Patriot
Administrator
So here is the trip report for what I did at O'Tooles.
We motored on in after meeting up with Bushnut at Moe McDonalds. We took the usual way in, fueling up at Moe as it is the last place for gas, then Thomson Valley road to the Dam wall and then Merringtons track. Merringtons is pretty easy and leads to Merringtons flat, which had 3 two wheel drive cars reinforcing the fact that the fun was yet to begin! This was only the second day since I had picked up the Maverick from getting the RWC and the first time it or me had been into 4 wheel drive. Donnellys creek track was a bit more interesting with 3 creek crossings which were good fun, which lead us to O'Tooles flat.
The advance team had done a great job and the camp ground was starting to fill up.
We put the tent up in the rain with a fair bit of help from Robz, Bubba and Centaur and as soon as we were finished the rain stopped. After that a quick meal, get the kids into bed and sit down for a nice chat and a couple of beverages.
The next morning we slowly got ourselves sorted and lined all the vehicles up. We had about 25 vehicles all lined up, and with the others that came in for the day, the total would have been about 30 vehicles.
After our esteemed judges passed out awards for dirtiest vehicle (me), best rig and most mods, we set out on our first trip for the day.
We went back along Donnelly's track, along Jorgensons, Toombon and Toomstar Track.
Photos never really convey just how steep the track is, but it was fairly steep in some places. I was ably instructed by Bushnut, who taught me heaps of tips and tricks during the day.
The steepest track of the trip was down a short track to the White Star mine. Very steep on the way down and lots of fun on the way up and we were all left wondering just how did they get all this equipment for the mine down here!
From there it was a short drive to the top of Mount Useful. It is a great view from the top.
A line up for photos and a quick cup of tea.
Here is the gang heading back to camp for lunch.
In the afternoon we headed out to look at a busted trailer at Merrington's. But before we got there we had to negotiate Flats Track. This was probably the most fun of the weekend. Quite a steep climb, in full view of the campsite. 3 sharp switchbacks and it is all good fun. Right at the top there is the stairs. A really steep ascent straight up the guts with overhanging rock to negotiate. I thought discretion was the better part of valour and took the chicken track to the right. The stairs was were most of the damage for the weekend was done. Centaur dented his towbar assembly here. Nickj and WLDSRF will have some great video of the top part of the track. Here is the Maverick at Merrington's.
From there it was back along Pheasant track and down Flats Track. Pheasant is quite steep and as with a lot of the tracks would have been a lot more diffiult had it been wet and muddy.
A quick little stream crossing and back home.
More rain and a little sunshine = a rainbow! That night we had a visit from some members in a well kitted out Disco and a competition truck. I tagged along with Nickj as tail end charlie as they assaulted Flats Track. They made it up in record time, for all to see, courtesy thanks to some of the brightest lights I have ever seen on a truck. It was a great display. We then went down 'S' track. S is meant to stand for Steep, but maybe it was just that it was dark and we couldn't see, but it didn't seem to steep.
This is the view of the campsite on Sunday morning as people start to get ready for packing up
Back along Pheasant track. After that we took Beardmores Track, which is quite steep in places and gives an awesome view of the dam. Even though we drove over it on the way in, you don't really appreciate just how big the dam is until you see it from Beardmores.
Our group airing up, unlocking the hubs and selecting 2WD.
Off the Erica and microwaved Pies.
Thanks everyone who came along. It was a great bunch of people and we all had a great time and I learnt heaps about 4 wheel driving.
Big thanks to Grumpy, 4x4, Bubba, Gunna, Bek, Knackers, and NickJ, (hope I haven't missed anyone) for putting in all the hard yards and making it such a great trip. Thanks Bushnut for the tuition and printing everyone's name tags. Hopefully the first of a six monthly event. (12 months is too long to wait ).
When we started the website 12 months ago we never thought it would grow this big, or that we would meet such great people, so thanks heaps everyone for such a great weekend. Tina and myself had a really great time.
Cheers,
James
PS Can't wait to meet everyone at the Middle Earth meetup.
