paddys swamp otways trip report

subaruby · Post by **subaruby** » Wed May 26, 2010 11:28 pm

Well finally the trip report, apologies for the delay.

After a week a rainy days I was a bit worried about the weather for the weekend. However it turned out to be a nice sunny day wth blue skies.

The starting trio at the meet point, El_freddo, Subaruby, Pezim

We soon headed off towards anglese heath for a bit of a look around.

We decided to start of on the "powerline" track.

El_freddo at the bottom of the powerline track.

We then headed on exploring more tracks with various mud puddles to play in and came across the anglesea coal mine.

Next stop was the biggest puddle we found, Pezimm was a little concerned but powered on in the mighty XT

After spending some time in anglesea heath we turned onto Bald Hills rd and headed to paddys swamp.
We were hoping to take a shortcut through Alsop track but it was ot to be so went went the long way around via Hammond Rd and Bambra Rd.

After travelling through various tracks that at times become quite narrow with the possibility of bush stripes (sorry Pedro) we came across a small muddy section. This wa probably the wettest part of Paddys Swamp which surprised me.

Pezimm lifting a wheel through the muddy corner

We explored a few tracks through Paddys swamp the best being the ascent we did after lunch.

This is El_freddo enjoying the hill climb so much he turned around and did it again.

Pezimm was a little unsure about this hill climb but in the end made it up easy.

That was the pretty much the end of our adventure in paddys swamp so we headed towards the Winchlesea Deans Marsh Rd.

We stopped to set the GPS for Lavers Hill which showed a travel time of 1hr 30mins so we decided to get a move on.

It was a pretty uneventful trip except for a flat tyre for subaruby. I noticed the steering getting heavy and the car pulling to the right. So we pulled over to check it out and I was nearly driving on my rim. At this point I thought the flat tyre curse had passed from El_freddo to me but as you will discover later on this was not to be. The problem was dirt and gunk had gotten between the rim and tyre allowing air to escape. El_freddo fixed it up and we were on our way again.

subaruby · Post by **subaruby** » Wed May 26, 2010 11:30 pm

This is just the first part of the trip, will do more tomorrow as I'm having trouble with photobucket tonight

red_rocket · Post by **red_rocket** » Thu May 27, 2010 12:08 am

looks like sweet tracks, bring on the mud!!1

frogstar7055 · Post by **frogstar7055** » Thu May 27, 2010 11:39 am

Good trip,love hill climbs.

Dane · Post by **Dane** » Thu May 27, 2010 1:24 pm

What a great photo! Well done fellas!

Looking forward to the rest of the trip report.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Thu May 27, 2010 4:37 pm

Awesme keep coming!!!
Cheers
AP

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Thu May 27, 2010 5:57 pm

red_rocket wrote:looks like sweet tracks, bring on the mud!!1

Bah! Wait until you see day 2!

Subaruby and El_Freddo lets see that video footage, gotta be some good stuff in there!

Post by **Alex** » Thu May 27, 2010 6:16 pm

cool, looks like good fun

alex

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu May 27, 2010 7:02 pm

Hmmm... I haven't smudged number plates before I've uploaded to imageshack - anyone from the trip want their number plates smudged?

Once I've got everyones ok/no, I'll have them up

Here's a couple of teasers from my small collection:

Subaruby before having a go at this corner:

Pezimm in the sand at Aire River on dust:

And here's my favourite hill climb that's my "trophy" for the weekend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM3eZ0JtoUk

I'm yet to post up any other videos as they need some editing - and I've not yet got a program to edit with... Hopefully next week I'll have my mac

Cheers

Bennie

pezimm · Post by **pezimm** » Thu May 27, 2010 7:55 pm

Hey guys,

Thanks so much to Richard for organising the trip! I had a ball! And also thank you and Bennie for the tips along the tracks.

My first highlight was certainly the big puddle with the "little" bump when you come to the end...

I keep getting a little concerned going into these things but always come out the other side no worries! The forrie is certainly more capable than I take him for...

