Maytown

7/8/13 – There is a lot of history in Maytown. Not just the mining past but the lives, shattered hopes and dreams of the people that lived here. The reality of what a harsh land this can be for little gold reward.

We were the first ones here for the day. We signed the visitor information book and noted a few “my swaggers” names we recognized. 🙂

The amazing “Guttering Stones” kerb and guttering. They are still in relative good condition.

After we had explored the main town we went back and covered some of the things we missed coming in late yesterday.

We explored the area for several hours before heading off down the Palmerville Road just after 11am. When we rang the Palmer River Roadhouse about road conditions and if we could drive these roads safely. We were warned not to stop, not to camp and do not go off the main road within the property limits of Palmerville Station. Apparently he has a shot gun and he isn’t afraid to use it. Allegedly he is up on charges for suspicion of murder and other offensives. In the past he has put up a gate and charged people to go through his property. We had also read he has apparently built fake roads that lead to nowhere to confuse and I would say frustrate travellers. The road was re built to bypass his station or a section was purchased something like that to allow people to pass through. He doesn’t sound like a very friendly fellow and one to avoid.

The road is a well maintained wide gravel road, very windy and hilly; there are several creek crossings that were mostly dry. It is actually a pretty drive with some things of interest along the way.

There is a closed gate that needs to be re closed as you pass through it. The road is narrower and less maintained here. One assumes we are now on Palmerville Station property. There is a wide creek crossing with several roads leading off, take the road to the right, the left which seems like the main road leads pass his house. We took the wrong one at first, did a U turn and passed some station hands and we assume the owner and asked if we were on the right road to Chillagoe, he seemed friendly enough. Crikey we are told don’t stop, stay on the main road and we drive up to his house do a U turn and have a chat :O

We think this road is the new road that was built to bypass Palmerville Station, apart from where is crosses the old road just below his house. 19.2 km down the road it joins backup with the main road. The road continues to improve as we head towards the Burke Development Road. Few more creek crossings and another 4 closed gates, still very very dusty.

We stopped for a late lunch once we were on the Burke Developmental Road, heading to Chillagoe.

We stopped for the night approx. 60 km out of Chillagoe, found a road that went into an open dry grass area next to a creek where water trucks had been filling up from. We went a bit further in following some tracks and have a great spot hidden from the road.

Made some fruit scones on the baby webber, pizza for tea tonight.

Click on the link above for a larger version in Google Maps of the days travels.

Old Coach Road Videos

This is a 3 part video on the Old Coach Road; it starts at Little Laura Creek where the Old Coach Roach really starts. The video camera was secured on the side of the camping trailer, in future we will endeavour to move the camera around to other positions, doesn’t show how rough the track really was. We live and learn, this is our first time of videoing and editing clips, we have learnt a lot along the way and learn the program to edit the videos. We travelled solo, Chris did the driving, I navigated him around the difficult bits and took photos. Having the Go Pro fixed onto the trailer was like an extra pair of hands.

You need to make sure you have full recovery gear with you and preferably travel with another vehicle. We did do this track alone but we had full recovery gear, satellite phone and friends and family knew when to expect us out of this area.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Some other video clips on the Old Coach Road can be found at the YouTube Channel Misadventure TV

Maytown

7/8/13 – There is a lot of history in Maytown. Not just the mining past but the lives, shattered hopes and dreams of the people that lived here. The reality of what a harsh land this can be for little gold reward.

We were the first ones here for the day. We signed the visitor information book and noted a few “my swaggers” names we recognized. 🙂

The amazing “Guttering Stones” kerb and guttering. They are still in relative good condition.

After we had explored the main town we went back and covered some of the things we missed coming in late yesterday.

We explored the area for several hours before heading off down the Palmerville Road just after 11am. When we rang the Palmer River Roadhouse about road conditions and if we could drive these roads safely. We were warned not to stop, not to camp and do not go off the main road within the property limits of Palmerville Station. Apparently he has a shot gun and he isn’t afraid to use it. Allegedly he is up on charges for suspicion of murder and other offensives. In the past he has put up a gate and charged people to go through his property. We had also read he has apparently built fake roads that lead to nowhere to confuse and I would say frustrate travellers. The road was re built to bypass his station or a section was purchased something like that to allow people to pass through. He doesn’t sound like a very friendly fellow and one to avoid.

