Trip Report - Bunyip - 16.01.10

[Davidman]

We met up at the BP Longwarry at 8:00 AM on Saturday morning. Not sure who was going to arrive, but it ended up being,

Bainsy in the Farm Ute ( Bainsy )
Matt in his Patrol
David in his Pajero - Go the Mighty Paj ( Davidman )
James in the RAV 4
Rob in the Disco with (another) Matt ( Smeacs and Big Matt )

James thought he would come along to see what the RAV 4 was capable of doing. We headed into the Bunyip Forest and stopped at the trail bike unloading area at the intersection of Forest Road and Robertsons Creek FireTrail. Aired down here and headed up Robertsons Creek FireTrail.

It wasn't long before 5 vehicles became 4, as the RAV 4 didn't like the going too much. It hung a quick U Turn and ended up back at the trail bike unloading area, which luckily, was only a couple of hundred metres back down the track. At least there was one vehicle that was guaranteed to have no damage for the day.

So now it was 4 vehicles, the Pajero, the Farm Ute, the Patrol and the Disco off to have some fun. James ended up riding shotgun with Matt in his Patrol.

We did some fun bits of Robertsons Creek FireTrail, hung a left at Bullock Link Track and played along there for a while. The rock steps were a bit of fun, as was the bog hole half way along. Been very dry around the place, but it still managed to have water and mud in it. I ( Davidman ) was the first to go through this, and yes, I got stuck. Bainsy had to go around me and snatch me out. Matt in the Patrol came through next, luckily Bainsy still had the snatch strap out, as it was used again. Rob's turn in the Disco. Not even going to talk about this, as it put us all to shame.. Anyway, moving on.

Ended up back on Forest Road, headed along there for a while, hung a left into Rocky Track, which is not as bad as it was last year , but still a lot of fun and a challenge. Finished Rocky Track, back down to the trail bike unloading area and had some early lunch.

After a bit of discussion, we decided that we should head across to the Neerim / Noojee area, as there were still a lot of tracks over there that we wanted to do.

Anyway, headed over there, did the Latrobe River Crossing, Tolleys Track, Suckling Track, Reference Track, it's just not the same in the dry and back to the river crossing.

After a quick chat with Bainsy, thought we might take the other two along Hell Track. So it was decided, hell Track it was, from Whitelaws Road, Spike Track, across Dead Horse Creek, back up the Fenceline Track, along Carrolls Track and back out to Latrobe River Road. Not too much to say about the Hell Track experience today, those that were there will not forget it, those that have done it know what we are talking about, and the rest of you should give it a go. One hint, the first time you do it, start at the Whitelaws Road end.

Finished this track without too much damage, a wheel arch thingy off the Patrol, some bumps, small dints and scrathes on the Disco and the obligatory smashed taillight and rear bumper damage on the Pajero. Dont think Bainsy suffered any damage today, although there was some concern when he found a broken fan belt laying on his front suspension. Don't know where he picked it up from, but it wasn't his.

As they say, a picture / video tells a thousand words. They will be uploaded shortly, once they are on YouTube and PhotoBucket.

David


Airing Down at the Trail Bike unloading area in Bunyip

The RAV 4, and pretty much wehre it stayed all day. Time to buy a Pajero James

Various Track Pictures

Crossing the Latrobe River

Hell Track

Some Youtube Footage - Well worth a Look


YouTube - The Disco in Bunyip State Forest

YouTube - Rob in the Disco Crossing Bullock Link Creek

YouTube - Rob coming down Hell Track in the Disco

YouTube - Rob and the Disco doing the steps on Bullock Link Track

YouTube - Matts Patrol heading up Fenceline Track

YouTube - Matt in the Patrol going down Bullock Link Track

YouTube - Matt coming up Robertson Creek FireTrail

YouTube - Matt coming down Hell Track in the Patrol

YouTube - Matt and the Patrol coming out of Hell Track

YouTube - Bainsy Rescuing the Patrol

YouTube - Bainsy coming down Bullock Link Track

YouTube - The Discos wheels in the air on Hell Track

YouTube - Robertsons Creek FireTrail from Rocky Track.AVI

YouTube - Rocky Track - Bunyip - Full Length.AVI


Some more from the IPhone - Mainly Bainsy and Robertsons Creek FireTrail. He didn't take the Chicken Track

Gotta say, I'm impressed with the quality of pics and vid from the IPhone

YouTube - Rob and The Disco on Robertsons Creek FireTrail

YouTube - Bainsy coming up The Rocks on Robertsons

YouTube - Bainsy on The Rocks on Robertsons

YouTube - Bainsy on Robertsons

YouTube - Matts Patrol on Robertsons



I'll give you plenty of notice next time Scott (Elbie84), looking at doing some more around Neerim and Noojee and doing the un-named track and Inglemans. Should be in the next couple of weeks. I will list it as a trip anyway.

