gco0307
03-24-2007, 04:26 AM
Well the ride today went ahead but with a few changes to plan bought about by a late phone message from a member of another forum who wanted to join up (so I cross posted the ride, what you gonna do about it :) ).
All started as planned with me heading out and taking my first ever run up MacPass on the TKC80's which only went to reinforce the reports I had heard that these are good road holding tyres, although I was very careful.
So it was to Fitzroy Falls info centre to obtain a map of the Penrose Forest, but alas, there were none. It isn't really even included in any maps I checked so the decision was made to use my standard method of trial by error when it cam to the forest. But first, to get there.
So figuring that I was so close to Meryla NP I decided to do the Fitzroy Falls end and then head out to Penrose via Redhill Road and Moss Vale. Well, the rain and the damage it (together with careless 4wd's) cause was evident as the track was rutted and slippery in places (the rain at fault) but man those TKC's stick like sh*t to a blanket. So near the end of this part of the track is a little downhill section (Greg and Andrew2 know it) that is usually quite good but today had two distinct 4wd ruts about 6 inches deep at the rock ledge as well as loose stones and rain damage. Anyway, that negotiated it was a short stroll to Redhill Road but not before a small shortcut to get some pics of where I won't take the Strom, mind you some endure guys may be interested.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1260.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1261.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1262.jpg
From there it was off to Moss Vale to stockup on water at the Shell servo where I decided to buy a little ice cream (a pinelime splice actually) which was the hardest iceblock I have ever tried to eat. Damn near needed a chainsaw to break it, went down well eventually though.
So, it was off to Penrose Forest where I had made the decision to just go anywhere and that was the way it happened. The road in is damn nice and wide but for me it was to nice so it was off down a side track, and then another and eventually I found this little service trail so went down it for a look see (yep, that is the Hume Slab in the background).
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1265.jpg
So photo taken I though you never know, somebody may have tried to call me so I check the phone and find a missed call and message from Dean of Stromtrooper who wanted to join in. So tried to call him, no answer but after a few minutes of telephone tag we made contact and arranged to meet at the main entrance to Penrose forest. But with Dean at Carrington Falls I had time to head out and get a refreshment so and then returned to the rest area at the entrance to wait Dean's arrival.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1266.jpg
Well Dean found the place and after introductions and admiring of the bikes he gets the GPS ready and off we go.
So I lead out and we start around a few trails and so on and so forth and then I give up the lead to Dean who as it turns out likes the same ride style, that of the 'where does this go' approach.
Now I have to say it here and now, for a Strom on standard road tyres he canes this thing and at times I had trouble keeping him in sight, luckily he felt sorry for me and waited (often).
So we ride here, turn there, look at that, ride here again and all before Dean takes us down a little path that had a few obstacles of rocks and water to negotiate. While I got the pick of Dean coming down the hill, I wasn't quick enough to get a pick of him through the water but being the kind soul he is he decided to ensure that I got wet enough to cool off (thanks Dean :) ).
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1268.jpg
So we decide to continue the exploration and we find every kind of trail one would want from wide open to bumps, to rocks, to sand and often all on the same corner. We had to avoid Kangaroos, water, rocks and trees it was a blast, we even proved that Weestroms can single track. Yep, Dean saw a single track side trail and it was off albeit very slowly and it was great fun, although we did have to negotiate around then between some logs.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1270.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1271.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1272.jpg
But then we noticed a bit of a storm coming and well, after 90 minutes or so we were starting to feel a bit knackered so we decided to head out, but how and where?
So we find a road, me leading and start riding and sliding but what a blast, I even managed to ding my newly acquired bash plate on this section. Seeing the path we wanted to the slab we headed for it but made a small detour down another ordinary service road (same one beside the Hume earlier pic, but this time the whole thing). This little trail had everything from a near vertical 3 foot mound of dirt (my story) through rocks and all this will bashing through shrubs, man what a blast. Dean even managed to ground about every thing on his bike and be thrown into the air at the same time, all surviving intact.
Ok, so out onto the Hume slab and back to Sutton Forest for refreshments (a stop to repressure our tyres on the way) and then it was off down MacPass and on home.
A great day all up with top company and man those roads, I need to return and spend hours there, seriously.
Now I didn't get many pics as were were to busy riding but Dean did get some video of me which I will try to obtain to further embarrass myself and show that this little fat b*stard has no ability at all when it comes to dirt.
