Four mates ride dirtbikes up Cape York Australia.
Day 2: Palmer river to Musgrave Station.
After running south 16km on the tar toward Cairns we turn east. The ride to Maytown was fun and easy on good dirt roads. The terrain was undulating as it followed the landscape on a path layed down over a century ago. We arrive at Maytown around mid day, and set about looking at the ruins. Maytown is an 1800's gold mining town, population forty thousand people in its heyday.
Turning north at Maytown toward Laura the track turned nasty. Large rocky hill climbs, with multi step ups. After the climbing up away from Maytown the track settled down. Tighter than the early section to Maytown, and there was thick sand in places. Following Criag and Rob was like chasing a pair of giant goanna. Their wheel tracks snake and every so often there are paddle marks from feet each side. The KTM likes to follow there wheel tracks and only by brute force can I stop it doing this, very trying. Once clear of the sand we get open super fast country road, with the odd huge rut thrown in to keep us on our toes.
Laura for lunch at 2pm. From here its north to old Laura, then west toward Lakefield national park. KTM runs dry on fuel much to my amazement! We cross load from one of my fuel carriers (aka DRZ400), while sending Craig ahead to get some distance under him as the slowest rider. Refueling complete the remaining crew hit the road.
We catch Craig on the western side the beautiful Nifold plain as dusk catches us all. A quick discussion ensues about the deep sand we have just traversed. This was littered in BMW flotsam. Not to mention numerous massive goanna tracks. These tracks often ended in either a hole in the landscape astride the track, or a big dent in the sand. No one has taught the BMW boys to keep the gas on in the sand. The technique required for good sand travel is to keep your velocity and the front of the bike up as a result. Once you shut the throttle the weight transfers forward making the front dig in, with nasty results if not corrected. Peter and myself have had a lot of experience in sand, and are used to this. Rob was struggling with confidence in the sand today, meanwhile Craig had done very well in his first full day in the dirt.
With 80km to Musgrave Station we pair up for the final stint. Peter and myself set off in the lead riding two track. Two track = riding side by side, no dust, and two head lights in the dark helping us out. The road conditions are well varied, tight dirt, sandy then rocky river crossings, then thick deep sand. Riding at night in the outback is difficult and the hazards are numerous. Peter and myself have done this to many times, only once on purpose. I remember vividly watching the tail light of Peters bike bouncing two feet side to side as his DRZ tackled the sand. Well scary.
At the completion of Lakefield national park we turn left toward Musgrave and the track becomes a dirt road. Unfortunately we can not step up the pace to much due to it being pitch black.
We reach Musgrave with shouts of glee around eight o'clock, I'm stunned to hear Peter over my own engine. He tells me afterward, he could hear me cheering! We order dinner for the crew as the kitchen is about to close, four times steak dinner. I join Peter near the bikes, we stand and wait anxiously. Straining our ears to hear Rob and Craig's engines over the noise of the station bar and restaurant. Noise travels a long way out here, but we have to wait and be sure they are safe before a beer is opened. I hear a bike first, but is it one or two? One head lights pop into view, then another. We are cheering regardless of the odd looks from the people at the bar. So are Craig and Rob. We hear their yahoos and howls of glee from three hundred meters away. What a fantastic days riding!
Our accommodation at Musgrave are well appointed rooms, two beds a piece. We quickly shower and rendezvous with our steaks and a beer or five.
Musgrave Roadhouse
Penninsular Development Rd Cape York
(07) 4060 3229
musgrave.roadhouse@bigpond.com.au
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Day 5 Cairns to Cape York dirt bike tripby ndowad11,076 views
Yes mate a KLX250 would make it, but you would not want to be carrying much.
phillgray 1 year ago