4wd track test

We have two full days in Albany. Today, we test-drive the 4wd track...

Saturday night I crash early to bed, about eight o'clock. Wake up at 6am, get up just a bit later. Our plan is to drive to Elleker -- where the track ends -- and follow the track (in reverse) to Denmark. An easy, not too long drive. Testing the track and the track notes.

No rush. We set off after 8:30. Buy coffee at Elleker, head from there at 9:15.

It should be possible to see the track on our gps, that doesn't work, not sure why. Some of the track shows, not today's section. Not to worry, all the waypoints are there. Deb follows the track notes -- in reverse. I watch the gps map and head towards waypoints. It's all quite easy.

Every so often I adjust the tyre pressure, let some air out. I don't have a particular pressure to aim for, I just drive, let out some air, drive a bit more -- until the ride feels smooth enough.

It takes several stops to let out enough air. Not that the track is rough... The truck was recently serviced, I just can't believe how too-hard the tyres have been pumped. In fact they are so hard that I had to let out air on the highway to Albany. It takes several stops to get the tyres down to a comfortable pressure.

Another test of the system: the gps shows track waypoints in red and geocaches in purple. There are two caches just 3km off the track, we drive to them.

Very nice spot -- we have found the Hay River. Never heard of it before, the caches are at camp/picnic spots by a large pool on the river. We get close but fail to find either cache...

The first cache is -- presumably -- in the bush near the parking space. The bush is wet, we don't want to get wet, we give up. At the second cache, someone is camped. We don't want to disturb them. So, back to the 4wd track, caches unfound.

The bush is wet ? Yes... it's been drizzling rain all morning. Annoying drizzle, I'm constantly turning the wipers on and off. A bit of a worry: this track is said to get boggy when wet.

Down a sand track which is interestingly rough. Then a series of "wombat holes" which we could handle -- but, beyond those -- a nasty bit of bog.

I step across the bog -- and sink in. I think we could drive across with at least two wheels tracking on solid ground, two in the mud. Can we do it ? Probably. But that's not good enough. (a) I don't take risks with just the two of us in the one truck. (b) The track notes mention more bog and two river crossings still to come.

We turn back.

Past those geocache sites. We stop for lunch -- a very pleasant spot looking over the river. We eat in the truck, it's still drizzling rain. We don't look for the caches.

There are some mapped tracks following the river, that would lead to a later point in the track waypoints. By going beside the river for a few km we could cross that river on a sealed road.

Wrong ! The river-following track has bog holes. Okay, we may be able to hug the edge of the track and squeeze by. Again, we don't. We turn back.

Back to the highway, along the scenic drive back to Albany. It's a nice drive. It's not the 4wd track. We managed to follow perhaps 50km of the planned 160.

We spend the afternoon sitting in our cottage. Reading. Relaxing. Listening to the rain.

Evening, we decide to go out for dinner. "Rustlers". It seems to be an American franchise. Friendly -- almost smarmy -- staff, food is good. We share ribs and share dessert. Then set off to look for the lights.

There is a WW I memorial light display at the top of Mt Clarence. Takes us a while to find our way but it is worth the visit. Very atmospheric as long as we avoid the loud talkers and shouting children. There's a chill wind but the rain has stopped.

We appreciate the display then head back to the cottage.

Somewhat disappointing test of the track. On the other hand... This section is (I think) the only part with boggy bits. And -- as we travel north -- the weather will improve. Deb has checked the next part of the track notes, only one bog hole. And it seems that we can drive around that one.

Tomorrow we stay round Albany. Next day we try the next section of track.

====    Dr Nick Lethbridge  /  Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
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"Real people don't make very good politicians." … Ginger Meggs
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dying for you to read my blog: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au :-)
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