Watagans - McKenzies C grade run

[Dru]

Where: Watagans
McKenzie, Cut Rock Fire Trail (not the rock!), Watagan Forest Road, will think about Creek Road, depending on how people feel, Burma look out, Staghorn gully (entry to Wave Rock). Exit via Kulnura a bit closer in to Sydney.

When: Saturday 27th July 2019 (thanks Ian)

Meet: F3 Services about an hour drive north of Sydney on the Motorway just after the Wyong turnoff.

Time: 8:30 for 9:00 - please make sure that you are fueled and not queue-ing at Maccas by 9:00am

Grade: C Grade
It is a Dru'n'Kerry run so there are challenges in the C grade.

Requirements: Stock Jeeps are fine, but note that alloy wheels have been buckled and some trails have branches/blackberry/lantana and can get scratchy - on this trip. BYO first aid, food and water. Make sure you have recovery points. If you have recovery gear bring it, otherwise trip leader will step in if necessary.

This run is limited to: 14 vehicles and that will be a "lock", no more from there.

Further info contact: Dru Spork 0419 855 121 (tel:0419 855 121)

Attending:

1. Dru'n'Kerry: JK Rubicon shorty
2. JPJ; John
3. Rich Henning: JKU
4. Ian: Willies confirmed
5. Ben: WJ
6. Martin: JKU
7. GP: JK
8. Steve and Lisa: JK

9. 4WD4WD: Chris TJ
10. Qaanita: JK

11. Aaron JKU
12. Declan: WJ (I think!)
13. Big Bronco
14. Corey (apologies at missing you on the list earlier)



List closed.

[JPJ]

Hi Dru,

Can you add me to the list

Thanks
John

[Dru]

Hi Dru,

Can you add me to the list

Thanks
John

done, look forward to catching up

[richhenning]

Please add me , thanks Dru

[Flatfender]

Dru . . . put me down as provisional please. I need to try changing some other arrangements.

Thanks Ian W.
PS 2019?

[Dru]

Guys, just a note, we may swap this to the north - south C grade run through Watagans. If that doesnt work and you really want McKenzies, let me know.

[H2Micr0]

Hi Dru

Please add me to the list.

Cheers

Ben

[SnakeDoctor]

Sounds great, please count me in.

[gp]

Dru please put me down for this run, regards.

[Steve x]

Hi Dru and Kerry
please add Steve and Lisa to this trip; thanks

[stevet]

If the Jeep is mobile, yes please......Will know on Friday....

[ChrisTJ]

I’m in, if that’s OK....

[Dru]

I’m in, if that’s OK....

All good, and welcome. Would you mind telling me what is your name and what you drive?

Cheers

Dru'n'Kerry

[ChrisTJ]

All good, and welcome. Would you mind telling me what is your name and what you drive?

Cheers

Dru'n'Kerry

I’m Chris with a black TJ...

[Dru]

I’m Chris with a black TJ...

Thanks heaps, Chris.:encouragement:

[stevet]

See you all at the servo!!!...

[Qaanita]

Thanks for putting on a trip! Can i join the reserve please :)
Qaanita JK - lift, rocksliders, recovery points all good

[Flatfender]

I am good to go now . . problem solved!
Ian W.

[Dru]

Thanks for putting on a trip! Can i join the reserve please :)
Qaanita JK - lift, rocksliders, recovery points all good

Hey Qaanita no probs. Book the date in. We dont want the group size getting out of control but you are welcome.

[Dru]

@Ian and Steve - fabulous! Locked away.

[skye]

hi Dru can you put me down if any cancel thanks skye .

[Dru]

hi Dru can you put me down if any cancel thanks skye .

Keep the date locked in Skye. We will look at the numbers closer to the day.

Dru

[Dru]

Rain has taken the trails back to that greasey-slip that only the Waratahs do this well. :jaded:

We had been toying with the idea of Green’s Break but the clay has turned a C+ to a B. And we got hung up at log damnit! Also. Creek Trail is too rutted for a “stocker” run.

we did find a whole new trail as an entry point that works well for a C grade that needs driving. We’ll be back before the trip re-looking at the Drury Lane end

Will drop some pics/video on Face Book as the forum still won’t accept my files.

[aza mof]

Put me and the girls down on the reserve list

[SnakeDoctor]

My Jeep is 0 for 2 attempts at that tree. I've got another idea for next time.

CPT80?

[Dru]

Guys: This one is a C Grade, I can see we will have to quickly follow up with C+/B in the area, but we will leave CPT 80 for the next one. :highly_amused:

Aaron - lock the girls in, Kerry says we wouldn't dream of playing in your back yard and not say "yes". Looks like we will be a large convoy.

Dru'n'Kerry

[Coreyhannaford]

Could you please add me to the list!

[Coreyhannaford]

Could you please add me to the list!

[Dru]

Could you please add me to the list!

Hi Corey. Yes I will up date the list. Vehicle?

Dru'n'Kerry

[Dru]

And that's it folks. List is closed.

Dru'n'Kerry

[Misfit]

Hi guys can you add me to this trip ��

[Dru]

Hey Declan - yep, list updated.

[Dru]

OK guys, the list is now closed.

Dru'n'Kerry

[Misfit]

Thanks Dru much appreciated.