The road is a well maintained wide gravel road, very windy and hilly; there are several creek crossings that were mostly dry. It is actually a pretty drive with some things of interest along the way.

There is a closed gate that needs to be re closed as you pass through it. The road is narrower and less maintained here. One assumes we are now on Palmerville Station property. There is a wide creek crossing with several roads leading off, take the road to the right, the left which seems like the main road leads pass his house. We took the wrong one at first, did a U turn and passed some station hands and we assume the owner and asked if we were on the right road to Chillagoe, he seemed friendly enough. Crikey we are told don’t stop, stay on the main road and we drive up to his house do a U turn and have a chat :O

We think this road is the new road that was built to bypass Palmerville Station, apart from where is crosses the old road just below his house. 19.2 km down the road it joins backup with the main road. The road continues to improve as we head towards the Burke Development Road. Few more creek crossings and another 4 closed gates, still very very dusty.

We stopped for a late lunch once we were on the Burke Developmental Road, heading to Chillagoe.

We stopped for the night approx. 60 km out of Chillagoe, found a road that went into an open dry grass area next to a creek where water trucks had been filling up from. We went a bit further in following some tracks and have a great spot hidden from the road.

Made some fruit scones on the baby webber, pizza for tea tonight.

Click on the link above for a larger version in Google Maps of the days travels.

Old Coach Road – Part 5

6/8/13 – There are lots of photos in this post, as they say a picture paints a thousand words, it’s the best way to show the road conditions. So many in fact that we have split this post up over 5 parts, make sure your read parts 1, 2, 3 & 4,before reading this post.

64.9km (from the turnoff at the PDR) in there is a steep climb with some really deep ruts. A large rock bounced us sideways and one of the Ute tyres went into a hole on the left, it left us on a steep angle sideways with a wheel in the air. My response to Chris was why did you do that? Chris informed me he didn’t do it on purpose. I had to climb out Chris’s side as I couldn’t open my door. The winch had to come out, which got us out no worries. Chris could have got the Ute out with the lockers once he pumped the left side airbag up but felt the winch was the safer option so we didn’t do any damage. This is one hell of a steep climb.

We are getting close to the end now, but this track is not finished with us yet, with another very tight corner.

65.8km (from the turnoff at the PDR) marks the start of the descent down the hill, elevation 471m.

67.6km (from the turnoff at the PDR) we came to the Palmer River. The road leads over the rocky creek bed. This area is good for camping. In hindsight we should have stopped for the night here but at the time we didn’t realize we had reached the northern bank of the Palmer River, elevation 327m.

68.6km (from the turnoff at the PDR) elevation 249m we crossed the Palmer River.

71.7km (from the turnoff at the PDR) is the Louisa Mine site.

Just around the corner is Enterprise Mill. Bit further up are Comet and King of Range and Mable Louise Mines. We didn’t stop at these due to it getting late in the day and we were keen to find a place to stop. It can be very confusing as there are roads leading everywhere, a lot have signs saying private, keep out. Stick to what seems to be the main track and you will find Maytown.

75.7km (from the turnoff at the PDR) elevation 278m we drove into Maytown. We didn’t stop as we were trying to find a place to stop for the night. You are not allowed to camp within the Maytown town limits.

76.0km (from the turnoff at the PDR) we cross Palmer River again. According to the Cape York book by Ron Moon there is camping south of the Palmer River just outside Maytown. Palmer River is really wide, first half was sandy, 2nd half was very rocky, it didn’t have a lot of water over the crossing. It does say crossing not recommended. Ron’s book said just over the river on a small grassy area. The only area we could find was covered with bulls and land mines, so we went a tad further up the road and found a place to stop.

76.6km (from the turnoff at the PDR) we stopped for the night. We were really tired, it was a hell of a drive, great in places, really rough in others, over all a good day but a big one. Took us 9hrs towing includes breaks, pumping up a bike tyre and winching out of a hole. We were more concerned with taking it steady and safe rather than breaking any speed records. We have never been so dusty; you don’t go fast enough to blow the dust off.

