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Well the day started as usual when I woke up, rolled over, checked the time and thought ‘you beaut, today is a good day for a ride’. Got out of bed, looked out the back window and seeing miserable low cloud rolling off the escarpment made no change to the mood as I was really looking forward to this little ride.
All the weather did was help decide the gear to be worn (winter and full wet as opposed to summer) and as the sun came out it was decided to take the summer gear, which as it turned out was the right choice even if there was a little rain on the way up Macquarie Pass.
Then came my first confusion point of the day as while riding through Robertson I see a nice looking KTM640ADV heading the other way with a person I could swear was Steve at the controls. We nod, neither realises for sure who the other is and we continue, all the while me wondering if I was late and had posted a 0900 start or whether Steve (if it was him) was early because he hadn’t wound his clock back. I figure keep going and see what happens.
So straight through to the meet point at the start of Redhills Firetrail and confusion point two happens when I get there and find two bike tracks heading off along Redhills Firetrail. So a quick check of the phone shows the time as around 0930 and I really start to wonder if I had posted a 0900 start and the OBT guys had headed off by themselves wondering where their ride guide had gone …………… the bastard.
But soon all is revealed as around 0945 I hear a car with an obvious trailer coming along Gwen Road and am soon met by a few g’days as we introduce ourselves, then the guys park and unload the bikes and start kitting up. Soon enough we hear the burble of the ADV and Steve appears to confirm it was him that I had passed (and actually the other guys as well) and that he had been early so went for a little play ride.
So with all the introductions done I soon find the cause of the two tyre tracks that were noted earlier as a couple of guys emerge to warn us that the tracks were very slippery in places but other wise ok. A short chat later they head back home and we head on in.
A few pics taken while waiting for the guys to arrive
The reason you need to be careful at the start of the track, the walkers do not realise it is a firetrail
This one confuses me, am I allowed in or not?
So the ride is relatively easy to start (well, the whole ride is to be fair but you have to give some suspense) as we tootle along the walking track component before hitting the concrete causeway at the lookout which really signals the end of the walkers (most times speaking). From here we open up a little bit, but not really to much as we feel our way along the surface given the amount of rain and also the feedback from the other guys who were on their way out. Surprisingly the track was not that slippery and really quite dry compared to what I expected given the rain of recent days so we were able to just skip along taking on the usual few small challenges before emerging on Redhills Road.
From here it was the left onto Gunrock Creek FT where we just pottered around still getting a feeling for the surface which although slippery in a few places was never dangerous but was fun. Along here of course there is one small area where there is a single track off the side so some of us went that way, whilst others fo9llowedt he main fire trails to meet up a few hundred metres later to the report that the track was ‘f*&^en slippery but fun’. So regrouped we kept on along Meryla FT before turning right onto Link FT and skirting the property boundary, hugging the fence line before hitting the wider part of Link FT that leads to Meryla Road.
Turning left we headed to Patons FT, but not before a stop to let a bus out. Yes, a bus.
Getting to the Patons FT turn-off the reason for the bus was clear as we found a group of students getting ready for a hike. A quick check with them to check their paths in case we were to cross later (we weren’t) and we were on our way to the lookouts and supposed plane wreckage.
Now Patons FT is slippery most times so when it is a little wet it is interesting and today, well there were patches that were very slippery yet not as bad as I expected, mind you that doesn’t mean that someone may not have tasted some dirt. So, after a nice little jaunt along the track that is Patons, down the hill, through the scrub and we emerged at one of the many spectacular lookouts in the area.
The bikes and guys ate rest, enjoying the view as Steve takes it in a little further from the edge.
Well, after enjoying the view it was now time to see if we could find the rumoured plane wreck which was said to be just north of the track about 400 metres short of the lookout. So we leave the lookout keeping an eye to the distance and pull over at around the 380 metre mark onto a little verge at the side of the track.
Now, I have to say that whilst I wanted to see what we could find after hearing of the wreckage, I had absolutely no real hope of finding anything recognisable or worthwhile and to say I was surprised at what we found would be an understatement.
But first, the earlier victim displays some of the scars.
The bikes parked waiting while we wandered (notice the camera shy Adventure trying to hide behind the tree).
And what was found. The parts were reasonably scattered and varied in size with some being melted blocks of metal (whether done in the accident of a subsequent bushfire was not clear).
The wreckage in this pic is actually in a depression in the ground which had us wondering if this was the impact point.
