Mt Mee Day Trip

22nd May

Featuring Glen and Kay Taylor (Patrol), The Robson Family (Jackeroo), Keith Meyers(Patrol), Beven and Jennifer Horsnell (Prado), Bill Freeman and Fran ( 4 runner), The Lenehan Family(Patrol), Brett Lynch and Joe Elmore (Patrol), Lee Harris, his Dad and Lachlan Harris (Patrol), John Reis and Joyce (Patrol) and Chris Francis (Suzuki)

Trip leaders Ron and Alison Brown (mighty Landcruiser)

Recee crew Ken Hartley, his mate John and Ron and Alison.

THE TRIP

A couple of late scratchings meant we ended up with eight vehicles meeting at College's Crossing on a clear and cool Sunday morning. John and Joyce and Chris Francis were meeting us in Dayboro at nine o'clock giving us a total of ten cars for the day, an ideal number for a state forest trip.

The drive through Mt. Cootha Forest Park to the north western side of Brisbane went quickly and we were soon motoring through the beautiful Samford and Dayboro valleys. The area around Dayboro was particularly green compared to Ipswich and looked sensational in the early morning light.

We drove straight through Dayboro with John, Joyce and Chris joining the convoy as we headed out on the Mt. Pleasant Road. We pulled in at 9:30 to the nearly deserted Gantry Day Use Area on Mt. Mee for smoko and a comfort stop. I finally got around to distributing the forestry permits while everyone stretched their legs and enjoyed a chat. As usual the picnic area looked great and the weather was shaping up to give us a perfect autumn day. Finally it was time to lock the hubs and head for the tracks.

We backtracked along scenic Peggs Road for a couple of kays and turned right on to the old timber track which winds its way down the side of the hill to the rainforest below This is an easy drive with views across to Moreton Bay and a nearly sheer drop to keep the near side passengers interested. Eventually we were splashing through the creeks in the forest below and making for Jacky's Creek Road which very quickly climbed the opposite ridge back into the open eucalypt country. The low range stuff started just off this track with a couple of steep climbs which follow the ridge lines higher into the bush. The second climb was a little scratchy with a dug out step halfway up. A couple of cars needed a second crack at it but the snatch strap stayed firmly in the bag.

Off this track we diverted to "Kenmoore Avenue", the short, steep loop that Ken Hartley and Graham Moore spent an entire morning clearing and re claiming two years ago.

Even the recee for this trip required a fair bit of work with chainsaws and brushooks to re open it. It looked as if no cars had used it since our last visit, just a few bikes which had been stopped by the fallen trees. It starts with a very steep and rutted descent straight down the side of the hill to the creek below. A bit of a zig zag in the middle adds some interest. You are greeted at the bottom with a sharp right turn and an off camber meander across the slope of the hill. There are two gullies to cross which were filled with old logs and topped with soil probably thirty or so years ago. The first has a sink hole to negotiate and the second is undercut a couple of feet on the lower edge. Not difficult it's just a matter of proceeding with caution. The track then meets another at a very acute angle and it's a three point turn to the right and up to climb the last narrow and steep pinch back to the top. This loop is much more challenging in the opposite direction but we didn't really have the time to indulge those who wanted a crack at that steep climb out. Maybe next time.

We rejoined the track we were originally following along the top of the ridge and carried on our merry way down a couple of steep hills and weaving through the trees close on each side and in the middle of the track. Eventually we were descending again to Jacky's Creek down a long and whoa boy strewn hill. Re grouping at the bottom it was then straight up Diana's Bath Road and on to "A" Break which took us higher and higher onto the mountain. "A" Break has some long and steep climbs which in the past have been very scratchy but this time the track offered plenty of traction and the whole convoy was soon at the top meandering through the spotted gum and grass trees which characterize this area. Soon enough we were pulling up at the Day Use Area for a short comfort stop and then drove on to our lunch spot on the western edge of the mountain overlooking Lake Somerset and the Stanley River valley. This is a lovely area and we soon found some sunny spots to plonk our chairs and settle into the serious business of lunch and a good yam.

