Tony (Bludge)
[Private Message Sent] - If you are GOING, please check your inbox.

Dave (Stoops)
Welcome aboard everyone. I am already working on a trip plan so if there are places you wish to visit let me know and I will try and fit it in.
I have kept the numbers low for this trip as I may already have 2 or 3 mates coming along, if any of them pull out I will open up some extra spots. A trip like this takes a lot of planning so anyone that has joined please be as definite as you can be that you will be coming.

Kristine (Ourlux)
Hi Dave, yes we discussed it at length last night and we are extremely excited to be able to confirm that we will both be attending.
We have a Kimberley Kamper Platinum and we are aware that we will be leaving it in Cooktown (or somewhere near there). We do have a swag and fridge in the rear of the Hilux, so we will be able to dump Kamper. If I can help with any print, copying or admin stuff.

Dave (Stoops)
[Private Message Sent] - If you are GOING, please check your inbox.

Dave (Stoops)
Maximum number to 5

Kristine (Ourlux)
Got it, looks good so far...

Matthew (discomatt)
We were keen and had discussed it but unfortunately will not be able to attend, have a safe and memorable trip

Amanda (Vegimite)
[Private Message Sent] - If you are GOING, please check your inbox.

Amanda (Vegimite)
?

Dave (Stoops)
That's a shame Mat would've been great to have you a Liza along, but understand and I'm sure we will catch up on a trip soon.

Cynthia (Cynthia)
Tim and I would really love to join you. But Tim works in Darwin July and August. Bugger...

Dave (Stoops)
Yeah bugger

Dave (Stoops)
Your camper and vehicle combination is up to it, what I am thinking is that we head to Indian heads/Elliott falls a nice little camp ground half way up the Tele track and accessible from the development rd. We make that a base camp to leave the campers at and we do each part of the Tele track from there as day excursions. The only part we need to worry about with the campers is there is a deep crossing on the way in, it has a nice flat hard bottom ( shit don't we all wish for that) yours will be sealed very well so won't be an issue. I have camper envy by the way, mine is 14 year old Pioneer Prospector.

Kristine (Ourlux)
Hi Dave, are we doing Gunshot?

Dave (Stoops)
I will be doing Gunshot, there is a bypass so those that want to can go around. I didn't do Gunshot the last time and I regret it.

Kristine (Ourlux)
Hi Dave, the hubby and I definitely want to do Gunshot, well he does lol

Brett (Gxlhunjee)
G'day Dave, me and the family are planning a 12 month lap of oz next year and will hope to be in the cape at a similar time all things being well... it would be great to meet up there and tackle the Cape with a group. Will have our off-road Cub camper with us, setting up some base camps along the way and exploring from those would be our plan. We'd be coming across from the west so obviously would catch the group up north somewhere.. I'll register my interest and keep in touch ! (Ps we met u last year on the Grampians trip)

Dave (Stoops)
Hi Brett, would be good to catch up at the Cape. I have sent out a couple of private invites to mates that have expressed interest but haven't as yet committed. If they commit it will bump the number of vehicles to 7. If they don't commit soon I will open up another spot for you.

Antony (Peloza79)
Hi dave up here doing 5 weeks in the cape atm, if you want to know anything just ask

Dave (Stoops)
Thanks Antony, i was last up at the cape in 2009 for 6 weeks and can't wait to get back there.
Bet you are having a great time.

Mien and Jack (DutchDuo)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Turns out that the dates could be difficult for us, so we give someone else the opportunity to join.

Dave (Stoops)
Sorry to hear you can't make it, you will be missed.

Thurstain (Tcm9669)
Hey Dave,
Would dogs be allowed in the areas you are going?

Dave (Stoops)
Sorry mate no dogs on this trip

Brenton (Hundyinmelb)
Hi dave what dates will you actually be north of Cairns. Im a bit more restricted for time and am looking at doing 3 weeks on the cape itself. how much time are you planning for the trip up and back?

