This trip had an unusual build up due to Beachy’s on again, off again Roster causing him to very reluctantly cancel the much anticipated Nav Run so keep an eye out as I am sure he will want to get that one done soonish. So with only a tiny bit of cajoling by Beachy it was BigBaz who stepped up to lead us on a wander thru the Wandoo from Mundijong to Mt Observation and beyond via North Bannister.
The main street of Mundijong isn’t exactly busy at 8:00AM on a Sunday so our 8 intrepid trippers sure stood out parked up near the Railway Station waiting for the Starters Pistol. With everyone there early Baz did his driver briefing and we made the most of the opportunity to get away earlier than our planned 8:30 kickoff. Hmmm, kickoff, derby, Pffft.
I swear I did not photoshop all the GQ's out of the pic. There simply wasn't any game enough to come with us.
Only a few K’s of bitumen to traverse and BigBaz, Beachbums, Doc Evil, SPN WRC, Terrano, Figjam, Mattroll12 and ourselves were off up the service road of the defunct Jarrahdale Rail Line and some very picturesque views over the farms with all the Dams full to overflowing from the recent rains. The damp tracks were a blessing as with no dust we could keep closed up all day and allowing for quick transits between our stopovers.
First stop on the list was the Jarrahdale Markets were we all piled out for a wander and in my case a Cuppa and some yummy Scones with Jam and Cream. Could have gone a whole plate of those on my own I can tell you but I had my W.P.C. crop top on so resisted the urge. A few purchase made by the crew and as we milled around getting ready to depart Bevan, Lina and the girls turned up in the Nissan CRV as threatened, oops, I mean promised.
Caught Doc Evil teaching Doc Brock a few new tricks (or was it the other way around)
Again only a couple of klicks of bitumen and after a practice W.P.C. Convoy About Face procedure to ensure we were all current with the manouvere it was down Balmoral Road to the P.O.W. Camp site for a stroll in the bush for most to check out the site. Back in the trucks and on down Millars Log Road to the longest stretch of bitumen for the day as we headed down to Wearne Road and the welcome sound of gravel under the wheels again.
The bitumen stretch had flown by as the radio chatter helped pass the time and Baz got us to test our brakes on the Albany Highway before the journey back up via Wearne and Metro Roads. We all passed the braking test no worries but the Commodore in front of me had this evil smelling brown stuff leaking out the Drivers side. We didn’t bother to stop and help as Nth Bannister was only 2 K’s away and anyone who can swear like that doesn’t deserve help anyway as we had kids in some of the Trucks. That will teach him not to pull into the middle of a Convoy of 4X’s and start daydreaming.
Metro Road was cool fun with heaps of puddles to splash in on the southern part and as we got closer to Christmas Tree Well there was more and more Quads and Trail Bikes to use as mobile chicanes so a bit of care needed there. A few 100 metres on that black horrid bitumen had us turning into Christmas Tree Well for our lunch break. Terrano won the Cook Off with daylight second as he was the only one to fire up a BBQ strategically placed up wind of the rest of us. Drool, slobber, drool, you’re a hard and callous man, Cobber.
Pack up, Clean up, Back up and we retraced our path to Yarra Road to continue the push North to Mount Observation. Some lefts and rights and about faces over a few too many tracks to mention, past the infamous Pony Road Rocky Outcrap (as it will hitherto be known for all eternity) got us to an excellent photo opportunity on Catchement Road. Best you post up some photos you mob or this will be a really lame bit of the report. Everyone back aboard and 10 minutes later we were at Mt Observation and judging by the queue a well needed rest stop.
Beachy took most of the mob off to check out a geocache and when that was done Mattroll12 had to say goodbye and head for home. The rest of us tackled the track down to Manuyering Spring and had a wander amongst the ruins. Sadly, some of which have been damaged by recent Bushfire Activities. Mrs Evil and I had to peel off here and head for home but the remaining 6 vehicles headed off towards West Talbot and an appointment with the Sawyers Valley Tavern.
Yet another excellent family day out with our mates from the W.P.C. and a well deserved thanks to BigBaz for Imperious Leader, “Two Docs” for keeping us safe as T.E.C. and the rest of you lot for joining us on a very pleasant Sunday Winter Run.
Footnote- perhaps we need to call this trip the 6 Highways Run . Albeit in some cases only for a few hundred metres we did, at various times, travel on the Great Eastern, Great Southern, Brookton, Albany, South Western and Roe Highways yet spent most of our day ‘on the dirt’
