Thursday, August 1, 2013
More trips around the Goldfields
Crossing a lake
Club trip: washout section
Club trip
Pinnacles
Club trip
Club trip
Esperance cliff drive
Mt Burges
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Holland Track June Long Weekend 2013
Track conditions: Dirt roads,
moderate corrugations, deep ruts, deep muddy bog holes with hard ground
and soft ground, a bit of driving over granite rocks, shallow bog hole,
chicken tracks. 
Mods required: Suspension lift, AT tyres (even better with higher profile tyres) and bash plates. Clearance is the biggest issue on this track so anything to help improve clearance is a bonus.
Weather: Crap with forecasts of drizzles and rain with very little sunshine. A bit of drizzle but no rains. Thanks to the rain gods! Very cloudy.
Friends: Bring a few when wet and send the high clearance vehicle first
My 4wd club decided to do the Holland Track in the June long weekend and it was also a track I wanted to do for a very long time (in the dry!). We had some good rains days before we went off and it was a very last minute decision as the track does get closed after a massive down pour to avoid more track damage. It really doesn't take much for the track to get in a bad condition.
Friday after work, quickly did some last minute packing, then the family, in the stock Landcruiser 200 with brand new HT tyres towing a Cub camper trailer, and I headed off to Victoria Rock to camp overnight from Kalgoorlie. It was bitterly cold with the winds blowing from the south.
Although, there have been reports of X-trails towing campers on this track before, I doubt they did it when it was muddy and boggy like this weekend. When perfectly dry, the track is fine but clearance will still be an issue.
My camp set up
Start of the Holland Track from Coolgardie end
A couple of vehicles (a Hilux and a family in a Pajero) joined us in the morning. We aired down and I was down to 24psi for the whole way. The Lux led the way since it was going to be our guinea pig through the bog holes, Cruiser with camper 2nd, me 3rd and the Pajero as tail end charlie.
Between the Coolgardie end and Sandwood Rock camp, the Holland was easy with a few muddy challenges to practice on. One of the challenges was not so easy that my bash plate caught on something in the bog hole and I drove over it.
goodbye bash plate
One of the places we stopped at was Thursday Rock.
Thursday Rock and its views
My car looked like it had been through lots of mud whereas the others don't look it. Lol. Thursday Rock campsite
We crossed a slippery but not deep clay pan and it was slidingly fun. Don't have a video of that hough and another big challenge. We made good time and camped at Sandalwood Rock.
Video of Day 1. Started with the easy stuff. It was very cloudy so the video doesn't show how tricky some of the challenges were. Most of the time there was a chicken track around the big challenge and I did use the chicken tracks a lot. Other times when there are no chicken tracks and there is only one way to go, just gotta push on. Lots of slipping and sliding, sideways driving and hitting a few trees. Watch in HD.
Hope of sun on Day 2!
Day 2 started with no front bash plate and apparently the rest of the track was worse than Day 1. Right, some damage is bound to happen.
The Pajero went back to Kal and rest of us kept going with me as tail end charlie now. Don't know if it was a smart idea or not. Lol.
One of the very few action shots of me playing. Waiting for another camera load of photos which will take awhile.
Day 2 action with more slip and slide and tree hitting!
End of the Holland Track and on the way to Hyden!
For the last night of the trip, we camped at Wave Rock caravan park, went to the local pub and just chilled for the night.
The next morning was off to Wave Rock and Hippo Yawn. On the way back to Kal, we also went to see some Aboriginal painting on rocks at Mulka Cave.
Wave Rock
Hippo Yawn
Mulka Cave
Home at last! Note: mud on the ground was from another trip
Definitely have to say that this is the most challenging track I have ever driven on I still cannot believe I made it through without getting bogged once and came out with minor damage! This has to be said: an X-trail has done the Holland Track when the track was at its boggiest best!
Mods required: Suspension lift, AT tyres (even better with higher profile tyres) and bash plates. Clearance is the biggest issue on this track so anything to help improve clearance is a bonus.
Weather: Crap with forecasts of drizzles and rain with very little sunshine. A bit of drizzle but no rains. Thanks to the rain gods! Very cloudy.
Friends: Bring a few when wet and send the high clearance vehicle first
My 4wd club decided to do the Holland Track in the June long weekend and it was also a track I wanted to do for a very long time (in the dry!). We had some good rains days before we went off and it was a very last minute decision as the track does get closed after a massive down pour to avoid more track damage. It really doesn't take much for the track to get in a bad condition.
Friday after work, quickly did some last minute packing, then the family, in the stock Landcruiser 200 with brand new HT tyres towing a Cub camper trailer, and I headed off to Victoria Rock to camp overnight from Kalgoorlie. It was bitterly cold with the winds blowing from the south.
Although, there have been reports of X-trails towing campers on this track before, I doubt they did it when it was muddy and boggy like this weekend. When perfectly dry, the track is fine but clearance will still be an issue.
My camp set up
Start of the Holland Track from Coolgardie end
A couple of vehicles (a Hilux and a family in a Pajero) joined us in the morning. We aired down and I was down to 24psi for the whole way. The Lux led the way since it was going to be our guinea pig through the bog holes, Cruiser with camper 2nd, me 3rd and the Pajero as tail end charlie.
Between the Coolgardie end and Sandwood Rock camp, the Holland was easy with a few muddy challenges to practice on. One of the challenges was not so easy that my bash plate caught on something in the bog hole and I drove over it.
goodbye bash plate
One of the places we stopped at was Thursday Rock.
Thursday Rock and its views
My car looked like it had been through lots of mud whereas the others don't look it. Lol. Thursday Rock campsite
We crossed a slippery but not deep clay pan and it was slidingly fun. Don't have a video of that hough and another big challenge. We made good time and camped at Sandalwood Rock.
Video of Day 1. Started with the easy stuff. It was very cloudy so the video doesn't show how tricky some of the challenges were. Most of the time there was a chicken track around the big challenge and I did use the chicken tracks a lot. Other times when there are no chicken tracks and there is only one way to go, just gotta push on. Lots of slipping and sliding, sideways driving and hitting a few trees. Watch in HD.
Hope of sun on Day 2!
Day 2 started with no front bash plate and apparently the rest of the track was worse than Day 1. Right, some damage is bound to happen.
The Pajero went back to Kal and rest of us kept going with me as tail end charlie now. Don't know if it was a smart idea or not. Lol.
One of the very few action shots of me playing. Waiting for another camera load of photos which will take awhile.
Day 2 action with more slip and slide and tree hitting!
End of the Holland Track and on the way to Hyden!
For the last night of the trip, we camped at Wave Rock caravan park, went to the local pub and just chilled for the night.
The next morning was off to Wave Rock and Hippo Yawn. On the way back to Kal, we also went to see some Aboriginal painting on rocks at Mulka Cave.
Wave Rock
Hippo Yawn
Mulka Cave
Home at last! Note: mud on the ground was from another trip
Definitely have to say that this is the most challenging track I have ever driven on I still cannot believe I made it through without getting bogged once and came out with minor damage! This has to be said: an X-trail has done the Holland Track when the track was at its boggiest best!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
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.
This one is from Esperance to Perth. A 7hr trip condensed into a few minutes.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
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!***
Monday, April 9, 2012
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!
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!
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