Sally's Hole
12th & 13th August 2006

Written by Bryce R Messner.

We met at the turn off to Blayney all on time before the 10.00am deadline. We then proceeded to Lyndhurst to meet up with Rod & Glen both from Woodstock near Cowra.

After all the introductions were over we headed towards our destination & lunch stop. As luck would have it missing the turn last year I thought we had missed it again, so doubled back only to discover I had not gone far enough & doubled back again.

Finding the correct turn (hard to see I might add), we turned into the forest. The first thing noticed was how dry the normally damp tracks were. We wound through tight trails veering off for fallen timber & some small rutted sections. Eventually coming out into our lunch stop clearing off Butchers Flat, an old time woodcutters work camp. Fantastic quite spot to set up camp for twenty or more cars if the need ever arrived.

We again moved on & eventually came out into pine forest & the Roseberg Track. We followed this along for quite a few kilometres, eventually driving back into hardwood forest.

We were quite concerned for how dry this area had become, normally even when dry there were always mud patches, damp trails & wet creek crossings, but now dry as…

Arriving at the steep sections at least made up for the lack of moisture & didn’t take away from the great scenery of the mass of Scribbly Gums that are the mainstay of the Forest here.

Arriving at the sign, “No Slip Ons or Tankers Past This Point”, we knew we were on our final descent to Sally’s Hole and our overnight camp spot on the creek. On our descent that was quite eroded & very dry, we could see that no one had taken our spot.

To our amazement the creek was flowing & crystal clear. The rock pool on our left magnificent & full & you could see the bottom easily.

We crossed the creek, turned at Hectors Grave to our camp. Time just gone 2.00pm & already in camp (see Flash I can do it if need be).

We all set about setting up camp, Hugh & I taking seconds to roll out our swags & we then set about collecting firewood with trusty Husqvarna in hand.

Nick had dug out a pit & lain green timber logs he had brought from home to be our coal base, & did this work well. Some went for a walk up to Sally’s Hole & others sat around chatting as the fire took hold & this way we finished the night around a glorious very warm fire to stave off the cold night air.

Sunday came & after a leisurely start around 10.00am we all got psyched for the steep ascent. Well dry it was, rock strewn & rutted, but not being damp quite easy as it turned out.

Again we drove the ridges looking for a challenge that didn’t eventuate because of the dry conditions. Still we found a few descents that beckoned to return the minute the rains come…then lookout.

After passing through the Grass Tree forest we came out to a reasonable graded road & a short distance on, turned back into the harder stuff.

We wound through very tight tracks & came to a tricky little rut hole that saw a couple of vehicles leave some paint on the now hard red clay gully.

After passing this section we then headed to the fire tower for a look see. Now on the way up to this great vantagepoint on Track 6, we had one vehicle get himself into a predicament.

Now this track if wet almost impassable, certainly having some winching like last year. This track was in twice as bad condition as the previous trip, being very washed out & rutted but now very dry & hard based. But the first few cars reached the top Ok only to hear a distress call from tailend charlie to please snatch me out of this rut. He had misjudged the depth of one rut & got his sump wedged needing a snatch from Nick’s Defender.

We arrived at the fire tower & Nick kindly unpadlocked the gate to the tower & the ladder for some of us to climb. This also our lunch stop being now midday, we took a relaxed hour to while away the pleasant warm afternoon.

Under way again, we threaded our way through more plantation pine & out along Kentucky Trail. We travelled back roads eventually arriving at the village of Carcoar for a cuppa break. From here Herve, Nick & Glen headed for home, as it was now 3.00pm, leaving Rod, Dean & myself to make for Mt Canobalas.

Travelling a little quicker now, we passed the enormous Cadia Gold Mine, one of the largest in the world in fact. We came to Fourmile Creek where we turn off for the “interesting” trip to the summit of Mt Canobalas, but are foiled by barriers exclaiming harvesting in progress & a heavy fine if we pass these barriers, so we turn back. Trying another way again we bump into the barrier again, so head back to the tar & the “normal” drive to the top.

Well the trip was worth the effort & full 360-degree vista is laid out before us & you can literally see forever. It’s now about 4.00pm & getting cool so we head back towards Orange after saying our good byes.

At the roundabout on the highway we all sign off on the CB’s vowing to meet again & thanking all for the company on another great weekend.