Spicer's Gap

29th August

Adalyn & Arthur Griffiths - Patrol
Chris Francis - Suzuki
Gordon Bishop & Lorraine Cummings - Jackeroo
Ron, Allison & Ian Brown - Landcruiser
Glenn & Kaye Taylor - Prado
Barry Garner &Graham Eley - Landcruiser
Ian Knabel & Pauline Hassen and Luke & Jacinta - Patrol
Mario & Natalie Massimissa - Maverick
Bevan & Jennifer Horsnell - Prado
John Reis & Joyce Nicholson and Johns grandaughter and one of her friends - Patrol
Dave, Fran, Cathy, Ashley and Jessica Peebles - Patrol
Joe Elmore - Patrol

When it started raining on Saturday night I thought that if the forestry hasn’t locked the gate it would be an “interesting” trip. However the rain did not last long and Sunday was fine sunny and warm.

Twelve families met at the Yamanto car park with some heading straight for the Golden Arches. We convoyed to Governors Chair at Spicers Gap (reportedly a resting spot for early Governors when they travelled through Spicers Gap).

After having a look around and reading the information boards those who wanted to, walked the 300metre return track to Governors Chair. How breathtaking, you are standing above a sheer drop with nothing between you and the valley floor, except a few trees.

We left there and retraced our steps to Moss’s Well and the Pioneers Graves. It was interesting reading how important this area was in the history of our state, and finding what the bullock drivers and their families went through to get supplies to the farmers west of the Great Dividing Range.

It was about now that the tapeworms started to kick in so we had morning tea.
After morning tea we drove through Cunningham’s Gap and up the West Side of Spicers Forest Reserve. The track was dry and dusty but there were still a number of puddles some with considerable amount of water in them.

We came to a clearing near a creek crossing where the convoy split into two because there were too many vehicles to fit where we were going. Mario led half up to the gated off road and I led the others around a loop to view Mt Mitchell and Mt Cordeaux. We heard on the radio that the Suzuki was tired and had tried to lie down but Chris managed to convince it to put its wheels back on the ground and keep going.
We met back at the clearing for lunch. After lunch Mario’s group went around the scenic loop and my group went up to the gate. On the way back to the clearing Reisy had a play on a particularly washed out part of the track.

We re-grouped back at the clearing then drove out.

It does not need much moisture to be around to bring out the mud lark in some of us. A number of photos were taken of those at play. Some drivers thought of the person (probably themselves) who had to clean the mud off and drove around the holes.

Even though there were twelve four wheel drives on this trip, every vehicle except the leader and Tail End Charlie scored a gate duty. While most received a reward for their labour, one gate opener was wondering what was being thrown at her. The driver concentrating on the job at hand dispatched a handful of smarties out the window as she drove through the gate.

When we reached the bitumen we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. Because the track joined the Cunningham Highway just over a crest Ron went up the top of the hill and radioed when it was safe to turn out. Thanks Ron.

Thanks to Mario for his help with this trip and repairing my car after the recce, and thanks to everyone who came along and helping making it an enjoyable day.

If anyone has somewhere they would like to go or has an idea for a trip see Mario or myself.

Joe