TRAX 4WD Fellowship

Broken Hill/Radium Hill “intra-trip”
July 2018

Following on from our last Broken Hill/Radium Hill trip report,
Here’s an “intra-trip” report of the Kellys and Drummonds side trip to Fowlers Gap arid area research station 112 kms north of Broken Hill…..
…. The following morning, Thursday 19th, Rob, Jacqui, Rob and Kira headed north up the Silver City Highway to visit Fowlers Gap. When we arrived the Arid Zone Research Station was deserted save one fellow we chatted to for a while. He told us that most of the staff were off site but we were welcome to poke about and take our own tour around the buildings. They have one building which holds copies of many PhDs and evidence of projects covered the tables and lab benches. We spend an hour or so exploring before carrying on north to stop for some lunch at Packsaddle. We provided our own lunch but had a coffee in the roadhouse. That wasn’t as easy as you might expect as their coffee machine was playing up and we watched the one-armed staff run around to get us our brew which we finally enjoyed sitting in the back room which has lots of donated bushmen’s hats hanging from the roof. If only the hats could talk! After our lunch stop we meandered our way back towards The Hill. We stopped at Double Tanks which provides water and the sign suggests it’s designated a Public Watering Place which had been run by the now defunct Milparinka Pastures Protection Board but the Tanks, one actual tank and the other being a dam, were very low. There was evidence of some recent activity as the troughs were in process of being upgraded but almost no evidence of the stock which would drink their bounty. I’m sure they’re out there somewhere.
Further along we took a quirky photo of Telephone Creek road sign with telephones hanging from the sign. No idea why this creek got its name but could be due to an old telegraph line following the creek? Back now opposite Fowlers Gap we saw a track heading up towards the hill where the water tanks supplying the Research Station are located and turned east from the road to take the adventurous track up to the tanks. This track provided some respite from the tar as we wandered through the creeks and red gums before the last steep, rocky climb to the windy summit. The water tanks were less than half full and we’d found out earlier that the Gap were down to about a month’s supply. Back in the cars and out of the wind we hit the tar again and drove back to the Hill.
After enjoying another evening’s meal with the group at the Musicians Club, we did a preliminary pack up in order to get away early next morning, Sydney bound. Up at 05:30 and on the road before too long we started our journey home along the Menindee Road being very watchful for the wildlife which are so very well camouflaged in the pre-dawn light. From Menindee we travelled home though Ivanhoe, Hillston, Lake Cargelligo, West Wyalong, Cowra and Bathurst. We decided to do the trip in one day and give the family a surprise by getting home a day early. It was a 15-hour day, but with the variety of scenery and good company, we made it home without a hitch. Now to remove the dust from the car………and to ponder and plan next year’s trip to the Outback! (For details of this trip see the trip Calendar which follows). Who’s coming?

