Cabbage Tree Lane Reccie 7.7.06

[sir_camel]

Geoff and I had Friday off so we went and checked out CTL after hearing it was reopened. It has been closed for the last year and a half but at the July Club meeting it was announced it is open again after $200000 has been spent on upgrades/repairs. Looked the same when driving in, however there were a large amount of fence posts about 5m off the track either side of the main road in. They are yet to put the wire in between the posts.

At the start of each track there was a gate that was erected but open. It appears this may be locked at some stage and might be a keyed access system.

http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/d/71196-2/060707+CabbageTreeLane+064.jpg

New signs have also been erected. We found this one particularly amusing. Seems it is encouraging/acknowledging wheelers will be in the area.

http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/d/71006-2/060707+CabbageTreeLane+001.jpg

We went down the first short trail with the awkward rocky section at the bottom. After getting hung up and continually picking bad lines, gave up and decided to do it next time. Didn't want to spend all day there.

http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/d/71010-2/060707+CabbageTreeLane+002.jpg
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/d/71040-2/060707+CabbageTreeLane+012.jpg
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/d/71043-2/060707+CabbageTreeLane+013.jpg

We then continued to the main trail which goes down to the river. There were some other tyre tracks around but it didn't seem like it has been used a lot lately. The track down to the river looked like it had been washed out a bit by rain/water. It is still relativly the same though.

http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/d/71046-2/060707+CabbageTreeLane+014.jpg
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/d/71061-2/060707+CabbageTreeLane+019.jpg
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/d/71088-2/060707+CabbageTreeLane+028.jpg
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/d/71133-2/060707+CabbageTreeLane+043.jpg

Was beautiful down at the river. We parked the Jeeps at the turning circle and walked down to the river. It's places like this that make you realise how lucky we are to go to places like this and the tradgedy when it gets locked off.

http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/d/71148-2/060707+CabbageTreeLane+048.jpg

Both being auto drivers, we much preferd the drive back up to the top. The sheerish rock face was a bit of fun. Geoff got a bit sideways there but managed to climb up anyways after some checking of lines.

http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/d/71163-2/060707+CabbageTreeLane+053.jpg
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/d/71169-2/060707+CabbageTreeLane+055.jpg
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/d/71190-2/060707+CabbageTreeLane+062.jpg

We drove up to the old lookout point which has been roped/blocked off for a few years now to air up. This is when Geoff discovered a yellow object hanging unaturally from under his XJ. Broken shock. Too much flex it seems from his long armed XJ. It flexes like nothing else.

http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/d/71199-2/060707+CabbageTreeLane+065.jpg

So hopefully i'll run a trip there in the next month or two. After all these trail closures, its great to have some good news. Please don't go posting info about this being open around other forums as the less people that know about it, the better IMHO.

I'd rate it a true B grade track these days.

More pics here
http://www.aussiejeepimages.com/gallery2/v/sircamel/ctl06/

[Steve F]

Nice :) Lockers required or is it doable unlocked (Down to the river)? I hope so, looks like a good spot for a drive and a picnic lunch.

Cheers
Steve

[sir_camel]

You could do it unlocked. I drove it two or three times unlocked in the past. Not a lot different now. Just need to pick your lines. Rock sliders would be nice but if your careful will be fine.

[Steve F]

Time to break out the welder then :) Should get sliders done before you organise a trip.

Cheers
Steve

[Dorzun]

H'mm I have thursday and friday off so may have to go and do a reccie also.

[MRGC]

Looks like a good place to go where is cabbag tree lane,

[sir_camel]

Sorry, don't want to post directions on public forum. We gotta be careful. Near Richmond though.