2011-10-30 -37 148

Location

In the bush, near W Tree, southeastern Victoria.

Participants

Expedition

After a psychotic mountain biking adventure was mercifully ended by the destruction of my derailleur hanger, we had more time for geohashing. We'd unlocked this graticule a long time ago, before shoving bikes up hill, camping in a structurally unsound tent, and eating instant mashed potato had wearied us: yesterday.

Driving from the national park we encountered a freshly fallen tree across our path, then a bull too stupid to get off the road, followed by a suicidal kookaburra. We passed through the rather eccentric Seldom Seen Servo, and saw a wombat scurry off the road.

There were two possible routes from the main road: from the north or the south, both quite indirect, and both probably involving four wheel drive tracks. We looked for the first. It ended very quickly in a locked gate. In any case, it was getting late, and the only food option within a thousand kilometres was about to close.

Moo....

Eep! Dinner at the Buchan Pub first, geohash second.

Full of parmas and lasagne, we resumed our quest. The second approach led for a long way down a nice, minor road, then exploded into a pile of choices. The four wheel drive track in question was not an option for our humble vehicle, so we set off on foot. The point was in some bush, outside a paddock. We crept closer, following a fenceline, trying to minimise the bushbashing. Alex and Steve kept Felix constantly updated on our location, competing to give the most optimistic news.

At 250 metres, we began the assault. It wasn't raining, but the vegetation was very, very wet. We tripped, stumbled, hacked, bashed, mashed, crushed, bumbled and crunched our way through bracken, over fallen logs, and around the odd impassable tree. Felix estimated the number of leeches we'd pick up: 12. (I guessed 4. Alex guessed NULL. It was 0.) For once, we made a pretty direct line towards the point. The usual rituals, then we stormed the hell out of there and back to somewhere drier.