Broken Hill – Radium Hill and environs..
July 2018

Trip Diary from Phillip and Linda Favaloro
Day 1 Thursday 12th July 2018
We left Cherrybrook and fuelled up at Caltex Berkshire Park. Travelled the Bell’s Line of Road to Lithgow and onto Bathurst and Orange. The next stop was Parkes for more fuel and arrived at Condobolin about 6:30. Stayed at the Railway Motel for the night. Ninety-five dollars a night and we had a good feed in the attached restaurant / hotel.
Day 2 Friday 13th July 2018
Wanting to get into the dirt I was looking to follow the railway line and spoke to our host for guidance. We travelled to Euabalong West. Still on the black top. At Euabalong West, I looked at the service track (along the railway line) and was not sure if we could use it so we went up to Mount Hope and Yathong Nature Reserve and then back down to Roto. We were warned about the wild life. Kangaroo after kangaroo, emus, goats, sheep a few cows and even a pair of foxes. I am glad the emu stopped as he looked into Linda’s window. We wondered what was going through his mind. From Roto we travelled to Ivanhoe, following the railway line and stopped for a coffee. He had no cups and was getting them tomorrow and so Linda got her coffee in a polystyrene cup for $2.50 instead of $4.50 Linda felt generous and gave him $3.00. Funny thing we heard the same story in Broken Hill about the cups. It was dirt road from Ivanhoe to Menindee and near Menindee the sun was setting. Driving to Broken Hill you could seethe glow on the horizon. We arrived at our apartment on Oxide Street at about 6: 30, unpacked and had dinner at Alfresco’s.
Day 3 Saturday 14th July 2018
After the trip we decided to have a sleep-in, before painting the town blue. Our first stop was to find the local markets at Sturt Park. All the usual items and a very interesting gentleman with his rock collection. As I came out of the Information Centre I noticed the Kelly’s getting into their vehicle and went over and greeted them and arranged to contact each other that night. Linda and I did the city walk matching the places to the map. The locals were very helpful as we had puzzled looks trying to work out what we should be looking at.
Day 4 Sunday 15th July 2018
We met the Kellys at the information centre about 9.30am. From here we went to the Line of Lode Café for coffee. Checked out the Bell Soda museum and the nearby antique stores. Great stuff. Our next stop was the mineral outcrop at the Junction Mine and then onto Regmatite – Rocky Hill, another rock outcrop at the corner of Jones and Cummins Streets. Lunch was at the Joe Keenan Lookout. What a view. Robert wanted to find the site of Nine Mile Mine and we travelled out on the Silverton Road but could not find the site. Fourteen Km out we stopped to turn around not before checking out the local rocks and finding a couple of washers, a nut and a pair of pliers. We met up for dinner at to the Musicians Club for a bake dinner and extras $14 meal.
Day 5 Monday 16th July 2018
We joined up with the Kellys and Ron Paton (who by now had arrived), and explored the Railway Museum. This took you back in time. They also have a mineral room and hospital room. I was still looking, Ron went off to do his own thing and the others went for coffee. Rob still wanted to find Nine Mile Mine. This time we went out on the Nine Mile Road past the Living Desert State Park sculptures. We kept going straight but the country side did not reveal what we were looking for and turned around only to discover Nine Mile Road had made a sharp turn off the main road. Back on Nine Mile Road we had a couple of guesses where the mine could have been. We ended up back on at the Silver City Hwy near a burnt-out gallery. Linda had purchased the Broken Hill book earlier and led us on the driving tour of the city. There were buildings, churches, local residents, parks and much more to see. Rob and Jackie left early as they needed to get food for dinner. We carried on but it was getting late and missed the ‘Block 10 Lockout’. Ron and ourselves picked up the Flowers at Broken Hill Railway Station and drove them back to the Ibis Styles Hotel.
Day 6 Tuesday 17th July 2018
