Taponga River, Big river state forest

Type: 4wd'ing + hiking + camping
Location: Taponga River, Big river state forest
Dates: 3-5 March 2017
Weather: Perfect. 28 & sunny each day.
Crew: Mofo Crew
Key Tracks Hit: Newmans Track
Vehicles Used: Paj & Pathy
Distance Travelled: 400km
Campsites: The Pines
Fishing: 1x brown
Gear Purchased: Merrell Maipo
Gear Review: Great river shoes for trout fishing. Fantastic grip and good comfort level. Takes a little longer to dry completely than i thought, but its like wetsuit material so it doesnt matter. Awesome slip grip and good comfort level.
Food: Jeepers, where to start... A highlight. High quality hot dogs, bacon and eggs, hamburgers, vasio with homemade chimicuri sauce with roast potatoes & blanched beans, dimmies. stonercones.
Report: Didnt get out 4wd'ing much because my car is f'ed. Something wrong with the front left wheel when putting in 4HLc and going up hill a random knocking noise occurs. Didnt want to push the car in case something went kaput, so need to take it to Mr Mechanic. Booo. We did however go up Newmans track at night for some night 4wd'ing. That was unreal!! Need to do that more often.

Campsite was wicked, river was pristine. Would have been nicer to have caught more fish, but it didnt matter as the time spent not fishing was spent in the water/by the campfire. Too much fun and perfect place to chill fromt he rest of the world.
Rating: 9/10

Taponga River, Torbreck Station

Type: 4wd'ing + hiking + camping
Location: Torbreck Station
Dates: 17th - 19th Feb
Weather: Mild, 20, Cold night low of 5
Crew: Vb's + Olive's
Key Tracks Hit: Newmans Tk, Donald Tk
Vehicles Used: Paj
Distance Travelled: 430km
Campsites: Taponga Campsite
Fishing: 1x rainbow 1x brown
Gear Purchased: Shimano Stradic ci4 2500 & Shimano 1-3kg raider.
Gear Review: Beautiful spinning outfit. Smooth as, and can cast all day. Great little fighting outfit!
Food: Pancakes, Salad rolls, snags, campfire waffles with goodies inside, bbq chicken + veggies, bacon & eggs, damper.
Report: Headed off from Nunawading about 6:30pm, got to campsite just before 9pm. Tricky place to find in the dark but got there in the end. Had some beers by the fire after tent was pitched up and kids asleep. Next day chilled, ate, and did a little bit of 4wd'ing to check out Mt Terrible. Pretty easy trip up Newmans Track, and then down Donald Track. Donald Track was more tough, but not too difficult still.
Rating: 8/10.

Warburton

Type: 4wd'ing + hiking + camping 
Location: Warburton
Dates: 12/11/16
Weather: Fine
Crew: Toon, Jax, Amelia, Morris, Oscar, Ross, Ella, Alfie
Key Tracks Hit: BS Fireline, Crooked Creek Tk, Mississippi Fireline, Little Flume Rd, Patrol Rd
Vehicles Used: 2nd Gen Pathy, 3rd Gen Pathy, Paj
Distance Travelled: ?
Campsites: N/A
Fishing: N/A
Gear Purchased: N/A
Gear Review: N/A
Food: Hot dogs
Report: Pretty easy day hitting tracks between Warburton and McMahons Creek. Tracks weren't very troubling, conditions were pretty dry. Had some fun in a couple of bog holes. Little Flume Road was locked on one end which was a little annoying, had to turn around and back track back to the top Brahams Rd. Had a picnic at Little Peninsula Picnic Area - would be nice to cast a line in search of a few trout in that river.

Ended up going to Warburton Redwood Forest, off Cement Creek Road, to cap off the day.
Rating: 7.5/10

Thomson State Forest - Queens Birthday Weekend

Type: 4wd'ing + hiking + camping
Location:  Thomson State Forest - Aberfeldy
Dates: Queens Birthday Weekend - 11 - 13 June 2016
Weather: Wet day 1, dry 2+3 & COLD
Crew: Toon, Jax, Willo, Ross, LJ
Key Tracks Hit: Donnelly Creek Track, Star Track
Vehicles Used: Paj + Pathy
Distance Travelled: 700kms
Campsites: Merringtons Flat
Fishing: N/A
Gear Purchased: N/A
Gear Review: The little Husky chainsaw did wonders again!!
Food: Roast Chook, Pancakes, Home Made Big Macs, Bacon and Eggs, Hot Dogs
Report: Great boys weekend camping trip. Took the little man, Jackson, and he loved it! Was such a highlight to have him around the campsite, the tent, and of course the off-roading. Big Mac's were awesome. Off-roading was pretty basic around Donnelly Creek track but there are heaps of off shoots to check out. Took the Paj down Star Track towards star track mine - that was a little harrowing descent. The climb back up too had to have a couple of cracks before we got to the top.

