When the time finally comes to hit the open road, most newbie grey nomads generally like to dip their toes in the proverbial water … not their rigs in the water crossing.
But when Len and Barb Sorrell retired to live the dream, they took the bull by the horns and decided to tackle Cape York straight out of the gate!
While they are now Big Lap veterans, they freely admit that back then they were very much in the novice category. They had bought a brand new 13’ Coromal Silhouette offroad campervan to be towed by a 2008 Model 200 Series Toyota LandCruiser … and were itching for excitement.
“We had been planning our adventures for a few years and had a big road map of Australia pinned on the garage wall into which we had been sticking pins at spots that we were intending to visit,” said Len.
Although they were short on experience, the couple – who travel with their Tenterfield Terrier, Bennie – were big on ambition.
The LandCruiser was fitted with a dual battery system, UHF radio, 60-litre fridge freezer, and a long-range fuel tank which gave them a total fuel capacity of 270 litres. A roof rack held two spare wheels and they also had an extensive tool box, recovery gear and first aid kit on board.
Before hitting the tracks though the couple signed up for a 4WD course near Cairns … and they are glad they did!
Having negotiated the corrugations, rocks and hill climbs of Battle Camp Road north of Cooktown, they were starting to feel pretty confident … until they saw the Telegraph Track.
“The two wheel rut track wound through dense scrub close in on both sides and went through wash outs, deep wheel ruts, sand bunkers, and around fallen trees,” said Len. “It went on packed clay, rocks, over tree stumps and roots, and there were various detours around fallen trees and ant hills!”
The couple admits that, if they had not done the 4WD training, they may well have ‘chickened out’ there and then, but they ultimately tackled all of the crossings except Gun Shot and the Log Bridge.
Particularly hair-raising memories include dodging around deep pot holes in the riverbed at Cockatoo Creek, and having to drive upstream for about 30 metres in order to cross the Delahunty River.
Len and Barb fell in love with the adventure and the beauty of Cape York. Highlights included seeing the remains of WW2 bombers in the bush, the incredible sunsets at Loyalty Beach, Fruit Bat Falls, and of course reaching the Tip.
And, at the end of it all, the only real damage to their rig was one bent stabliser leg.
“We did find that the endless corrugations continually shook the van’s cutlery draw out of its mounting and the camper was continually filled with red dust,” smiled Len. “But we wouldn’t have had it any other way … what an incredible trip!”
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We are still getting red dust out of our Cruiser years later! The experience of travelling and seeing this wonderful country is beyond words. We loved the Cape spending five weeks up there, then recently the Gibb River Road and Bungle Bungles for a few weeks.