Sometimes I wish I had help :)

Yep, headed out late with the sole intention being to investigate a track I had been told about that allows access into one of my more recent areas of exploration. The track in question was explained to me as a good way to enter the area and that it simply wound across then down the hill, although it was said it could be boggy and rocky.

The idea was good, to head out and go in the usual way, ride around for a while, enjoy the open tracks and then go to have a look at the track mentioned.

All went well initially, no real issues and aside from large pools of water laying around it was dry and heaps of fun as I took some sections faster than I ever had and loved every second of it, even scaring a Suzuki Sierra as I came down the hill, saw him at the same time he saw me and we stopped side by side (thankfully as well, his passenger was, well very cute and had obviously been for a swim ).

Leaving the Sierra behind it was down the tracks, across that one, through some light mud and onto the real destination …………. the track out that I had been told about.

Finding the entry was the easy part, I had been past it a few times previously on other rides. Riding the track however would be a totally different thing altogether

Suffice to say that in my short, no skilled, no ability time riding off road this was to be the toughest test I had ever undertaken and one, if I am honest that did have me wondering as to why.

The track was slippery, covered in rocks of varying sizes for the early part which would throw me offline and put me in places I did not want to be, but I managed to survive …………… for a while. I found myself heading up one of the rocky sections, thrown from side to side and some how I managed to find second bloody gear at the wrong time ………. the result being a lay down right about here.

The track leading up to the ‘rest’ ……… and as usual the pictures do not tell how steep the track was (or so I keep telling myself )

What was ahead, this was a little flatter.

And a close up of some of the rock steps

The bike ready to go again ……….. I wasn’t however and needed a rest for a few minutes but at least this picture does show a little better the hill angle

And a small video of the track from here:

Of course, my gumbyness comes across in the video and eventually I got caught out again.

A few pics from the spot of my, err, latest rest.

The track doesn’t look bad

Oh crap, more bloody rock steps

Look, I left some rubber

What was ahead didn’t look to bad.

And so to the video to once again show my ineptitude at this stuff

As shows, the first part was a little battle but ok, more me taking the wrong lines although by now I was literally stuffed physically and really was tired. No excuses though as In had pleant of water and rests

And now, the next part and dismount.

Now, you will hear me near the end as I saw the first ruts and it is safe to say that by now I was regretting taking the track, but I was not going to give up and even the late lay down was not going to stop me.

To be fair though, that is the end of the pictures and videos as the next 300 – 400 metres took me nearly 45 minutes as I battled through knee deep mud for metre after metre. Every time I tried to ride out, I got bogged up past the swing arm and at one point was stuck up to my knees while trying to get the bike out.

This was bloody hard work, seriously the hardest I had ever encountered on any bike ride, road or trail, sun or rain, this was tough and really tested my confidence and resolve so much I am not ashamed to say that at one point I thought about leaving the bike and walking out. Glad I didn’t though as whilst tough at the time I now realise I loved every second of it with the only thing to come from it being sore hands, heavy puffing and the knowledge that next time ……….. take someone

That all said, the track would have been far better the opposite direction as the issues I had were all with ledges that I had to climb and the ruts being angled up hill.

It was a lesson learnt but one that will not stop me doing the track again as to be totally honest I expected mud and difficulty but will say that I definitely did not expect what I found.

Gaz