NSW Ride: Sunday 8/4 - Belanglo Forest

[gco0307]

On Easter Sunday (8/4) I will be heading out into the Belanglo Forest and surrounding areas for a bit of dirt ride fun.

The general idea is much the same as I always ride which basically means find a road, pick a direction and head that way. Stop at intersection, pick another direction and go that way, etc etc, well you get the drift.

The exception is when I decide to have a look at a few of the surrounding firetrails as there aren't that many damn intersections to choose a direction and not having done the firetrails in this area all caution will be taken so as to avoid getting lost.

The idea is to leave the Belanglo Rest Area on the Hume Highway around 0930 and just explore until we have had enough at which time we can either find more riding areas (Penrose Forest is nearby) or just head to a pub to refresh. The Belanglo Rest Area is on the right hand side of the Hume Highway when heading south and is approximately 10 minutes south of the Pheasants Nest service stations.

So if anyone is interested just post up or PM me and I will provide my mobile number for anyone who may get lost or be running late etc.

If anyone who is interested wants an alternate meet point just post up as I could meet anywhere from teh Illawarra to Belanglo (usually head the Illawarra Highway).




Garry

[graham downunder]

Sorry it's Thursday night before easter when I saw this , I would of loved to go but the bike I ride is on a trip with a friend . It 's going to,Ninety mile beach, Melbourne,Great ocean road back up to murry river, then to Aderlaide ,over to Kangaroo island the Alice, Ayres Rock, Darwin , Cairns and back down to Sydney. I whish I was on it !!!!

[gco0307]

Sorry it's Thursday night before easter when I saw this , I would of loved to go but the bike I ride is on a trip with a friend . It 's going to,Ninety mile beach, Melbourne,Great ocean road back up to murry river, then to Aderlaide ,over to Kangaroo island the Alice, Ayres Rock, Darwin , Cairns and back down to Sydney. I whish I was on it !!!!


Damn, now that is a nice trip.

Ah well, I am sure your friend will tell you just how good it all was and what you missed (there are words for friends like that).

Maybe next time though but if the bike is back in tim next weekend I will be heading out to Howes Track, Yengo etc, otjerwise just keep an eye out as I will post up other rides.





Garry

[oodeano]

It's finally decided - I'm going to miss this one too Garry. I'm off through Gloucester/Tamworth/Thunderbolt's way - possibly as far north as Grafton and hopefully through Dorrigo - I leurve the Dorrigo area!! It's a three day event now so I wont get back till Sunday afternoon. I'd trade it for your bike's trip Graham but it'll have to do..

Enjoy yourself Garry (and anyone else that goes) - see you for Yengo next weekend!

[gco0307]

Well despite the weather I headed out to see if anyone else wanted to ride the Belanglo and upon arrival at the meet point found nobody, not a soul. Despite my complex growing stronger I decided it had to be the weather and the Condo750 that had kept everyone away and not my personality or riding so decided to plow on anyway.

When I was out this way a few months back I noticed a little firetrail and was determined to see where it headed so it was off in search of (according to the map) Belanglo Plateau FT. So I headed west on Rockleigh Road until finding what I was after and turning right to explore a bit.

The FT starts off quite sandy but I had no moments thanks to the TKC's and just continued on over a few small ricks and tree roots before the track descended into a small gully in a heavily wooded area. Once in the gully the track deteriorated slightly with larger rocks as it climbed quite steeply into a 90 degree left which I would have taken easily were I in the right gear (thought I was in first but was second). So the bike stalled and despite my best efforts at keeping her upright, the Strom decided it had had enough and wanted to lay down (I was alone so no pics ;D ).

The offending piece of track, uphill.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408001.jpg

The offending piece of track, downhill.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408003.jpg

Ah well, after a struggle and some manouvering I was able to get the Strom rubber side down and move her around the corner whilst I assessed the damage, but found none. Oh, wait, the clutch lever was broken, but otherwise not a scratch, man I like crash bars.

The damage (all of it)
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408005.jpg

All up and ready to continue.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408006.jpg

As mentioned it was all my fault and with no damage to speak of it was onwards and upwards as the hill kept climbing then dropping, then climbing again as it traversed small gullies. The obstacles in the way ranged from sand through rocks and tree rots, until I found this.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408007.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408008.jpg

I would like to say that I managed to get over the tree but that would be one big fat lie as instead I followed the trails of bikes before me and went around it before continuing on. While so far I had dropped the bike, been rained on and all this was heaps of fun and somewhere I will get back to eventually.

Ok so I continued and about 5 minuets later I came to a piece of road I thought may mean the need to backtrack but after spending a few minutes weighing it all up I decided to take the chance.

The Hill.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408009.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408010.jpg

The result (The Strom doing the 'King of the World' impersonation).
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408011.jpg

This out of the way the track flattened out somewhat and I found the way out to Belanglo Forest down a small side FT with one final hill.

From here it was just pick a track and follow it time with all trails in the Forest being potholed or muddy but it was a ball as the Strom skipped across the bumps or got a little sideways in the mud, but I wanted to explore further.

Last time I was here I did not look south of Rockleigh Road, today was going to be different and it was into the South forests for a little look see. The trails here are more of the same but still testing and in some places, a touch wet.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408012.jpg

Damn thing here was that as I worked my way around the water to find a stick to check the depth I kept getting this tingling sensation in my legs. Bloody electric fence ;D ;D

Anyways, it was off down another trail, then another and so on before I found this nice straight piece so stopped for another pic (and a drink, was damn thirsty.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/2007_0408014.jpg

From here I just followed a few property fence lines, chatted to a farmer and saw some cattle indulging themselves a little (didn't even realise until I got home and looked at the pic, explains all the damn noises).

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408017.jpg





Garry

[gco0307]

By now I had been playing in the forests for about 2 hours so figured I may head on home via Meryla NP and Belmore Falls so it was off and out of the forest and back to Redhill Road via Medway and Moss Vale.

Lucky for me I happened to hit Redhill Road and the subsequent FT immediately after a downpour so suffice it to say there was a bit of water laying around but again the TKC's showed themselves to be worth the expense I whinged about and stuck true. So it was along Redhill FT for the short little strop to Fitzroy Falls but I was appalled at the damage caused to this FT by a few careless 4WD (Greg and some others will recognise this place).

Yes, that is a concrete pipe that has been exposed.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408019.jpg

A close up, the hole is approximately 18 inches deep.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408020.jpg

Getting around the area was fun and slippery.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408021.jpg

This only brings me to the scene of my first real 'hill' climb ever done on the Strom and I still really enjoy this piece of track, but unfortunately like the earlier pics the 4WD had also done some damage here.

The Hill from the bottom (no damage evident).
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408023.jpg

The hill from the top (note the 4WD ruts)
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408024.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408026.jpg

But nothing was going to stop the might Weestrom conquering yet another hill.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408030.jpg

And finally the track ended and it was off home via a small detour down Belmore Falls road and across the causeway where the water was flowing surprisingly strong.

But again the day was a blast as I found and experienced places that were challenging and yet amusing at the same time and the final photo is proof positive that Stroms can get dirty (mine needs a wash)..

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/gazza_0307/Belanglo%20Forest%20-%208-4-2007/2007_0408029.jpg






Garry

[red_sa]

Great report Garry,
I have been stuck at work for the whole of Easter, which has been a bummer, as the weather here in Adelaide has been awesome for Easter, and begging all riders to get out and about....
A few days away on the Strom would have been excellent.

Glad you like the TKC's. I found them quite confidence inspiring when I used them.

Thanks for the read
Chris