Road Boss Goss
The latest from Road Boss Jamie Lawson
Monday 24 November, 2008
Update #3
I think the last update I sent was from Weipa, and although it was just four days ago, it seems like an eternity.
I have now covered and scoured the Cape York peninsula and have found everything we need for next years Great Endeavour.
I have been most impressed with the recourses and facilities up there and I don't see anything being of great concern. The biggest and only hurdle is the fact that it is peak tourist season so the place will be crawling with people and vehicles.
I will have the layout and list of overnight stops in the next few weeks, so once they are announced, it will be imperative that you start making any accommodation arrangements you may want immediately. This will also be the case for camp sites for the couple of nights we are at Bamaga/Seisia. This will all be laid out in a newsletter before Christmas.
Road conditions: I was pleased to discover that conditions were not as harsh or treacherous as first imagined. On saying this, it's no walk in the park and preventive maintainance and preparation is paramount. There is nothing that any car would not travel over or get through on the main road up, especially in July. The biggest concern is the corrugations. There were only about 30km of really rough ones, the rest were moderate, but constant.
Any car will stand up comfortably, so long as you prepare properly and look after your car. Make sure everything is healthy before you leave; ball joints, tyres, shock absorbers and mounting rubbers.... check, and continue to check all bolts, nuts and screws... Anything that is an add on to your car, like roof racks, jerry can holders will have to be very well made and secure. Not that any part of the course is any rougher than what the Rally or Cruise has been over before, it is just continual for four days.
Don't overload your car with everything you will never need. Travel light. Take everything you need, but nothing you don't. The course, both rally and cruise, is quite achievable with many rewards, however, do not be complacent. It is quite and adventure and although facilities are adequate and ample, they are still hundreds of kilometres apart and its a long, long way home. Prepare adequately and treat conditions with respect and you will have a great Endeavour up to the very tip of Cape York and Back.
It will be an amazing adventure, as all Great Endeavours are and as long as everyone makes careful and sensible preparations, everyone should get up and back safely.
I am in Cooktown now and will be heading home via the Daintree, Port Douglas, Cairns, a little picnic race track called Ewan then the long haul back to Toowoomba. Three thousand k's in three days, no problem!
Look forward to catching up soon and passing on further information about next years Great Endeavour.
Regards
Road Boss (& my offsider/cook, Quinney)