After meeting everyone at the Information Centre we all headed off to the Royal Flying Doctor base then on to ‘Bells’ (famous milk bar) for a soda. The Junction Mine was our next stop. The trickiest photo to take was the inside of the Wheel house but Rob managed to get one. Everyone went their own way after the mine. We went to find Block 10 Lookout and have lunch. This was the site of the Block 10 concentration mill. There were some old vehicles nearby and I spoke to the owner. After that we went to the Silver City Mint & Art centre. Here we saw jewellery, the Big Picture and more art, some information on opal polishing and Linda purchased some Broken Hill chocolate. Our next stop on the to do list were the sculptures at the Living Desert State Park. Our idea was to see them at sunset. There are 12 sandstone sculptures that look out over the outback. We missed exploring the flora and fauna sanctuary. Just ran out of time.
Day 7 Wednesday 18th July 2018
Met at the Information Centre and then proceeded to Tikalina Station where we met the Drummonds and had morning tea. Before we left, we checked for fruit as we were going to South Australia. Jenny counted road kill. 100 killed between Broken Hill and Coburn on the South Australian Border.
We purchased groceries to say thank you to the owners of the property for letting us wander through the Radium Hill museum which was located on their property.
Then travelling back to Coburn to have lunch before we proceeded back to Broken Hill where everyone went their own way. We went back to the Silver Mint Museum to watch the DVD about the Mine Fields and life in Broken Hill before now. Then explored more of the town and had coffee in the Astra Hotelwhich was very pleasant. Then went back to our apartment to get ready for dinner at the Musicians Club as it was parmigiana night special. Decision time for tomorrows trip, Silverton or Fowlers Gap Research Centre. We were going to Silverton
Day 8 Thursday 19th July 2018
We met the Flower’s and Ron at the Information Centre before travelling out to Day Dream mine for the underground tour.
Went on to Silverton and cruised around the streets before lunch at the town council chambers. After lunch we visited the Goal Museum. We spent hours looking at all the different rooms.
The others went back and we were going to Mundi Mundi for the sunset. As we were too early we went out to Broken Hill Dam (Umberumberka Reservoir). The dam was dry. The red soil looked damp, a dark red colour not the dusty red of the country side. There is a closed of section with green grass and table and chairs. We then went back to Mundi Mundi for the sunset. We parked with the other vehicles and enjoyed the sunset. I set up the Andoer camera on the bull bar and videoed the event. Dinner was again at the Musicians Club.
Day 9 Friday 20th July 2018
Well our time in Broken Hill was at an end and it was time to start travelling back to Cherrybrook, but not before stopping at White Cliffs. The Kellys were also going to White Cliffs but via Wilcannia. I wanted to be adventurous and go via Mutawintji Nature Reserve, more dirt road and some corrugations. The park had a camping area and we checked out the old hotel ruins before turning around to continue our trip to White Cliffs. We found the Kellys in the White Cliffs caravan park, they had arrived 20 minutes earlier. We did the tourist thing and drove around the town stopping at the lookout and mine sites. Linda purchased some jewellery for Jessica’s (our daughter) birthday. It was getting late and time to leave. I figured Linda had had enough dirt for one trip and decided to leave Paroo Darling Nature Reserve for another trip. We took the Opal Miners Way to Wilcannia. It was just after 5pm and I wanted to be closer to home. Cobar here we come. Linda was on nature watch and we arrived in Cobar just after 8pm. We had stopped for one kangaroo who would not get off the road. Then there were the ones who told their mates it was also safe to cross. The Kellys had told us about a cheaper motel. The motel we looked at had a sign to see reception on the other side of the road. So we did. There was a luxury section and the usual. We went to the restaurant for a sea food platter before turning in.
Day 10 Saturday 21st July 2018
We filled up before our last leg home and stopped for a few quick pictures. Definitely need to come back to Cobar and see the area. The next major towns were Nyngan and Dubbo. We had lunch at Dubbo and refuelled. It was ‘crunch time’, “which way to go home, Mudgee or Wellington?” A quick call, and we found out the Lineys (other TRAX members) were at a birthday party, so Wellington got the nod. We made a few stops along the way. Coffee at Nyngan. Checked out the ‘Big Bogan’ and visited the St Marks Anglian OP shop.
Stopped for a rest and closed my eyes at a closed reviver site at Molong. An antique & collectables shop. Pity this was not open. Awesome junk. Arrived home about 10pm.