There was a really informative little sheet attached to one of the nearby trees that outlined the circumstances of the accident which apparently occurred in bad weather as a squadron flew north from Victoria to Richmond enroute to Queensland in 1941. Due to the bad weather they decided to turn and head to Goulburn but unfortunately one of the planes did not make it and even sadder was the fact that one of the ejecting pilots had their parachute become entangled on the plane and was dragged down with it. The accident was heard by the other squadron members but they could not see it due to the weather and resulted in the loss of two lives.
After sombrely taking in the fact that here was wreckage of a genuine WWII plane we returned to the bikes and headed out the way we had come, again enjoying the slippery surface as we returned to the intersection with Meryla Road.
Taking the left we headed along Meryla Road where a few cursory hand signals were given to indicate other ‘areas of interest’ for those so inclined as tracks disappeared into the scrub. But the plan wasn’t to take them but instead head to the other end of Gunrock Creek FT and have a little play on the track erosion mounds before showing a small series of new found tracks for the guys to explore.
Suffice to say that whilst some (ie. Me) lumbered up the erosion mounds others who shall remain nameless made it look like a walk in the park before we all regrouped at the top and headed to the small new found areas for the guys to play a little. However, initially the guys enjoyed the main track a little to much and missed the side tracks, but a quick retreat soon had them off climbing what were apparently damn slippery slopes with interesting hills.
The main track off which the single runs can still catch some out when barrelling along, or so it seemed.
The guys enjoy a little smoko after their sidetrack excursion but still had time to pose for the camera.
And why not, the sidetrack looks a bit like this but gets steeper.
With the day wearing on we headed back to Gunrock Creek FT and onto Gunrock Falls FT to tackle the small hill climb challenges.
The first obstacle was to cross the creek which we all managed successfully with Steve easily manhandling the Adventure across and up the other side, but we were all there ready to help if needed, which we weren’t. From here it was simply onwards to the main hill, but with me wanting pics the guys were kind enough to let me go ahead and get set-up at the top (yep, another successful climb first off so my average improves again
).So with me all set-up the guys took on the challenge and with all making it relatively comfortably on a variety of interesting lines and showing a range of tree avoidance techniques.
Steve nonchalantly gets the Adventure to the top
A little relaxation at the top of the hill.
Now it got interesting because I mentioned that I had never actually gone down the hill yet and before the words were out of the mouth we had some volunteers showing how it is done. And of course what goes down must come back up even if not so easy this time.
So with fluids replenished we remounted and headed out to Redhills Road, but not before a little warning that this track has some puddles on blind corners that will just sneak up. Well, didn’t that prove a prophecy as I was the one who ended up going through the puddle whilst listening to maniacal laughter beside me. But we all got through the little track with no problems although it was wet, slippery and full of puddles which of course just means some fun.
Crossing the road we were off again and into more forest starting with nice wide firetrail which proved to much for a certain blue bike that decided to have a lay down mid corner. Now, the rider would of course do what riders do and blame a rut in the road that caught the front tyre whilst being blinded by a laser light shone from an overhead aircraft carrying out surveillance of bikie gangs. The truth being of course that an under skilled rider simply ran out of ability on a damn corner.
No damage done we continued along the FT until finding what I had been looking for, the little piece of single track that leads back to Redhills Road so taking it we headed off onto a track I reckon is a blast but I have struggled on it since I got the knobbies and today was no exception. Doesn’t stop me smiling though as it truly is a great little piece of track and is one I try to do often.
Back onto Redhills Road we headed a little further along before taking yet another little side track into the sandpit for a play, and play we did.
There is an interesting small hill in here and so the challenge was issued and subsequently taken up with some rather comical results for those watching as rider and bike parted company at the top due to a, well, large hole. Once again no damage done and so the fun continued.
Well all things have to end and so it was with the sandpit as we decided to head on back to Fitzroy Falls to call it a day but Steve was to leave here in search of further quarries to play in around Hilltop but from what I hear he found out that he needed fuel to play and now knows the reserve on the Adventure.
So with Steve going one way the remaining three went the opposite and simply tottered along Redhills Road and back onto the Firetrail for some fun little pieces of riding and to wash the bikes.
With bikes duly washed near clean of mud and the blood cleaned from the flannos we returned to the entry point, parked, put the gear into safety and decided to have a little walk around the lookouts which afford stunning views with the waterfall in full flow. After enjoying the walk and views we returned and went our separate ways on home.
Well I know that I had a blast today with good company, fun and testing roads and a great day for it all I do expect to feel sore in the morning.
Thanks for the ride guys and until next time.
I am so spewing I missed all the action it looks like such a nice light ride a dn a great report Gaz
TB
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