[crdsteve]

Hi Drew, understand list is closed.
If anyone drops off would love to be stand by

Cheers

Steve

[Dru]

Hi Drew, understand list is closed.
If anyone drops off would love to be stand by

Cheers

Steve

We will keep an eye out Steve.

Dru

[Misfit]

Lads the meeting point F3 services (new to Sydney) is this a service station on the corner for the turn off ?

[H2Micr0]

Lads the meeting point F3 services (new to Sydney) is this a service station on the corner for the turn off ?

It's here.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Unnamed+Road,+Alison+NSW+2259/@-33.2554816,151.4005326,935m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x6b72d23c01f8a529:0x1 2f904872837bba9!8m2!3d-33.255486!4d151.4027213

Hope that helps.

Cheers
Ben

[Misfit]

Thanks Ben much appreciated.

[stevet]

Hi Dru & Kerry,
Have to pull out of this run as I've had a roster change to cater for a new admission in my house....
Thank's, Stephen T.

[Dru]

Hi Dru & Kerry,
Have to pull out of this run as I've had a roster change to cater for a new admission in my house....
Thank's, Stephen T.

Damn! Thanks for letting us know Stephen.

CRDSteve - looks good for you though. List updated.

[Dru]

Kerry and I completed a full reccie on the route yesterday. It's going to be a long day if we get through the whole thing when we have such a large convoy - but then we can simply stop at an appropriate time.

We start at Awaba, near Freemans Water Hole in the north of the Watagans area and end up in Jilliby SCA in the south. The stages are joined together by D grade gravel roads or main trails (Watagans Forest Drive and Prickley Ridge Rd). There are a couple of short challenge bits to break up the graded trails.

Stage 1: Awaba Mountain Bike area. Easy.
Stage 2: McKenzies. Easy but getting tighter.
A short rock crawl bypass because it is there. Downhill, tight final drop onto the exit trail - it will be fine though we may spot.
Stage 3: Cut rock fire trail (not the B+ cut rock itself, but the trail that shares it's name), bit scratchy and a loose rock-shale climb out.
Another short C grade rock crawl tranversing between trails
Stage 4: Area surrounding Drury Lane verging on C+ and then if we keep to the chicken tracks.

Hopefully the tracks attached are useful to someone. :highly_amused:

3086
3087

While it only needs a little rain to change things in this area, the forests are definitely drying out compared to a couple of weeks ago. There are still a few puddles and some small bogs that can't be avoided, so expect to get muddy!


Dru and Kerry

[Big_Bronco]

Hi Drew and Kerry
Could you please add me to the convoy list :smile-new:

[Dru]

Hi Drew and Kerry
Could you please add me to the convoy list :smile-new:

Thanks mate, list updated.

and that has to be it, list actually closed. :excitement:

[isherz]

Fab response guys....obviously we need to do more C+ trips!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[H2Micr0]

Fab response guys....obviously we need to do more C+ trips!

I am working on it!!!!

LOL

Cheers
Ben

[SnakeDoctor]

Wow this run is huge!

Nice work!

[isherz]

Yes you are Ben....
[emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[crdsteve]

Hi Drew.
Thanks for adding me to the list, but unfortunately I'll have to pull out. Change of work schedule for my ex, so I'll have the kids and don't think they would appreciate a full day offloading like I would.
Sorry again

[Dru]

Checking conditions:

No relevant fires.
Parks closures are the usual culprits that we have gotten used to avoiding.
As earlier Forestries have said they have nothing that is likely to impact us.
There is a slim chance of minor rain - this usually means nothing, but if light shouldn't impact things much.
It should be cool-ish. Light wind.

:encouragement:

Dru

[H2Micr0]

What?!?! no ice breaking when crossing water???

Looking forward to it.

Cheers
Ben

[skye]

hi Dru sorry for the late text i wont make it tomorrow my tension-er has just ceased up and broke the belt ill have to fix it tomorrow .. skye

[Dru]

hi Dru sorry for the late text i wont make it tomorrow my tension-er has just ceased up and broke the belt ill have to fix it tomorrow .. skye

Ouch. Thanks for letting us know. All the best.

[aza mof]

I will have my kids with me

[Dru]

I will have my kids with me

Super. Stay on channel 15 as you hunt for the air down point.

Dru

[Dru]

So a great trip out there. Pics on the FB page.

thanks everyone who joined us. :encouragement:

Dru’n’Kerry

[Flatfender]

Thanks Dru and Kerry for a great day out - great tracks and great scenery.
My cracked exhaust header held together for the trip home but it might take me a while to pull it apart and fix it. too much else on the go.
Ian W.

[Dru]

Thanks Dru and Kerry for a great day out - great tracks and great scenery.
My cracked exhaust header held together for the trip home but it might take me a while to pull it apart and fix it. too much else on the go.
Ian W.

Glad you made it home Ian. :smile-new:

[richhenning]

Thanks for a great trip Dru and Kerry. Appreciate the effort you went to in the prep and running the day. Nice to hang out with the fellow jeepers for the day.
Rich

[Qaanita]

so much fun! thanks again Dru n' Kerry. Thanks for encouraging and helping me disconnect my sway bars for the first time :)

[Steve x]

Thanks Kerry and Dru, for a great day out.
Steve and Lisa.

[Flatfender]

Well at least I know where the noise was coming from!
The problem is finding a replacement LH header or someone who can do a good job of welding relatively thin cast iron

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