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Wandering
Wombat
Date:
Saturday, 3 February 2007
Time: 8.30
AM muster at Carrolls Lane for a 9.00 AM start.
Trip
Rating: Easy
Weather:
Dry, clear skies, 30C.
Trip
Leader: Richard Low
Tail End
Charlie: John Parish
Number of
vehicles: 8
The
magnificent morning began with a light fog that was lifting to
clear blue skies as the first of the vehicles started to arrive in
Carrolls Lane. It wasn’t long until all had arrived, despite a
slight delay as a few had forgotten just how far Carrolls lane was
away from Bacchus Marsh. Richards’s introduction to the day was
great and it wasn’t long before we were in our vehicles and rolling
out towards the forest. Only one minute into the drive and the dust
was a sure indication of the dry tracks ahead (or so we thought)
and this dust quickly took the shine off Darren’s white GU
Patrol.
A quick
radio check by Richard flushed out that Ivan was forced to the
passenger seat, while Elizabeth guided the Toyota Surf through the
first of the obstacles. With John in his GU Patrol riding shot gun
to Richard in his 80 series leading the way, it wasn’t long before
we turned into the bush and we got our first taste of the need for
careful wheel placement in negotiating the dry but deeply washed
out ruts that the Wombat State forest is renown for.
With 3 of
the 8 vehicles being on our first trip with the club and one of the
drivers who had never been off road previously, Richard took the
opportunity to call the convoy to a halt as we approached the first
more difficult obstacle. This required more care as wrong wheel
placement could have seen vehicles slipping into deeper
ruts and possibly rolling over!!! The kids piled out of the cars
and flocked towards the water which Darren quickly showed the rest
of us just how deep it was; while Richard indicated and explained
the preferred route (the sloppy mud coated logs to the side of the
water bog). For all of us this was a great first challenge and the
vehicles all got through with John’s Hilux the only one to break
traction, even if it was only for a moment!
Continuing
along Lloyds Track through some interesting ruts, Darren received
his first fine by failing to maintain the link in the convoy in
using his indicator as we turned onto the first officially un-named
track. Richard providing plenty of warning of possible scratches as
the undergrowth was thick and the track quite narrow. All the kids
were encouraged to keep a good look out as wombats had recently
been seen on the track. A challenge was issued to name the track,
and Jessica (almost 4) from the back of Darren’s GU announced she
thought it should be called ‘Tunnel of Trees’, it was agreed by all
that is now its name. There were no wombats to be seen but there
was one nasty stump that left its mark on the front guard of Darren
and Visnja’s GU. Ouch!
A small
opening allowed the team to pull over and enjoy the morning sun and
have a quick bite and cuppa. With the kids running around and
releasing some energy it wasn’t long before we were all called to
try and find a needle in a haystack in looking for young Isabelle’s
glasses lens that had fallen out of her frame. Unfortunately there
was no Sherlock Holmes on this trip and we moved on with out
locating it.
The next
hour was spent driving through some great country with a mixture of
dense scrub, dry river crossings, and occasional views of the
surrounding hills of the Lerderderg State Forest that backs onto
the Wombat State Forest. Prior to turning right onto O’Brien’s
Road, Richard presented us with a short hill climb and, again, a
great place to get some great photos. After everyone walked the
hill and watched Richard demonstrate the correct method by walking
the 80 up it effortlessly, the other drivers headed back to their
vehicles, and once again Elizabeth drove the Surf up like a
seasoned professional. A quick right into XL Track (off O’Brien’s
Road) and we were right on track for our lunch break at Firth Park.
A fantastic place to stop and enjoy lunch.
Together we
learned at lunch what would ultimately prove to be Richard’s demise
in what had been up until then great decisions and leadership at
the front of the convoy. .Coke Zero mixed with the odd sip of
Solo…!!!!! This is the only liquid, other than water, that he was
seen consuming and therefore can be the only reason for his later
decision to attack a boghole which was avoided on the reccie the
week before! Not once, but twice, Richard was towed from the bog,
once to the rear, the second time to the front, after almost making
it through. Following Richard’s unsuccessful attempts at the hole,
Darren and Visnja’s GU then gave it a crack. When seemingly almost
through, Darren unselfishly eased off on the power and became
stuck, so as not to embarrass the Trip Leader! So he
says!
Following
on from the cheers of the first few unsuccessful attempts, Mark and
Fiona’s GU, and the Surf of Ivan and Elizabeth, both ploughed
through it to the cheers of the crowd, and both reached the other
side. Richard still insists that he was simply using the boghole
and his recoveries as “demonstrations” for the convoy, and that by
driving it twice, he had helped make the bog “easier” for the
following vehicles! (It flows thick and fast from
Richard.)