Angorowa Swamp Trip.
Saturday 16th June 2018

We billed it as ‘the shortest trip of year’, for the (almost) shortest day of year’.  The second part was right but somehow the trip took a little longer than anticipated….
Now read on!

Saturday 16th dawned bright and sunny and everyone met on time and at the right place – namely MacQuarie Park at Windsor on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. (Memo to other trip Leaders – this is a great meeting spot for future trips that are going either to the West over Bells Line of Road, or North-West up the Putty (Singleton) Road.)

Participants:
* Neil Flower and 3 Grandsons Riley, Tate and Asher, L/R Disco 2. Trip Leader
* Ron Owen, Suzuki Grand Vitara. Asst. Trip Leader
* Matt Smith and William, LR Disco 2
* Alex Ralston and friend Linda, Toyota Prado
* Rob Drummond and Alex, Sophie, Lilly & Kira, Nissan Patrol
* Rob Kelly and Jacqui, Mitsu Pajero Sport
* Paul Batt, Nissan Patrol
* Francois Da Costa and Jack, Toyota Hi-Lux
*Shane Beatson and Kylie, Isabel, Joel & Olivia, Mitsubishi Pajero
* Neil Kitchener and Megan, Nissan Patrol
10 vehicles and 26 people.

A good start, no hold ups and at Colo Hts. we left the Putty Rd for the Angorowa track.
Morning tea was near a side track largely overgrown which we looked at briefly and decided to come to in the future and see if it could be reopened. At this point the young ‘TRAXIONEEERS’ went ahead on foot with their slashers, machetes, hackers, clippers and assorted scrub clearing devices to help widen the track for the newer vehicles (to avoid unwanted ‘pin striping’ as this track (except for our ‘Recce’ 2 weeks previous) had not been used probably since the last TRAX trip along here back in 2012.
Thank you young people, you did a great job!
Sadly though, we had only gone about 4kms in from the Putty Rd when the Alternator on Matt’s Disco decided to stop working and short out most of the electricals which meant that the Disco could no longer proceed. Neil then handed over the leadership to Ron Owen (thanks mate) while he towed Matt out to a friend’s workshop on the Putty Rd at Colo Hts. where the NRMA could be contacted and a tilt tray truck sent out to retrieve Matt and vehicle.
“Meanwhile, back on the track”! – Ron and the gang had got so engrossed in track clearing that not a lot of progress was being made.
Meanwhile, Neil (and grandsons) having made sure that the NRMA was coming for Matt headed off to meet the rest of the crew by coming in from the other end of the track. And so he came, and came, and came – expecting allt the time to meet the rest of the crew. But no! Finall y he reached the ‘Swamp’ (now bone dry because of the drought) and found only Paul and his vehicle there.
“Where are the others?” the obvoius question was asked.
“Not sure, they were behind me but they have not come along”.
Well, Neil and Co, along with Paul, had lunch. Still no sign of Ron and the rest. Neil, by now begins to think that there will now be another towing job and was just about to go back further when the rest of the vehicles began to arrive. By now it was after 2:30pm and already the sun was nearing the top of the ridge above.
Lunch for the others became a hurried affair with Neil ‘cracking the whip’ because he wanted everyone up the rock steps and gnarly bits before it got too dark.
That was achieved without any dramas. No driver (or vehicle) broke anything on the way out of the valley and no one got stuck or hung up on the rocks.
At the Putty road we had Afternoon Tea, with some awards for good hard work given to the young people for all their labours. 4:45pm and we were all mobile again and headed for home.
Postscript: Matt got home safely on the ‘Tilt Tray Truck’ (that has a good ring to it doesn’t it?) and the Disco is now fitted with a repaired and functioning Alternator.
Thanks to all for making it such a great day in spite of some difficulties.

‘The Glen’ – Abercrombie River National Park
13th April 2018 – 15th April 2018

‘The Glen’ Abercrombie River National Park, Arkstone
This was a weekend away at The Glen. The Glen is a property attached to the Abercrombie River National Park. Leader was Matt Smith.

Participants:
Matt Smith with Jessica & Will. LR Disco
Alison Smith with Kaelen & Jonah Saunders, Suzuki Grand Vitara,
Alex Ralston, Toyota Prado,
Rob, Evelyn, Lilly & Kirra Drummond, Nissan Patrol,
Jon & Karen Beuman, Toyota Prado,
Neil & Megan Kitchener, Nissan Patrol,
Steve, Julie & Will Taylor, Nissan Navara,
Shane & Joel Beatson, Nissan Patrol.
The Drummonds, Beatsons, Kitcheners & Matt Smith met at Black Springs fairly late on Friday night and proceeded to the Glen to set up camp.
They had just about got to sleep when they a late arrival to The Glen with Alison and her passengers arriving about midnight.
The rest came on Saturday morning. Once all were set up, everyone then left to go on a ‘motor’ around the Abercrombie National Park and it’s tracks which took the rest of the morning. Lunch was at Silent Creek. In the afternoon we continued the explore around the NP and arrived back at the base camp around 4:30pm in time to collect firewood and get ready for the evening feast. It was a great time around the camp fire for the first hour or so, but when a cold wind blew in most decided to find their tents and a warm bed!
Sunday, saw an early ‘pack up’ as it looked though it might rain. This was followed by our TRAX Sunday Service, after which the convoy headed for home, some via Oberon & the Great Western Highway, others via Goulburn to come via the Hume Freeway.

– Matt Smith.

Mt Ovens & Mt Schafield area (between Lithgow and Bathurst)
Saturday, 17th March 2018

Participants:
Phillip Favaloro and Linda – Nissan Patrol
Eric (Guru), Dianne and Laura Liney – Toyota Tabletop Landcruiser
Francois Da Costa, Jack, Carlos & Raymond – Toyota Hi Lux
Jon and Karen Beuman – Toyota Prado
Roger Riley – Land Rover
Neil, Megan & Sarah Kitchener and Alanna – Nissan Patrol
Alex Ralston and Paul – Toyota Prado
7 vehicles, 18 people.

