The Springs - 10-11 September
Posted: September 13th, 2016, 10:07 pm
The trip started at Aratula in relatively good weather with Myself, Don and Tracy, Dave and Cos. We went through some cloud at the top of Cunninghams gap and after joining up with Kerri in Warwick we made our way onto the park. There were some dark clouds starting to roll in. We went straight to the main campground to set up camp (via the play area) to find that the place was packed with no room for us. So after some discussion we set up camp in the Valley Camp ground that seemed much quiter (now the owner did mention that there was a bucks party in one of the smaller camp grounds, but they had the usual blow up doll at the campsite so we should be able to avoid them).
Not long after the tents were set up and we were eating lunch, a little bit of drizzle started, and then some proper rain. This is when Allen arrived, amidst a heavy shower. Just after Allen aired down in the pouring rain, we drove off to explore the park, the rained cleared off and the sun came out. Allen was heard muttering over the radio "typical, it stops raining now" or something very similar.
The afternoon involved driving around the back tracks of the park, up Love hill and Bald Hill. The wet weather made it very interesting and we did have an early recovery as Cos slipped on the wet surface into a very deep rut and was sitting on his diffs. Now before you Toyota lovers start bagging the Nissans for needing a recovery, there was a certain Prado that needed some Treds to help it get out of a creek bed as well.
On our way back we stopped at the Main Campground to take in Beer-o-clock hill. It had been graded earlier in the week and was very loose. The first car to attempt the climb was a comp truck. It too about 3 goes to clear some of the loose stuff and after dropping his tyre pressures he finally got up. Several other cars (mostly comp trucks) tried but couldn't make it.
Then we headed back to our camp to settle in for the evening. As we rolled into camp I did catch a glimpse of an inflatable doll at the campsite across the road and it dawned on us that we had indeed set up next to the bucks party. Turns out that they were pretty well behaved and certainly didnt stop me from sleeping.
Sunday morning saw Kerri lead us to the Skids which is a fun little technical drive and then we tackled some stepper stuff near the front of the park. After lunch, we farewelled Kerri and those heading back east took the more scenic Condamine Gorge route home.
All in all it was a good weekend. Fortunately the rain was short lived and it made for some different challenges .3
I didnt get many pictures but I am sure others will add some more.
The camp site
Heading toward the Skids
Not long after the tents were set up and we were eating lunch, a little bit of drizzle started, and then some proper rain. This is when Allen arrived, amidst a heavy shower. Just after Allen aired down in the pouring rain, we drove off to explore the park, the rained cleared off and the sun came out. Allen was heard muttering over the radio "typical, it stops raining now" or something very similar.
The afternoon involved driving around the back tracks of the park, up Love hill and Bald Hill. The wet weather made it very interesting and we did have an early recovery as Cos slipped on the wet surface into a very deep rut and was sitting on his diffs. Now before you Toyota lovers start bagging the Nissans for needing a recovery, there was a certain Prado that needed some Treds to help it get out of a creek bed as well.
On our way back we stopped at the Main Campground to take in Beer-o-clock hill. It had been graded earlier in the week and was very loose. The first car to attempt the climb was a comp truck. It too about 3 goes to clear some of the loose stuff and after dropping his tyre pressures he finally got up. Several other cars (mostly comp trucks) tried but couldn't make it.
Then we headed back to our camp to settle in for the evening. As we rolled into camp I did catch a glimpse of an inflatable doll at the campsite across the road and it dawned on us that we had indeed set up next to the bucks party. Turns out that they were pretty well behaved and certainly didnt stop me from sleeping.
Sunday morning saw Kerri lead us to the Skids which is a fun little technical drive and then we tackled some stepper stuff near the front of the park. After lunch, we farewelled Kerri and those heading back east took the more scenic Condamine Gorge route home.
All in all it was a good weekend. Fortunately the rain was short lived and it made for some different challenges .3
I didnt get many pictures but I am sure others will add some more.
The camp site
Heading toward the Skids