Coxy
Active Member
My first ever trip leading others, slightly nervous and hoping for a great day.
The weather looked excellent and the day started at 09.30 at the ranger's office in Gembrook. He said all the tracks were running as easy and looked at the standard Pathy with worn HT tyres on and said "you could go anywhere in this park in that mate, nothing to worry about" He even suggested that I had a look at Anderson's!
I moved on to Dyer's PG to meet with Bullstat, Kirvin and their families. This gave us a bit of time for a meet and greet and the kids to get to know each other and kick the footy about.
We decided that even though the ranger suggested Andersons we would take it "easy" and head up the Blue Ridge Track via Little Bunyip. At the right turn under the powerlines onto little Bunyip we engaged low range and headed on up into the clouds. The going was good and we were glad it was dry (Kirvin was praying for rain, but Bullstat and I are rookies). The track was well rutted and I would have never got the Pathy up in the wet with standard tyres.
About half way along little Bunyip and a sharp left hand bend I saw the DEEPEST ruts. I kept the Pathy going as far as I could, but bottomed out as I thought. Backed up to have another look and ripped the side step. Oh well, sh1t happens! We all stopped and had another look and a good chat about the best way to get through. I chose a different line and with the aid of the electric LSD bounced the Pathy through. Bullstat had a moment here, but bounced through again and Kirvin just put the foot down in the Paj (with big muddies on) and breezed it. He then got out and bragged that he was in 4 High!
Once at the top we turned right onto blue range and had an uneventful run along to Bunyip ridge. Bunyip ridge on the descent was deeply rutted, but thankfully dry and the going was slow but fun. All in all with many stops for photos and the little "episode" we had a very pleasant 2 hour drive and got back to Dyer's for lunch.
Out came the esky's the picnics and the little burner for the snags. The area was busy now with other groups and bikers, but good fun and lots of other kids for ours to run about with. The only down side was the damn European wasps. They were everywhere and because of this we didn't spend too long with food out.
Back on the road again and we were off towards home following the powerlines toward Labertouche, but then we decided to have a look at Nash creek loop track. Rates easy on the Parks Vic map we thought we had nothing to loose.....
The track was narrow, rutted and steep in places. Another rutted rising section had the Pathy relying on the electronic traction aids, but we all got through. Fallen trees proved to another testing obsticle, but fun also. A slight error in directions by myself saw that we left the park a different way than originally planned, but it was all pleasant driving.
I only had my phone as a camera, but I’m sure the other will post some decent snaps.
I had a great day and really enjoyed meeting Bullstat, Kirvin and their families. Hope to do it again once I've got better tyres. After all of that and having my two kids on my own I am extremely glad that the advert is true....... Carlton Draught is indeed, made from beer!!!!!!!!!
Cheers
Coxy
The weather looked excellent and the day started at 09.30 at the ranger's office in Gembrook. He said all the tracks were running as easy and looked at the standard Pathy with worn HT tyres on and said "you could go anywhere in this park in that mate, nothing to worry about" He even suggested that I had a look at Anderson's!
I moved on to Dyer's PG to meet with Bullstat, Kirvin and their families. This gave us a bit of time for a meet and greet and the kids to get to know each other and kick the footy about.
We decided that even though the ranger suggested Andersons we would take it "easy" and head up the Blue Ridge Track via Little Bunyip. At the right turn under the powerlines onto little Bunyip we engaged low range and headed on up into the clouds. The going was good and we were glad it was dry (Kirvin was praying for rain, but Bullstat and I are rookies). The track was well rutted and I would have never got the Pathy up in the wet with standard tyres.
About half way along little Bunyip and a sharp left hand bend I saw the DEEPEST ruts. I kept the Pathy going as far as I could, but bottomed out as I thought. Backed up to have another look and ripped the side step. Oh well, sh1t happens! We all stopped and had another look and a good chat about the best way to get through. I chose a different line and with the aid of the electric LSD bounced the Pathy through. Bullstat had a moment here, but bounced through again and Kirvin just put the foot down in the Paj (with big muddies on) and breezed it. He then got out and bragged that he was in 4 High!
Once at the top we turned right onto blue range and had an uneventful run along to Bunyip ridge. Bunyip ridge on the descent was deeply rutted, but thankfully dry and the going was slow but fun. All in all with many stops for photos and the little "episode" we had a very pleasant 2 hour drive and got back to Dyer's for lunch.
Out came the esky's the picnics and the little burner for the snags. The area was busy now with other groups and bikers, but good fun and lots of other kids for ours to run about with. The only down side was the damn European wasps. They were everywhere and because of this we didn't spend too long with food out.
Back on the road again and we were off towards home following the powerlines toward Labertouche, but then we decided to have a look at Nash creek loop track. Rates easy on the Parks Vic map we thought we had nothing to loose.....
The track was narrow, rutted and steep in places. Another rutted rising section had the Pathy relying on the electronic traction aids, but we all got through. Fallen trees proved to another testing obsticle, but fun also. A slight error in directions by myself saw that we left the park a different way than originally planned, but it was all pleasant driving.
I only had my phone as a camera, but I’m sure the other will post some decent snaps.
I had a great day and really enjoyed meeting Bullstat, Kirvin and their families. Hope to do it again once I've got better tyres. After all of that and having my two kids on my own I am extremely glad that the advert is true....... Carlton Draught is indeed, made from beer!!!!!!!!!
Cheers
Coxy
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