Hi everyone,

I didn't get to give you a long break - it sure is a busy time of the year for the newsletters.

Alan Crane has sent a fresh report from the Old Telegraph Track; the Jardine River Ferry price has gone up; and there is a solar eclipse coming!

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In This Issue:

• Jardine Ferry Ticket Price Goes Up

• Old Telegraph Track Report Number Two

• Solar Eclipse in Cape York 10. May 2013

• Guide Book Feedback Always Welcome

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JARDINE FERRY TICKET PRICE GOES UP

The Jardine River Ferry price has gone from the already expensive $90 to $129 per vehicle. The Destination Guide has been updated on that. Laura Roadhouse info was also updated - it has new owners, prices and phone number.

If you have the Destination Guide you can always get the latest version by going back to your original confirmation email and downloading it again; or contacting me from/with your email address that was linked to your Pay Pal account when you bought it.


OLD TELEGRAPH TRACK REPORT NUMBER TWO

Alan Crane sent in this report yesterday:

We have finished the OTT and there is a couple of spots not accessible at this stage from south end.

Palm Creek is passable with winches and 30 metres of extension strap but advisable not to attempt on own.

We went round after walking it as still quite soft in the bottom for heavy vehicles, so we went round and came back from the northern end.

Gunshot Creek we camped the night there, lovely and then crossed the next morning, water bumper high but had to winch out of southern end before crossing the stream, which has a sharp off camber climb to the right once across the creek and the flat.

The major problem at this stage has to be Cockatoo Creek. I walked it and it is still 1800 deep and the approach and departure is diff lock stuff as it is eroded so badly.

We got out today and with it we have a broken centre pin in our leaf springs so we are camped at Loyalty Beach Park, recommend to all.

We crossed on the barge today fares have gone up $130 return for just one vehicle, kind regards Alan.

Thank you Alan for this report, which I am sure will be very handy for many early travellers!!

Here are Alan's photos and report on the website.

Are YOU out there and have a report, photos or videos?

Send them in!!!

Future travellers love to see what it looks like!

And you get your own page on the website :-)


SOLAR ECLIPSE IN CAPE YORK 10. MAY 2013

We have lately been really lucky up here, the area hasn't had any solar eclipses for more than 1000 years, and now we have two within six months, which is very unusual in any place.

The first was the 2012 solar eclipse, the centre of which went through Pormpuraaw, Palmer River Roadhouse and the area north of Cairns.

It was a total solar eclipse, which means that there is a 'total face' where the moon covers the sun to the extent that darkness falls for a while.

The second solar eclipse - the one on the 10. May 2013, is an annular eclipse, which means that it does not go totally dark, however with solar eclipse glasses you are able to see the moon passing in front of the sun.

As opposed to a partial eclipse, the moon does go right to the centre (provided you are watching in a place that is in the centre of the eclipse, more exact info here), but the moon is just a bit too far from the sun to cover it enough that it would go dark.

There are people who love the eclipses and chase them all over the world, but even if you are not one of them, if you happen to be in the area anyway, you may want to take the chance and watch it as a bonus on your trip.

It will be happening in the morning of the Friday 10. May (between 7am and 9am depending on the exact place), and is more or less visible on the whole Cape York peninsula (and rest of Queensland as a partial eclipse), but its centre goes through Kowanyama, and also passes between Coen and Musgrave Roadhouse.

You DO need eye protection to watch it, as you will be looking into the sun, which can permanently damage your eyes.

The best thing to do is to buy specially made eclipse glasses, they are cheap at about $5. If you are in Cairns or Port Douglas, ask at service stations, supermarkets, corner stores, discount stores (Crazy Clark's, Overflow etc), and places that sold them before the 2012 solar eclipse and may have stock left. (Most places did not restock as this eclipse is more remote and less people will be watching it. If you are on the hunt and in trouble to find, contact me as I will be having a look around and may have a better answer a few days later).

Welders goggles (with a rating of 14 or more only) and a proper solar camera filter can replace the glasses, but not much else can.

Watching through a stubby or (even polarised) sunglasses is not good enough so please don't destroy your eyes!

 
FEEDBACK ALWAYS WELCOME

I really appreciate any kind of feedback on the Destination Guide.

Please let me know if you enjoyed it while planning before the trip, and while using the information once on the trip.

If you get any questions about anything, please feel welcome to contact me.

That's all for this time - happy planning, and, till the next newsletter if I don't hear from you.

Have a great day :-)

Katrin


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