Otways Odyssey
25th -29th April 2017
PARTICIPANTS Anthony Saul 597 , John Jansen 326 , Patrol GU Ian Salmon , 1078 Pajero Tony Lear 1400 , David Chiffey 1603 , Jeep Grand Paul Henshall 657 , Landcruiser 200
TRIP REPORT
Otways Odyssey
25th -29th April 2017
Episode 1 : Paul Henshall 657 Day 1 - 121 km & 6 U turns
The meeting point for the trip was at the Farmers Place farmers market on Anglesea Road , Freshwater Creek , which is about 5 km from the end of the Geelong Freeway . The trip participants all gathered in the cafe at 10.30am for a coffee and trip briefing . As it had been raining heavily the night before and more rain was expected for the next four nights , as such , Anthony advised that he had a plan for the day but the route may have to be changed if the tracks become impassable .
We headed to Coalmine Rd Tk west of the defunct Alcoa power plant and open cut mine . This first track was steep but not slippery . There were some easy sand tracks such as power station Tk and Alcoa Boundary Tk , and we continued along other tracks until we reached Denhams Tk where the Tk became very steep with deep rut ’ s , at the bottom of a steep decent we found a fast running creek of unknown depth flowing along and across the track , we decided to turn around to avoid the creek and returned to the main Tk and onto Retreat Rd and BAMRA Rd that took us to Aireys Inlet .
We parked the vehicles and walked along a Tk on top of the cliffs to the lighthouse where we enjoyed the ocean and landscape views . We returned to vehicles and drove along the Great Ocean Rd to Moggs Creek where we had lunch .
After lunch we drove along Moggs Creek , Gentle Anne and Seaview Tks to Dean Marsh Lorne Rd . We drove along Dean Marsh Lorne Rd to Sincocks Rd , this road is dirt road that lead us to a dead end . We past two " End of Road " signs , our leader was convinced this track would take us to the other side of the valley , eventually we had to do another U turn and return to Dean Marsh Lorne Rd which we drove along to Pennyroyal Station Rd and to Pennyroyal Valley Rd . After we past a Berry Farm we arrive at Dunse Tk which we traveled along until we reached Sabine Rd which we turned into and travelled along until we reached Dean Marsh Lorne Rd ,
We turned off this Rd onto Five Mile Tk . We drove along Five Mile Tk past the Lorne golf course and drove into the town from the West .
After locating our accommodation for the next two evenings we had refreshing drinks and nibbles . Eventually we cooked our dinner , which we ate with few red / white wines and we had good time exchanging a few stories and then we headed to bed .
Episode 2 : Ian Salmon 1078
Well we awoke to rain , same as yesterday . The pattern was set . Breakfast done we headed out of Lorne along Allenvale Road then on to Garvey Track . Some fine driving though quite easy on very good roads . As we crossed Mount Cowley the rain turned to hail . The forest behind Lorne is traversed by Mount Sabine Road , an excellent two wheel drive road , with tracks running off either side . Anthony had planned to do a series of loops from the Mount Sabine Road and back again . An ideal strategy . We covered Neck Track and Wickham ’ s Track without drama but once on Cowley Track the grumbles started from the drivers and passengers – When ’ s morning tea ?? Can ’ t please every one , can you ? The side of the track was clear so the decision was made to stop then and there !
From there we headed onto the appropriately named Goat Track which became an unmapped track but went through quite varied terrain until we completed another loop and wound up back where we started . Into Forrest for some fabulous pies for lunch .
9 © Vol 34 No . 4 -May 2017