 

[Bainsy]

Thanks again Dave. i had a great time today. Yeah strange thing about that fan belt. I reckon i picked it up going through the bullock link boghole, which was a bit of a nosedive for the old farm ute. glad it wasnt mine! very good effort by all!

 

[Bainsy]

that vid of the rock climb makes it look like a highway that last damn bolder. got over it shortly after

 

[Davidman]

For some reason, the video did not upload. I will have a look at it tonight and upload what I have got. Not sure if I got any of you going up the rocky section of Robertsons Creek FireTrail, I will have a loook.

 

[Smeacs]

Great trip report Dave,
Thanks for showing us around the area, Had a really good time. It will be a trip to remember. Out of all the playing around I have done in the bush in both the Disco and the Old 60 that I had, Today would have been the most challenging day of all.
Robertsons Creek FireTrail (The rock steps), Rocky Track, Reference Track and Hell Track where heaps of fun. Mind you at times my poor sphincter was getting a work out. (The back wheels of the Disco off the ground coming down hell was a bit how ya going)
Even the Fenceline Track was quite good.

Thanks to all that came. I hope to get the chance to head out with you again.

I will upload some pics when I get the chance to go through the 300 odd that Big Matt managed to shoot off.

 

[phs]

great trip report david, looks like you had fun, still have nt been out to bunyip it on my to do list st8 after tassie....

 

[Bainsy]

good to see ya had fun rob. the disco done really well. coming up towards the fenceline track, there was a point that your front drivers side tyre was AT LEAST 3 foot in the air! it was a shame we didnt have the camera out. i can assure you it looked awesome!

 

[Elbie84]

Sounds like it was a good trip spewing I missed it, give it a go next time.

 

[BEK]

great trip report David

bainsy is looking good a bloke recently turned 40 that apparently has just got engaged

 

[Patriot]

Hey guys,

Great photos. The sad thing about 4WD photos is they don't really give the whole picture, how steep it was. Some of those holes looked BIG and the action shot of the Disco getting snatched is great! Looks like everyone had fun. Nice river crossing too.

James

 

[Nickj]

Great report David

 

[Davidman]

Smeacs or Big Matt

You might want to send this link to James and Matt who joined us for the day. Sure they would be interested, and we might get a a couple of new members.

David

 

[Smeacs]

Hey guys,

Great photos. The sad thing about 4WD photos is they don't really give the whole picture, how steep it was. Some of those holes looked BIG and the action shot of the Disco getting snatched is great! Looks like everyone had fun. Nice river crossing too.

James

Hi James,
I have to defend the Disco. It was being winched under its own power in that photo. And to that I only got stuck because I tried to follow where Bainsy went.

Hint for everyone: It don't always work to try to follow a 70 series with 36's and lots of lift if you only have 30's and 2" lift. It generally wont work to well.



Was really happy with what the disco was able to do though. It got me from start to finish with out too many issues. Just had to really watch the lines that I chose. The tracks out in the Bunyip are a bit more challenging than what I usually play on up at Warby.

 

[Smeacs]

Smeacs or Big Matt

You might want to send this link to James and Matt who joined us for the day. Sure they would be interested, and we might get a a couple of new members.

David

Hi Dave,
Will pass it on to James when I see him at work on Monday. He can then give it to Matt

 

[Bainsy]

Hi James,
I have to defend the Disco. It was being winched under its own power in that photo. And to that I only got stuck because I tried to follow where Bainsy went.

Hint for everyone: It don't always work to try to follow a 70 series with 36's and lots of lift if you only have 30's and 2" lift. It generally wont work to well.

haha well i did warn everone all at the beginning of the day. Although you had to winch out dead horse creek, you got out so it was a sucessful run going the hard way. i chose the most difficult track on every where we went the whole day. top day 10/10 for sure.

And David, atlest when your trip leader, everyone makes it back with cars not needing extencive mechanical work!

 

[Davidman]

Bainsy,

Found the videos of you on the rocks at Robertsons, and some pics. Uploading now.

 

[Bainsy]

Bainsy,

Found the videos of you on the rocks at Robertsons, and some pics. Uploading now.

Yep seen! i hate how videos don't show the steepness of the hills and the size of the obstacles!

 

[phs]

unfortunetly bainsy photo and videos dont do hard tracks justice you need to get a good angle an even than it still doesnt do it justice

 

[Big Matt]

i can tell you how steep the hills werei walked up or down most of them taking pics lol

A note for all, walking down hell track with an slr in hand isnt as easy it you may think, im considering inventing a winch belt for the next trip

 

[Smeacs]

Pics From Bunyip Day Trip

Here are a few if the pics that Big Matt took with My DSLR.

Also Here is the link to Photo bucket for more.
Bunyip trip - Jan 2010 pictures by Smeacs - Photobucket

Thanks Again To Big Matt For Taking Pics And Being Nav For Me.