Archie camps on the Telegraph Track

Adam and Sandie surveyed their eye-catching motorhome at Archer River after its first big adventure. The gleaming colour-coded grey paint was dulled by red dust, dented and scratched; they beamed with pride. 

The Fuso-borne motorhome, built by Adam over four years, had done what it was designed to do, and passed with flying colours. 

“It looks used now,” said Adam happily as they headed towards Brisbane after a three-week journey to Cape York, which included all but one bridge on the Old Telegraph Track (OTT). 

The English couple had first ventured along the OTT when they travelled around Australia in 1990 in a dual-cab Nissan Navara, sleeping in a tent. Eight years ago they immigrated and three years ago they tackled the Track again, this time in a Landrover Discovery with a rooftop camper. 

“It seemed a bit easier every time,” said Adam. “I am not sure if the track is easier, or if it’s a better driver or a better vehicle.” 

We christened the vehicle Archie the day we met Adam and Sandie; the number plate had Adam’s initials – ACH – and we were at the Archer River Roadhouse. It fitted the sleek vehicle, painted Honda Polished Metal. 

Tony and I were returning after our first major trip in Isabel, travelling along dirt, corrugations and parts of the Telegraph Track. We were also pleased with her performance; Tony was pretty happy with her clicking over between 5.5 to 6 kilometres to the litre and most of our teething problems had been minor. 

Archie comes through a gunshot cutting 

Her parabolic suspension, remote adjustable air over oil shock absorbers and Stratos suspension seats gave us as smooth a ride as we could reasonably expect. Our travelling companion, machinery magician Ross, said as he followed behind, that Isabel’s suspension was a joy to watch, with the wheels bobbing and working independently as the house stayed steady. 

Ross and wife Heather were creating a flutter of interest and clicking cameras with their travelling arrangements on the Cape. Their accommodation was a camper trailer made from a cut-down Troop Carrier reinforced with checker plate and fitted out with a myriad of accessories. 

Motorhomes thin out north of Coen but a variety of 4WD models are found around ‘The Tip’. The OTT bypasses have made it possible to drive all the way, even in 2WD, and one steady soul proved it was possible in a standard Fiat Jayco – but it was a slow journey as he eased in and out of the corrugations at a top speed of 25 kilometres. 

A few of the tougher motorhomes are tested on the OTT. Since the bypasses were built it is no longer maintained so the shaping of deep cuttings at creeks is determined by the wet season and bigger vehicles pushing through. 

Archie is a fair size, about the same as Isabel and seven metres in length, although a little longer at the base because of Isabel’s pert backside. Adam says some cuttings had a couple of inches to spare on either side but in first gear low ratio Archie ticked on over everything without a fuss. “It was brilliant, we loved it.” 

From Bramwell to the Jardine River – where the ford is defiantly deep and the ferry crossing costs a minimum of $126 – Archie didn’t miss a beat, but the log bridge north of Sam’s crossing was a little too narrow. Adam and Sandie elected to make a 25 kilometre detour to the northern bypass and re-join the track on the north side. 

Archie is dusty, dented and scratched, and Sandie and Adam are delighted after the trip to The Tip 

Adam, from London, works in Brisbane as a builder and Sandie, from Kent, is a dental technician. They have explored more of our big land than most Australians and look 15 years younger than their 43 years. 

Adam started building Archie from scratch after buying the Fuso four years ago. Coil spring suspension and Robo shocks are underneath; a 12 volt electric system powers the inside; two water tanks (one 150l and one 120l) have been fitted; and a mezzanine floor was put in to fit the drop-down bed over the living area. The 19.5in tyres were taken off and replaced with Adam’s preferred 17in Mud Terrains. 

Adam explained, “Outback Marine allowed me to build it in their workshop at the Gold Coast and they were really good at helping me out with the fitting.” 

Archie wasn’t quite completed though; work still had to be done with the fitting out and in the roomy shower and toilet area at the back. Adam should have the finishing touches done by Christmas. A trip around Australia and maybe an overland trip back to the UK are planned after that. 

To stay up to date with Isabel and our travelling adventures, please visit our blog: http://nancybates.weebly.com/off-withisabel.html 

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Written: Tue 01 Oct 2013
Printed: October, 2013
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