Daniel and Marysia around Australia: Gunshot Creek to Eliot/Twin Falls, Cape York.

On the Old Telegraph Track

Daniel approaches with caution

Bertie Creek campsite packed up, washed up, breakfast done, time to hit the next leg of the Old Telegraph Track. A famous icon along this track is the Gunshot Creek crossing. This is one ballsy creek crossing. There have been many a car that have met their fate, departed never to be restarted attempting this crossing. However, it must be said that there are in fact three creek crossings to get to the other side. The Cape York crew on this attempt all got out to survey the best possible alternatives to get to the other side. Once the track had been carefully selected Stew took first right of honour to come down the steep embankment manoevering his car over the rocks, stumps, angles that put his car downward before finally crossing the creek and up the other side. Next Daniel in his car, slowly approaching with front of the vehicle in a nose dive position,carefully positioning his car down the awkward, bumpy slope, too much to the left side at one point before crossing the creek's waters to get to the other side.

Through to the other side as he comes up the bank

The first crossing at Gunshot Creek

Triumphant we all stood at the tree of honour to mark the great crossing, Les leaving behind a stubby holder as their dedication to the iconic crossing. Daniel however jubilant realised that his car had suffered a very minor 'Gunshot wound!' Nothing a cut and polish wouldn't be able to fix in Melbourne we all piled back into the cars to continue the trek. I might have to add that at this stage, we're all getting out of our cars, surveying all the tracks, getting in to waters that have strong currents, can be further than knee deep, muddy, thongs, being ripped off by currents. But it's the safety of the vehicles that is paramount. We've come all this way to get to the top, but yet we still have so much more before we get home so we really do need to be careful at all times.

The second crossing at Gunshot creek

With another couple of creek crossings behind us it was time to settle down for the next couple of nights. Campsite set at Eliot/Twin Falls was great. We were all looking forward to a swim in the beautiful crystal clear waters of these falls. Another pool area was called The Saucepan.
The ridges along the water falls held within them rock formations over centuries shaping them into small swimming holes. Current was pretty strong as it headed downwards, but the water temperature was warm, I'd say around 23 degrees.

At the top of the 3rd crossing of Gunshot Creek

A short walk to Twin Falls we felt like we had this private oasis all to ourselves. No one else there just the crew, wading, swimming, enjoying the surrounding beauty until Stew got bitten by a bug! No worries, all good until next morning where his eye had swollen, his cheek had swollen up, his nose was red but still spirits in the group were high and looking forward to next day's trip to Fruit Bat Falls.

That night a fire was called for where we sat to watch the flames roar into the night sky with a million stars in full view above the rainforest canopy. The fire was started with generosity on Daniel's part after he 'found' a felled tree!