Monsildale Creek Run

8am Start at the Woodford Bakery and a good turn out to boot.

Steve in his Lib Wagon, Dazza in his Lib sedan, Jan in his Lib sedan & Ian, Dane and Georgina, Dave M & me and my 3 year old young bloke Cohen - all in our mighty Brumbys - but not a Forester or Outback insight!

Into the Conondale State Forest we went - After a good hill climb easily handled by all (except me who needed 2 goes), we faced a long and very steep decent into the valley one by one - 1st gear, low range for the Brumbies and anchors out the back for the Libs & a good opportunity for some pics and to point out to my young co-pilot how to check to see if there are Koalas around - I love the Australian Bush and I'm really glad that we get to go out and explore it!

One of the Libs was getting a bit hot under, so we stopped, the guys disconnected the overflow bottle, refilled the radiator and sorted it out - no more dramas.

We then entered a private farm with the permission of the land owners - and followed Monsildale creek. With hills and paddocks either and a crystal clear creek - it was a really picturesque place. This was a good opportunity for a few (about 7 all up I think) - although shallow - creek crossings. We stopped for a bit of lunch on the banks of the creek after one of the crossings. The only blight on this spot was a few of us were attacked by some rouge stingy nettle - bugger. While cooling our heels in the creek the small tree python decided that he didn't want to share our side of the creek and took off through the water to somewhere more private.

The pace was pretty brisk throughout the day - after all this was Jan "Possum" K setting leading the pack in the lib. I got a little crossed up in the ute a couple of times on the windy (but fast) downhill section - thought I got away with it too but Steve saw me - more training required here - We came over a hill and must have surprised the bloke driving the hoaradore (Commodore) - as when he saw us he chucked a hand brakie, did a u-bolt and tore off in the opposite direction with great haste. Jan - obviously concerned for their welfare, gave chase - just to stir them up a little - didn't catch him though - I don't think he was really trying.

We then got out onto the black top and bam Jan copped a nail in one of his Super trippers - so he did a roadside change. Dave M took off back to Brissie at this point as there was a lawn needing mowing with his name on it - if only he'd hung around for the next stage of the trip!

We headed back into the bush and onto a track that the guys said they'd traversed about 12 months ago - Crikey!, I don't think anyone had been there since, as we headed in we found it was overgrown to buggery. It got tighter, and narrower and thicker with tall grass, lantana and other plants rubbing the underside of the cars as we headed in - Dave would have loved it! There was a bush repair on Danes Brumby mid jungle - good ol' zip ties — is there anything they can't do?

With rocky hill climbs, steep rocky descents, creek crossings, a bit of pace on the dirt roads and some thick scrub it was a great well planned all round trip - if only there was some mud!

                                                                       Reggae Grizard  SC 614

More Pictures can be found here thanks to Dazza