Here's RubyScoo coming out of that puddle:

And 2 seconds later:

The second highlight has got to be the big hill!! Once again I watch Subaruby going up and think to my self: "How am I gonna get up there??" And, once again the forrie simply gets there!! Ok, this time there was some careful planning on which line to pick, but nevertheless the car nailed it!

I reckon I gotta get some underbody protection, some lift and tyres and let it rip!

Cheers,
Pedro.

subaruby · Post by **subaruby** » Thu May 27, 2010 8:49 pm

Well we made it to Lavers Hill in the alloted hour and a half. El_freddo made the call for hot chocolate at the local shop and it was the right call as the light was fading and geting cold. The poor girl at the shop was a little confused by our order of three drinks?????????????? but in the end all was good.
It was a good time to check the map for the "mythical sand pit" that we had hoped to visit. Due to meeting ScubyRoo and Venom at aire river camp ground we decided to head down and check it out at have a go at the sand track before it was too dark. The sandpit could ait for the following day.

The camp ground was a no go to it being closed so we had a quick go at the sand track (El_freddo being the only succesful one) before heading off to find a camp site.

It was dark and I was relying on my poor memory but I managed to find a camp site.

ScubyRoo joined us around 6.30pm after some texting of directions to the campsite, Venom joined as about 12.00 after making a wrong turn and ending up in some muddy tracks in the dark with no phone reception and no uhf contact.
ScubyRoo and El_freddo went out to look for him and Venom found his way back to the camp site.
Venoms wrong turn would lead us thew next day into MUD!

Sunday mornings start was cold but dry, Pezimm was not feeling too well so decided to head home. Hope all is good now?

So, the pics of the mud track, very sticky clayey mud that went for a couple of k's. The too libs led the way so I don't have too many pics of them, hope somebody does. Most of mine are of El_fredoo as he was after me.

And the mighty H6 liberty

The only negative on this track was Venoms rear strat working itself loose.

Not to worry a trackside repair is always a solution.

Muddy!

ScubyRoo working his magic

pezimm · Post by **pezimm** » Thu May 27, 2010 9:11 pm

subaruby wrote:Sunday mornings start was cold but dry, Pezimm was not feeling too well so decided to head home. Hope all is good now?

Yes, mate. All is well... I was spewing it hit me again that morning...

Oh well, I enjoyed the Saturday heaps though.

subaruby · Post by **subaruby** » Thu May 27, 2010 10:08 pm

Finally, the beach stage of the trip.

After finishing on the mud track we headed down to aire river to give the sand tracks a decent crack.

Airing down

First corner

Fat tyres for sand

Lunch Time

We planned to make it to the ocean beach for lunch but that has a locked gate bugger.

Last group shot before heading back

It was good fun on the beach just messing about but it was time to head off.

We headed back through the sand to the gravel road to air up our tyres for the trip home.
On the road to Apollo Bay El_freddos dreaded flat tyre curse appeared again so we pulled over to change his tyre. We then continued on to apollo bay for a drink stop and fuel. Venom suggested we head to colac from apollo bay as it was a great drive, and he was right very nice except for the slow cars.

subaruby · Post by **subaruby** » Thu May 27, 2010 10:15 pm

Some random pics

subaruby · Post by **subaruby** » Fri May 28, 2010 9:24 am

video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjEvlyVPvQU

subaruby · Post by **subaruby** » Fri May 28, 2010 9:45 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x53xksQbGnU

brumbybear · Post by **brumbybear** » Fri May 28, 2010 9:48 am

Looks like you guys had a great trip...

subaruby · Post by **subaruby** » Fri May 28, 2010 10:27 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5aZ2gkNnw8

Post by **Alex** » Fri May 28, 2010 10:43 am

AWESOME photos!! you guys got some nice rides brewing over there

alex

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Fri May 28, 2010 3:19 pm

Alex wrote:AWESOME photos!! you guys got some nice rides brewing over there

alex

Mate.. you have no idea how bad it can be in the otways, some tracks there is impossible to get thru... trust me, went there with a few mates from Geelong Four Wheel Driving club and they had highly modified 4WDs and they still couldnt get thru some trenches(!)

I am spewing that I didnt go as i had commitments at home.
Cheers
AP