Ferry. Once across the river, we stopped and boiled the Billy for morning tea.

Due to the wind and our schedule we elected not to camp at the exposed site at Capt Billy landing. Instead we continued down the road to the southern section of the telegraph track and on to Cockatoo creek.

Cockatoo Creek camp now has toilets and a shelter. Despite the crocodile warning signs, the rope swing over the shallow waterhole is still popular.

Since we were in camp early, we cooked up the two painted vests we got in Bamaga.

This morning began with a short drive into the site of the old township of Maytown, then we explored several of the old mining sites before setting off on one of the roughest and most challenging tracks on the Cape.

A rough rocky descent into the North Palmer River had everyone anxiously anticipating what lay ahead. A large vertical sided gully in the river bed denied us access to the easier of two climbs out of the river and to the top of the ridge-line. The remaining choice has a very difficult steep climb over large rocks right at the very top of the ridge and immediately prior to that , there is a very steep long climb on loose soil.

Kerry’s 80 series struggled to climb the slope, and at first it simply appeared to be a tyre pressure problem, but it soon became obvious that the centre diff lock was not engaging. A quick inspection under the car found the source of the problem, and much to everyone’s delight Kerry and Janice easily climbed to the top off the ridge.

More Jill climbing rock hopping and creek crossing adventures continued for the rest of the day. We made camp at about 4 pm on Jessop Creek, where I staked a tyre on a very sharp rock.

A good wet season prior gave us yet another camp on a delightful waterhole.

We got away from Lappa pretty early, and made our way across the Great Dividing Range into Mareeba. The drive in has some beautiful scenery, especially along the Walsh River.

We refueled and restocked in Mareeba then headed towards the picturesque village of Mt Molloy. From Mt Molloy we ascended the ranges again before turning off the Mulligan Highway on to Whites Creek road. This road used to a fantastic drive along the very tops of the ridges, the climbs were steep, but the views were worth it. The Cook Shire Council in a feat, demonstrating their lack of understanding of the desires of those who visit the area, “improved” the road. This improvement not only caused a well compacted road to break up into bulldust holes, it also took away much of the attraction of driving that road.

Our camp on the Palmer River is a beautiful spot on a small but picturesque waterhole.

We got away a couple of hours later than planned due to Undarra splitting our group into two. One group did the lava tubes tour at 10:30 and returned at 12:30. Flexibility is the key to safe and stress free travel, so some quick changes to the plan would give us a reasonable target for tonight’s camp.

From Undarra to Mt Garnet is a pretty easy bitumen road but we found ourselves first on the scene at a fatal motor vehicle accident and spent an hour assisting there.

Once underway, we reached Mt Garnet where we began our run along the old railway line to Lappa. This is a very picturesque drive with great views. The last wet season caused some serious erosion which made for an even more interesting journey.

We arrived at Lappa with plenty of time to set up camp and inspect the old Espanol Hotel. Australia’s only BYO pub.

The Yappa from Lappa visited our camp site, recited some bush poetry and generally kept us entertained with his antics. We had a fantastic night around the camp fire under a sky filled with stars.

The time has arrived, and we are once again headed north to Cape York. I’ll keep everyone posted here via my iphone.

You can track our travels here http://www.djolsen.com/ham/aprs40m.html

The bonnet catch on the Patrols is known to wear on rough corrugated roads, such as my Patrol sees everyday. The issue was brought to my attention one day while driving along the Tanami road when my bonnet started bouncing a great deal more than usual. In Kununurra I had it looked at and found the hoop of metal on the bonnet itself had worn almost all the way through. it seems when the catch gets worn, the movement creates accelerated wear of the loop.

Today I purchased a new catch mechanism, and on comparing it with the old, I was astounded to see how much wear there was. I’d recommend all Patrol owners check their bonnet catches before the bonnet wraps around the cabin at the worst possible time. A carefull touch with the welder fixes the loop.

A worn bonnet catch can cause further wear that eventually can be disastrous

Campare the old catch.......

...with the new catch

More wear

My acrylic Lightforce spotlight covers have seen some very dusty miles, and many hours of sunlight, so they are not looking the best. With plenty of experience renewing scratched and discoloured aircraft canopies, I reckoned I could do a reasonable job of polishing them back to a respectable state. The only problem is the black text across them which could possibly end up being partially or totally removed.

I used Mothers plastic polish, glass polish and Plexus perspex cleaner, and with about 15 minutes of work they looked much better. I think another 20 minutes should have them looking quite respectable.

Before polishing

After polishing

Our Cape York Tour is completely full, but with only six weeks to go until we begin our 2011 Simpson Deseret Tours, we still have a few places available on both of those tours.

Check them out

8 Day Simpson Desert, Alice Springs to Birdsville
10 Day Hay River, Birdsville to Winton via the northern Simpson Desert

We have places left for this Friday’s Tow-Ed course at Caboolture and two at Boondal on Saturday 14th. Each place is open to one van/trailer and two persons.

This is the course EVERY participant says should be mandatory.

Feedback from our last course-

Just a quick note to thank you and Bernie for the course today….. we really enjoyed it and I was able to learn some skill and improve others, I am extremely wrapped in the outcome with Debbie it has given her a lot of confidence.

and this one

On behalf of Sue & myself we wish to express our thanks for a great day on the training course.
Your guys Gerard, David & trainee Bernie made it fun, highly enjoyable as well as imparting knowledge & undersatnding of the elements of towing our caravan especially the safety aspects.
Their skills base was exceptional and they impart on you the fact that we are always learning even with their experience.
Nothing was too much trouble all questions were answered fully and in a very understanding manner.
I would recommend this course to ANYONE who has purchased a van, trailer, boat.
The reversing side especially was made so much easier talking & working with the guys and there was a no rush attitude to ensure we were comfortable & competent – but as they said practice makes perfect.
Top marks to your team.
We’d go again just for the experience & fun day.
Please pass on our thanks to each of the guys if you would.
Best regards,
Richard & Sue

You could do this with one lesson?

So give Tow-Ed a call on 1300305660 and let them know you want to book on this weekend’s course at Boondall.

David Olsen
Director, Olsen’s 4WD Tours and Training
36 Octagonal Crescent , Kelso, QLD 4815
4WD Training
Tow-Ed Training, Learn to Tow with Confidence
Defensive Driver Training
Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Mount Isa, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane
Phone: +61 7 4789 3289
Fax: +61 7 4789 3298

Menindee Lakes’ wettest start to year on record
Brett Dutschke, Thursday March 10, 2011 – 13:28 EDT

Menindee Lakes in far western NSW is having its wettest start to the year in more than 100 years of records, already exceeding the annual average, according to weatherzone.com.au.

The total for the year so far is 335mm, with help from 70mm in the last few days. This is almost 100mm higher than the annual average, less than three months into the year.

The previous wettest first three months was in 1974, another strong La Nina year, when 265mm fell.

At times, water from the Menindee Lakes catchment is released into the Darling River which flows to the Murray, making it available for irrigation and also Adelaide’s drinking supply.

River levels along the Darling are on the rise at Menindee Lakes and upstream at Wilcannia, due to heavy rain in the last few days and months.

Wilcannia picked up more than 60mm in the last 24 hours, from thunderstorms, taking the year’s total to about 300mm, 40mm higher than the annual average.

Nearby, Broken Hill has had more than 350mm so far, 100mm more than the yearly average and their wettest start in more than 100 years of records.

Further rain is likely in the next few days due to a lingering low pressure trough, but not as much as recent.