Upper Big River - Horseshoe Bend

 Type: 4wd'ing + hiking + camping
Location: Upper Big River - Horseshoe Bend Campsite
Dates: Queens B'day Weekend 5th June - 8th June.
Weather: Cold but dry. No rain, top of 10 low of freezing maybe -4 low.

Crew: TAL family, Ross + kids, WAM family, LJ + hugo.
Key Tracks Hit: Enoch's Point round to Mt Terrible, down Newmans.
Vehicles Used: Paj & Ranger on the tracks.
Distance Travelled: 350km
Campsites: Horseshowe Bend
Fishing: Yes, 1x rainbow.

Gear Purchased: DIY hot plate mansion.

Gear Review: Hot plate mansion is awesome. Road chef cant roast a chook properly, it just steams it. It was like a poached chicken. Other than meat pies and warming up already cooked food, it seems like a useless piece of kit. Mind you, meat pies in the bush is pretty good - but it would be better if the raod chef actually cooked it rather than steamed it.
Food:

• Brekky: Bacon and eggs sangas each morning, pancakes, coco pops, nutri grain, damper
• Lunch: Hot dogs, snags, magic noodles, wraps
• Dinner: Roast chook (in the damper pots, didnt work in road chef), party pies and sausage rolls
• Desert & Late Night Snacks: Stoner cones, apple pie, Bitterballen, fried chicken

Report: Finally got to get out camping following covid restrictions. Headed up towards big river, but every other bogan thought that was a good idea too. Thanks to Ross leaving early managed to secure a site otherwise we may not have found something. Great to have everyone out there bar Huggett and NSP, and all kids seemed to have a blast. It was pretty darn cold though at night, so needed lots of firewood and good sleeping bags. The Sunday 4wd'ing around the tracks was supberb with awesome views. Tracks were not challenging at all, but it was good exploring. Jamieson township is nice, need to find a secluded campsite along the Golburn River somewhere. That would be epic.
Rating: 10/10. Was awesome.

Upper Big River - McClelland Camp

Type: 4wd'ing + hiking + camping
Location: Upper Big River State Forest
Dates: 10-11 Feb
Weather: Hot
Crew: VB Fam
Key Tracks Hit: N/A
Vehicles Used: Paj
Distance Travelled: 380km
Campsites: McClelland
Fishing: Unfortunately none. Was itching to drop a line!!
Gear Purchased: N/A
Gear Review: N/A
Food: Hamburgers, Coco Pops, Fruit, Vegemite, various other odds and ends
Report: Awesome to get out for the first session of the year. The place is wicked, and far less crowded than Rubicon and Lower Big River and the sites further north. Many campsites to choose from, it may have been empty because we were there weekday, but left late friday pm and still no one on the big river rd. The most annoying part, and what ultimately cut the trip short were the FLIES! Fuck loads of them and there is nothing you could do. They were everywhere, and then when they started to piss off at about 8pm, the freaking tiny midgie flies were everywhere. They got in your eyes, mouth, nose, and worst of all wine! Had to go to bed at 9pm. The next morning was warm and the flies were around, so got on the road and had a blast up on Lake Mountain flying fox, summer toboggan, and orienteering course. Kids had a blast, and i have to give a massive thumbs up to the guys at Lake Mountain, they were exceptional in their service. Spent the rest of the day at Marysville Pool, and then headed back to camp to pack up the site. Hit the road at about 6:30pm and headed home. Would have loved to stay another night, but the flies said see ya later!
Rating: 7/10