Rally
Forum Member
I have just returned from a magnificent long weekend away with the Holden Jackaroo 4WD Club- and what a really enjoyable weekend it was. It started out fine as we headed off from North Richmond, but by the tuime we reached the other side of the mountains it began to rain. We turned off the Gt Western Hwy and headed to Sunny Corner- and obviously it wasn't. We then came up across the first of 4 river crossings- with myself in the Forrie, 2 Jackaroos, a Prado and a Patrol. The Forrie went through no worries, although the river was a reasonable height and moving reasonably quickly, but with a concrete bottom the Forrie made it through fine. The next crossing was a bit deeper, and for the first time I noticed it pull on the car, and I quickly went back to low range to keep up momentum. Made it through ok as well. The 3 rd crossing was just about the same, but it was the 4th crossing just before Sofala that worried me the most. With a gravel bottom, a worrying fast moving river and the deepest crossing yet.
The bigger cars made it through ok, but I was fully aware those beasts weighed 500kgs more than the Forrie or more. So in I go, and the bow wave is visible and I immediately think about that Outback which drank itself to death. But the little Forrie never skipped a beat and made it through without problem. I might change the rear diff oil now just in case, as I noticed wet carpet in the back of the car. It was still raining when we had lunch at Sofala- such a lovely little village. It was 30 years to the day since I had my last meal at Sofala, so the memories were coming back. The road to Hill End is sealed for almost the whole way now unfortunately, but Hill End is simply a magic little village- and it had been 30 years also since my last visit. Little has changed and the place is all the better for it. Like Sofala, you can almost see the horse and carts during the gold rush of the 1850's in the main street, or tied up outside the local pub.
From there we went down the Bridle Track, but the continuing rain had meant the river was now too deep to cross. We headed back up and found one camping area, but it was a mud bath so we kept going until we found a really good one all to ourselves. I brought out my super tarp and by then I was quite wet. Pulled out the esky and had a drink, cooked dinner and tried a fire but it was too wet. I tried to dry out in the car with the heater on, but once in the swag I realised I had failed and was cold all night.
Next morning it started to dry out and we headed off for a drive around the local area. We came across the Macquarie River and it was in flood. A couple of blokes wanted to cross it, but their girlfriends did not. I said I'd only do it with a gun to my head as it was over waist deep, moving quickly with a gravel bottom which may have been washed away. We left them to it, did a Uey and went back to camp. Just as arrived it rained and a sudden gust of wind damaged the tarp. But as quickly as it came it went, and we ened up with a brilliant star lit night. We cooked some lovely damper to go with the steak and jacketed potatoes. Wonderful.
This morning dawned beautiful and sunny, and i quickly had the fire going again. It warmed up and we slowly packed up. We came back through Bathurst and re-joined the world of traffic and highway patrol cars and for me that signaled the end of camping trip. We had lunch halfway to Mt Lambie, returned via Bells Line of Road, said goodbye at the Kurrajong Heights lookout where you could clearly see Sydney in the far distance. Came home, jumped in the shower and the day is almost over. The long weekend is too and that is such a pity. The Forrie never skipped a beat, it went everywhere the big boys did and I once again won dirtiest car award, with mud all over the roof, bonnet and everywhere else. I am still having computer issues but if I can get some photos up I will.
The bigger cars made it through ok, but I was fully aware those beasts weighed 500kgs more than the Forrie or more. So in I go, and the bow wave is visible and I immediately think about that Outback which drank itself to death. But the little Forrie never skipped a beat and made it through without problem. I might change the rear diff oil now just in case, as I noticed wet carpet in the back of the car. It was still raining when we had lunch at Sofala- such a lovely little village. It was 30 years to the day since I had my last meal at Sofala, so the memories were coming back. The road to Hill End is sealed for almost the whole way now unfortunately, but Hill End is simply a magic little village- and it had been 30 years also since my last visit. Little has changed and the place is all the better for it. Like Sofala, you can almost see the horse and carts during the gold rush of the 1850's in the main street, or tied up outside the local pub.
From there we went down the Bridle Track, but the continuing rain had meant the river was now too deep to cross. We headed back up and found one camping area, but it was a mud bath so we kept going until we found a really good one all to ourselves. I brought out my super tarp and by then I was quite wet. Pulled out the esky and had a drink, cooked dinner and tried a fire but it was too wet. I tried to dry out in the car with the heater on, but once in the swag I realised I had failed and was cold all night.
Next morning it started to dry out and we headed off for a drive around the local area. We came across the Macquarie River and it was in flood. A couple of blokes wanted to cross it, but their girlfriends did not. I said I'd only do it with a gun to my head as it was over waist deep, moving quickly with a gravel bottom which may have been washed away. We left them to it, did a Uey and went back to camp. Just as arrived it rained and a sudden gust of wind damaged the tarp. But as quickly as it came it went, and we ened up with a brilliant star lit night. We cooked some lovely damper to go with the steak and jacketed potatoes. Wonderful.
This morning dawned beautiful and sunny, and i quickly had the fire going again. It warmed up and we slowly packed up. We came back through Bathurst and re-joined the world of traffic and highway patrol cars and for me that signaled the end of camping trip. We had lunch halfway to Mt Lambie, returned via Bells Line of Road, said goodbye at the Kurrajong Heights lookout where you could clearly see Sydney in the far distance. Came home, jumped in the shower and the day is almost over. The long weekend is too and that is such a pity. The Forrie never skipped a beat, it went everywhere the big boys did and I once again won dirtiest car award, with mud all over the roof, bonnet and everywhere else. I am still having computer issues but if I can get some photos up I will.
it sounds like you still made the best of, it none the less :iconwink: 
I've had the same thing happen to me 