Chris was really happy with the way the Ute went. Has heaps of power to get up hills and can creep very slowly down the steep hills. The trailer just followed along behind.

This is the vertical profile of the Old Coach Road as travelled from North to South. It shows some very significant climbs and descents when travelled from either direction, especially so with the poor track conditions.

The two dips at the 68.5km and 76km marks indicate the two crossings of the Palmer River.

The descent from 65.6km to the Palmer River at 68.5km is a 224m drop in only 2.9km.

Click on the link above for a larger version in Google Maps of the days travels.

Click on the link above for a larger version in Google Maps of the whole of the Old Coach Road

Old Coach Road – Part 4

6/8/13 – There are lots of photos in this post, as they say a picture paints a thousand words, it’s the best way to show the road conditions. So many in fact that we have split this post up over 5 parts, make sure your read parts 1, 2 & 3 before reading this post.

54.4km (from the turnoff at the PDR) we came across a grass fire that was making its way towards the road, just as we had to make our way down another tricky spot. Chris walked through the fire area to make sure it was safe for us to drive through. It would be very easy to get caught in this sort of situation.

55.8km (from the turnoff at the PDR) we came to the junction where the other track joins the main track, elevation 326m. It is also the turn off to Folders Hotel. We were going to have lunch at the pub 🙂 but with the grass fire so close we moved on a bit further. We did go for a walk up the hill, not much to see now.

At one point we met 3, 4wd coming in the opposite direction. Also several dirt bikes, there were 12 in total spread out over a long distance, coming along one at a time.

57.1km (from the turnoff at the PDR) we headed down a rugged descent, with a big hole throwing the Ute sideways at one point. At the bottom there is a creek crossing with a pretty hairy entry that is rutted and rocky, elevation 317m.

A few 100m along there is another creek crossing, followed by another with a steep loose exit, diff lockers came in handy. A bit further there is a steep rutted decent to a creek that was dry when we went through. Followed by another dry rocky creek crossing with a steep rough exit, again lockers came in handy for that too.

More ups and downs, ruts, dust etc. we were getting pretty hungry for lunch, passing some greats spots to stop. But alas it was not to be. We were on a rescue mission, one of the bikes had a flat and they were in need of an air compressor. Explains why we hadn’t passed the last few bikes. Just as we turned up the boss turned up after turning around to see what was taking them so long. He was not a happy chappy, it was not just a flat but a broken rim lock which he said was done because they were hitting things too hard. Meant he had no back brakes for the rest of the trip, have fun with that.

60.9km (from the turnoff at the PDR) after 3pm we finally got to have our lunch, elevation 368m.

64.5km (from the turnoff at the PDR) in on the left you pass one of the biggest mines in the region. Here you cross Jessop Creek, elevation 373m.  It’s a steep climb out of the creek, followed by a steep descent. As you climb up the hill you pass a dam on the left.

Go to part 5.

 

Old Coach Road – Part 3

6/8/13 – There are lots of photos in this post, as they say a picture paints a thousand words, it’s the best way to show the road conditions. So many in fact that we have split this post up over 5 parts, make sure your read parts 1 & 2 before reading this post.

There continues to be more steep rutty areas as the track makes it way down.

There is no letting up; it seems the road is getting rougher.

Go to part 4.

Old Coach Road – Part 2

6/8/13 – There are lots of photos in this post, as they say a picture paints a thousand words, it’s the best way to show the road conditions. So many in fact that we have split this post up over 5 parts, make sure your read part 1 before reading this post.

44.7km (from the turnoff at the PDR) you reach a plateau where the road is less rocky but rutted, windy then re starts with a gentle climb up, elevation 419m. Some parts of the road are very rutted

It really is a beautiful drive, the deep blue of the sky contrasting against the green of the trees and the red dusty trail and yellow grass.

50.2km (from the turnoff at the PDR) there is a sign pointing left to Maytown, this is the easiest route, elevation 476m. The road on the right leads to RL Jack Monument. It meets back up with main track further along.