Camping was not as awesome as it could have been as it was in an open flat area with heaps of people, but what can you expect on Queens bday weekend. Next time, keep driving along donnelly creek and find a more secluded campsite that is littered throughout that track.
Rating: 7/10. Better if it was a secluded campsite and more tough 4wdíng. But great to have the boys out!!

Toolangi Recovery

Type: 4wd'ing + hiking + camping
Location: Toolangi State Forest
Dates: Some time in 2014
Weather: Wet, muddy
Crew: Toon, Annaleigh
Key Tracks Hit: Rouch Road
Vehicles Used: Paj
Distance Travelled: Not much
Campsites: N/A
Fishing: N/A
Gear Purchased: Future Winch
Gear Review: Winch would have been handy
Food: Water
Report: Classic. Went to take Annaleigh on a bogan road trip. Shot some clays, then went offroading. Unfortauntely the tracks were a little more slippery than i had imagined. Slid up Rouch rd, then got to a cross roads, and decided to take one down. Not sure if it was Joes Spur Tk or Carson Tk or Rouch Rd? Anyhow, went down and halfway i knew it was game over. No way would i have been able to reverse back up or chuck a u-ey, as it was too slippery, even with the cooper st's (which arent much in this stuff).

As there was little choice, decided to keep going down hill but of course slid straight into the flowoff embankment. With further effort on trying to exit i became deeper en-lodged. Time to get the shovel. That didnt do anything. Made the call the ditch the car and walk to the nearest main road to get dad to help me out (thanks dad!). The plan was to get the car the next morning as it was 6pm and starting to get dark.

Then as Annaleigh was walking back up the hill with the map, she heard a beast of a car come rubling along. Then came Jason in his GQ Partol, classic. "Do you have a winch?" she said as she flagged him down. Obviously he did, as his 150% muddies were protruding out the wings of his car. Then he decided to travel down the same track as i did, but he did it with ease as he hugged the right side. Then turned around at the bottom and proceeded to help winch us out!!

Epic, and saviour!

Rating: 10/10.

Toolangi Day Trip

Type: 4wd'ing + hiking + camping 
Location: Toolangi
Dates: April 24th
Weather: Drizzle, clearing
Crew: Toon, Jax, Ross, Ella, Alfie
Key Tracks Hit: East side of toolangi
Vehicles Used: Paj, Pathy
Distance Travelled: 85kms
Campsites: N/A
Fishing: N/A
Gear Purchased: N/A
Gear Review: N/A
Food: BLT
Report: Took the kids for some offroading through toolangi to help the wives get some peace. Hit up the typical tracks with bog holes, and there were some rather slippery sections - namely Aeroplane Track. Had to turn around as Ross couldnt get up, and kids were a little scared. Need to get back on that track and give it a crack!! Looks wicked. Quite a few people out, motorbikes and 4wd'ers.
Rating: 8/10

Licola IBIS

Type: 4wd'ing + hiking + camping
Location: Licola - Macalister River (the sisters)
Dates: 19 - 21 Feb
Weather: Perfect. 26, 22, 30.
Crew: Toon, Naren, Morris
Key Tracks Hit: Black Soil Gully Track, Macalister river, Butcher Country Track, Butcher Link Track, Caledonia River Track.
Vehicles Used: Paj
Distance Travelled: 700 kms
Campsites: The Sisters
Fishing: River fishing the macalister. Zip.
Gear Purchased: Husqvarna 236 Chainsaw
Gear Review: Chainsaw took a few goes to break in the engine, but after some cutting it started easy. Went through a bunch of trees like butter. Saved a TON of time cutting down the forest to help keep us warm at night!!! Thanks mum and dad for the present!!
Food: Naren fancy fk sandiches, Morris's hotpot, bacon and eggs, naren fancy fk hot dogs, chicken avo sandwiches, damper.
Report: Great time had by all. Smooth drive down, picked up food and booze at Moe. Got into licola, filled up the tank at $1.75. Headed down target creek road towards macalister river track. Arrived at camp at secret spot thanks to LFDD 4X4!

Once beers were in hand, tents and cooking area was set up. Awning came out, but didnt tie it down, and a freak wind decided to break it. Damn wind! Then explored in the 4x4 with chainsaw to find firewood. Chopped a boot load, headed back to camp to get cooking. Played Klop as the coals took shape.

Next morning headed towards butcher country track to make the steep drive up, then down butcher link track to caledonia river for lunch. Great track, would have been much easier in 4HLc (thanks Morris!). Fancy fk lunch was solid with chorizo hot dogs and boules.

Arrived back at camp, set up a shooting range for air rifle, and shot then klopped our way to dusk. Roast chicken & avo sandwiches with beers and whiskey to send Morris to sleep, while we kept chatting by the fire.

Next day, slowly packed up and after a quick swim and damper headed back up Black Soil Gully track for the scenic drive back to licola. Hungry Jacks on the way home was horrible. KFC would have been far better!

Rating: 9/10 . 10/10 for having taken out a rabbit or something, not for breaking the awning, and getting kfc to cap it off.