Spring Break - part 1

Although we reinforced the boat trailer, gave it a new set of tyres, flipped the axle, and put a new set of  springs on, the roads out here are harsh and stuff still breaks.   We were heading to Lorella Springs for a couple of days and decided to take a look at butterfly springs, and luckily we did, as after we stopped, we noticed that the left hand side of the boat was looking a bit low.

Luckily we carry a spare (rusty 10 year old) spring, so after about an hour, we were back on the road. 

  

Foggy Mornings

To catch the fish,you need to get up early, at Limmen River, this usually meant navigating through very thick fog, and at most times relying on the GPS, and the echo sounder to find our way through the various channels and sand bars in the river system.

 

Limmen River Mouth Morning Glory

Limmen River Fishing Camp

After five long days of driving, we finally arrived at Limmen River Fishing Camp.  Most of the road is tarmac, but the last 250 ish, is on the savannah way, which makes the going slow when towing a boat.














The fishing camp itself is basic, but has ice, fuel, water and power (for most of the day) and unless you have a boat, there is not much else to do here.   After a day of setting everything up, we were ready to go out on the water.

Armed with a GPS, some 1950's navigational charts, and some tips from some regulars, we started fishing..  although the Barramundi were not taking our lures, we soon started to catch some nice fish.

Daph's Jewfish

Jessica's Blue Salmon

Matilda's Bream

Nat's Jewfish

Daz's Jewfish

Bruce's Salmon haul

The Blue Salmon and big Bream were really on the bight, so we were having fish every second day for breakfast and dinner.


Monster Fish !!!!

 In addition to the fish we were catching, Daph also landed a huge Groper after a 20+ minute fight she finally landed it on some 30lb braid.  It must have been about 180+ lb as it took two of us on the gaff to get it over the side of the boat..  We let it go..

The Ramp Up

Well it's been 2 years since our last big adventure so its time we went bush again. Not quite the 3 month monstrosity like last time but still 5 weeks of getting back to nature should recharge the batteries - and hopefully catch a barra or ten! This time we're heading the the Gulf of Carpentaria and we've got ourselves a bunch of Roadies! Yep....we're taking Nat's parents. "You must me mad!" I hear you scream...well there's method to our madness.

Apart from the being bloody nice people, we're calling this a symbiotic relationship....you see Nat is shit-scared of crocodiles...so the only way we're going to get her to go barra fishing is in a boat that's a bit bigger that the average croc - but because we'll be going over a bit of dirt and rough stuff we need a boat that's a bit light and also good in estuaries...so that mean's towing our 4.75m tinnie "Backwash". But we don't want to be grovelling around it tents for 5 weeks either...not when a camper will do...so that means we need two four wheel drives with like minded adventurers - one to tow the boat and the other to tow the camper.

Yeah....the sleeping arrangements are going to be cosy. Because their really old we're letting Daph and Bruce use the good bed and Nat and Daz and the kids will be swagging it on the floor for a series of one night roadside stopovers until we get to Limmen Bight. Once we get there we'll probably be ready to pull the tent out of the boat and escape the snoring!

So what's the plan...where are we going?

We're starting at Brisbane and will be taking 4 nights to get to Limmen Bight River (via Rockhampton, Longreach, Mount Isa, and the carpentaria Highway). The plan is to stay for a week or so at Limmen river and then head back east along the Savanna Way at whatever pace suits us. We'll probably call in at Lorella Springs for a swim in the hot springs and maybe hit Rosie Creek (if the road is ok), before heading to King Ash Bay. The plan is to see if we can get to the Edward Pellew Islands if we can, and then meander on home. If we get time to make it as far as the Staaten River that would be good but it might be a stretch timewise.

What have we done to prep?

A fair bit of planning has gone into this. We've...

•  beefed up the boat trailer (thanks to Bruce and his trusty welder)
• added a freezer to the back of the Patrol and a fridge into the boat
• added air springs and rock tamers to the Patrol
• converted our crab pots to be legal by NT standards (ie used cable ties to close up two of the entrances)
• done a shakedown trip with all both vehicles and most of the kit
• consolidated equipment lists with Bruce and Daph about 6 times
• repacked the camper about 5 times
• prepped fishing gear and boat safety equipment including GPS mounts, long range fuel bladders, sat phones, EPIRBS, Nav charts, stone deflectors, life jackets, auxiliary motor, live bait tank, special ladder fittings etc etc 
• Restocked first aid kits
• worked out meals and food rations as we wont be staying in towns much

All this has taken months...but tomorrow's the big day! time to hit the road - WOOOHOOO!

Daz and Bruce

fitting the auxiliary motor

Bruce's convertible ladder bracket!

Beefing up the Boat trailer

Backwash waiting for the trailer to get beefed up

boat trailer getting work done

The first of many lists!

Rock tamers being fitted

Shakedown trip

Nat making up a box of fishing rigs

Fishing gear ready for action