The plan was to head there and get back for a late lunch, maybe 2ish. Word for the other campers implied that should be very feasible. We not sure how they did it, we crawled back into camp around 5:30 in evening, after 7:51minutes of driving for a total of 49 kms!
There aren't a lot of photos from the day that we can access at the moment, we working of that. There is however lots of video of both our decent into each creek and a winch out in most cases. We will load these up when we get back, loading video of 3G would take as long!
There were four creeks and a ford to cross, Canal, Sam, Mistake and Cannibal. The first two creeks were appropriately easier inline with their name, the second two as well! The ford was a little to deep and long for us, we followed others down a drop in and muddy slop with a shorter crossing. We had company for most of the day going there, solo on the way home. 4WD's of various ages, 2 Landrovers, Nissan Patrol, Ford Maverick (same thing as the Nissan) and us.
Dad's and the family onlookers nerve was tested on many occasions as the drops went from 20-30 cms to 6-7 feet. At one point going down Cannibal we lifted the back wheel, perched on three wheels looking straight down a near vertical slope at a large mud puddle below. The creek crossings were deep enough to get water sloping above the bulbar but nothing to serious and they weren't very long, so no drowning issues for Charlie. They allowed you a good clean before heading off to the next one.
Dad was particularly satisfied to see Charlie get through challenges that others got recovered from.
We got to Nolans around 12:30 there were four cars wanted to go through after a walk around. We heard that we had just missed the 41st car go down, drowning with water in engine, a late model Patrol.
Checking the depth of Nolans Creek
It gets deepThe Landrovers were very well kitted out and cruised through without even putting on a car bra, no issues, he didn't even get his bonnet wet! The second Landrover put I a temporary snorkel and cruised across although it seemed that he floated a bit more. He got his bonnet wet at least. It was now time for the Nissan's (Mavericks). With the Landrover ready to snatch out if needs be, the Nissan went in and plopped around a bit but making it, exiting in a cloud of white smoke. We held our breath hoping the smoke cleared, it did and apart from the seals being less than tight he made it through unscathed. Opening the doors was met with small waterfalls as the interior emptied.
It was time for the second Nissan, driven by a couple backpackers on holiday for the UK. they had been travelling for 2 months from West to East, starting at Margaret River in WA and heading for work on a cattle property some 600km south of us in Lakeland. She was certainly keen to try Nolans as they planned to start work on Thursday and didn't really want to come back along the same track as she didn't have a winch. We offered her a tag-a-long with us home if she wanted. Given that she did the real Palm Creek crossing she wasn't to afraid of some challenging terrain. So they prepared the car and took the risk.
Unfortunately it didn't pay off, she made it about 10 feet into the creek and as soon as water entered the bonnet she stopped, hydro-locking the engine, sucking water in through the airfilter. Water is no replacement for oil in an engine. It seemingly took for ever to get a snatch on, eventually she was pulled out and towed to dry ground. With quite a bit gear wet and the engine dead with the air of full of water they had a few options. After a quick chat we offered to take some gear up north but they were happy organising themselves getting to Bamaga to see if the car could be repaired.
It was about 2:30 and we had a return leg to do, knowing that many of the drop in's we did I the ways here would need a winch on the way back. With Dad driving, Chris as chief instructor and director and Mum as cinematographer we were a very efficient team. Taking our time as to not damage Charlie one the way it also gave the kids a bit of an oppurtunity to have a swim in the creeks whilst we winched Charlie up the slopes.
The winching went pretty much according to plan with trees located at the right spot at the top of the slopes in all but one occasion, Mistake creek. Apart from a few occasions where we dragged the spare tyre through a muddy section, it got through without even touching or slipping around. Mistake creek took a bit more effort as he tree we originally were winching off wasn't good after we heard a big crack, time to rethink. Chris's enginuity to hook up a redirection setup (through a pulley off one tree to another tree) did the trick and we were up and away in no time at all.
As I mentioned we got back into camp around 5:30, all were somewhat shattered for the day. Although the day wasn't an energetic one, it was taxing mentally. Dad and Chris popped down for a swim in Canal creek to chillax and clean up whilst Mum started on dinner. It was early night for all, we seem to time our bedtime just at the time the campfire coals are just perfect. In bed by 9:00.
Pictures will come when we can get them off the other phones. There are entertaining so watch this space!
Damage and repair update :
Repairs to Charlie's inside left guard we're successful and made it through the day unscathed. The same couldn't be said for his rear quarter panel, in a typical car park accident Dad was reversing back in the flat bit of Mistake creek and popped the panel off the plastics clips, nothing serious but frustrating in the way it happened. We will looking into how we repair this tomorrow.
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