deepop
4x4 Earth Contributer
Okay, Anzac weekend this year Sschmez (Steve) and I took our finely tuned, lean and fit temples (and our Mt. bikes) on a second attempt to locate the head of the Murray River.
We made it to the intersection of the Cobberas Trail and McFarlanes track on the Thursday where we were to begin this epic journey of monumental proportions (leave my temple out of this). Quite a few too many cans of riding skills later, a late dinner and late to bed saw the perfect preparation for our ride the next day.
Come Friday morning we were up at Sparrow's raring to go. Quite a while later we were finally ready and actually embarked.
See - keen, ready and fully prepared.
Across the creek we came to the first of our obstacles - a hill. In the high country, would you believe it? At the end of a long and arduous climb we got to the top...........and found another hill (also going up). This seemed to set the scene for the morning and I was really wondering how many up hills there could be. Turns out, quite a lot.
We were really questioning a lot of things by this time - how clever was it to drink too many cans of riding skills the night before, how clever it was for two fat blokes to think they could still bush walk and Mt. bike like when they were kids and one of particular concern, what are those big birds doing circling over our heads?
So after about 7km's of cliff climbing (I swear they were that steep) and wondering why we even brought the bikes, we surprisingly reached Cowombat Flat. I can't remember any downhill runs out of that part of the trip but Steve assures me there were some. I do remember getting my foot caught in some branches and coming to an abrupt halt at one stage causing an unexpected exit stage left into the trees so we must have been able to ride for a bit.
And here we are at the wreckage of the DC3 on C. Flat.
Steve
And me
So, a poke around the wreckage (not much left) a look at the brumby trap (not set at this stage) a good ride around the whole area and then we rode across the Murray. Then we went back and took some photo's of old man Murray as he is at this point in the world.
Steve
Me
We then ditched the bikes and went for a walk upstream where the river gets even smaller.
Yes, that's the Murray trickling through the meadow as us mighty explorers majestically straddle it.
So, now it was upstream for a while and disturb a family of three brumbies minding there own business only about 15 feet from where we were walking. They then decided we needed the space more than them and took off for the hills. What a fantastic sight! Sorry, no photo's, they're camera shy.
After some further minor adventures (and due to the time - it was nearly beer o'clock) we decided we'd achieved enough for this trip and this day and saved the actual head of the Murray and the (slightly different) point where it meets the Black-Allen line (the straight bit of the Vic/NSW border) for another trip. I'm sure our long suffering wives will believe us when we tell them we have to go back.
Now it was walk back to the bikes, have a late lunch and ride back to camp. Surprising how much faster you can travel downhill when you're riding the deadly treadly. Beer o'clock came sooner than we thought (obviously it's never too soon though).
Some relaxing by the fire, some relaxing sherbets consumed, some relaxing dinner eaten and before you know it we were so relaxed we were fast asleep in our chairs.
Good weekend all told and one goal reached. Well worth the effort and reminded me of what it's like to go hiking and just feel the bush around you - I could nearly go out and hug a tree - nah, too cold! I'm over it now!
Hope you enjoyed the read - will update next time we have another go. And we will!
We made it to the intersection of the Cobberas Trail and McFarlanes track on the Thursday where we were to begin this epic journey of monumental proportions (leave my temple out of this). Quite a few too many cans of riding skills later, a late dinner and late to bed saw the perfect preparation for our ride the next day.
Come Friday morning we were up at Sparrow's raring to go. Quite a while later we were finally ready and actually embarked.
See - keen, ready and fully prepared.
Across the creek we came to the first of our obstacles - a hill. In the high country, would you believe it? At the end of a long and arduous climb we got to the top...........and found another hill (also going up). This seemed to set the scene for the morning and I was really wondering how many up hills there could be. Turns out, quite a lot.
We were really questioning a lot of things by this time - how clever was it to drink too many cans of riding skills the night before, how clever it was for two fat blokes to think they could still bush walk and Mt. bike like when they were kids and one of particular concern, what are those big birds doing circling over our heads?
So after about 7km's of cliff climbing (I swear they were that steep) and wondering why we even brought the bikes, we surprisingly reached Cowombat Flat. I can't remember any downhill runs out of that part of the trip but Steve assures me there were some. I do remember getting my foot caught in some branches and coming to an abrupt halt at one stage causing an unexpected exit stage left into the trees so we must have been able to ride for a bit.
And here we are at the wreckage of the DC3 on C. Flat.
Steve
And me
So, a poke around the wreckage (not much left) a look at the brumby trap (not set at this stage) a good ride around the whole area and then we rode across the Murray. Then we went back and took some photo's of old man Murray as he is at this point in the world.
Steve
Me
We then ditched the bikes and went for a walk upstream where the river gets even smaller.
Yes, that's the Murray trickling through the meadow as us mighty explorers majestically straddle it.
So, now it was upstream for a while and disturb a family of three brumbies minding there own business only about 15 feet from where we were walking. They then decided we needed the space more than them and took off for the hills. What a fantastic sight! Sorry, no photo's, they're camera shy.
After some further minor adventures (and due to the time - it was nearly beer o'clock) we decided we'd achieved enough for this trip and this day and saved the actual head of the Murray and the (slightly different) point where it meets the Black-Allen line (the straight bit of the Vic/NSW border) for another trip. I'm sure our long suffering wives will believe us when we tell them we have to go back.
Now it was walk back to the bikes, have a late lunch and ride back to camp. Surprising how much faster you can travel downhill when you're riding the deadly treadly. Beer o'clock came sooner than we thought (obviously it's never too soon though).
Some relaxing by the fire, some relaxing sherbets consumed, some relaxing dinner eaten and before you know it we were so relaxed we were fast asleep in our chairs.
Good weekend all told and one goal reached. Well worth the effort and reminded me of what it's like to go hiking and just feel the bush around you - I could nearly go out and hug a tree - nah, too cold! I'm over it now!
Hope you enjoyed the read - will update next time we have another go. And we will!
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- seriously though, great report.
