DATE: 7th-9th June 2014
TRIP LEADER: Charl;ie Grasso
VEHICLES: 7 club and 1 visitor = 8 Total
PEOPLE: 13 club and 2 visitors = 15 Total
Sat 07 June
The weather was cold and dry, sunny and frosty, 7:10am at Sutton Forest Maccas. Much to our surprise John Z and Mark turned up with a new Gal Camper Trailer still with trade plates which turned out to be a Test Dummy for Mark’s mate from Mario Trailers who asked if he could put it through some all terrain paces. Little did he know he could be regretting the request as Mark’s intention was to have the BT50 take it everywhere we going. We left together from Sutton Forest Maccas around 7:45am, with Ross&Ronda heading straight to the camp site, with the mighty Kedron in tow, via the easier way in to have a test run on the 15km stretch of dirt leading into the campsite. Brett was glad he brought his sun glasses as the glare off the new gal work on the Test Dummy was blinding.
An easy run in to Tarlaga saw us stop at the Tarlaga Hotel for ice and a quick check in with one of the locals I know for info on our second leg of the day. As it turned out Ross&Ronda probably could have done the Swallow Tail Pass Fire Track with us with the only challenge for “THE 4X4” being to negotiating the RH switch-back turn after passing across the ford over the Tarlo River. Craig had timed his run in from Mittagong via Wombeyan Caves Rd perfectly, picking up the back of the convoy as we turned into Mares Forest Rd. After a quick orientation for those here for the first time, we set up camp, had lunch, took the group shot and set off for part 2 of the day at 1pm.
Back through Taralga to Bannaby Rd and then onto Newfoundland Rd and onto to the dirt to air down. Now on the Guineacor Fire Track the trail narrows and gets rougher and in no time we start to have a few challenges for the Ranger’s cousin, the BT50 and the Test Dummy for Mark to photograph. We had some interesting decents with very tight turns and some deep muddy wash outs and ruts to get through before a rocky decent to the bottom at Guineacor Creek. Jungle’s partner Jess was having her first real 4WD experience and by this time she was leaving impressions in the 200’s dash and letting out a few choice phrases. On the way an interesting competition emerged to “Spot Charlie’s Shed” which proved harder than we thought it would be but with the aid of GPS and binoculars we can confirm that it was spotted. Shirley even managed a photo to prove it.
After some major bush pin stripping we reached a deep rocky water crossing which saw us with water above the door line for some and more photo opportunities. During the rocky climb back out of the valley our visitors, Jason&Janice, developed what seemed to be a major driveline problem bringing their auto Pagero to a halt and needing attention. It was after 3pm now and climbing further towards Wombeyan Caves Rd we were starting to burn day light and concerned that Glen&Sara would not make their 4pm pick up at Wollindilli Station. Another competition emerged when I asked for an altitude reading, not one device or map gave the same reading. it quickly became an auction and I was sold at 900m, but spoke to soon as the final call for 915m came from Ross. (I think) The Pagero’s gear box said “no more for me thanks and wound literally wound things up for the afternoon” which saw us having to hook up to Brett’s recovery vehicle and be towed out. By now we have just run out of day light and it was fine going uphill to Wombeyan Caves Rd and then the fun began for Jason&Janice as Brett put a call out over the radio “Charlie, don’t slow down, don’t stop because I’m not. As we headed into the Wombeyan Caves camp site we only had one set of cars pass us and it was a clean run to the bottom and we had to do it all again up the other side and back to our camp site. Needless to say it was late back and no camp oven tonight.
We quickly got the fire going with some woof wood and the BBQ got busy. With some food in our bellies and a few under our belts the Spiced Mead, Jungle Juice and conversation was flowing. We had a campfire meeting and decided that tomorrow would be a lay day to have our drive line specialist check the damage in the daylight and maybe have to tow the Pagero into Taralga for an NRMA trip home. The consensus was to postpone the Yerrandrie trip for another time, which will give people an excuse to come back again and the girls could visit the Taralga Markets on Sunday. Shirl treated those left still standing to a raison damper and it was quickly put away before winding up the night and Jungle needing some assistance to get to his tent.
Sun 08 June
Bacon and eggs for breakfast after a little sleep in, John Z & Glen rounded up the girls to take them into town for the markets. While Brett, Mark and Jason checked out things on the neighbouring paddock Shirley and I grabbed young Matt and set out to place our Yabbie traps in the nearby dams and then off for a short recky run down Queen’s Gap Trail in the Mares Forest NP only to find an unchallenging trail that followed the power lines and ended up at what seemed to be a deserted Bandito’s bush hide out. Jungle, Ross and Ronda had tended the fire during the day for us in preparation for tonight’s camp oven feasts. Glen took over the wood chopping duties from Craig and had even given some lessons on using the chain saw. With the fire stoked and dark just starting to fall the camp ovens were being prepared. With the night chill in the air it was proving to be a challenge to get the heat out of these coals and things were taking longer than planned to cook. With a few under our belts once again we turned the tunes up and started to have a real good time. We ended up with a record number of camp ovens at one sitting for the place, at 5 Ovens and a Cast Saucepan Pot the coals needed were hard to keep with. Glen turned into our resident wood chopping Cossack, splitting timber to feed the fire and Jungle turned into a fussy Polish chef having to stir and add as he wanted it to be just right. Brett turned out a perfect Pork roast and then set fire to the perfect cracking. Later followed by another damper from Shirley for desert which seemed to be done in microwave time as the heat in campfire was enormous by now. With no one around the fire really feeling how cold it was we continued into what was a great clear star filled night having a top time.
Mon 09 June
As we were all leisurely getting out of bed we woke to a very foggy morning which had some dampness in the air. The BBQ was fired up for some pancakes, venison sausages, bacon and eggs for breakfast. Afterwards I took Mark, Jason and Matt on the other side of the property for a bush walk and to check out big daddy (a huge grass tree). On the way down the hill Jason must have thought I was moving too slow as he tripped and was hurtling towards me I had to think very quickly “will I or won’t I try and catch him and maybe have him take me down with him. Well luckly I managed to catch him and spin him around back up hill and stop us both from getting to the bottom faster than required. On the way back to camp we stopped off at the dams and hauled in a great catch of yabbies for a lunchtime treat. Some had already headed off to beat the traffic which left more for us.
All in all a great weekend with the weather gods leaving the showers and rain to the end as we were leaving and all who came having a great weekend looking forward to the next one.
Shirley and I would love to thank everyone for coming and not only enjoying the place but most of all for looking after the place and leaving their sites so clean we could not even spot a single food scrap.
Thanks Guys and hope to see you on the next one.
Regards
Charlie & Shirley
Photos – https://www.dustndirt4wdclub.com.au/photos/#tab-6e5899a4901d3f4a2e8
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