Kieran, Amanda, kids...............RANGIE
Danny, Tam ............................SWB GQ
Trevor, Joe ...….......................60 CRUISER

Fin, and kids...........................HILUX

We met Trev and Fin at 6pm and traveled to Yarra Glen to meet Danny, where we fueled up and set off  for Marginal Rd, to air down and talk about insurance, medical advice sheets and the tracks we would take.

With everybody ready, we headed off up Marginal Rd, turning right at an unnamed track, which was a great little heart starter. I have been here before, so I didn't have the rear locker in.  Whoops!!   After pulling the passenger wheel high into the air the car turned right into the bank. We pulled the locker on and backed down a bit to straighten up, then with a bit of wheelspin and hitting the side a couple of times we drove up. Fin came next and drove around the hole I had fallen in.  He also had wheelspin but got up ok.

Next was Danny, and as he was unable to purchase new 35s before the drive he also fell into the hole and was stuck. I went down the hill and helped him winch up.  Trevor who had not let his tyres all the way down was watching from the bottom and decided to dump some more air before coming up.  He gave the hole a couple of whacks then drove up the rest of the way.

Next was Vic Range Tk, which we were really looking forward to slipping and sliding down.  However, the second bog hole after the recent rain was a little over 4 foot deep and as Danny had no snorkel and 31" mongrels, it was decided to find somewhere to turn around.  All was not lost as Fin and then I had 3 or 4 turns of trying to get up out of the first hole the hard way (we had to go the easy way in the end.)

Eagle Nest Rd took us to another great little unnamed goat track, which was a hoot until the Rangie disappeared in a swamp.  After some digging, snatching and winching all was well again, and we headed down Curly's Tk, which is a fun track.  About half way up at a clearing, we stopped for a cuppa and chat. The next couple of tracks were graded recently and don't rate a mention.

Martin's Rd leads us to the mud and what great mud it was.  Danny had to winch out of the high side of one deep hole.  We then turned left onto Kalatha Creek Tk, followed it to the base of the "widowmaker" and took the easier right hand side, but still had fast pulses and silly grins when we got out at the top as it has a whole lot of offcamber and wheel lifting terrain.

Along these 2 tracks we saw 2 camps, the first thought I was one of their mates and one guy streaked out to meet us!  He quickly pulled his pants up when he realised I wasn't, and at the other (the base of the widowmaker) they had camped there thinking that no one would come through, and stood wide eyed in their sleeping bags as we said "hello" then drove straight on.   

Coming down off the ridge on another unnamed track we crossed a few bog holes and took a left into whats left of Kalatha Creek Tk.  It now has a "No Through Road" sign erected next to it but there is a detour track around the worst parts of the long bogs.  We took the detour and ended up at another camp full of very merry people.  They told us the way ahead would swallow our cars, so naturally we went straight ahead for a look and it was all good fun.  Somehow we ended up at Two Hills Rd and a quick look at the compass told us which way back to the Melba Hwy, and a show of hands decided it was time to go home.

At the main road we pumped the tyres up, washed the lights and windows and sent our "all ok" sms to Daryl.  Everybody agreed that they had a fun night out with no real damage to any cars.   With daylight savings added into the equation, we arrived home at 3.30am.  My thanks goes out to all who came on the drive.  Amanda and I had a great time and look forward to seeing you all on the next trip ........................

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