After
missing a turn by only metres, Richard’s mixed drinks at lunch time
(Zero and Solo), then resulted in another seemingly curious
announcement to the convoy on the radio: “Darren, stop there and I
will go in front of my self and turn around” were heard across
channel 10. We were very curious to see Richard actually perform
this expert manoeuvre, of course. When Tail End Charlie (only
minuets later) announced that the ‘breadcrumb trail’ indicated
straight ahead and Richard had turned right,
concern set
in to the convoy… were we lost??? Never! From memory our
enthusiastic and courageous team leader called it ‘being
adventurous”! Richard certainly has a flair to his radio
communications, and was even asked if he had been a Virgin Flight
Attendant in the past ? (We won’t go there—Ed.)
The
afternoon provided the team with the ability to learn (as for most
of us it was our first trip) ‘Leap Frogging’ and despite Mark
cheating at the afternoon break everyone worked well together,
despite the fact that every time we were on graded roads for less
than 200 metres Ivan and Elizabeth ended up losing the front spot
and were relegated to the rear.
Our next
challenge again provided for great photos as all the vehicles
suspension and wheel travel were tested as we moved through a
heavily rutted part of the track. Once again everyone enjoyed
watching each vehicle while Richard explained what was happening
and guided drivers through. Our next track was again unnamed,
however it wasn’t long until Richard encouraged us to use the low
range gears—combined with four low ratios the name of track became
evident, Fiona making the official announcement “roller coaster
road”. Again a great test for even the traction control gizmos on
the Prado.
As we
started to turn for home an opportunity for Richard to redeem his
credibility (and Toyota’s?) amongst the GU boys appeared. Richard
stated that again he would “demonstrate” his bog hole skills to
redeem himself. This time in advance of his attempts! With a deep
entry and about 15 meters of deep muddy water, Richard really had
no choice but to put the 80 series through its paces, and accept
the challenge put forward by the GU boys.
With a huge
drop into the hole causing the thick brown water to gush over the
bonnet he didn’t disappoint everyone and the Toyota churned through
the muddy sludge and emerged victoriously at the other end with
everyone cheering and shouting him on.
Not to be
out done, Peter decided to put the Toyota Prado to the test. With
cameras ready unfortunately it wasn’t far into the bog when the
Prado found itself hung up between the ruts. A quick snatch by
Darren’s GU pulled the Toyota out before Daren and Mark
successfully followed Richards’s tracks taking the GU Patrols
effortlessly through. (that’s “effortlessly”—Ed.) Richard smiled as
he again announced to the convoy that he had made it easier for the
following vehicles!
A quick
argument about who was to lead the convoy out the final track, saw
Darren earn another fine for officially leading the group for more
than 50 meters without being a ‘qualified’ CITYWEST Trip Leader (an
expensive trip for Darren!).
Once
Richard was back in front there was time for one last challenge
before the end of the day, you guessed it, another bog hole!
Richard had tried (unsuccessfully) on the reccie the week before,
and simply drove around it. He then confidently proceeded to hook
up the snatch strap ready to tow out any GU’s that might want to
accept Richard’s challenge to tackle this hole. Darren and Mark
both accepted Richard’s challenge, to the pleasing cheers of the
crowd.
With the
hugest smile on Richard’s face that we had seen all day, Darren
came to a grinding halt in the hole, metres from the exit…. Richard
then indicated to the crowd that he had made it “this far”, on the
reccie, pointing to a point only inches in front of the GU’s bar!
Not to be outdone, Mark threw everything his GU had into the
attempt to follow. Unfortunately he too, had come narrowly close to
success before coming to a halt.
Seems as
though he had made it another metre or so further through than
Darren, although Richard grabbing his pointer stick proceeded to
indicated that he had made it “this far” on the reccie, and again
pointed inches in front of the GU barwork? Hmmm… how far did
Richard really make it through on the reccie? Who is to know? The
question of the day for sure! After Mark was pulled clear of the
final hole of the day, Richard quickly had us heading out of the
Forest towards Tail End Charlie’s (John’s) property, a mere stone’s
throw from our final bog hole. With a quick air up at Johns home
the group found itself parting ways about 6.00 PM with a fantastic
day behind them.
Personally
I found the trip great and even though it was rated ‘easy’ there
was enough challenges (if you wanted to take them) to keep everyone
interested and challenged. Well done, Richard, for leading us all
on a great trip. Thanks, too, to John for his efforts assisting as
Tail End Charlie, and for the professionalism you both showed. It
is really nice to be getting involved in such a great
club.
[This is
Mark and Fiona’s first trip report, and what an excellent story
they have given us! Thanks, guys—we hope your writing flair can
contribute once again to Off The Beaten Track! —Ed.
 
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