Present:-Paul, Paula and Daniel
Sandra & Tony
Jill & Bruce
Geoff & Jean
After our trip over Easter was "mudless" the "Boys" well Paul, was looking forward to finding some muddy tracks in the Otway Ranges and boy oh boy did we find mud.
Friday:- Tony & I met up with Jill & Bruce in Naracoorte and stayed the night at the C/Park. The plan was to catch up with the others on Saturday. We drove through Casterton and stopped to look at Wannon Falls, which would be a good overnight free camp site for a group.
Caught up with Paul & Paula in Hamilton and travelled together to Forrest Caravan Park. On arrival Geoff & Jean had already booked into their cabin. It was late afternoon on arrival so we lit the campfire in half a 44 and made our plans for the next few days.Sunday:- Paul, as our trip leader, delegated Tony to lead (which translates you go first, if you get bogged I'll go a different way). We took Roadknight Creek Rd, Ridge Rd then an interesting side track in which Tony's new Patrol got stuck in the mud in such a way he was unable to get out of his side door and had to clamber to other side. "Beauty I can try out my new winch" Paul took the chicken track around him so Tony could hook his winch cable up to the rear of his Cruiser.
Pulled out the winch cable, anchored it to Paul's car, NO POWER going to cable LOTS OF NAUGHTY WORDS. Geoff then winched him backwards. By this time Tony had filled his rubber boots with water. This is great fun love isn't it. He continued on the Ridge Rd, ended up at Gellibrand for morning tea where the boys were all trying to figure out why the winch didn't work. No satisfactory results found in this instance. We took several other tracks, Jackson, Lardner, Ridge, Sayers nice easy driving through the forest then collected firewood on our way back to camp. Glad to have campfires as it was cold. The night was clear, no breeze.Monday:- (Pauls birthday) mentioned once or twice. Tony was able to get his winch working - simple battery connection, cable looked good but not getting proper connection to battery.
All Paul wanted for his birthday was a day mud driving. We took the Neck Track continued on to Mt Sabine, Kaanglang Rd turned off to No 1 Spur Track. Very slippery and muddy with the car travelling sideways at times and many "brown pants" moments for me. Arrived at Noonday Track travelled down for a couple of Ks, track not bad yet until we saw the signs nailed to the trees ahead WHITE KNUCKLE RIDE and SUICIDE WATCH. Stopped and investigated the situation - very steep. Paul & Bruce walked down (sliding) to see what was at the bottom and around the bend and what the conditions were like. On returning they thought if we all made it down we were still unsure of what was ahead and we may not be able to get back up this particular bit of track if we had to turn around. We all decided to have a lunch break and turn back and try another way.
Time was passing and in the forest it looks darker and later in the day and we were (the girls) starting to worry we would be stuck in the forest all night and trying to work out how we could all fit into Geoff & Jeans rooftop camper - or things just might get ugly. We backtracked to No 1 Spur which led to West Barwon Trk. The track was still slippery as we were continuing to descend into the forest. Snatched Bruce up a couple of hills using 3 straps, Geoff & Paul doing the towing. Very hard to get and keep traction.
When another large descent came up Tony halted the convoy (blind folded me) saying it will be ok. Famous last words Tony slide off the track at the bottom into a ditch and had to winch himself out with the help of Bruce & Geoff repositioning the cable to another tree.
The girls laid branches in the ruts of the track hoping it would aid traction. One by one they gingerly got through that section and back to Mt Sabine Trk with Paul in the lead only to be told the gate was shut and we would have to go back again. Paul being Paul he was joking. Grrrrr. We were glad to hit the sealed road and drive back to camp. We had a great night around the campfire, nibbles and lots of stories. The longer we sat around the fire talking about our mud adventures the more I enjoyed the days driving, even though there were many scary moments. We had lots of laughs that night, glad to be back safe and enjoying each others company. What a great team effort. Thank you everyone.Tuesday:- quieter day. Took Neck Trk down to Erskine Falls, had a look then drove on to Lorne.
Brief look around Lorne then continued along Great Ocean Rd. We were held up approx 20 mins while crane removed some rocks from the cliff face. We had lunch at Wye Hotel altogether in a nice spot overlooking the ocean. Geoff & Jean then left for home from Apollo Bay while we collected firewood on our way back to camp for our last night together. No one wanted tea as such we just had bits and pieces, but with the exception of Paul we were all tired from our adventures yesterday and didn't make it much past 9.30. Excellent fire, best one. We had very cold nights and frosty mornings but fine days.Wednesday:- morning Paul and Paula, Bruce & Jill were heading straight back home so we said our goodbyes. Tony & I headed to Robe and spent the next couple of days there.
Great trip all enjoyed ourselves.
Sandra
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