We arrived at Rose Neath camping grounds to find John and Yvonne gearing up for a first ride, after setting up their camping gear, and my parents (pit crew) having just finished erecting the camper trailer for me to bunk down in later that night.
After a quick chat, in which John seemed convinced he was going to get rained on, my little family headed off to have tea with my parents, and John and Yvonne headed off on their ride.
When I returned at about 8:30, John told me that they did indeed get rained on. "Soaked to the skin" was I think the wording 
Others had already turned up, Peter and Macca, JR and Family, and people were still arriving.
Tim turned up with his KTM 380. He was sprung test riding a week before by Dave and John, which is apparently a turn about for the books, since its usually him springing John.
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The Tony's arrived together, and Tony C proceeded to put his tent up in the kitchen area! Tony F on the other hand, has apparently become a dedicated in car sleeper. |
Quite a few cans and stubbies were downed on the Friday night as people arrived.
Mirvan the Urvan did a fantastic impression of being a WRX when "The Wellies" rumbled in later in the evening, and when morning came, we had 19 riders, a few other halves, a bunch of kids, and two dogs!
The first days riding started on Amtra time, scheduled for 9am, we left camp by 10am. I think about 20 minutes of the difference was discussion on whether to bring jackets, wear your jacket, or that jackets are for poofs, with at least a few members being indecisive, and changing their minds a couple of times.
A short ride through some paddocks, and we were into the scrub big time, with some great trails through the bush.
Dave seemed a little apprehensive, after seeing his first emu within half an hour of starting the ride proper. Apparently we missed the creek crossing that gave Neil some trouble last year, but still some mud was found for the boys to get dirty in.
The pine forest trail saw Dave go down, something which you dont often see. Actually, it saw lots go down, including me.
Macca's &;^(&;!$&; KTM 2 smoke was giving trouble almost from the start, needing to be push started pretty much straight away. I think before lunch, that he had been told to sell it numerous times. Something that only became more and more repeated as the weekend wore on
I found the new WR 250F to be much better suspended that the old XR 250, however, it was a little easier to stall, which I did at least a couple of times each day. Early on, I dropped it and proved that the Yamaha standard brush guards, while keeping brush away alright, certainly didn't do anything to protect the clutch lever from being bent so that two fingers were all that I
could use. Oh well, I thought, it will force me to get used to using only two fingers (theres a silver lining to everything I guess).
Thankfully, the WR was easier to start after a fall than the Old XR, and even continued running while laid down, something the XR definitely wouldn't do for more than a second.
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Our first sort of "stop" for the day, was beside a pine forest, with a very thick layer of wood chips on the track. Dave took great advantage of the woodchips when he roosted Russell so much that Russel looked like he'd been standing on his bike under the Chipper! |
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Some more tight trails followed, before another brief stop, and then looking for the place where they usually cross through a creek (no water). Dave seemed to have some trouble finding the crossing spot, spending so much time looking for it that he decide to lodge himself gently into a tree and think about it. Being right behind him at this spot provided me with a very funny moment. Gotta get that Helmet camera, as that would have been a classic Eventually Neil (I think) pointed the way, and through we went. |
I stalled the wr again at the bottom, and I think the hardest thing is getting the darn thing into neutral. After that she only take two quick stabs at the starter to get it going again.
Some more great trails followed, and a quick transport into Dergholm for lunch.
On the way Tony C hit a sheep while checking it out, and thinking about his rubber boots, rather than where he was going. He needed a quick patch up for a big graze on his arm, and the XR bars seemed slightly twisted.
