Do you believe in Angels?

It had 'just' rained and we where contemplating to go or not to go via the Creb Track which would bring us back to Mossman via Daintree Village. I just don’t like to take the same way back and as w’d done the Bloomfiled Track, I was not attracted to take the other ’normal’ road back to Mossman either, which is all bitumen.

And as we’ve had a taste of the Creb Track when we drove to the Roaring Meg Falls before, we decided to go for it!

This Track is regarded as one of Australia’s most spectacular and challenging four-wheel-drive trails! So let’s go for it, I said!

The first bit, as locals call it the ‘Zig-Zag’ was very steep and windy and I always get sweaty hands while Romani is driving in Low Range finding the right gear to drive El Donya over these crazy steep hills!

It’s was exciting ! Driving, very slowly, 10-20 km p.hr. as the track was bumpy, rocky and narrow and our car slowly crawled forward up and down these hills. We passed several creeks and enjoyed the spectacular views and rainforest. All by all we where proud of ourselves and laughed and made jokes along the way.

After about 60 km there was a river crossing before the final Daintree River crossing and where the Track ends. We decided to have a little break for lunch, have a little dip in the creek and chill for a bit.

A family on the other side of the creek was having a good time, as this day was the 30th of December. There was actually some traffic on the Track as it’s Christmas holidays. I counted that about 20+ cars had passed us coming from the opposite way. Which sometimes was a bit nail biting as on how to pass each other, as it’s all very narrow.

We drank our 2 last beers, toasting on the Creb Track, while sitting in the cold water and where thinking to stay here for the night, as it was a lovely spot.

We decided to continue, as the beer was finished and we needed some supplies too. It was only another 10 km’s or so anyway, so ‘let’s hit the road and lets do some shopping’.

I waved the family goodbye while driving through the creek. A steepish hill was on the other side but after the 60 km we where very confident and relaxed. Romani was doing a great job!

On and on we went, up and down and than on a steepish hill the car sort of stopped..”is it out of gear?”.. We where standing still! Thats not good, but let’s stay calm. “Check if it’s still in Low Range, check the gear..” What the f**** The car did not react to Romani, so we decided to go a little backwards to a less steeper bit so we would have a better change to speed up the hill. (done that before on the Zig Zag)

Easier said than done and dangerous too! As the canvas on the car was all around closed Romani had no view. He tried again and the car made a strange clicking sound! He got the car a bit backwards, very slowly.. ‘Yes all good, but I better jump out, so I can guide you better” I yelled. i jumped out , a bit more, almost there. The clicking sound continued when Romani started the car and by than the car was standing in a very awkward position! I looked again and than realised the car was standing on 3 wheels! “Oh my goodness”, when I looked at Romani he looked yellow!

F*** what to do now?

I felt myself as I was in a void, I did not hear anything. I was just in this dreamlike space…We were staring at each other…

'I think you are going to tip Romani..' I whispered.

I felt so bloody helpless while slowly the car tipped over on the drivers-side….

It’s bizarre how adrenaline kicks in, it’s like you are on ‘something’.

Romani climbed slowly out from passengers side-window, looking absolutely bewildered..

“We need help” I yelled out to him, already I had started running back the track, towards the creek.

While I was running, all these thoughts went through my mind..’how far is it to the creek? What if other cars come driving down that hill and our car is blocking the Track..?

I just could not remember how long w’d driven , but it couldn’t be too far..maybe 2 -3-4 km’s? And I did not take any water with me!

My only hope was to that the family at the creek would be still there. I prayed that they could help us…

I was running and running and running…

There they where! Just ready to leave. They looked at me ...”I need help, please help us?”

“ Oh you are from that Landy” they said..”Sure we help you”, was their reply..

They took me in their car driving up and down the same we had just driven before while I explained what had happened. “You are very lucky” the woman next to me said..”as that is what the boys love doing, 4x4 driving, Recovery and they have Landy’s too, like your car”.

It appeared they where with 3 cars, all family, all LandRover lovers like ourselves!

Romani and I where both in sort of a shock and were both very upset.

The men, five of them , assessed the situation and decided first to drag the car down off the hill and off the Track. They worked for almost three hours to get the car on it’s 4 wheels and on the side of the Track. They used 3 cars and 3 winches. While dragging the car down we where very scared that the Roofrack would come loose as the Toolbox already had cracked, bystander picked up what was rolling out of the car, shoes, maps and other stuff. Thanks to a young bike rider who found our GoPro laying in the dirt!

Back at the Track a line of cars became bigger, nobody could pass.

People where very nice and supportive and to me these men, who worked tiredly in the intense heat, doing all they could to help us.. To me, that moment, I thought of Angels.

Than the problem, the biggest problem was the oil in motor.

One of the men was a mechanic and after assessing the motor, by trying to get the oil out of the motor, we where told the motor was ceased, locked or whatever you want to call it. It was F*****!

Daine, the person who’d taken me in his car before, mentioned I should call my Insurance as there’s no way they could pull us out as the hill to go up was steep and the last bit of the Track was very steep downhill. “It’s now Insurance work, so I will drive you till we get phone range” Daine said.