Our meeting place for this 4WD trip was at Queen Elizabeth Park, Lithgow and met the Liney family at Sunny Corner Rd and KM Junction Rd intersection where we entered the forestry with a convoy of seven vehicles.
It was scenic drive through the pine plantation on Old Camp Rd and into a clearing at the intersection of Mitchell Creek Rd and Bicycle Track where we had morning tea and ‘aired-down’ the tyres. We continued on the Bicycle Track on unnamed tracks/roads whatever to Mt Schafield Rd. The more adventurous (Francois, Neil & Eric) took a track that veered to the right and informed us of the magnificent uninterrupted views of the area. We joined up and the convoy continued onto Pine Spur Trail and crossed the creek onto McBees Rd. Our adventurous Francois took a track showing his occupants the great outdoors of 4WD driving (this was their first experience of 4WD driving) ending up with 2 wheels off the ground and needing to be winched out. After that episode the rest of us took the chicken track that ran beside it. A big ‘good onya mate’ to Francois for tackling this track. (We came across this particular track on the Mt Ovens 4WD trip last year and discussed whether to tackle it and did not). Again travelled on unnamed tracks and roads till we came to Lyrebird Rd, then Stoney Trig Rd where we had lunch alongside the shady pines around 12.30pm. We continued along Stoney Trig Rd onto Lyrebird Rd and back across the creek onto Mitchell Creek Rd and again unnamed tracks/roads to Mt Schafield and then a steep descend along Bicycle Track to the intersection of Bicycle Track, Mitchell Creek Rd and Old Camp Rd where we had afternoon tea around 3.45pm.
All in all it was a great day with magnificent views of the area and a variety of easy to difficult tracks travelling through pine plantations and the great Aussie bush.

– Dianne Liney

Mt. Yengo National Park
Saturday, 24th Feburary 2018

This one day trip was actually a substitute trip for the Olinda trip which had to be postponed because of Bush Fire problems and the (quite justified) fears of the local property owners. The trip took us from near Laguna (near Wollombi) through to the Putty Rd. at Howes Valley, and then around to a linking road (which sadly) the NPWS has closed which runs between the old Settlers Rd (often mistakenly called ‘The old Convict Road’ – which it never was), and back to the Howes Trail. We then returned to the ‘Putty Road before going back home via Windsor. A ‘Recce’ trip was done by 3 members on Friday 9th Feb. to test the ‘suitability’ of the track. (Some people will do anything to get away from the city for a few hours! – Ed.)
Dianne Liney, Linda & Phillip Favaloro take up the commentary…
“We met at the old Berowra Toll Gates. Ten vehicles all told but there should have been 12 vehicles altogether but 2 groups were not able to make it at the last minute.. We left at 8.15am and headed back onto M1 Freeway going north.
Took the Peats Ridge turnoff onto Peats Ridge Road then veered left onto George Downs Drive and then passed Wisemens Ferry Road where they checked our speed.
At Bucketty, George Downs Road turns into Great North Road which was a leisurely scenic drive. Some of us cannot recall any part of this journey. We passed 2 old convict culverts and an old bridge before turning left onto Yengo Creek Road.
After turning left onto Yengo Creek Road we re-grouped at the letter boxes which Tate, Neil’s grandson, told us that there are 25 letter boxes.
Turned left on Boree Trail which was a steep dusty climb onto Boree Valley Road where we veered right onto Yengo Track. We proceeded on this track until we reached Finchley Camping area where we stopped for morning tea. Some of us took the short Finchley cultural walk about 200m to explore aboriginal carvings on rock formations. (See photos)
We proceeded in our vehicles to the Finchley Trig Lookout which had spectacular views of the area. At this time the sun was shining and it was warming up. We set off onto Finchley Track then onto Yango Track then onto Howes Trail.
As a point of interest Neil pointed out that we were 470 metres above sea level and outside temperature was somewhere between 34 -38 degrees outside. There was a big discussion on the actual temperature. At this time which was 12.45pm everybody was getting hungry and some of us wanted to know where the pool under the shade of the tree was!
We enjoyed lunch at the junction of the South Link Road in pleasant heated conditions with no pool and underneath a tarp enjoying the scenery in peace and quiet.
Just as we were leaving a couple of vehicles passed us. One vehicle was a Hyundai Santa Fe and a Landcruiser asking us for directions and how long it would take.
After lunch we continued along a bumpety rickety rackety dusty trail passing through the red gate onto Putty Road.
Turned right onto Old Settlers Road and travelled through to the other end of the South Link Road where we stopped for afternoon tea. As it was getting late we proceeded back along Old Settlers Road and then turned left onto Putty Road which took us back to Windsor. There we said our ‘Goodbyes’ over the CB radios and wished everyone a safe trip home.

– Dianne, Linda and Phillip