Macalister River Camp
SUNDAY
On Sunday 19th the LROCG set up camp at the Macalister River Cheyne’s Bridge campground, a nice grassy area, with a few other campers. We circled our vans and got the fire ready for the sun setting. While some took advantage of the very warm weather (30c) and went for a swim in the clear flowing water. A few drinks and snacks were shared at happy hour before our meals were prepared. Bob volunteered his BBQ which was great for the rest of us as we did not have to clean ours. After tea the campfire was lit and the group sat around it enjoying the conversation, star gazing and satellite spotting. As we were not leaving camp until 10 am the next day there was no need to go to bed early so after putting the fire out, thanks to John’s extra water supply, we retired for the night.
MONDAY
On Monday morning after a very restful sleep, we woke up to another warm day. Breakfast was a casual event and some even had time to read before the morning briefing at 9:30.
The briefing was conducted by Alan who described the track we were to take (Burgoyne Track east of the Licola road, turning right onto Mt Margaret Track, then right onto Hickeys Creek Track which takes us back to the Licola Road and a 5 minute trip back to camp.) He stressed the need to stop at the bottom of the rock climbs and watch the path the car in front took. As we had pulled caravans to the camp tyres were lowered to a more suitable pressure and Chanel 18 was chosen for communications on the day.
As planned, at 10am we left the camp; 4 Discovery 4s and 1 brand new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.
To the high country
We crossed the Macalister River at Cheynes Bridge and travelled on bitumen for a couple of ks before turning right onto the Burgoyne track. Alan in the lead with Bob tail end Charlie riding shot gun in the hot sun - stuck in the middle are Kerrs, Markhams and Parnz’s.
Steadily climbing the narrow overgrown track for a while Alan halted our contingent until we all banked up, then renewed the instructions, told us to engage low range, hill climb and rock mode. We preceded to climb possibly the most challenging climb of the trip. This 150 meter rock incline looked like a war zone. The steep climb, boulders, small rocks, slate plates, dust, sand, deep potholes, and protruding ruts, all looked impossible to navigate; nothing was solid. Looking ahead this climb appeared to run into the face of the mountain. Alan and Tonee (with her eyes closed and reciting “I’m at the beach I’m at the beach”) in their disco took off while the rest looked on and waited until all clear was given to proceed. We watched the line the first car took as it rocked and rolled while Alan and Tonee were being thrown around like a stir fry. In front of us appeared to be a dead end but a three-point turn was needed to continue the zig zag. Second disco took off; beetles, bugs scrambling and the tyres gripping the rolling stones and spitting them back towards the waiting vehicles. Completing this feat, we arrived at McMillans Lookout to have a 360 degree view of the mountains, like being on top of the world. Travelling on the ridge we had clouds on the right of me and (jokers) ravines and drops on the left.
Travelling along this road to nowhere we encounter very large sudden descents, all vehicles engage in downhill modes, our wheels only just turning as they manipulated and crawled over the uneven surface. We went down down so deep into the valley of darkness the only thing missing was the appearance of a Bat out of Hell.
What goes down must come up, so again we causally climbed over the ridge going over countless water runoff that were so frequently spaced that as one vehicle went up another was in between and the next going down. From tail end Charlie’s view who was riding shot gun in the hot sun it must have looked like we were playing leap frog, on the cool of the River Deep Mountain High plains.
Thirsty work this type of driving, give me some water was our next cry, low and behold around the next turn a spring was oozing out of a crevice, not a good place to stop on a downhill slope so we just drive on.
We spotted the eagle souring in the thermals wind currents, not long after a massive bare faced rock face appeared, exposing its various colours and formation.
Approximately 2/12 hours later the group returned to camp with satisfaction written all over our faces. Some of us decided to cool off - on with bathers we proceeded down to the river side into the deep water and let Daddy Cool do his job. We gotta get out of here soon, 5pm will hit and out will come the drinks, nibbles and getting the camp fire ready for the dark evening.
After a surprise visit from the Rose’s who had been up looking at the Pinnacles we again settled down to a happy hour, tea and a great camp fire however we were all too tired to do any dancing in the dark but the stars were definitely Dancing on the Ceiling. As I looked across at Alan and Bob, our organizers, with the fire glittering on their faces one could tell the boys did it ‘their way’. Again, thanks to Johns water supply we put the fire out and went to bed for another great night in the peace and quiet of the bush.
TUESDAY
On a coolish morning at camp on Tuesday, 21 February 2023 our group was briefed by Bob on the day’s FWD trip. We commenced the drive after the briefing and with Bob and Annette leading, followed by Jan and Colette, John and Heather, Ken and Sue and Alan and Tonee as tail end Charlie, straight up a rocky section and along the Cheynes Bridge Track, Black Ridge Track and Burgoynes Track back to Licola Road, finishing at Cheynes Bridge campground. Along the way we stopped for morning tea and refreshments shared around by all. The trip was challenging and gave us all more experience in using the features of our vehicles in this type of terrain – rocky, dusty, sandy, gravelly with water crossings. A lot of fun was had along the way and the scenery was magnificent.
Back at camp we lunched together then packed up our caravans and camper trailer and pumped up our tryers for the trip back home. A great experience for all and the camaraderie was great.
Write a comment