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Derhgolm pub looked after us like champions, and while it took a while to get everyone fed, we watched a bit of the Canberra touring cars on the TV in the front bar. A couple of guys couldn't resist the urge to have a beer. Just being in a bar does that to some of them. |
After lunch was trails over the west side of Dergholm, and the bike swapping had already begun, with John's new KTM 520 being the popular ride. We eventually found the pine machine (I forget what exactly it is) sunken in the peat bog. Dean decided it would be a good idea to ride over the top of the sunken beast, which was fine the first time. Second time through, his front tire sunk straight into the sludge, and he did a great handstand and
was oh so close to going over the bars. His bike was stuck pretty well, but do you think anyone was going to help? Not bloody likely
Next was some soft sandy beside the pines tracks, culminating in a blast around the outside of a few acres of pines, where the sand bermed up beautifully with every rider, and was an absolute hoot!
Then it was back to camp for the night. It was colder than the night before do to the lack of cloud cover, so a huge stump was quickly shoved on the fire, with Tony F coming to the fires rescue after dinner was cooked, and getting it going nicely. Apparently, these things take time, and gentle management.
There was some discussion over the alignment of the floodlight, and Peter decided he could best move it from the top of the kitchen, so threw his asbestos gloves up there ready to go and move it. In the meantime, some bright spark moved it with a broom Peter still had to get up and get his gloves. Doh.
Many Cans, Stubbies, bottles of Stones were drunk, culminating with Chris W being the last awake, with the two Tom's.
I piked it early at about 10pm, and turned on the little fan heater for a while to get warm. Thank god not too many knew about that, or I'd have had half the camp in the camper trailer!
Next morning saw it looking a bit bleaker, and the jacket discussion was on again. One Amtra member declared that a jacket would definitely NOT be needed, and he wasn't even taking one! 18 Other riders thought he was a little crazy, and if they didn't have the jacket on already, they certainly had one somewhere handy for when the rain came.
Off we went again, south west this time I think, through the state forest between Penola Road and MT Gambier Road, eventually crossing over MT Gambier road to head down towards the river.
There was a little while where Dave seemed lost, and had to ride around in circles before he realised that he was on the wrong side of the creek. A quick trip back to the MT Gambier Road and over the creek saw us along a great sandy track and stopping at the river for a Chocky bar break.
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I decided this would be a good time for a couple of pics, and proceeded to jog to my bike while everybody was still within the camera shot, and promptly laid myself out into the grass by tripping over some wire on the ground. This of course was very funny to the rest of the guys. Just lucky I had the full body armour and padding on eh fellas. |
Next section was along the side of the river bank, which I must admit to being a little apprehensive about. After all, it is about a 20 foot drop over the side, and while there appeared to be plenty of space, I took it a little easy through this section, which was very nice trail country. Going from sandy, to greasy clay, to grassed, to lovely black dirt over and over again.
Chris W had a spill in this section, which was apparently quite spectacular.
We re-grouped on a gravel road afterwards, before heading into the scrub again along more great sandy trails, finishing with a transport into Casterton for some lunch at the "Top shop" (local knowledge there .
Again we were looked after in fine style, buying all their edibles for lunch, and they even cooked extras for those that were a little late getting in.
By now, everybody who had a jacket with them, had it on, as the transport had been quite drizzly, and while you are in the bush, and riding hard, you tend not to notice the rain near a much as when going along the road.
While finishing off lunch, Dean made the call for the wet whether bottoms as well! There were great big clouds coming in, and it looked like it was going to come down hard.
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Chris W. Jacketless Chris W had to give in at this point, and having failed to borrow a jacket, bought a pack of garbage bags from the shop, and proceeded to make his own "jacket". It actually turned out quite well, and apparently he's got 19 left to use |
After lunch saw a bit of transport out MT Gambier road, before turning off and through the back of where we came from before, with some more great sandy trails, in which I decided that it was silly to have only the left lever on the new bike bent, and proceeded to drop it on the right hand side, and bend the *&;^# front brake lever in almost the identical way.
A short way further on found Tony F on the ground, having dropped the XR 600. He was having some typical XR starting hassles (I can say that now , and waved us through, where after a short ride we all grouped up again on a big sandy open patch. Russell proceeded to try some circle work, but the sand was just a little to "grippy", and it just wasn't happening properly. Chris W decided that a few of us needed to be filled in with the sand, and proceeded to do so.
