Videos

Video around Kanowna. Easy track and one of my playgrounds.



This one is from Esperance to Perth. A 7hr trip condensed into a few minutes.

Victoria Rock to Cave Hill with a detour to Lake Lefroy

From HEMA Maps, Goldfields, Esperance & the Southern Coast of WA (1st ed.)

Today's little trip involved going to Victoria Rock and Cave Hill then taking the Woodline 4WD track at Cave Hill and exit Higginsville, an abandoned mining town. Didn't take many pictures this time.

The moment I got on the dirt road, I lowered the tyre pressures to 28 psi. I usually lower them to 30 psi but wanted to see how the car reacted to 28 psi. Lower tyre pressures help with traction heaps on the dirt road. The road today required a bit more traction (sliding around quite a bit even with lower tyre pressures at 60km/hr) than usual and normal highway tyre pressures would have been hell on the tyres and possibly the suspension/shocks. Benefits of lower tyre pressures include improved traction, prolonging the life of the tyres, a smoother and more comfortable ride for people in the car. I do this every time I hit get off the bitumen roads and spend a fair amount of time on the dirt roads.



Anyway, started off on Victoria Rock Rd and it's amazing to see how the vegetation is well and truly alive after bush fires coming through this area.

Marsh flies were invading Victoria Rock and the ankle was still painful to go for a walk so on to Cave Hill!

On the way to Cave Hill, a ute came roaring behind me out of nowhere. But then again, I was kicking up a ton of dust anyway so couldn't see what or who was behind me. Don't know where that guy was rushing off to but he was quick. It's a work ute so who cares. Company will fix anything that's broken. I like to take my time to enjoy the scenery and look after my car.



Came across the Coolgardie entrance for the Holland Track. Couldn't resist and when for a bit of the drive to check out the first bit of the track. For those who don't know about this track, it was built as a shortcut from Albany to the Goldfields led by John Holland during the gold rush years. It is about 732km long which means you'll need to camp along the way. There is a 2WD track that sort of bypasses the Holland Track but in reality, if you're on dirt road, you're better off in a 4WD.



Bypassed Cave Hill and went straight to Woodline 4WD track. A track I started after the rains and almost got bogged on. So this time with the dry track and beautiful weather, I went all the way to Higginsville where this track ends

The thing about ruts is that some are ok to go through but some are too damn deep for Bossy so we had to drive over them. I don't have a winch and if I do get stuck and the chassis is dragging the dirt between the ruts or the wheels aren't touching the bottom of the ruts and chassis is "hanging" on the dirt between the ruts, oh yea, I'm in a ton of trouble.



If in doubt about the softness or hardness of the sand, walk it. Had to walk this part to see how soft the sand was because the plan was to drive over the ruts. There were many more ruts towards the end of this track and some of them were absolutely terrible!

On the way out, a 4WD towing a camper trailer came from the other direction and I met as he coming out of a bend and I was about to go into it. It was a surprise for both of us but we just waved. I had my lights on so he saw me first. He didn't have lights on so I didn't see him until he was coming out of the bend. Lesson here ladies and gents, leave your headlights on even when you think you are alone.



On my map, this place is called Sunday Soak. Probably another one of the many ghost towns in the region.




Got to Higginsville Pump Station and the town was probably here. Gone now.

Decided to go to check out Lake Lefroy in Kambalda East to see what it's like and the view from Red Hill Lookout overlooking the lake was amazing! The salt lake, when dry, was used for land sailing. Not sure if they still do that because the main road (St. Ives) that leads to the lake itself is closed. Didn't bother looking for a back way if there is one.



It had been a wetter summer than usual so the lake has some water.

Parts of the tracks (2WD and 4WD) were unbelievably smooth and flat and would have put the bitumen roads to shame. Sometimes you can't believe it's actually a 4WD track. Corrugations were a pain as usual. Some of them you needed to drive fast to reduce the shaking but others needed a slow drive. Then again, a reduced tyre pressure will make the ride a bit more comfortable (hint!).

