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Published: September 13th 2013
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Gunshot claims another victimIf you don't know what Gunshot is you need to go to YouTube and search Gunshot Cape York and play any video and then you will understand this story.Keen to move on up Ye Olde Telegraph Track we started early. After Dulhunty I got to drive the next creek crossing which was rather easy but still exciting for this little black duck. Gunshot Crossing was next.Gunshot is not for the fainthearted. It has four tracks across the creek. Two are five metre almost vertical drops and the third gunshot is nearly almost vertical and the fourth is the chicken chicken chicken track.
I was quite worried I have to say. Wayne chose the
third one. I went down into the creek to video him. I was about 50 metres away videoing it at the time. He lined up the vehicle and went straight over the top and it all went wrong from there. I dont know the technical term for it but B2 didn't quite make it and we have a few flesh wounds on her. I was swearing very loudly. Wayne was using the F word as every second word.
It took four winches to get B2 out. A group of strangers arrived about an hour after B2 got in strife and they were coming at us with video cameras and winches and were very excited at the spectacle. An Austrian and a German Tourist helped out and a family arrived their young son was keen to use his new winch so a group effort got us out of there.
Our rooftop tent was a bit injured. The young guy very kindly put the rack and rooftop tent on his ute and drove it to Elliot Falls where we spent the afternoon doing some bush mechanics. It looked like at one point we were going to be sleeping under the
stars. But this lovely man Larry O'brien came along and panel beat all the brackets on the roof rack back into shape so we could get it back on and then he also fixed the bracket on the rooftop for us so we could sleep in the tent for the night. His wife Jan was feeding me cups of tea. Wayne worked like a slave all afternoon fixing it. Two young fellas spent a lot of time with Wayne giving him a hand to fix bits and pieces they didn't have to but did anyway.
B2 has some battle scars (scrapes) but he is a tough car. People were amazed just how tough that car is. It had 3 tons resting on one wheel for a couple of hours but did not sustain any damage to the front end , steering or suspension. Just a few scrapes on the sides.
Four wheel drivers have an amazing spirit of giving. It's a code. they seem to know a lot about mechanical repairs and when there are tough situations they will pull out all stops to help you out. I am so amazed at their generosity. In the end it
pays off because it's often a pay it forward type of arrangement, when they know they will be helped out if they get into strife. The same group of people have travelled everywhere with us since. One of them Webby is a forensic crash investigator and we had a fair bit to talk about after dinner one night.
Everyone knows us by name but I can't remember everyone's name, I guess it's because we provided the spectacle they came looking for. My God this trip has challenged me on so many fronts. It has opened my eyes up to the wider world, and how hard people did things in the old days. but most of all the spirit of humanity.
In all of this we did even manage to get in some sight seeing. We visited the beautiful, Fruit Bat Falls, Eliot Falls and Twin Falls. They are a gorgeous oasis in the middle of unforgiving country. It's so dry here you wonder where all that water comes from. The color of the swimming holes is a gorgeous green and as it gets deeper it goes almost an emerald colour. It manages to wash away the ever present
film of red dust that layers your skin. Soothes your weariness and refreshes you in mind and body.
We both collapsed exhausted and very thankful to these people ... None who knew each other and all who now know each other - who were so generous of their time and spirit.
As I went to sleep that night I recall the words of Reg the Coates Hire guy who was the first to arrive and the man I was screaming out help to. He said "my god you are calm my wife would have ripped my balls off by now". It made me laugh I don't think Wayne would have liked me doing that to him.. He was annoyed enough with himself.
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