Paul Weaver (PDB4800)
Hi All
Obviously a popular trip
Anybody interested in a second convoy with similar timing ?

Brad (generdawg)
Yes, I am interested in doing the Daintree, Maytown track, the CREB, the OTT (again) and others I may not know of.

No kids, no mortgage, no job and no time constraints, so prefer a leisurely trip.

Regards Brad
Have Canon Will Travel

Carl (Carlos)
Yup count me in
I did a six week solo Simpson trip last year and a few other trips all on my lonesome. Now planning 3-4 week solo Cape trip July/August but would welcome some company. I can flex on dates but prefer after kids go back to school and peak starts to tail off. I’m based in Sydney and can meetup on-route. I’m not stuck on route/tracks and happy to tackle whatever (all the gear...some idea). Prefer bush camping though. Please let me know as my trip is definitely on.

Dave (Stoops)
Ok it’s time we all got together for a meet up, what’s everyone’s thoughts just meet up at a pub, meet up at a park or a weekend camp. I’m thinking sometime in March.

Carl (Carlos)
Oops sorry Dave my bad - thought that was Paul.. ignore me

Brad (generdawg)
Dave Said;
"Ok it’s time we all got together for a meet up,..."
That would be great, but you are in Victoria and a couple of us are in NSW. Any ideas?
Carlos said;
"...planning 3-4 week solo Cape trip July/August but would welcome some company."
Me too and I am on the Central Coast, so maybe we could do a suck-it-and-see in the Watagan's like Dave suggested.

Dave (Stoops)
Hey Brad don’t take this the wrong way but I am setting up a get together for those that are listed as going on the trip and I am happy for anyone else to come along and happy for somebody to organise a second group but any second group would need to be a separately listed trip with its own trip leader. So I will be looking at the get together to be held in the Gippsland area. My 2 tripees from Queensland maybe we can set a phone link on the day.

Brett (Gunnas65)
Hi Dave, march Is ok for me except for the long weekend when I'll be in Wonnangatta for the 100 yr annerverary of murders. if what a camping trip and don't mind a crowd could I suggest this might be good place to meet. I would have some commits during the weekend but also plenty of free time.
I would also be happy to just catch up for a day to discuss trip.

Brad (generdawg)
No problem Dave, as I never thought the trip to Victoria was for me and was suggesting one for NSW (which now seems to be happening) for a completely separate company to the one already under way.

Cheerz

Kristine (Ourlux)
Hi Dave, we are happy to meet anywhere, I just can't do anything in April so March is good for us. Maybe a lunch at a nice country pub??

Kristine (Ourlux)
Hi Dave, we as there is now less than 5 months until we travel to Cape York have you organised a catch up?
Kris

Dave (Stoops)
Ok it is time to organise a catch up, sorry I’m right in the middle of shifting house. I’m thinking Sunday 18th March at the Duck inn tavern in Willow Grove ( my son is the manager ). Let me know numbers so I can book a table

Kristine (Ourlux)
Hi Dave, add John and myself, look forward to catching up.

Brett (Gunnas65)
Hi Dave,
that works for me, just 1 person. Also busy moving house next 2 weeks. looking forward to meeting everyone.

Kristine (Ourlux)
So looking forward to meeting everyone, am I to assume that will be 18th March at 12.30pm

Dave (Stoops)
Yes Sunday 18th March 12:30

Brett (bkm)
Hi Dave,

We’ll need 2 plus a high chair please.

Looking forward to meeting.

Dave (Stoops)
see Link in “files” for location of get together

Dave (Stoops)
Hope to see everyone for the get together this Sunday at Duck Inn Willow Grove 12:30

Dave (Stoops)
Was good to catch up with everyone today on the meet and greet. Amanda, Russel and Kristine can you please send me you rego numbers as I need them to make camp site bookings. I have loaded the PDF of the itinerary and sorry it’s changed from the one I handed out today.