Ah well, till next time.
Garry
All started as planned with me heading out and taking my first ever run up MacPass on the TKC80's which only went to reinforce the reports I had heard that these are good road holding tyres, although I was very careful.
So it was to Fitzroy Falls info centre to obtain a map of the Penrose Forest, but alas, there were none. It isn't really even included in any maps I checked so the decision was made to use my standard method of trial by error when it cam to the forest. But first, to get there.
So figuring that I was so close to Meryla NP I decided to do the Fitzroy Falls end and then head out to Penrose via Redhill Road and Moss Vale. Well, the rain and the damage it (together with careless 4wd's) cause was evident as the track was rutted and slippery in places (the rain at fault) but man those TKC's stick like sh*t to a blanket. So near the end of this part of the track is a little downhill section (Greg and Andrew2 know it) that is usually quite good but today had two distinct 4wd ruts about 6 inches deep at the rock ledge as well as loose stones and rain damage. Anyway, that negotiated it was a short stroll to Redhill Road but not before a small shortcut to get some pics of where I won't take the Strom, mind you some endure guys may be interested.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1260.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1261.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1262.jpg
From there it was off to Moss Vale to stockup on water at the Shell servo where I decided to buy a little ice cream (a pinelime splice actually) which was the hardest iceblock I have ever tried to eat. Damn near needed a chainsaw to break it, went down well eventually though.
So, it was off to Penrose Forest where I had made the decision to just go anywhere and that was the way it happened. The road in is damn nice and wide but for me it was to nice so it was off down a side track, and then another and eventually I found this little service trail so went down it for a look see (yep, that is the Hume Slab in the background).
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1265.jpg
So photo taken I though you never know, somebody may have tried to call me so I check the phone and find a missed call and message from Dean of Stromtrooper who wanted to join in. So tried to call him, no answer but after a few minutes of telephone tag we made contact and arranged to meet at the main entrance to Penrose forest. But with Dean at Carrington Falls I had time to head out and get a refreshment so and then returned to the rest area at the entrance to wait Dean's arrival.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1266.jpg
Well Dean found the place and after introductions and admiring of the bikes he gets the GPS ready and off we go.
So I lead out and we start around a few trails and so on and so forth and then I give up the lead to Dean who as it turns out likes the same ride style, that of the 'where does this go' approach.
Now I have to say it here and now, for a Strom on standard road tyres he canes this thing and at times I had trouble keeping him in sight, luckily he felt sorry for me and waited (often).
So we ride here, turn there, look at that, ride here again and all before Dean takes us down a little path that had a few obstacles of rocks and water to negotiate. While I got the pick of Dean coming down the hill, I wasn't quick enough to get a pick of him through the water but being the kind soul he is he decided to ensure that I got wet enough to cool off (thanks Dean :) ).
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1268.jpg
So we decide to continue the exploration and we find every kind of trail one would want from wide open to bumps, to rocks, to sand and often all on the same corner. We had to avoid Kangaroos, water, rocks and trees it was a blast, we even proved that Weestroms can single track. Yep, Dean saw a single track side trail and it was off albeit very slowly and it was great fun, although we did have to negotiate around then between some logs.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1270.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1271.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Penrose%20Forest%20Ride%20-%202007-03-24/DSCF1272.jpg
But then we noticed a bit of a storm coming and well, after 90 minutes or so we were starting to feel a bit knackered so we decided to head out, but how and where?
So we find a road, me leading and start riding and sliding but what a blast, I even managed to ding my newly acquired bash plate on this section. Seeing the path we wanted to the slab we headed for it but made a small detour down another ordinary service road (same one beside the Hume earlier pic, but this time the whole thing). This little trail had everything from a near vertical 3 foot mound of dirt (my story) through rocks and all this will bashing through shrubs, man what a blast. Dean even managed to ground about every thing on his bike and be thrown into the air at the same time, all surviving intact.
Ok, so out onto the Hume slab and back to Sutton Forest for refreshments (a stop to repressure our tyres on the way) and then it was off down MacPass and on home.
A great day all up with top company and man those roads, I need to return and spend hours there, seriously.
Now I didn't get many pics as were were to busy riding but Dean did get some video of me which I will try to obtain to further embarrass myself and show that this little fat b*stard has no ability at all when it comes to dirt.
Ah well, till next time.
Garry