Gunrock Creek Trip Report (21/2/2010)

Attendees:

Lindsay                                       Pajero

Gary, Robyn & Katlyn                 Jeep                  Katlyn is their Grand Daughter.

Peter & Gloria                            Patrol

Chris Chitty & Dave                    Patrol Ute

John Chitty & Darcy                   Navara Ute         Darcy is Dave’s son.

Colin & Renate                          TONI                   Reporters.

We were all at the meeting place on time but one was still missing, after several phone calls without result we departed the Mobil Pheasants Nest at 8am and drove down the Hume Freeway to Moss Vale and our starting point.

We soon were at the quarry for our first adventure. We soon aired down and were ready for some action. Everyone was successful on the quarry slopes, but not always on the first go, but skills were soon honed and all got up soon enough and no one needed recovery, good result.

Leaving the quarry we were soon at the start of Gunrock fire track. The first obstacle was crossing the creek over some rocky steps, the water was a little up on last seeing it due to the rain last week but no misadventures crossing it, and all got through OK. Both the kids with us did slip in the water and had to travel a bit wet for a while.

A bit further up the track we came to the steep rocky hill section. This part of the track was washed out a little more by the rains last week, I decided to try a centre line up the slope and chickened out and decided to come back down and try the track to my left but I dislodged a large rock and we had to get it off the track before me proceeding back down to try the other track successfully. The other track was decided upon by the others (except John) and so we went, Lindsay had a little problem with wheel travel and took a few attempts to get up successfully, the others all came up with relative ease, but John tried a combination manoeuvre, starting in the centre and then halfway up moving over to the left track, this got him into a chassis flex that was to really test the Navara, but after a few runs at it he found the right line and got up.

Talking to a couple of motorbike riders about where we wanted to go in the Forest they told me that all the tracks I had planned to use had been closed by NPWS last year and were gated off now BUGGER.

We decided to go out via Fitzroy Falls and down to Bendeela Picnic grounds on the Kangaroo River for lunch. After a pleasant lunch (1.30pm) some wanted to explore some more and the remainder went into Kangaroo Valley for a drink at the pub and a casual & safe drive home afterwards.

During lunch my phone rang, it was Ray Conway, the missing traveller from this morning.

Conversation went along these lines;

Ring Ring,

Ray = “Ray here, you tried to ring me today and am returning your call, who are you?”

Me = “Colin, from RareBreed Ray”

Ray = “Why were you calling me Colin”

Me = “To find out were you were this morning Ray”

Ray = “I was at work Colin, started at 5.30am”

Me = “Ray! you and Pam are on my trip sheet as attending today mate”

Ray = Long silence, then “Shit I forgot, sorry Colin”

Me = “That’s OK Ray we all make mistakes mate, but you just know your gonna get a ribbing at the next meeting mate”

Ray= “Yeah I guess so, sorry Col see you at the meeting”

Me = Yeah mate I’m looking forward to it, bye Ray”

A good day out but unfortunately cut short due to track closures.

Colin & Renate.