I could not believe how close we where at the end of the Track. I felt sad we had not finished it but proud we did it. I was very emotional while calling the Insurance and Daine took over the phone as I was not able to speak. All was explained to the Claim person of the Insurance and they connected us to a Garage in Cairns to get us out.

It was obvious that person, who wanted to sent an 8 mtr. Flatbed Truck had no idea what the Creb Track stands for!

Daine explained it all to him and the reply was that a supervisor needed to be informed as he didn’t know what else to do.

He told us that we could expect a rescue the next morning as it was than close to 6 pm and it was getting slowly dark.

Daine and I exchanged phone nr’s and I gave him all the details of our Insurance Policy as we would have no range and just needed to sit and wait for a rescue…

I was dropped off back to our car and Daine said he would follow it all up the next day, which was the 31st of December. Public Holiday, it wouldn’t be easy as people are on holidays and many businesses are closed. We prayed that it would not rain as than the Track will be closed. We had enough water, some cans and pasta and I was making some calculations how long we could last.

I knew there where people on the Track but would they come back the same way? Many go back the Bloomfiled Track. (It’s like driving a circle)

We didn’t eat that night and luckily I found a half bottle of Port and than I found a plastic bag with Potato Chips and bananas and a 50 dollar note!

I’d wanted to give Daine money for the rescue but all I had on me at that time was 50 bucks which he and his girlfriend Danielle strongly refused! So I’d left that in their car, but Danielle had put it back in that plastic bag…’Angels’ I said to myself.

Stranded on the Creb Track, luckily we where able to sleep in the damaged tent.

The next day after a very bad sleep and waking up very early, we both where very down and anxious too… Would anybody come? Later in the morning an older couple passed by and they where very lovely and supportive and we where able to tell our story.

They said they would drive back the same way late afternoon and would check upon us.

Not late after Daine and Danielle turned up! I couldn’t believe my eyes! They brought us cold water, some food and as Daine had phoned the Insurance in the morning to check what was arranged for our rescue, the Insurance had no trace of the call!!

So Daine needed to make a new claim! If he would not ‘ve called the Insurance I truly wonder what would’ve happened!?

Not long after the RACQ came, arranged with Daine, they pulled us out. They needed to put metal chains on their back wheels as it was pretty slippery. The surface on that part of the Track we got stuck, was of a very fine, smooth sort of clay.

We where towed to the Daintree River Village and after 2 days towed to Mossman.

In the garage in Mossman they somehow could or didn’t want to do it and quoted that if they would fix the motor it could cost up to 12 grand!

We did not believe in this and lost faith in that mechanic and decided to look for another mechanic who knows about this motor.

After days of searching on Google and phoning around we found a Landy Mechanic in Cairns, arrangements where made and the car was towed to HyperTune in Spence Street.

Peter the owner, runs his workshop on it’s own and we where warmly welcomed and we prayed he could fix our car.

Peter has worked in the Army as a mechanic and knows this car and motor inside out!

We where ’hoping’ Romani could help him so he could learn about this motor and Peter said that he was welcome to stay in the garage and help him. One week Romani worked on the car, Peter instructed him and they became a great team! In the meantime I was constant on the phone, still looking for a reconditioned Isuzu 4BD1 motor, a 2nd hand window frame and other smaller bits and pieces. By luck Romani found the motor which was in Victoria and I found a window-frame in Gympie in Qld.

Peter and Romani checking the old motor.

When the accident had happened and they wanted to check if the car would start, first the glow plugs had been removed so when the car was started all the oil flew out (which is good) But when they tried to start it again it didn't start anymore. It appeared that IF the hose to the Airfilter would've been removed the car could've started. As now the oil what was in the Airfilter sucked back to the engine. Therefor it ceased the motor.

Romani and Peter taking out the ceased motor

During all the hard work in the garage, we also moved from a Backpackers where w'd stayed for 3 nights to an AirBnb which is only 2 minutes walk to the garage!

Romani working on the window frame.

During this week, Romani repaired all what was damaged, the Rooftop Tent, the ToolBox, the side of the car, the snorkel.

He truly is a gifted man!

Friday, the 12th of Jan. the motor arrived early morning and the boys put it back in.

The window arrived and late afternoon, Peter asked Romani to start the car!

What a fine sound, the sound of a motor, we cheered and toasted ice cold beer.

The window was put in by Romani on Saturday.

We are now planning, some test drives and than heading slowly to Brisbane, were we will park the car for 3-4 weeks with friends as we will travel to New Zealand.

W’ve lived over twelve yrs. in Nz and’ve only been back once since we lived in Australia.

Till now (it’s the 15th of January) I am still arguing with the Insurance about that first emergency call and they even started to blame Daine that he may have passed on the wrong message to me! I saw red and am now busy with a Dispute as my former Official Complain was waved away by hundreds of excuses.

In the meantime Romani asked for the bill and Peter gave him the amount…what a generous man you are Peter!

We are so grateful for all you help Peter, as you truly are a remarkable and a humble man. That you came on our path is something we will never forget..

Do you believe in Angels ? well I do..!

Hereby we like to say thanks to all the people who helped us, especially Peter from HyperTune (Cairns) and Daine (and family) as we could not have done it without you.

We can highly recommend HyperTunes which is situated at 263 Spence Street, Bungalow in Cairns. (Peter 07-40351118)