Volume #37 / Issue # 06 | Page 20

MEMBER TRIP REPORT DARGO – BLUE RAG – BILLY GOATS 15 th – 17 th November 2020

Participants
Member No .
Vehicle Details
Rod Chapple ( TL )
1814
NX Pajero
Neil Phillips
1744
Patrol
Jane Phillips
1744
Patrol
Peter Watkins
1926
NX Pajero
Wendy Watkins
1926
NX Pajero
Bruce Shelley
1954
Pajero
Baby Thomas
1908
NX Pajero
Trip Summary
Short trip 3 days , 2 nights with the aim of getting to the Blue Rag trig point using Dargo as base camp . Then returning
back home via Billy Goat Bluff track , taking in the Pinnacle fire lookout . The 2 nights camp was at the Dargo River Inn
Distance & Route
Starting at BP Officer the standard route to Stratford , then up past Briagolong to Dargo . The round trip was
approximately 737 Kms
Fuel & Supplies
We self catered for breakfasts and lunches and had dinners at the Dargo River Inn and Dargo Pub . Fuel and supplies
were available at the General Store .
Difficulty Level / Vehicle Requirements
The trip had a bit of everything from easy to medium to hard , as Billy Goats was a Black Diamond , Blue Rag was a Blue
Diamond . The rest was easy with nicely graded tracks .
All Terrain tyres are essential and standard retrieval equipment should be carried
Tips , Notes and Special Remarks
Cost of camping was $ 10 per person per night , Cabins cost $ 150 per night . Basic amenities are available for campers –
eg : 1 toilet / 2 showers , which just makes it but overall the camp area is good .
Trip Detail
Day 1 – Sunday 15 th November We began at BP Officer at 9.00am on time and caught up with Bruce Shelley a bit further on and Peter & Wendy Watkins joined us in Traralgon as planned . After fuelling up here we headed up past Briagolong to Dargo and arrived early afternoon which gave us time to set up and relax . The weather was hot and strong winds were forecast later .
Had some fivesees before going to the Dargo Pub for dinner . Walked up and back to camp about 1km each way which was good to stretch the legs .
During the night the wind came up and gusted up to 82 kms . The tents were flogged mercilessly until at 4.15am Baby ’ s tent collapsed and so did mine . There was a crash and we discovered later that the wind had blown my camp table into Baby ’ s back window , destroying it as well as the table . Nothing could be done until daylight so we just sat it out and took in the Milky Way which was brilliant .