Bushman Bud to the 4WD Caravan Park at Wombat Flats

G’day all,

We awoke next morning after another great evening spent with the members of the Tamar Valley 4WD Club.  Today we were off to see the Caravan Park and river and the possibility of taking on the very challenging Wombat Flats track. 

The first stage of this trip was a scenic drive through forest down to a fairly deep river crossing with a very steep and slippery exit point.  This very exit point resulted in a roll over of a Landrover only a few months earlier when the vehicle slid down the steep bank and rolled into the river…not good. 

Most vehicle attempting this climb out of the river needed assistance and with Charlie hitting the bank and climbing out under masses of power and wheel spin in his very capable Landrover we had an anchor car to help everyone else up the incline.  So it was a procession of right foot and wheel spinning action and quite a bit of snatching before we got our turn.  I kind of figured that two diff locks, 6 inch lift, 35 inch BFG Krawlers may be able to pull me up the bank nice and easy…so low range 2nd, minimal right foot and the beast just crawled up the hill to the delight of the onlookers, no wheel spin and completely in control.  That’s why I love this car, it is an awesome truck and fully capable of any challenge thrown its way.  Arriving at the top, Maz was at the window again with one chosen word, “Bitch.”  I am pretty sure he wasn’t referring to my wife in teh passenger seat and the big smile on his face confirmed that he was just blown away by the awesome ability of the truck…what about the driver too hey Maz…ha, ha.

With all vehicles safely accross the river it was a further 500m to the caravan park.  No, not a real caravan park but the most lovely spot at the junction of three rivers.  I tell you, if I could just get my Kedron accross the river and up the bank I would have stayed at this spot for weeks and made it a real caravan park.  Simply awesome and the beauty is just too hard to put into words.  This was another of those amazing spots you find in Tassie and one that you good stay at in a tent for weeks, fishing, canoeing, walking and just sitting around a nice warm campsite.  That is certainly one for another trip.

The general consensus was the next river crossing at the Caravan Park was far too deep to even attempt so it was back the way we came and onto some other tracks ending up at Magnet Mine.  We had been here before with the Ulverstone 4WD Club and it is a great historical sight to visit.  Exit Magnet Mine you can head out on a rugged 4WD track or take the highway back to town.  As it was closing in on 4pm and with some hungary kids in the back of the car we opted for the quick and safe way home.  A few other decided to take on the track.

I had previously completed a section of this track so I knew it was overgrown, slippery and in places risky of sliding right off the track and down steep embankments.  The thought of doing this as dark rolled in didn’t really tickle the taste buds.  As thought, when the crew who took on this track rolled into camp a couple of hours later there was reports of more damage, very overgrown areas and comments of “did the right thing to give it a miss.”  I must say the adventure adrenalin junky in me felt disappointed but with the knoweldge that we were leaving Tassie in a few days time and had to drive to QLD and onto Cape York I was glad to end this weekend without major damage and a car in one piece…there is always another time!!

With everyone back at camp we had another fantastic night around the fire reciting stories and sharing many memories of the weekend.  The members of this club are really great people who were awesome hosts and people we consider friends…thanks once again to all of you!!!

Bushman Bud…Enjoying Australia