No doubt a 2WD car can do most part of the tracks but unless it has good suspensions/shocks and a damn gutsy driver with willing guinea pigs, a 4WD car is the way to go on the non-black stuff. Even though I was in 2WD for all of the tracks, it helps when the car is actually built to do stuff offroad.

***I'm still a newbie to 4WDing but learning every time I go off road!***

Lake Douglas, Kalgoorlie, WA

5th March 2012
Long weekend and bored. Went to Lake Douglas yesterday with a couple of mates for the first time for an hour and went again today for over an hour. It would have made for a good day trip but didn't have time these two days. Lots of hills, tracks and washouts to play with. Can easily spend the whole day just exploring the tracks and hills.


Not the actual lake. Just a small watering hole but there is a surprise!


The other side of the watering hole


Don't envy this car. It has Nissan written on it but I don't know my cars very well


The lake itself. Very dry with people on their bikes going at crazy speeds


Love a challenge! There's no need for low range when you have traction control. Bumpy and lots of loose stones/rocks


View from the top overlooking the lake. Couldn't be bothered to walk far because of my recovering ankle

I had to drive through large washouts at certain points but didn't take any photos. Also had to ride over deep ruts at points of no backing up which you do not even want drive into. Lots of fun though!

Burra Rocks and Cave Hill Nature Reserves, Shire of Coolgardie, WA

23rd March 2012
I was really debating whether to go or not as we have had heavy rainfalls last weekend and it wasn't warm or sunny enough during the week to fully dry the tracks. The not so light drizzle this morning didn't help either. Had to go alone as mates weren't around or preferred to do work (when they don't have to today) rather then disappearing for the day. Ankle was acting up too and still pretty sore from a bad sprain 4 weeks ago Really could have used a second car in conditions like today.

Anyway, rang the Department of Environment and Conservation to get track updates and they said people had been through and no tracks are closed. Time to go.

Started at Coolgardie --> Burra Rocks --> Cave Hill --> Widgiemooltha --> Kalgoorlie


Burra Rocks


Another side of Burra Rocks


Some relics from the gold rush at Burra Rocks


Didn't bother going up with the ankle


From a previous trip to the Rocks at the top


2WD track (Cave Hill Rd) from Burra Rocks to Cave Hill. There is a 4wd track as well. That track was still a bit too muddy for my liking and it's about 40km long. Being alone and no second car as back up, chose not do it today. Spotted a couple of emus running in front of me when I used it on Australia Day Some corrugations under that sand on the 2WD track but not too bad. Can even travel up to 80km/hr on it in a 4WD but in a 2WD... hmmm yea.. I won't even attempt this road in a 2WD


From a spot on Cave Hill Rd


Reached this sign at the end of the road. Victoria Rock was part of the plan depending on track condition after Cave Hill. At the end, didn't do it


View of Cave Hill from a distance


A bit too far and too much uneven ground for me to walk today so this is from the Australia Day trip when we were not even in the right gear to walk around


Then I saw this sign. It was like heaven! Couldn't resist of course. Used the 4WD track


Was really deciding whether to carry on or turn around at this point and it was only less than 1km in. Walked and measured up then thought, yea, go for it! First water crossing other than the puddles on the bitumen but that doesn't count Crossed another 2 down the track


Then came along to this part of Woodline. Picture taken on the way back after rebuilding the right part of the track. First pass in the opposite direction was good. There was another patch of water which was deeper than the previous 2 and I wasn't confident enough to go through by myself so turned around. On the way back using this part, I almost got myself bogged. Bad habit. Have to stop getting bogged. Had to rebuild the right part of the track so could go through without major problems. The left side has my signature attempt. Realised later on the way home that I forgot to turn off the ESP. DUH!


A bit muddy after the attempt


Success!

After Cave Hill was Victoria Rock but on the way there, there was a nice water puddle so turned around to Widgie and came back to Kal.


Time for a good wash

Good fun and apart from more scratches, no other damage this time thank goodness. Broke the reverse light housing and the trailer connector thingy on the Australia Day trip.

This area was featured on Pat Callinan's 4x4 Adventures Season 2's Esperance to Kalgoorlie episode I believe.