Toolangi April 2004

Peter Wick (Jackaroo) and myself (Patrol) headed up to Toolangi on Saturday.

We headed north down Pauls Lane from the Old Healesville Rd end . Aired down to 25psi just off Old Healesville Rd. The sign posting in this area is poor as was the detail on our maps. We ended up on Paul Range Rd. Then Link Tk back to Pauls Ln.

Pauls LN from this point north was particularly slippery. One clay based down hill section resulted in my tyres clagging and the rear of the Patrol sliding into an overhanging tree. The result is a dint in the D-pillar - bummer.

We turned right into Siberia Extension Rd to have a look at a hut marked on the map about 500m east of this T intersection. The hut was nothing to right home about - particularly in contrast to the high country huts. U-turned at the hut and heading north on Siberia Extension Rd. Then further north along Dindi Log Rd to our designated meeting point at the campsite marked on the roof tops map. All these roads were well made gravel.

Pete wasn't there and further exploring north along the Dindi Log Rd showed it had been completely blocked by a large fallen tree. We retreated back to Siberia Bridge for lunch when Pete called us on the CB.

We arranged to meet at the Murrindindi Rd and Yellowdindi Rd intersection. From here we headed to the Dindi Mill Site just off the Murrindindi Rd on Winch Rd. Although this was designated as a campsite on the map there weren't many level sites. It was raining and drizzling now so the kids couldn't really run around too much.

Kalatha Rd was overgrown with the rain making things worse by making the branches heavy with water. The windscreen wipers were required constantly - not just to wipe the water from the field of view but also the leaves, bark and other debris ripped from the overhanging trees. We found some bogs holes. Deep in places but with firm bases. Pete was giving the little Jackaroo heaps. The mud's were working a treat and the Jack was constantly lifting wheels as it existed the bogs. Bow waves were also seen on top of the Jacks bonnet on a couple of occasions.

We headed north on Mount Despair Rd (not what it is named on the map) for Kalatha North Rd - actually from the map I think it was actually Klondyke Rd that we took. Both roads are wide and an easy drive. Logging is currently underway on Kalatha North Rd(Klondyke?) and the road is closed between Aeroplane Tk and Luke Ck 2 Tk. We backtracked abit at the road closure and decided to head down a very steep, freshly graded track. The track was extremely slippery with the All Terrains completely caked in red clay. At every cross track drain it was necessary to accelerate to stop the car heading in the direction of the drain - i.e into the bush. The car slipped and slid to the bottom where I could finally start to breath again.

We came out on Marginal Rd between Spike Wattle Tk and Kalatha Ck Tk. From this vantage point I recognised the track we had just descends as the same one that we had climbed in the dry in Michael Mineo's 100 series with the diff locks engaged. I have always wanted to try the ascent to see where the track goes - now I know.

The drizzle had become constant now and I was sure that the deeply rutted clay hill climb at the end of Martins Tk would be impossible. But we were on a site seeing trip so I thought I'd show Pete anyway. However, when I got there I couldn't resist - I had to have a go. Made sure the kids had there belts on and off we went. Made it passed the point where my old Jackaroo faulted the last time I took it up here. Made it passed the halfway point. The top was in sight now. Just the steps to go. But bugger, not enough traction/wheel travel/drive/momentum. With one front and one rear wheel spinning wildly I stopped. Backed/slid/tobogganed back until I could stop. Then had another go. Same result. The track was now slick - as were my tyres (have to get some mud's). Accepting defeat we slid back to the bottom to turn around for home. As we got back in the cars I noticed one of the front tyres had a large amount of clay wedged between the rim and the tyre beads and was leaking badly.

This time we went up Martins Tk and then took Pines Tk to Two Hills Rd. We aired up on Two Hills Rd and found that the creek and bog holes must have washed most of the clay from the rim as the leaking front tyre was now holding air OK.