North Australian FISH FINDER forums

A good bloke called Craig "Crackers" Hand has a thirst for adventure. He has already been to PNG once in his small half-cabin boat and today he left from Darwin to do it again, taking a heap of stuff for the local PNG tribespeople. He films his adventures as he goes. His video clips from his previous trip are entertaining. He is a keen fisho and will be filing reports. I saw him off today at Vesteys boat ramp - he is running a bit behind schedule and is a little concerned about the weather. He has to drive up Cape York Peninsula to launch from Seisia. In a few weeks, when he comes back to the mainland, he will barge the rig down if the monsoonal rains have started.

It's a risky trip, as that Torres Strait and the south coast of PNG have some mean water.

FFF will keep in touch with Craig and he is also reporting back to the Darwin ABC.

The North Australian Fishing and Outdoors Magazine (NTMAG) will do a report on the expedition.

Here is an email message he sent everyone just before he left ...

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Hi all

I finally get to start my 4WD & boating adventure this afternoon.

A quick photo shoot at Vesteys Beach and then I am off like a rat up a drainpipe!

For those that heard my radio interview this morning on 105.7 and want to hear more, you will now be able to follow my adventures crossing Torres Strait and in Papua New Guinea as I have been given a satellite phone that radio ABC Darwin can call me up from time to time & chat to me on their morning shows. You can hear these remote random interviews from anywhere in the world on the net by logging onto http://www.abc.net.au/darwin

Hopefully i can also blog my website with the help of some friends in Darwin. Check it out http://www.friendsofpapuanewguinea.org

Please feel free to send this website onto your friends as some of them may find it interesting, especially if they get in on it early.

I will also try to let Facebook know what I am up to as well. Add me if you like.

Also for the fishing people you can also follow my adventures on "FFF" the "Fish Finder Forum"http://www.fishingterritory.com on the net. My past and future adventure stories will be printed in North Australian Fishing & Outdoors Magazine next year.

The people and companies across Australia & especially in Darwin were generous in their support, and i would like to particularly thank the following;
Bunnings
Coopers
Darwin Mitsubishi
BCF
The Railway Club
Raymack Lures
NT General Store
Combined Communications Solutions
A-Mart
Casuarina News Agency
Territory Lazer Cutting
Darwin Fish Market
Fish Finder Forum
Einsteins Amusements
TooEzy Transport
Northen Communications
Rod Esam
Greg Hadler Plumbing
Satellite Hire Phone
Enjoy-Darwin.com

Hope to see you all again and should be back in Darwin in approx six weeks!

Chow4now
Craig

Yeah Matt Ive known Craig for a couple of years now..been out fishing with him more than once. Hes mad on barra fishing primarily.
Hope he makes it there and back OK..a lot of people will condemn him for doing something unsafe but most of us tend to forget that a hundred years ago people did heaps more dangerous things and most of them survived. Having said that I would rather have a plate boat beneath me
I likewise have seen some of his videos and pics..the fishing in Torres Strait is nothing short of sensational

I hope he has oars in that boat.....because with an e-tec on its butt he might need them....

2rods wrote:I hope he has oars in that boat.....because with a stinking e-tec on its butt he might need them....

Etec will be fine.... if that Pajero makes it to the ramp ok.

Im betting ever how much ya want the trailer wont make Seisa,but for the crazy buggers sake i hope it does

Mad bugger but best of luck to him

Bwahahaha, the first posts were exactly what I expected, you mob are so predictable

I put my money on the trailer being the weak link, but as Ernie said, I hope it all works out, the corrugations are the least of his worries really

Good on him and good luck Cracka, wish I had the time to do something similar

Crackers' Report 1
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Crackers said the first day and night on the road had worked out OK, but with a lot of animals and stock wandering onto the bitumen.
"I have been doing a bit of night driving to make up time, once I get the boat in the water I'll slow down a bit," he said.
"I saw a lot of scenery today from the tablelands to the silver grass plains, it is varying country.
"I had a chat with a pensioner bloke who was about to swim at Glenore Crossing where I shot video footage of a monster crocodile last year.
"I woke up yesterday with a dozen donkeys around my car at Larrimah and lots of wild horses and cattle nearby.
"I was weaving through roos last night and some big red ones too.
"The rig is doing well thanks to Tim and the team at Darwin Mitsubishi and my car now uses less oil than diesel.
"I went from Cloncurry to Normanton and the road was magic, and had a feed at the Burke and Wills Roadhouse.
"There are still a fair few other people travelling around.
"I was told how four guys found a huge nugget of gold at Georgetown.
"I will probably get to Musgrave Station for the AFL grand final and then head for Seisia.
"It all depends how far I drive tonight.
"I've seen Brahmans on the road and dingo pups too, as well as the big reds, so I have to be careful."

Glad we could be of assistance to him, he's a top bloke and i'm look forward to hearing how his trip unfolds. Craig and i did our Coxwain's together, he's a top bloke!!!!

Hi there,

The only thing that I can say, is that this is the kind of thing that makes me dream...
I wish him a safe journey.

Have a good day,
Pecheur

Onya Pech ... he might need some good karma from FFF to get him through.

Thanks Timbo, I spoke to him on a poor line, lucky it wasn't Kym

Takes some guts to set off on that kind of trip.

Few pix ...

What a great trip!

Geeze that boat's small for the straight.

Best of luck Mate !!!