We stopped at 52.7km (from the turnoff at the PDR) and took in the awesome views, 435m elevation. Be a good place to stop for the night.

52.8km (from the turnoff at the PDR) from here is a steep long descent with deep rutted areas which cause some sideways lean and funny angles. Slow going, elevation near the bottom is 374m.

Go to part 3.

Old Coach Road – Part 1

6/8/13 – Now the fun starts. There are lots of photos in this post, as they say a picture paints a thousand words, it’s the best way to show the road conditions. So many in fact that we have split this post up over 5 parts.

Starting point for the day is 32.0 Km (from the turnoff at the PDR) Laura Creek has a steep descent, then a rise in the middle before crossing the rocky creek bed.

Just up from the crossing is a small steep rutted hill.

The road was windy, dusty and narrow in places. There were a few areas that were rutted out on one side that caused the Ute to lean sideways.

34.8 km (from the turnoff at the PDR) in there is a steep rutted descent down a hill. Choice of two options, one was rockier and more rutted, we took the sandier option that was slightly less rutted.

From there is a gentle climb with a tight corner.

35.3 km (from the turnoff at the PDR) marks the first of the rocky steps climbing up. The climb continues up rocks, slow going and bumpy, bit tight in places, starting to see some views off to the left.

Plenty of ups, downs and corners that are a bit tight when towing on this road.

37.1km (from the turnoff at the PDR) there is a climb up a hill that had the Ute and trailer in all sorts of angles, with the Ute lifting one front wheel off the ground.

Go to part 2.

Cooktown to Jowalbinna

For those that follow our site, sorry for the delay in finishing posting our trip. When we got home we hit the ground running, with a grandson in hospital and a friend having a heart attack life got very busy. So we apologise for the delay. Hoping to get the rest of the trip done before the year is out 🙂

5/8/13 – It’s 1.30pm and we are finally leaving Cooktown. After filling up with fuel, filling gas, filling up with water with taps that leak like a sieve and finding we had a broken filler tap. So a visit to the hardware store was required, then visiting the info centre to find out info about the Old Coach Road from Laura to Maytown. They didn’t know much, so we made a call to the Palmer River Roadhouse, all sweet. Then it was lunch time, so lunch along the water, pan fried sandwiches again but with some pineapple as well 🙂 lots of sand flies here 😦 we finally got to leave.

Mmm you meet all sorts on the road. We stopped at Black Mountain Lookout and met a guy who had duck taped all on the front of his sedan car to protect it from stone chips. The same guy who just took his car through creek crossings on the 4wd Bloomfield track, go figure.

The turnoff to Jowalbinna is approx. 2km north from Laura, there is a sign. All the km distances we specify are taken on a Garmin GPS and the starting point is from the turnoff at the Peninsular Development Road (PDR).

From there it is 36km into Jowalbinna. A few hundred metres along the road you will see a turnoff on the left to the rodeo, don’t take it keep going straight ahead, a sign to Jowalbinna lies on the ground.

The road is one lane wide, a few bull dust patches, some corrugations but overall not bad. Watch out for unfenced cattle. There are signs up as you pass through a station property about strictly no fishing, no shooting and no camping.

25.5km in we came to a rocky creek crossing, approach slowly it’s downhill and is pretty bumpy with bull dust, it also has a bumpy exit.

After the crossing the road narrows and appears to be less used. There is also a sandy creek crossing a bit further along that could have water in it depending on when one went through.

Just after you enter the Jowalbinna property there is a grid and a sign giving distances to different places. The road was also very rutted in places.

Well that was a bit disappointing. We got to the gate at Jowalbinna and it was locked. We tried calling them on the sat phone but no answer. Another 4wd also turned up wanting to go through. So we all had to find another place to stop for the night. We stopped less than a km from Jowalbinna on the Old Coach Road just before the Little Laura River crossing 32.0km from our starting point. We found a track that led to a bit of a clearing it even had firewood there ready for us to have a fire 🙂

Click on the link above for a larger version in Google Maps of the days travels.