I have now had a couple of beers, a shower and now in the right frame of mind to write a brief trip report.
Overall, great day if not a tad warm (got to 32 I heard during the day on the weather channel) but we had a really good turnout and better than expected. There were 6 GCLRO vehicles and 3 'ringins' (2 were from the bris LROC that I invited along).
Participants-
Aquarangie (TL)
The ho hars
extreme
Nikjt
bullets
Skiboy
Ringins-
Charles Reeves
Steven reeves
Tomo
We had a great start, we all got there on time although was held up by Tomo for a short few minutes but we had the 'briefing' (more rambling by me than anything) and we were on out way for some off-road action. There had been some rain as the tracks from what I had been informed were greasy but the sun was out at times and as the day progressed they'd dry out to make things easier (not too easy mad I add).
After getting into Beerburrum and into the foreest, tyres down, low range and off we went. It was aparent that the mass puddles were gpoing to make some of the regualr tracks I do impassable and ho-chi-min was the first casua;lty with nasty ruts and a massive dropoff into the water basically vertical so I had to abort and do the easier track. it may have been easier but it was still a challenge for some who needed to be drafged up the last bit of the track. Steve had his winch fitted to the 90 so he was able to assist bullets up the hill.
After that, smoko time and then to find some more mud and challenging tracks. it was a looong drive up a gravel road and through a puddle that Col. Coleman would have been familiar with on a previous trip a few months backIt looked a bit too deep for me to try so it was the easier side track for me this time again.
Through some horrendous mudholes, more snatch strap recoveries and so forth. I don't think they're a snatch strap that wasn't used at least once by anyone today, but it's a 'Trav trip' so what do you expect
We them ventured off into the forest up a easy-ish track (easy by 'Trav trip' standards) but still enjoyable. We were soon out and following the powelines again we stubled o0n another sloppy mud piut the get through. it was the trip leaders turn to get bogged not once, not twice but 3 times although I was assisted on the last attempt to blaze a trail through which thankfullly Steve was able to find (even the TL gets stuck sometimes)
The track that Steve had found through the slop was okay for @ 3 vehicles. I tried another way after a bit of scouting by Steven and a few others 9funnily it was the same line I did it last time @ 14 months ago when I was last here). Charles tried to do the track his son (Steve) mapped out but got stuck fast so it was thew dunga to the rescue (was for @ 5 vehicles. You can't keep an old Rangie down even if it's a dunga). One sour note is I must have bent a rear body mount sometime during the day as the rear sits a bit lopped-sided now at the rear, the gap in the back door is uneven at best. I chrushed the mount badly as well as the chassis one too but I'll deal with that tomorrow.
Okay, that was done and dusted it was off to the poweline track we all know and love but lunch first. It was hot out there toaday even in the shade it was shocking. After lunch we followed the PL track but had to take a slight detour as one of the waterholes once ahaon was impassable unless we wanteds to spent til midnight getting everyone through
We managed to get around and do the last hill before getting to the plateau at the top (where the poweline tower is) but were held up by a few hilux' and a Patrol for a while. Once they were cleared we got goingh down another challenging little run and into the forest below where it was steaming hot from all the moisture. Once again held up by the hiluix crew the Patrol was having a crakc at ome of the hills that unfortunatlet i couldn't conquerI miss my front diff lock only once today and that was the hill although Steve was still able to restore some LR pride. patrol 1, Lr 1.
The easier track around the side was proving a bit of a challenge for some of the hilux crew and obviously don't have much of a clue when it comes to 4WDing in general. One donut tried the hill around 20 od times and after a few of us screaming 'pull him up' then did so. This really ****es me off people who are inconsiderate and rude, blocking the track and tearing the living crap out of it for the bloke behind. It makes it more challenging, but after a few hundred dropkicks in hilux' do this, it makes it impassable
The best part was that all the LR did it easily and we quickly passed them, waving as well (would have preferd a one-finger as that's what they derserved to be quite honest. Makes me think twice about doing a 'forum' trip on the mixed forums). Another challenge for those who felt like one, a couple of other tracks and it was tinme to go home.
Thanks to all who turned up and it was good to put names to faces on the forum (probably the other way too). I have some vid, will put it up in the next day or two. Still one of my favs that trip to run, plenty of challenges and it's never dissapointing.
Trav


 
						
					 
					
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					 Safe Travels
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