After lunch we drove the 100 metres or so to the lookout proper to marvel at the view and take some photos. We then looped back through the forest for another stop at the picnic area and headed up "K" Break for our last tracks of the afternoon. The Robsons left us at this stage as they had to get home early and we bid them farewell as we turned off on the long track which climbs down to the old swimming hole. Near the bottom of what is a long and sometimes steep descent, another track drops down to the left. This is a short cut Ken Hartley showed us on the recee. This proved to be the wettest track of the day. It's relatively short but is clay all the way with a decent mudhole at the bottom and a slick climb out.

After driving through I had walked back down the track with the handheld radio to assist cars at the boghole, It was a long walk and a tad slippery. You don't realize how far you have driven a track until you find yourself backtracking on foot, or how steep it is for that matter. Anyway I found myself way down at the bottom talking cars through the mud and Brett Lynch who was running tail end Charlie with Joe Elmore as passenger offered me a lift to the top.

“Very decent of you Brett”, I thought. So through the boghole he goes and I said "I'll meet you up the slope a bit where it's not so slippery". "Right 0”. So I jog up the hill after them but Brett decides not to stop, too difficult, He's just going to slow down so I can jump in. Which is how I found myself chasing a Nissan Patrol up a steep clay track. I finally closed in on the passenger side rear door, pulled it open only to find a kid's safety seat right in my way. "0 yeah" says Joe, "Not that door" Right, now I'm waiting for the car to pass me so I can jog around the back and up the drivers side. Did I mention this was all up hill? Around I go, flogging up the side of the still moving car, grab the handle, step, and jump, stumble and collapse across the back seat. I'm slumped there thinking "My God" when Brett half turns his head and says, "By the way you didn't shut that other door properly"

Gee, thanks for the lift Brett.

The convoy was now on Peggs Road so we drove up the hill for a kilometre and met the other end of the "swimming hole track" and followed it all the back to where we'd started. This is a great little drive in some steep country and one of Alison's favourite tracks. It was time to unlock hubs and start heading home.

We left the state forest via the all bitumen Mt. Mee Road which runs through some superb farm land with views all the way to Brisbane. It soon meets the Mt. Mee tourist drive which would take us back to Dayboro. About halfway to Dayboro is the district of Oceanview where we led the convoy up to the small cull de sac Ken Hartley had shown us the week before. This is not a formal lookout as such because a dirty great Telstra tower takes pride of place on the best part of the hill but it offers some phenomenal views. To the north you look down over the Glasshouse Mountains and slighty east of north the city of Caloundra is clearly visible on the coast. Straight in front (east) is Redcliffe, Moreton Bay and the sandblows of Moreton Island and to the south east Brisbane CBD is impossible to miss. Apparently even Southport was visible until some large pine trees got in the way. It really is a remarkable sight.

Our presence was closely monitored by an older lady from a house across the way who stood glaring at us from her front lawn and pawing the ground with her foot. I thought at one stage she would charge but she held her ground. She refused to return our friendly waves and waited until we were driving down the short street to march across and inspect the area where we had parked. What was she looking for? Locals are not always friendly.

Next stop on the itinerary was beautiful downtown Dayboro for a late afternoon tea at the bakery. This was purely optional so Bill Freeman, Lee Harris and Kieth Meyers opted to keep going and left the rest of us to sample various pies, cakes and coffees and reflect on the day. Poor old Chris Leneham had to air up his tyres. He'd driven all the way down the range on 25 psi because the boof head trip leader didn't give him a chance to pump them on the mountain. Sorry Chris.

After a leisurely (and delicious) smoko we headed off and by the time we were back at Gap Creek Road behind Mt. Cootha the trip had become a night run. Soon enough we were back at Karana Downs and all peeling off to our various destinations.

Thanks everyone who came and made it such a great day out. We will probably do it all again next year.

Ron and Alison Brown