Christmas / New Year Sunday 06/01/08

[homedg]

Is anyone planning a run over the Christmas/New Year Period?
HO Ho HO!

[Steve F]

Might do Stockton but it depends on how much Christmas Cheer I have ;)

Cheers
Steve

[casey]

We're up for a run if there is one on :)

[DVL12H]

just got mine back from the warranty work, so I'm in!

just depends which day of course! haha

[pickel]

Yeah im up for a trip let me know when

[stevet]

Hi Folk's,
I am up for a run on Sunday the 6th. Either the ZigZag or the Wattigans is good for me. The Wattigans is a "B"+ grade run from what I can recall but was fun & muddy. ;D
Stephen T.

[sir_camel]

I can't make it then Steve but no worries. I was up in the Watagans a few weeks ago. I think doing the trail you are thinking of. Some MASSIVE washed out ruts and deep mud in some parts now. But we got a stock as a rock discovery through (with some CAREFUL spotting). Some is definitely creeping into B grade territory.

[rebecca]

Hi Steve,

Casey and I are in. Either location is good for us!

Thanks,

Rebecca

[stevet]

Hi Folks,
So who's in for Sunday and where??
The Wattigans for the unknown?, or The ZigZag for more practice on known tracks?.
I would like to do the Wattigans again as long as the rain does not fall as predicted ( prefer to have an winched-up Jeep along as safety as it does get boggy at places when it comes down! ).
So as it stands__ Homedg,
Casey/Rebecca,
Kerrod,
Pickel,
Stephen T..
Anybody else wanting to drive on Sunday?? Post-up intent & where??
Stephen T.

[pickel]

Zig zag sounds good not a fan of the Wattigans. Let me know

[azasjeep]

I will be keen for a run on sunday, would prefer the watagans as i will be up the coast anyway on saturday for a wedding and can stay there the night...either destination im happy with though.

And i have a winch steve :)

[Steve F]

I might make it, Jeep will be in pieces tomorrow fixing the driveshaft ball centering joint so I'll check in on Saturday evening.

Cheers
Steve

[stevet]

Location??? That's 2 for the wattigans 1 for the ZigZag.
Anymore preferences, majority will rule!!! I will be home from work after 11.30ish tonight and will see what's been posted up.
Stephen T.

[pickel]

Is there any good tracks up the wattigans all i found was dead ends.

[azasjeep]

watagans is huge mate heaps of tracks lots of everything rocks, mud and rutted hills

[stevet]

Hi all,
Well, looks like we get to try the Wattigans/Watagans,
We can meet at the old toll stop on the Old Pacific Hwy at Berowra at 7.30a.m., then head off from there. My Mb. No. (0412)-707903,if you need to contact me or post up any other meeting spots you know.
Stephen T.

[pickel]

Will be there not sure where the meeting spot is but im sure ill find it.

[Steve F]

Jeep all fixed only took 90 minutes :) So now my rear driveshaft no longer vibrates or makes horrible noises.

See you guys tomorrow morning at the old toll gates then :) Finally a meeting point only 10 minutes from my place how could I not go :)

Cheers
Steve

[DVL12H]

Sorry Steve!

I have to stay off the tracks as my jeep is going back to the dealership for the 4th time since I broke the CV joints... this time it's booked in for a few weeks time and they want to keep it for a week.... PAIN IN THE ARSE!!!!!

4 times back under warranty within a month...

seriously, who would wanna buy a jeep ??

:P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P

[Steve F]

We also have a visitor coming along, Wotan, he was on the Lake Lyel trip in the yellow TJ.

Cheers
Steve

[stevet]

Hi all,
Sorry to here that you are out Kerrod, but see all of you others in the morning. 8)
Stephen T.

[jeepthing]

So??? how was the watagans mud? pics? :) :)

[Steve F]

We had a bit of an exploration day as Steve T had problems with the Jeep on the way to the meeting point and had to pull out. Since none of us new the Watagans that well we were at a bit of a lose but carried on. We went to Slippery Rock Road but it was closed due to storm damage and trees on the track so then went on to Rope Road. It was a bit slippery on the way in but not much mud, a lot of standing water though with some decent water holes and plenty of leeches, I was one of the lucky ones and didn't get a single one while some got half a dozen or so.

We took it pretty easy and went down to the creek on Rope Road where the old wooden bridge used to be, crossed this and then went up the other side up a short rock climb, some mud and deep ruts and then a large tree root section. We turned around here though as despite the Rubicon JK's lockers the tyres weren't up to clearing the mud and it just couldn't get any traction in the uphill rutted sections. Rather than snatch it and push on to harder sections we decided to turn around. Here's where we had a winch recovery as even though it was flat the ruts were big and the long JK got high centered, the only option was to strap the back off to stop it sliding into a tree and then winch the front around to get it straight again. Other than that it was fairly uneventfull but the tracks were still a good laugh and needed some decent wheel placement to get through.

I've only got a couple of pics and they're all of my XJ, I'll post the one and hope the others will post up soon :)

http://www.4wdlinks.com.au/albums/album418/100_5196_NONUM.sized.jpg

All in all a fun little trip :)

Cheers
Steve

[jeepthing]

sounds like a good trip. i couldnt make this trip, but if the rubicon struggled my stock gc wouldnt have coped well at all :-[ ....

[sir_camel]

Yea Rope Rd is pretty hardcore for stock or close to stock vehicles. Look forward to more pics.

[casey]

Here is the link to the gallery of our pics of the day:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/caseyg/sets/72157603657136681/

Here are a few of them..

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2020/2173594775_37fea50a26.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/caseyg/sets/72157603657136681/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2400/2173618597_49045cd126.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/caseyg/sets/72157603657136681/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2174415206_7592ab80f3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/caseyg/sets/72157603657136681/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2397/2173632023_44c4598dc8.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/caseyg/sets/72157603657136681/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2147/2174422372_42fbdd07db.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/caseyg/sets/72157603657136681/)

[DVL12H]

damn.. I used to love the wattagans!

Wish I didn't miss this one!!!


Casey, those rubicon tyres leave a lot to be desired for genuine offroaders!!! Why don't we get the Muddies that the Yanks get on theres??

[Wolfe]

#$%^&@#$%)(&%%&$%#$ Damn, I must have been asleep to miss this trip. :'( ???

[homedg]

Looks like the Colonel got a good work out on this trip.
V Nice.
Top photos as well.