Dave (Stoops)
[Private Message Sent] - If you are GOING, please check your inbox.

Dave (Stoops)
[Private Message Sent] - If you are GOING, please check your inbox.

Dave (Stoops)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/920978118074050/. For those that are going I have started a Facebook group for the trip jump on it.

Dave (Stoops)
Updated WikiCamps link

Brett (Gunnas65)
Hi Dave, where do I find the link? I,m a slow on the tech stuff

Dave (Stoops)
go to the "about" tab and its there with the Facebook link. i have got an exel spreadsheet that I'm working on if you give me an email address i can email you updates as i work on it i think its a bit easier to follow the spreadsheet and it has more information

Brett (Gunnas65)
Thanks Dave, my email address is alexbn@netspace.net.au. I will have a go at the link as well

Dave (Stoops)
Hey Brett have a look on the Facebook site I just posted up a shirt I have designed for the trip have a look and let me know what you think

Kristine (Ourlux)
Hi Everyone,

So it's the end of May and the annual Cape York events have started, the first national parks are opening, and there is life on the Old Telegraph Track :-)

=============================================

In This Issue:

• Weather and Water Levels

• Lakefield National Park Is Opening

• Coming Events

• Feedback Always Welcome

=============================================

WEATHER AND THE WATER LEVELS

The weather in May remained mostly dry, but we still have small showers here and there almost daily, and the skies can still be overcast, which is very typical for this time of the year (as opposed to the late Dry Season).

Sorry that some wrong-doers have made this needing a mention: These newsletters are subject to the Law of Copyright - the only way to legally spread them is a link to this page or a proper Facebook share (cropping text and photos out of it to use them to build one's own Facebook post is ILLEGAL).

We have been down to the Old Telegraph Track and some water levels are higher than last year (still from the heavy Wet Season during January - March, even though April and May were both reasonably dry months this year).

may 2018 jardine river water level
Jardine Ferry Crossing, May 2018.

Jardine River (while obviously not what it was during this Wet Season), is still reasonably high compared to what you will see later in the year.

may 2018 nolans brook water level
Nolans Brook May 2018.

Nolans Brook is higher than it was the same time last year (the photo above is from a deeper spot where we also went in last year to check the level - but is not where you need to drive through).

may 2018

gunshot creek water level
Gunshot May 2018.

While the levels in some other crossings like Gunshot are more like what we are used to in other years and at other times of the year.


LAKEFIELD NATIONAL PARK IS OPENING

So this time of the year the first seasonally-closed national parks start to open, and the first one of these - Lakefield National Park - but only its southern half - opened three days ago (the rest of the park is usually closed for another month, but I will update when it's open, in the next newsletter).

lakefield national park open 2018
Lakefield National Park.

The camping areas that are open are: Kalpowar Crossing, Mick Fienn Waterhole, Dingo Waterhole, Old Faithful Waterhole, Kennedy Bend, Twelve Mile Lagoon, Six Mile Waterhole, Old Laura Homestead, Horseshoe Lagoon and Welcome Waterhole.


COMING EVENTS

And also, as the season starts - so do the events - and the month of June has two great ones - the Weipa Fishing Classic, and the Cooktown Festival (they used to be on the same weekend - so glad they changed).

cooktown festival 2018
Cooktown Festival with the Cook's Landing Re-enactment.

And last but not least, - in case you missed the last newsletter - all the prices in the Destination Guide were updated in April like every other year (it is something I cannot do with the January updates, because most of the local businesses update their prices for the season by 31. March).

It means there will be no more updates to the Destination Guide this year - a brilliant time to buy one :-)


FEEDBACK ALWAYS WELCOME

I really appreciate any kind of feedback on the Destination Guide.

Please let me know if you enjoyed it while planning before the trip, and while using the information once on the trip.

If you get any questions about anything, please feel welcome to contact me.

That's all for this time - happy planning, and happy travels to those on the road!!

Have a great day :-)

Katrin.

26 May 2018