Abbeyard/High Country 9-11 June

5 of us headed off into the wild blue yonder at 10.05 am - it was cold and overcast.Thermals and grip warmers were the order of the day.We grouped up at the bottom of Razor thinking "ÿou beauty".After about a "k" we came to our first obstacle.There was a ruddy great tree across the track.Bugger.After a lot of huffing and puffing we were on our way again only to come across half a dozen more trees in the way.We got under/around most of them but the last couple were just too big.A decision was made to back track and head up Harry Shepherds to the Van Dammes Helipad.We had a quick gas-bag to another couple of riders,a breather and then on into Wonnangatta.The river crossing coming into Wonnangatta was very cold on the feet.We pulled up at the hut in Wonnangatta Station for a bit of a look around and a few snacks and it was off across the Wonnangatta River just beside the hut.This is normaly an easy crossing but the 4WD's have dug some big holes in it.2 rode through - just.3 of us walked it.The water was up to the air-box side cover on the XR.After draining our boots it was off to head around towards Water Spur.That was the idea!!!!We got to the big wide shallow river crossing near Humfray River track only to discover that the river crossing had changed.The river is about one third the width it used to be and about 4 times deeper.A Land Cruiser with a 2"lift kit went through (just) with the water reaching the door handles!After checking up and down stream it was decided to head back the way we had come and try and do Penny and East West Divide.So after wading back through the Wonnangatta a couple more times we headed up to the Heli pad.I stopped a couple of times to check my rear tyre as the bike was all over the place.The track was extremely greasy!We stopped to talk to a couple of more bikes at the Helipad who told us they had just come from Penny track which was covered in trees.Bugger again.We decided to head for camp,light the fire and talk rubbish over some fizzy drinks.We had covered 120km without any off's or bike problems.At that stage Glenn had to head back home for work in the morning and Shaun was crook so he decided to head home too.

Sunday morning arrived cold and overcast again,with 3 bikes heading out the gate at 9.30.The plan was to go up Schultz and end up over in Harrieville for lunch.Ken & I waited at the bottom of Schultz for the Hobbit to arrive - when he finally did he was shaking like a leaf.He was too crook to go on and was going back to camp.Bugger.What do we do now?Ken had his Sat.phone and I had an AMTRA epirb so we decided we would go on and decide along the way how far we would go.WRONG.Mother nature had decided earlier in the week to close the tracks for the winter.We passed several freshly cleared trees and then came across a hound hunter clearing another one.we gave him a hand and continued on only to come across another couple of bikes struggling to get over another tree with more 50 metres up the track that were down.We took one look at the problems ahead and the problems from yesterday and decided to head for home.We had covered 20km.

Back at camp it was decided that mother nature had won so we packed up and were out of there by about 12noon.

Those in attendance-
Glenn Weltner DRZ400 member (Saturday only)
Ken Johnston KTM400 member
Shaun Crisp RMX450 member (Saturday only)
Doug Hempenstall (Hobbit) XR400 member -tail man both days
Robert Crisp XR400 ride organiser-I led from second last place in the group!

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