It all started as a fine and sunny day, but by the time we had changed Pete’s tyre and got the bikes ready the weather was looking a little ordinary but not enough to dampen our spirits so of we set.
Our aim for the day was to navigate from Camp Kundabung (my house) to Point Plomer via the best trails we could find. It all looked good on the map but negotiating private property was our main concern. We blasted some good trail through Maria River Nat. Park, even finding some good single trail that looked like it had once been used for an enduro, but had not seen any regular action for a while. As it turned out our fears were realised as we popped out on Beringhi Rd to discover, after a chat with farmer Robinson that the route we were looking at was no longer passable as it was no longer a public thoroughfare and the bridge had collapsed anyway.
Our options were limited from there so we thought a cruise into Crescent Head on the black top for a feed was a good idea. As we approached Crescent Head we realised we would have to pass the police station, our bikes are registered but not very roadworthy so we opted to not take the chance and shot down Point Plomer Rd, within a couple of kms Pete veered left and we shot down to the beach for a look. A beach access road beckoned for us to get down and expect it even closer. The temptation of a beach run was just too much and we road on the shore line at 100km for about 7-8km down to Racecourse Head. From there we connected back up with the main Point Plomer Rd to Delicate Nobby.
We spotted some possibilities on the map and stopped at the camping ground and asked the caretaker (feral hippy woman) about our proposed route. Her advice was that she had not been down that far (it was only about 500m from where we were standing so she obviously didn’t get out much) but she did advise that she thought we could get through. So of we set trusting our instincts more than the advice of Hippy Woman. We swung right when we hit Limeburners Creek Nat. Park to discover some excellent sandy trails leading us in the direction we needed to go. The sand soon changed to swampy marsh flats with bog holes big enough to swallow a small 4wd.
At this stage the weather was starting to look pretty serious and it was starting to drizzle. We pulled up stopes when I went to go through a bog hole and my bike disappeared. We retrieved the trusty LRP (XR250). The fear in Pete’s eyes said it all, we needed to get out of this goddamn swamp before it started to rain or we would be swimming out. We were lost, tired, hungry and very low on options. We had pushed as far as we were willing and had no choice but to start back tracking. Travelling at a slower pace back we found a trail we missed on the way in and with nothing to lose we gave it a shot. It lead us through more swampy crap and I was starting to shit myself, thinking we were going to spend the night in the swamp when all of a sudden we popped out on a main gravel road. Never in my life have I been so glad to see main trail. As it turned out we were on a Bird Watchers trail and an old granny was not happy about us being there, but we were sure as shit not going back, so followed it through to Maria River Rd.
From there we sucked up some main roads back to Maria River Nat. Park and back through to Kundabung. 150km in 6 hours. I would not rush out to do this route again but we did have an excellent adventure regardless. Bodacious Dude!!!!!!
