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I received the job of trip reporter because I mixed up the meeting point and drove all the way to Capertee looking for the miner’s lantern. When I got to Capertee I realized that this town was not big enough to have a Mcdonald’s which Phil has told me that the miners lantern was near, A quick check with the service station attendant reminded me that Phil had said the lantern was at Lithgow. BUGGER ! As it was ten past eight and there was no mobile phone reception it was back to Lithgow. I arrived back at the Lithgow information centre which by the way looks like a 20 foot high miner’s lantern at 8:45, fifteen minutes late, hence I’m writing this report. |  |
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We left the info centre at 8:52am, 22 minutes late (sorry) and headed towards Capertee on the Castlereagh Highway. The radio chatter changing between the weather and chances of rain or even snow to that of how bad a H3 hummer is as we pasted a black one with 20 inch rims and low profile wheels parked outside a pub, to how the US military like the Australian Landrovers better than there H1 HMMVV’s. We arrived at Capertee at 9:25am and had a quick pit stop before heading off again. |  |
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Back on the road we crossed the highway onto Glen Davis Rd on our way to Colin’s place, after a short trip on the blacktop we turned off onto the dirt track down to Colin’s, it was a bit of a surprise to see a couple of aeroplanes sitting in the clearing next to Colin’s house. Stephen W gave us a run down on what types of aeroplanes they were as we wondered how Colin had got them into the clearing as there was not enough room for a runway. It was agreed that he must have had them trucked in and then put the wing back on. Colin wasn’t home but Phil had talked to him last week about our trip so we aired down our tyres and locked in the hubs. |  |
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With the hubs locked in we started on the track up the mountain and it was straight into low range for a nice climb up to the tricky part between two high rock walls. Everyone cleared this with little trouble. The only real hard part was when you past the first climb and went around the corner and the sun hit you straight in the eyes and you lost sight of the track for a couple of seconds before starting the next rocky climb. We continued along the track to our morning tea stop where Joseph noticed that Phil had a blinker hanging out, this was quickly fixed and morning tea was taken in a tight clearing next to a walking track down to the Grotto, talk at morning tea ranged between old cars and the state of affairs with Qantas. Stephen H and Eve were the only ones to take the walk down to the Grotto. |  |
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After morning tea it was back on the track where after about 10 min’s we came to our first real up-hill challenge for the day. There were two tracks to choose from the left track which was the most challenging with a mix of black soil and rocks on one side and the other side was washed out with lots of large tree roots making up the track for the first section, the next part started with a 2 foot high rock step onto a rock climb to a second step up onto the next track. The other track was mostly all rock shelves with some challenging parts depending on the line you took. We all spent some time walking over the tracks and in the end Phil, Michael and Paul headed up the hard track and Joseph, Stephen and I went up the other track. Phil went up with no trouble then Michael went up, he passed the first section ok but it took him a few goes to get up the first step and then up the second step ok. Next was Joseph up the second track, with some good lines he was up with little trouble. Paul’s turn on the hard track and he went up in much the same way as Michael did. My turn, and with guidance from Joseph I went up with no trouble. Stephen was the last up, minus his passengers, as they declined the ride up. This was ok with Stephen as no passenger means no screaming. With everyone up, Phil informed us that this was just the start and there was more to come. |  |
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Having regrouped we started off again this time just 20 metres around the corner it was the start of the first of the rocky down-hill sections. The first part was not too bad as long as you got your wheel placement right. The next section started with a 1 ½ foot step down leading to a down-hill section which ended with another large step down. Fortunately Stephen H was on the spot to guide us down, first step was ok with just one crunch from under the car as I went down a little too fast. The second step was much the same but a bit slower as I was riding the brakes harder, then it was around a corner and up a small rocky climb which ended on a rock platform. Everyone passed this section with no problems. It was then down the next step off the platform which was about 2 foot high which required a very slow decent to avoid any damage and again thanks to Stephen H for guiding us down. This part passed, it was around a corner to another rocky down-hill section. This time Phil was the guide to help us down, this section consisted of more rocks and some holes to avoid but with Phil’s help we passed this section all intact. |  |
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It was now midday and we were entering Jurassic Park where the track was mostly undulating with a combination of black soil and rocks with ferns, tall trees and large rock walls hugging the track. It was a spectacular to drive through with Phil telling us that he’s positive he saw a T-rex here last week on his recce. Over the radio Phil told Joseph that there was a water crossing coming up but he didn’t think he would need a water blind. As it turned out it was only about half a foot deep. It wasn’t long before Michael got stuck in a spot that had rock on one side of the track and a dirt hole on the other. With a bit of track building to fill the hole he was good to go. With a bit more momentum and keeping an eye on a nasty pointed rock on the right side of the track he was through the rest of us followed suit with no problem. At this stage Stephen W had lost a couple of passengers as they were feeling a bit car sick from all the rocking and rolling along the track and had decided to walk for a while. A muddy section of track was next and with momentum everyone cleared this part with no trouble. |  |
