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TERRIBLE BILLY TREK
Leader - Col & Stella Baby Troupe
Gary & Wendy Prado
Clyde & Angie Jackaroo
Trevor Nissan Patrol
Daryl & Jim Pajero
John & Helen Prado
Neil & Fiona Hilux
plus two lovely littlies.
Morning dawned bright and sunny, and soon the area was busy with tent erecting and preparations for a 10.30am departure. We had a computer linked to a GPS satellite so that we knew where we were, in forest it is hard to be sure.
But we were in the Chichester State Forest, the Telegherry Forest Park and the Barrington Tops Forest Park and it was hard to see the road for the trees. We could see some parts have been logged and the regeneration has already grown tall and straight to accompany the older giants remaining – beautiful!
Following up Main Creek Road, and Skimmings Gap Road led us to Frying Pan Creek and Coachwood camp area for lunch.
After lunch, ducking back to Wangat Trig Forest Road we followed along the watershed with views over the upper Chichester and Wangat River valleys coming back to the far end of the Middle Ridge. This led us past Kanungra Mount, then left turn down to North end of Mountain Road alongside which flowed full and free the Karuah River.
When there is a river to cross it is good to be at the rear of the convoy, because by the time it is your turn the best path has been shown. Unfortunately for me, we were trip leaders for the first time, so we had to take the plunge first. We dropped in to what seemed a safe depth to the front bumper, then followed my usual line through this river. Unfortunately, this took us slightly off the raised track & into a bit deeper water, where we gave the lights a little wash (cracking the hot fog lights). To this I decided to point straight for the exit & make my first bow wave (plenty of throttle) & we made it through unscathed. We then guided the rest of our convoy through & no one got stuck nor stalled even though the water was over wheel depth on the proper line; perhaps this shows the Club vehicles are in good condition. The smoke-oh break at the other side of the river seemed well planned to settle the nerves. And we had not reached Terrible Billy yet!
Terrible Billy track went off to the left, wet, bit slippery and plenty steep joining to Berrico Road. Now it’s a fair way to get home from here so Col tried taking a short cut down Lawler’s Creek Road; not on mate! Something about Gates and Creek Crossings. So, back to camp via Buckett’s Way, Monkerai Creek and Mountain, and Main Creek. Would you believe it was now quite dark?
Wayne and Sue Prendergast had come up for a quiet day but had not spent all day bludging, they had the fire going well and this made for a merry evening around the brazier in the shelter shed. Angie’s volcano cookies went with a bang and some wine was consumed to repel the cold.
Sunday morning still fine I led the convoy out the back gate up the track behind the lease. This was OK until he decided that without “lockers” and winches there was no way to proceed safely. Returning by backing down a greasy slope took much care and directions from an outside helper, the turning point was so greasy that one needed rescuing; good mucky stuff!
After a cuppa the party split into some who went to local friends, some to the Maitland Market and some stayed for another day in the bush.