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Dronus (Andrew) visit to NSW (Blackheath Discovery Trail) Trip Report
Hi Guys,
Another awesome trip and another beautiful day for on and off-roading.
As some of you would know already, this trip was arranged to welcome Andrew to NSW as part of his visit for work, but also to fit the very first T31 Diesel Hi-Tech cat. back system on his exy. The trip also included a welcome to Noel and Sylvia from Cairns who are visiting family in Sydney, so this was a true inter-state meet-up and we had 9 X-TRAILs all up and 2 visitors (Dave and Dion).
Attendees for this trip were as follows:
Attendees:
* coochT31 (Tony)
* jalalski (Jalal)
* dronus (Andrew)
* shoni (Wendy)
* basshead (Rich)
* Dingo Mouse (Chris)
* BRETT72 (Brett)
* rescue1 (Alan)
* NPC73 (Noel) in a Hilux UTE.
* plawton (Paul)
* Dion - Jackaroo (guest of basshead)
* Dave - Mitsubishi Triton Ute (guest of dronus)
Apart from Brett and Paul, the rest of the group met-up at the Glenbrook Info. Centre
 
The guys had the opportunity to check out Andrew's brand new twins set-up and also other gadgets he had inside the T31 
At around 10:00am we set-off to Blackheath to meet-up with Brett and Paul, we got there on time with no dramas on the road.
  
After a bit of a chat and route planning, we decided to follow the road a head that leads to a couple of nice look-outs. Awesome views for sure and the weather was just perfect (actually very warm) 
  
Another short chat for the group and by that time it was already 12:30pm, so we decided to hit the road again to look for a nice lunch spot. We did come across a horse riding school or something and you should have seen the look on their faces when 13 cars turned up in their driveway and then did a big circle and existed the same way we came in LOL
They must have thought they hit the jackpot with so many keen horse riders turning-up all in one go 
Anyway, Tony went a head and found a nice lunch spot which we claimed pretty quick.
   
  
After about an hour or so, the guys decided to explore a side track. I don't have photos of this bit, as Noel and I didn't do this track to protect our shiny chrome alloys LOL
My 18" are too precious to me and cost me a fortune
After the guys had a bit of fun, they decided to do something crazy to see Brett's xtrail farewelled in style, so here we're right at a one-way bridge crossing a small creek and here we have a group of people going around this little bridge looking for something.
  
A small bus full of what looked like Japanese tourists passes by and they stood-up inside the bus to try and find out what's happening and why so many people are around this bridge and in the creek LOL
It didn't take long for it to happen.... 
 
That was Dion (Richi's friend) exploring the right side of the bridge, then all of a sudden, white lightning strikes from out of nowhere!!!!
All I could see from the other side of the bridge is someone jumping in their car and diving into the water with a huge splash, I wondered who that die-hard xtrailer was LOL
  
By that stage we had tourists from Japan, tourists from Adelaide and tourists from Cairns all watching what the hell is happening with these guys and why they are insisting on crossing this little creek the hard way. hahahahaha
Awesome stuff Brett and Dion. You guys made it and we had lots of fun watching it.
I reckon that was the highlight of the day and with that little creek having marks of our very own exy, we decided to call it a day and head back home.
Tony did show us the short-cut and it was indeed a short-cut that saved us approx 28 minutes of our return trip to Sydney, therefore making the run back home even more easy. Thanks mate.
Thanks to all who attended this little adventures and I hope our guests (Dave and Dion) and our inter-state members (Andrew and Noel) have enjoyed the company. I know I did and it was lovely seeing you all.
Last edited by jalalski, 16/Aug/2009, 11:03 am
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15/Aug/2009, 8:47 pm
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NPC73
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 12-2004
Location: Mount Isa, QLD
TOTAL POSTS: 1247
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Re: Dronus (Andrew) visit to NSW (Blackheath Discovery Trail) Trip Report
Yes quite an enjoyable day which went so fast! Before you knew it the day was over. 
It was really nice to meet up with some new faces and some old faces.
I’m not going to bore you here with a repost of similar photos, though I did manage to get some video footage of Brett’s creek crossing.
Here is Brett’s first attempt which is typical of an experienced four wheel driver that puts too much reliance on his trusty BFG tyres:
VIDEO 1
After some embarrassment Brett decided to make this little crossing look like a complete breeze:
VIDEO 2 
I do have a few unique photos on the way back home;
 
 
---
Noel...
Member ID: X-072 (Retired Administrator)
2003 X-trail, TI, Manual, (Series 1) - (with the works)
2013 Toyota Prado, Manual, Turbo Diesel - (Snorkel-K&N-Full Exhaust, 20" Low Profiles, Chrome Bullbar, HID Spots, + All the Bling!)
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15/Aug/2009, 10:58 pm
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basshead
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: Panania, Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 2852
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Re: Dronus (Andrew) visit to NSW (Blackheath Discovery Trail) Trip Report
Ok, safely back home, and had a great day catching up with some old faces and a few new...
   