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Next challenge was a long steep climb. Phil went up with little problem, next was Michael he had a harder time than Phil but made it to the top. Third up was Paul but as he got to the first rocky part he clipped his front passenger tyre on a rock sticking out from the rock wall on the left of the track that pinched his tyre breaking the bead. Thankfully for Paul Stephen was along for the ride, so he pitched in to change the tyre with lots of advice from onlookers and had the tyre changed in about 20 min’s. Back on track and Paul still had to negotiate the hard part of the track where you needed to stick to the right of the track, and then quickly swap to the left with enough momentum to clear the depression in the track, Unfortunately Paul was unable to find the right line or momentum so to avoid any damage It was decided winching was the best thing to do. It didn’t take long for Paul to winch up to a spot where he was able to unhook and drive the rest of the way. Next was Joseph and by comparison he made it up with no problems. My turn and I can tell you I was a bit worried about this one, but with guidance from Joseph I made it up with little trouble except for the last bit where I was off line a little, but with some scrambling wheels I made it up. With my heart racing it was time to change pants and have lunch. Meanwhile Stephen W was the last one up without too much trouble. |  |
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As it was 1:45pm we stopped for lunch on the track under the cover of a rock face. We talked about tyres as Joseph had a nice new set of cooper ST’s on his Jack and about an old bell helicopter that had flown over a few times. We also discussed our next plan of action, it was agreed that we should head back as it was 2:30pm and if we were to have any more trouble we could be driving out in the dark. |  |
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We started back down the track with Phil in front then Stephen W and family, me, Paul with Stephen at the wheel for the drive back, Joseph and then Michael and Eve at the tail. On the first part I got the line wrong again like I did on the way up but this time I was crossed up and balancing on opposite wheels, with help from Paul and Joseph I was able to back up and take a look at where I went wrong. This time I got it right and headed down with no more trouble. Everyone else made it down with no trouble. As we made our way back through Jurassic Park and moments after Phil said he had just seen a giant reptile head sticking out of a cave there was a bang and Stephen W come over the radio saying that he had a flat. He had popped his front driver side tyre off the rim on a rock and this tyre change was going to be more difficult as the track was going up-hill as well as slopping from left to right. Some serious thought was needed for this one. In the end Stephen’s winch was used to anchor the Patrol so it didn’t move while two jacks were needed to help lift the Patrol. |  |
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It took about an hour to change the wheel and after a quick cupper from Phil we started off again. Ten minutes down the track and Joseph come over the radio saying that one of his rear springs had come off its mount. This was quickly fixed thanks to Michael’s Hi-lift jack that was able to jack the whole rear of the Jackaroo up so Joseph could put the spring back into position. While this was happening we could hear Phil going up the rock step from earlier in the day. Phil went up with little trouble (maybe the lockers help) but Stephen had a bit of trouble as he put his foot down and bounced his way up. My turn to try the step and it looked bigger from this side, after a couple of attempts I chose the easier option and was winched up instead of doing any damage to my Jack. So Stephen moved his Patrol into position and winched me up after a bit more track building. Stephen was next in Paul’s Jack, he gave it go under his own steam but started to bounce around so Stephen winched him up as well. Next was Joseph and then Michael but as I had moved down the track I didn’t see how they went as I was checking out the next challenge. This time it was up the first set of rock steps that we had come down. With guidance from Joseph I made it up ok and everyone made it up without too much trouble. Joseph had to have a second attempt to get his rear wheels up the second step as he stopped halfway up so I could take his photo. The next climb was the last for the track which everyone made without trouble. |  |
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We were now back at the first challenge of the day, and as it was now getting dark Joseph guided everyone down the easier track. Once everyone was down we started off (with lights on as it was now dark) down towards Colin’s place. In the dark the track was looking totally different from when we had come up. Everyone made it back to Colin’s house without trouble, although there were a few more bangs and crunch’s from under the car from the rocks missed in the dark. |  |
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We made it back to Col’s place at 5:40pm and started airing up for the trip home. Stephen W put the billy on for a last cupper for the trip. Joseph noticed that his rear spring had come out again so Michael and his Hi-lift jack were called on again. Joseph and I went looking for something to chock his wheels with and almost lost our heads when we turned around and come face to face with a aeroplane wing. After dodging a second wing on the ground we found a log that was suitable. After a bit of ground work so the jack was level and the log in place Joseph’s Jackaroo was up and the spring back in place. |  |
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It was now 6:45pm and time to hit the road back to Capertee. On the way there we past a car going the opposite way, Phil said it was a Jackaroo but others didn’t thick so saying it was a Pajero. The rear number plate light was in the right place for a Jackaroo but it also only had two rear lights and not four. Michael and Eve were the first to leave the group as they stopped to fill up at the Capertee service station. The rest of us kept on going now back on the Castlereagh Highway heading for Lithgow. We knew we were back in civilisation when Stephen told us that Mikaela’s phone was going off with text messages and Joseph was also getting messages. It was also noted that it would be worthwhile to come back at some point to take photos of the power station at night as it looked very good with the station lights lighting up the steam coming from the stacks. |  |
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At Lithgow we split into two groups for the final stage of our trips home. Phil, Stephen and family and Joseph headed down Bells Line Road and Paul, Stephen and I headed home via The Great Western Highway. The rest of the trip was normal for the blacktop except for a point when Paul and Stephen were almost wiped out by an oncoming car that was overtaking someone. Then it was just me as Paul and Stephen turned off the Highway for home. |  |
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All in all I had a great day with some great four wheel driving in a great location. It will be a great shame if this area gets closed off to the public. I’d like to thank Phil for putting on a great trip but from now on, if he puts on a medium trip I’ll take it that it’s hard or easy as medium. Thank you to Joseph, Stephen H and everyone else for all the help on the way. |  |
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PS make it three tyres for the trip as when I went out to the car on Sunday morning my front passenger tyre was flat. |
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Phil Coppins
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