Lithgow Tuff Trip
29th Jan 2006

Written by Tony Corke

Having moved from Melbourne to Sydney late last year and joining the Club at the November meeting, it was time to start doing some trips. After a talk with Max at the January meeting we were signed up for a Tuff Trip.

Yes, I know how to get to Lithgow. Yes, I can find the Shell servo on the left coming into town and with the advice to allow about two hours from Eastwood. The kids made a planed 6:30 start a bit late and a fuel stop on the way had us at the meeting point at 8:45 on the knocker. A car park full of Landys and amongst them all a Freelander!!!, maybe these New South Welshmen have a different idea of a medium/hard trip? But no, the Freelander was just saving a car park for my County and promptly left.

As a member of the Land Rover Owners Club of Victoria for nearly 10 years, and having a fair idea where most of the Victorian 4WD destinations are, it’s a strange feeling arriving at the meeting point with no idea where we were going, what to expect, or being able to put only one name to a face. We were soon chatting to others and the kids soon found Roxanne and Antoine. Aden checked out all the cars and declared Max’s to be the best because it had big spiky tyres.

Max did a round of introductions and quick run through of were we were heading, and I was still none the wiser, and we were off. Across the dam wall of Lake Lyell the first stop was not far off the bitumen to air down. Then Fred gave the other Tony a quick run through the stall stop procedure. Before we knew it Tony’s IIA was being lowered down the hill by Fred on the end of a snatch strap! Someone said it was a problem with reverse gear.

A quick roadside repair was done and we were off on the trip proper, a short steep drop down to the river and then back up again. Most people had a go whilst a couple of us older and wiser (that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it) folk elected to just watch. Sabastian, who is the editor of a French Land Rover magazine will be doing an article on the Club and this trip. He took lots of photos at every opportunity throughout the day.

Everyone came up OK until Tony’s IIA gave problems again, so he decided to take the easy road back up, that was until the road was found to be under water. Max lined up the Defender and set up the winch while Tony and Chris tried yet again to get the IIA into reverse. It’s now apparent that the reverse selector is missing it’s detent allowing the gear stick to disengage from all the selectors giving a box full of neutrals. The IIA got going again and was winched up the hill, popping the bead on Max’s front right tyre in the process.

After Max reseated the bead it was decided that the IIA would go home to get a new reverse gear detent, the rest of us head off, some what behind Max’s planned for schedule. We had gone about 100 metres when Merve dropped the back wheel of his County into a rut and required a snatch from Max.

We were soon all under way again heading up hill and down dale. Merve needed a couple of goes at one steep hill and as we waited at the top under the power lines it was decided that this would be the lunch spot as time was getting on.

As we had lunch a lone 100 Series Land Cruiser pulled up and the driver asked me for directions. As I could at a pinch retrace our track back to Lithgow, but had no real idea where I was, I wasn’t much help. Max helped them out. They appeared to not even have a map with them.

After lunch we dropped down from the power lines to the Coxes River which was not so much a river crossing as a drive down the river for a few hundred metres.

Then we climbed again to a fence following a ridge that had some narrow sections between the barbed wire and over-hanging trees, requiring some spotting for those with shiny duco and a roof top tent. Then down a spur to a small creek, only to find the way blocked by a fallen tree that had come down since Max and Chris reckied the trip the weekend before.

After clearing the tree, care was needed across the creek as there were large holes eroded on both sides of the crossing. Then a short rutted climb that saw Max tow each car in turn except our Tail End Charlie, Chris.

As we kept climbing Max came to halt in a great cloud of dust as his left rear tyre popped its bead. After what looked like a well-practised routine of securing the car with the winch, jacking the wheel clear of the ground and reseating the bead, we were off again meandering through the bush. We got to an intersection, right for mud, overgrown blackberries and a rocky then rutted climb, or left for the good track.

Merve took the wise mans track. The rest of us went right, and dropped down to another, or was it the same river again? As we all waded through the bog holes there were references over the radio of “Flash” embarrassing himself by getting stuck there. I guess “Flash” is a Club character we’ll meet in due course.

From the river it was a rocky climb that reminded me of Rocky Tk in the Toolangi State Forest near Melbourne. The rocks gave way to ruts and not far from the top there was a spot that I need a few goes at. The last obstacle for the climb was a washed out erosion mound and I drop the left rear wheel right in it.

There we were stuck with the left rear in the hole and the right front in the air. As there was room for a few cars to park just below us, there was soon a small group discussing how to get me out. It was decided that the best option was to keep arguing the merits of each idea until Max came down to tow me out, which he duly did.

We met up with Merve at the top and started to head out of the forest. After crossing a large cleared area, that must have been cleared at some stage, we met up with the old fence line along the ridge again.

After dropping down one of the climbs of the morning, we were soon all parked in a neat row for Sabastian to get a group shot.

We aired up, said our good byes and people started to head off home. As usual I was there chatting until the last, and the kids were having a good run around before the trip home.

We had a great day with a great bunch of people, but that’s only to be expected from a Land Rover Club.