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Off we went again, and Dave found a little creek to cross, and proceeded slowly down into it. Well, that produced what would have been the first of about 20 minutes of fantastic helmet cam moments, starting with Dave stuck on his bike, with the back wheel 2 feet into the air, and him trying to get off it. We proceeded to give him some assistance to get out, and then Mark E followed through, doing it a little better. I was third, and stalled the blue beast again (hey, its the first real trail ride alright). |
Chris W was talked into trying a different line by Russell, straight up the small creek, and out the bank. While not entirely a bad line, it certainly was wet.
Most came through the original "Dave" line, with assistance by other members.
Tony F and Tony C both decided to go the "Russell" line, and needed some help to get through, and Mark G, Christo and others helped him out.
Our illustrious president Tim arrived on the KTM 380 late on the scene, and quickly decided to bypass the bottleneck of the "Dave" line, and launched into the "Russell" line, only to become in need of just as much help as the rest. Mark G came to the rescue, and while shouting loudly "Don't rev it" from behind Tim, pushed from the rear.
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Now, anybody who has ever pushed anything from the rear knows that this was asking for trouble. Well, it wasn't just asking, cause Mark G received the trouble in spades. Great roosty gobs of it whacked him all over. Mark G, seeing his mistake, swore, cursed, and hotfooted it about 10 feet backwards. |
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Right in line for Tim to drop the clutch and really give it a fistful. Did you know that the big 2 banger can produce 20 to 30 foot high roost without much effort at all? And the roost, when coming from the bottom of a small (but flowing and muddy) creek, is very impressive to watch, but quite wet to receive. |
Mark G saved his goggles from getting dirty by turning his back to the roaring KTM, unfortunately, his goggles were around the back of his neck, and this didn't work. The antics of Tim and Mark G caused many an Amtra member to roll around on the ground in laughter, producing the funniest moment of the trip for all who were watching, except Mark G and Tim (who wasn't looking, and swears he didn't mean to).
Poor Mark G must have been very cold after that, but he didn't complain. However, if I was Mr president.. I'd be watching my back, as a WR 400 can produce quite a roost itself
After this was some more great river bank riding, and a long transport section, on which Gordon threw the Big XR 650 down in a big way over a bridge. Thankfully only some bruises to show for it.
Eventually we came through to some pines. A few of us waited at the pines for a bit, bunching the group up, then Dave and a couple of others headed off. Russell came through, and he had asked how the WR 250F went the night before, so I decided it was time for a bit of a dice, and off I went to track him down.
We spent the next ten minutes swapping the front possie, backing it in around corners, and generally having a great time. The littlest WR certainly puts in, and has a much different power band to the XR 250/400. I think I said it on the camp, and I'll say it again. I don't mind revving the tits off the little beast to get the most out of it
After that was a short transport back to camp, where discussions of the days antics and can &; stubbie opening began almost immediately.
I Wussed out and took all my gear into Casterton, and spent the night in a warm cosy bed after some nice dinner and red wine while the rest stayed camped at Rose Neath.
Things that were missing from this camp.
- Strippers - talk about Russell's bucks night made a few who didn't see the strippers wish they were there
- Dougie. Apparently he is the funniest guy around, and should be on more camps. Cmon Dougie, get your act together.
- Dartmoor. We set off in the general direction of Dartmoor, but never made it
- Major get offs (A couple of decent ones, but no major injuries is always a plus)
- Helmet Camera
Things that were there that shouldn't have been.
- Tony C camping in the kitchen!
- Kangaroos! Dave had a count of 57 Roos, and 6 Emus for just the second days ride, and we all know how much he likes Roos!
- Rain. It wasn't constant, but there was a little too much on the second day, and at night
Things for me to bring next year.
- Wife & Kids
- More places to ride. I'll be visiting the area a few times in the year to try and find some more tracks to blast around on. I already have the name of the owner of the MX track just out of Casterton, which would be a good place for a BBQ lunch I reckon.