We motored on in after meeting up with Bushnut at Moe McDonalds. We took the usual way in, fueling up at Moe as it is the last place for gas, then Thomson Valley road to the Dam wall and then Merringtons track. Merringtons is pretty easy and leads to Merringtons flat, which had 3 two wheel drive cars reinforcing the fact that the fun was yet to begin! This was only the second day since I had picked up the Maverick from getting the RWC and the first time it or me had been into 4 wheel drive. Donnellys creek track was a bit more interesting with 3 creek crossings which were good fun, which lead us to O'Tooles flat.
The advance team had done a great job and the camp ground was starting to fill up.
We put the tent up in the rain with a fair bit of help from Robz, Bubba and Centaur and as soon as we were finished the rain stopped. After that a quick meal, get the kids into bed and sit down for a nice chat and a couple of beverages.
The next morning we slowly got ourselves sorted and lined all the vehicles up. We had about 25 vehicles all lined up, and with the others that came in for the day, the total would have been about 30 vehicles.
After our esteemed judges passed out awards for dirtiest vehicle (me), best rig and most mods, we set out on our first trip for the day.
We went back along Donnelly's track, along Jorgensons, Toombon and Toomstar Track.
Photos never really convey just how steep the track is, but it was fairly steep in some places. I was ably instructed by Bushnut, who taught me heaps of tips and tricks during the day.
The steepest track of the trip was down a short track to the White Star mine. Very steep on the way down and lots of fun on the way up and we were all left wondering just how did they get all this equipment for the mine down here!
From there it was a short drive to the top of Mount Useful. It is a great view from the top.
A line up for photos and a quick cup of tea.
Here is the gang heading back to camp for lunch.
In the afternoon we headed out to look at a busted trailer at Merrington's. But before we got there we had to negotiate Flats Track. This was probably the most fun of the weekend. Quite a steep climb, in full view of the campsite. 3 sharp switchbacks and it is all good fun. Right at the top there is the stairs. A really steep ascent straight up the guts with overhanging rock to negotiate. I thought discretion was the better part of valour and took the chicken track to the right. The stairs was were most of the damage for the weekend was done. Centaur dented his towbar assembly here. Nickj and WLDSRF will have some great video of the top part of the track. Here is the Maverick at Merrington's.
From there it was back along Pheasant track and down Flats Track. Pheasant is quite steep and as with a lot of the tracks would have been a lot more diffiult had it been wet and muddy.
A quick little stream crossing and back home.
More rain and a little sunshine = a rainbow! That night we had a visit from some members in a well kitted out Disco and a competition truck. I tagged along with Nickj as tail end charlie as they assaulted Flats Track. They made it up in record time, for all to see, courtesy thanks to some of the brightest lights I have ever seen on a truck. It was a great display. We then went down 'S' track. S is meant to stand for Steep, but maybe it was just that it was dark and we couldn't see, but it didn't seem to steep.
This is the view of the campsite on Sunday morning as people start to get ready for packing up
Back along Pheasant track. After that we took Beardmores Track, which is quite steep in places and gives an awesome view of the dam. Even though we drove over it on the way in, you don't really appreciate just how big the dam is until you see it from Beardmores.
Our group airing up, unlocking the hubs and selecting 2WD.
Off the Erica and microwaved Pies.
Thanks everyone who came along. It was a great bunch of people and we all had a great time and I learnt heaps about 4 wheel driving.
Big thanks to Grumpy, 4x4, Bubba, Gunna, Bek, Knackers, and NickJ, (hope I haven't missed anyone) for putting in all the hard yards and making it such a great trip. Thanks Bushnut for the tuition and printing everyone's name tags. Hopefully the first of a six monthly event. (12 months is too long to wait
).When we started the website 12 months ago we never thought it would grow this big, or that we would meet such great people, so thanks heaps everyone for such a great weekend. Tina and myself had a really great time.
Cheers,
James
PS Can't wait to meet everyone at the Middle Earth meetup.
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