Amamoor Forest Drive

I (Troopy) was the first to arrive at Amamoor Creek campground closely followed by Danno We had set up when others began rolling in. The last was Fred and Jacinta who arrived about 9.0pm. The first comments from the earlier arrivals was simply, “What a beautiful place for a camp.” Others were already there but no issue for us.

Friday evening we had a fire going with all people gathered around. A lot of banter. A lot of questions about where we were going and style of tracks. I just said that we will have a meeting in the morning when all information would come out.

Saturday morning we had our meeting at about 8.30am. I explained that I was using Newtracs information with their colour coding. I was not going to take the Red coloured tracks due to the number of vehicles (13) and we had some inexperienced people that I did not wish to discourage. At the meeting I explained that all people had to assess themselves with ability, but I wanted inexperienced to be in between the more experienced when in convoy. It was noted about recovery procedures etc. No questions.

We began our trip by doing the Northside of the campground. These 'Newtracs' were coded Green, Blue and Brown. Of which none were really difficult. Some overgrown with shrubery and in two cases, fallen trees across the track.

The fallen trees were quickly taken care of by Trevor with his hand pruning saw. It was so sharp I had ideas of Trevor giving me a shave. Anyway when the trees were cut to manageable sizes, a trusty 70series Toyota was strapped to pull them off the tracks and allowed us all through.

Before the tree episode we were on a Brown track which divided. I took the wrong track to the left of the divide and wondered why my vehicle indicator mark was following an altitude contour line. Luckily there was a place to turn and get back to the original track. This put me at the back of the convoy and Kerry as lead. Then came a very steep downhill. This put Kerry in a pradicament. No-one could get around her. She had to go. Made it with flying colours. At the bottom we all had space for reforming our convoy. Then came the trees.

Continuing we came to the gravel road that lead back to camp. Still early, so we looked at another Brown track. Turned into it. A sign read that no vehicles of any type allowed without Authority. Also a mound, of which there are many, but the other side of this one was a swamp. Decided to return to camp for early lunch.

Lunch over we then headed for the Southside of camp. Drove down Amamoor Creek rd toward Amamoor then took a sharp right onto a Green track. Here we found dust, dust and more dust. Tracks were good but every car was totally hidden by dust. This was only on the Green coded tracks. Once we got to the Blues and Browns the dust stopped. We then were able to drive a variety of track conditions. Some interesting but mostly easyish.

We returned to camp at about 3.0pm. Got a fire going and prepared for 'happy hour.' We discussed the tracks completed and agreed that they were all under coded, meaning that none were really difficult. A few people were keen to look at some Red tracks. I said that as we were packing up the following morning we could go out for an hour and do a track nearby.

I led Danno, Scott, Leigh, Mark Keilar and Fred. At the track I stopped and suggested that others have a look first. I decided it was not for my car, but all others went for it and succeeded both up and down. Mark made a spectacular move on the way down. Front left wheel into a washout and the rear looking to overtake vertically. Mark reached the bottom and looked unfazed.

We returned to camp and finished packing up. All people said that they had a great time. I know that I did with a fantastic and light hearted crowd. Hope we can do it again.