The Pyrenees Ranges (Pyrenees State Forest) offers some great four wheel driving and is only about an hour from Bendigo, Avoca also has a great pie shop, so what more could you ask for in a 4WD club day trip?
McDonalds in Kangaroo Flat was our meeting point, around 8 and we had a bit of a catch up there while we left enough time for any stragglers to join us. A group of six vehicles (2 utes and 4 wagons, 4 members & 2 guests) headed for Avoca where we had the obligatory pie shop stop & then we headed for the hills.
Maurice took the lead – he knows that area like the back of his hand – and we hit the tracks. Naomi had talked of a nice day’s driving, you know, nothing too hard as we had a brand new member with only very limited on-track experience (and road tyres), and of course no-one wants a damaged car. We also had a couple of guests along, trying out the new club. (So anyway, I think Maurie’s idea of easy and mine are somewhat different!).
There was one point where all but Maurie turned around – so Tail End Charlie (yes, Jim of course) took the lead and we caught up to Maurie after taking a few easier tracks. I know Ern (and Gaye) and Jim would have followed Maurie down that track, but with a couple of less confident (or maybe more cautious?) driver’s along they very kindly looked after us for a while.
We had some more challenging tracks that according to Maurie were badly worn since last time he was there – “last time you’d have just driven down that” was heard a few times. Still, John took it all in his stride and held his own for the day. He even texted afterwards to say what a great time he and Viv had, and they were looking forward to more such outings – just what we want all our members to think after a day out with the club.
At one spot a few of us took a few tries to get up a particularly steep spot – it’s always about finding the right line – and there was a fair bit of discussion over exactly what the right approach was. Most people got out for a look, and Ash (and Liz) provided a bit of excitement for those of us watching. In the end everyone made it up though, and we kept on going.
I’m not good remembering which track names were the more difficult (I plead ‘concentrating on where I put my wheels more than the track names, and my track buddy Sue was spending her time looking out the window, not at a map) so I’ll just list where we went – maybe you can drive it one day & see for yourself.
We headed in via No One Creek Rd, and hit Sugarloaf Track, left on to Schmidt Track and then right on to Gollop Track. We wandered around New Nowhere Track, on to No 2 Creek Track and tried heading down Old Bluff Track. After most of us turned around we took Main Break Track to Fraser Track and Ebing Track down to the Waterfall camp-grounds where we stopped for lunch. A good break with plenty of laughter and a few deep breaths! After lunch we retraced our steps (tracks?) along Main Break and took Old Tiger Cat Track, looped around New Tiger Cat Track, and found our way to Cross Track. Can’t help you there for a while – my map let me down – and we ended up on Clear Patch Track heading in a generally Moonambel direction.
We had a great day – and very carefully limited Maurie to getting us home before dark!
Thanks to Maurie for taking the lead to Jim and Ern for taking turns at Tail End Charlie, and to all three of you for keeping your newbies (not sure after 2 years I can claim that one, but I certainly felt challenged on the day) on the right track and safe and sound. I think everyone went home happy – and all our cars in one pie
ce.