   
   
Videos of Brett's crossing:
Brett doesn't make it 5.2MB - Check out the entry depth
Brett escapes 3.8MB
What nobody mentioned yet is that it was probably my fault that Dion & Brett went where they did. Everyone else had stopped by the side of the road and were wandering around when I'd got back from the short play after lunch, only to see the easy access next to the causeway and I've yelled "creek crossing" on the CB, and everyone's watched me drive down beside the causeway/bridge My first thoughts were to try and get up the large rock-face on the other side, but it was too steep, and it would've been covered in water after going across...
There's enough of a trip report for the main part of the day, so here's a bit of a report for the "end of trip shenanigans"...
Chris, Emma and myself followed Dion to a track out the back behind the Norman Lindsay art gallery/studio @ Springwood. All three of us got a short way into the track, until it became considerably rougher. Photos never do capture the harshness of tracks like this, but I've included a few below. Dion made it look like a walk in the park with his Jackaroo. Chris decided to let me have a go (thanks Chris!) and while I was abit hesitant at first, I was surprised that I made it to the top without bottoming-out once. Chris and Emma called it a day, requesting I report back how the rest of the track was. Well I can say it got even tougher. Even though I got through the first lot of rough stuff easily enough, I wasn't confident in myself or the X-Trail's clearance to be able to tackle the next stage. I parked the X-Trail in a small clearing and rode shotgun with Dion. He tackled it with ease, however, I could see the X-Trail would've come to grief at several points, but a lifted one probably could've managed without injury. A little further on there was a few long irregular and sloping steps, which had loose gravel/sand throughout. We both decided it would be best not to try it as while going down might've been OK, getting back up may have posed a problem, plus it was getting dark by then, too.
  
Videos...
Dion Crossing 1.5MB
Dion return 2.1MB
Rich uphill 1.8MB
Dion in the roughest section 3.5MB
After seeing the videos, I am glad I didn't give the second lot of rough stuff a go. Seeing how much more ground clearance the Jackaroo has over the X-Trail (especially the sills), I would've been scraping all the way through the second stage, if I didn't get hung-up first. Like I said though - if I had lift, I'd have given it a go for sure. Reviewing the video of me going up the first stage, I was surprised at how much more clearance I had to go; I was worried I'd take out the front bumper on some of those rock ledges, but I didn't even get close. Perhaps I may have managed the second stage after-all "There's always next time", and speaking of which, I would say this would be a 9-10 rating if we were to tackle it as a forum trip, and impassable in the wet as it would just be too slippery! There were a few puddles along the way - one we decided not to drive through as I bottomed-out just driving around it due to a protruding rock right in front of a hole.
Top day, and I look forward to the next, as always.
Last edited by basshead, 16/Aug/2009, 1:27 am
--- Rich. X-013(c)
'04 S2 ST Auto. Nudge_roofracks_tow_tints_Lightforce_GME_YokoGeoA/T-S_TBS_bashplate_50mm-spacer-lift
Click here to see >300MB of photos and videos All For His Glory. |
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16/Aug/2009, 12:32 am
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cooch t31
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966
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Re: Dronus (Andrew) visit to NSW (Blackheath Discovery Trail) Trip Report
Yeah I agree, a top day, just finished off with a little rough stuff.
The circuit around the horse arena was funny and I could only imagine what those horsey people would have thought.
I was even distracted by their curiousity that I drove straight into a ditch damaging my beloved bash plate. I hit it so hard apparently it was heard at the back of the X Trail posse.
All good though, as soon as I got home drove it straight into the shed, removed the plate and caressed it back to its former glory.
Only took me 15mins all up.
I did take other pics but the majority have already been posted.
Here below is a pic of the Frangipany man entering the creek crossing spectacularly, Good one Brett.
Great to meet some new faces, Andrew, Noel & Silvia, Paul, oh yeah and the ellusive Rich. ( sorry if I haven't included anyone, I'm not good at remembering names).
Last edited by cooch t31, 16/Aug/2009, 8:15 am
--- Tony X-891c
HERE is my D22 Navara
HERE is my old 2008 T31, ST Series1
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16/Aug/2009, 6:35 am
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cooch t31
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966
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Re: Dronus (Andrew) visit to NSW (Blackheath Discovery Trail) Trip Report
Just had a look at my GPS and if we follows that road over the creek, Glenn Innes Rd, it would have met up with the six foot track and eventually brought us out at Medlow Bath at the Explorers Tree.
It doesn't show if it is still a walking track or if its accessable by car, or if there are any locked gates.
Last edited by cooch t31, 16/Aug/2009, 8:16 am
--- Tony X-891c
HERE is my D22 Navara
HERE is my old 2008 T31, ST Series1
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16/Aug/2009, 8:14 am
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basshead
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: Panania, Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 2852
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Re: Dronus (Andrew) visit to NSW (Blackheath Discovery Trail) Trip Report
quote:
cooch t31 wrote:
Just had a look at my GPS and if we follows that road over the creek, Glenn Innes Rd, it would have met up with the six foot track and eventually brought us out at Medlow Bath at the Explorers Tree.
It doesn't show if it is still a walking track or if its accessable by car, or if there are any locked gates.
Tony, the Six Foot track isn't accessible by vehicles on the eastern end. I did it several years ago in the X-Trail and I remember we started at Jenolan Caves Rd end, heading east, and went for quite some time before turning off. I don't know if the section we were near is part of the track that I covered previously or not. We did look on Ozi during lunch and saw it was there, but as Brett had already driven abit further down the road on his own without noticing anything interesting, I didn't bother suggesting we try.
--- Rich. X-013(c)
'04 S2 ST Auto. Nudge_roofracks_tow_tints_Lightforce_GME_YokoGeoA/T-S_TBS_bashplate_50mm-spacer-lift
Click here to see >300MB of photos and videos All For His Glory. |
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16/Aug/2009, 9:25 am
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Revhead Kev
Date Registered: 10-2006
Location: Mona Vale, Sydney, AUSTRALIA
TOTAL POSTS: 5832
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Re: Dronus (Andrew) visit to NSW (Blackheath Discovery Trail) Trip Report
Good day everyone.
Jalal, I thought Todd cancelled, but you have him in the list of attendees which makes 10 Xtrails.
--- Kev X450(c) T30 Guru
03 Titanium Ti T30 Series 1 **MODIFIED**
My Blog
My CarPC Worklog |
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16/Aug/2009, 10:59 am
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over the report.
