Mt Purgatory (Back of Bulahdelah)
Saturday, 27th January 2018
The long awaited, anticipated and finally successful (for most anyway) trip to Mt. Purgatory. (Back of Bulahdelah).
…..The day dawned bright and sunny. Overhead, from a clear blue sky the sun shone very warmly! …. So begins many a trip report in various club magazines. This, is not one of them. Phillip Favaloro takes up the story…..
TRAX Mt Purgatory trip 27/01/2018
Participants: Matt Smith and William – LR Disco.
Phillip Favaloro and Linda – Nissan Patrol
Peter Simonds and passengers – Toyota Landcruiser
Francois Da Costa – Toyota Hi Lux
Steve Taylor with Julie and William – Nissan Navara
Dianne and Laura Liney – Holden Rodeo
Peter Frick – Suzuki grand Vitara
And, to Newcastle and then back to Sydney, Neil Flower LR Disco.
Five of the participating families stayed at the local Bulahdelah van and cabin park where we enjoyed an Aussie BBQ for Australia Day and topped off with a swim in the pool. The next day a few keen people started the day with a brisk walk before breakfast.
The weather was sunny and very hot. Our meeting point, Bulahdelah Information Centre at 9.20am were seven vehicles gathered for the trip. Neil, as Chaplain, prayed ‘Telecommunication prayers’, as he could not make it due a fuel issue. So, he prayed for us all over the phone from Beresfield near Newcastle. Matt checked Neil’s maps before heading off and we drove through town to pick up a coffee lover.
The trip started out relaxing and easy driving. We were soon on the dirt and aired down on a wider section of Cabbage Tree Road. On Knob Road we had to pass Crawford Road as there was a “road closed” sign at the entrance. We were driving through gum tree forest. Just up a little way we turned right into Purgatory Road. Matt was trying to get to Mt purgatory from the north side. We had come to our first creek crossing. The creek had a firm base of large pebbles and only a few inches deep.
We turned off Purgatory Road on to Winns Creek Trail and our second water crossing. There was little water to go through, but the rocks were numerous. There was a call over the radio that Peter had a flat tyre. Matt had come to a dry creek crossing that needed some road building. A few logs were chain sawed for the job. Meanwhile Peter was changing his tyre. It was a case of being wary of those ‘Hi-lift’ jacks and so the bottle jack was used. The flat had just rolled the tyre off the bead and was able to be pumped up.
Everyone was rolling again. Matt guided us through the creek bed and our next stop was lunch. The lunch spot was in a cleared area up CPT48/1 Trail on the side of Mt. Purgatory. Peter provided some shade at lunch and we all enjoyed great food and good fellowship. Next to the lunch spot was a steep rutted track. This was walked, and there was plenty of discussion. Peter and Francois wanted to go back on the difficult track, we all voted no. Let’s try another day. (Now you know why some tracks are called ‘Chicken Tracks! – Ed.)
We travelled back on the same ground to Winns Creek Trail and turned right. We drove around, and a funny thing – we ended up on the closed road (Crawford Road) coming out at the other end. They need to think about where they put signs and why they close roads. We came out and stopped for a photo shoot.
We turned left onto Jarrah Road and Matt was looking for the road travelled on the last recce. He found it and turned into Black Gate Road. This road took us all day on ‘that’ recce! The track has mud holes, deep ruts, tree stumps and thank goodness for the ‘chicken’ tracks.
As trip leader you lead by example and go through the bog holes. With all the hot weather how bad can it be? Well Matt got stuck! Peter pulled in front using the chicken track. There was a lot of crawling on the bull bar. No one likes wet and muddy feet. Using Matt’s electric winch attached to the Landcruiser, the Disco inched its way out of the mud. Then Steve and Francois went through the mud puddle with no worries. Laura would have liked to go through the mud puddle but decided not to go through. So, the rest of us went on the chicken track.
There were more mud puddles to navigate and a lot of rough and rocky sections with deep ruts. We continued to proceed with caution and guided on occasions by Peter and Matt. Peter demonstrated the abilities of the 200 series Landcruiser by going down a deep rutted section. At the bottom he had the vehicle on two wheels and a lot of air under the other two. Great photo shot. After all that he just drove off.
We came to an open field with cows and crossed the cattle grid. At the end of the road we turned left into the Bucketts Way. Matt found a large area where we could pull over and line up. We aired up, took pictures and Matt gave out some awards.
I should mention there was some tree clearing and pruning done on the trip, while others were wondering when we were getting back to the pool. What a great trip, beautiful scenery and a few challenges. Looking forward to the next trip.
See you on the TRAX
Phillip (with input from Linda, Dianne and Laura)
Route details – BULAHDELAH start
Met at Information Centre at Crawford Street.
Went onto Old Pacific Highway and right into Stroud Street. Veered left into Markwell Road.
Turned left Cabbage Tree Road and then onto Knob Road.
Back onto Crawford Road then Purgatory Road.
Turned off and onto Winns Creek Trail. Lunch up CPT 48/1 Trail (Mt Purgatory).
Back to Winns Creek Trail and onto Crawford Road (road closed).
Followed to Jarrah Road.
Right into Black Gate Road (‘done’ on a previous recce) which goes onto Ducks Hill Rd and then onto Simmsville Road and out at Stroud (The Bucketts Way).
We returned to Bulahdelah via Booral Road.
By the way, when the TRAXION Editor was interviewing those who went, the most common word used was ‘lotsa’, so….
