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Baal Bone Gap/Blackfellows/Turon - Blue Mountains
September 19th 2009.
Attendance:
Mat Mat - X-1358(c) - Mat
Coocht31 - X-891(c) - Tony
DingoMouse - X-804(c) - Chris & Emma
Alex70 - X-740(c) - Alex & Di
Aussiesoftroader - X-1308(c) - Wayne
9am start
We all met just off the Great Western Highway near Sunny Corner.
From Sunny Corner we headed to Capertree via the Eskdale Road & Mt Horrible Rd. From there we drove to Ben Bullen for the start of Baal Bone Gap. This took us out to the start of Blackfellows Hand Trail. We then commenced this trail and finished up at the zig zag railway.
We finished around 5.30pm
I think around 140 Km from start to finish with about 90-95% dirt.
The first stop was 10am at little lookout along Eskdale Rd. There were a few fallen branches which required us to go off the track and around them. We then headed through Turon Gates which was mentioned by someone that the local animals kept on trying to commit suicide. We all crossed the Turon River one by one. There was an old bridge but thought it safer to cross the river/creek. We all had fun here, would estimate maybe just past half wheelheight. Those who drove quickly into the water got quite a splash coming up. Maybe an understatement. I think it was Wayne who nearly lost a number plate here. Next was Baal Bone Gap via Capertree to near Ben Bullen. Baal Bone Gap was a little tricky in a few sections but we all got through it ok. There were several steep decents and ascents. With a little momentum and car in 4WD mode the steep climbs were tackled. I do repeat with Auto or 4WD engaged and not in 2WD. A little tricky wasn't it Alex in 2WD? I think once engaged properly you made the climb look easy. We stopped near the start of this trail at a small lookout for lunch. It was a bit drier than i thought it would have been so not as many puddles as was expected. Next time we will have to look at some of the lookouts along this track as there is some really spectacular views here. A short 50m trip on bitumen then onto Blackfellows Hand Trail. The old Aboriginal paintings on the rock were looked at aswell as the little gully briefly. Then a small lookout a bit further up. The first section of the climb here was bumpy but enjoyable. It was sugggested to rename the trail to Bouncy Castle Trail, i think. A few puddles further up and Chris 2nd in convoy decided to go through one of the deeper ones and got through ok. A Land Rover (Defender 110) then decided if an X-Trail can get through how tricky can it be??? Well he soon found out, yep he got stuck. We watched him get snatched out by another 4WD.
Chris put those guys to shame.
It was easy driving to get back to Zig Zag Railway.
Damage done:
Not much to report, Chris had the rear plastic under the toebar pulled out from that deep puddle.
Tony had an additional 400m added to his odometer (I think that's what he said) due to excessive wheelspin up one of the steep sections.
Thanks for everyones support in making this trip a success.
PICTURES: - videos at bottom of page
To view all the pictures in one slideshow click the first picture here.
SLIDESHOW
First Group photo where we let down our tyres
Our morning tea break, Good views looking West of the Northern Bathurst area
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The Turon Creek/River crossing, Alex crossing.________Short break after crossing
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First downhill section
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First uphill ascent, probably the most scenic section
This photo sort of shows how steep it was. Photo dosn't do the climb justice. Tony first one to tackle it
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Waynes journey to the top, surprising at how capable the X-Trails are, Waynes was standard ride height & tyres
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Another view of the climb and terrain, Chris tackling it here
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This was the Land Rover Chris put to shame.
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Zig Zag railway, we spit up and headed home here
VIDEOS:
Chris crossing creek
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/ac143/mat_mat_01/?action=view¤t=MVI_0001.flv
Tony crossing creek
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/ac143/mat_mat_01/?action=view¤t=MVI_0002.flv
Wayne crossing creek - no need to cut out number plate here. I lost one before too.
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/ac143/mat_mat_01/?action=view¤t=MVI_0003.flv
Alex successfully conquering the climb
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/ac143/mat_mat_01/?action=view¤t=MVI_0007.flv
Land Rover recovery
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/ac143/mat_mat_01/?action=view¤t=MVI_0008.flv
Last edited by Mat Mat, 22/Sep/2009, 11:45 pm
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Mat - X-1358 (C)
2003 T30 Series I ST
King Spring Lift, Pedders Shock Absorbers, BFGoodrich 225/70/16, 16" CSA Platinum Edge Rims, Bash Plate, Alutec Strut Bar, UHF CB Radio, HID Fog Lights, Narva 175mm Lights, Nissan Nudge Bar
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19/Sep/2009, 7:43 pm
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Re: Baal Bone Gap/Blackfellows/Turon - Blue Mountains
Yep that just about summed it up Mat.
It didn't take you long to get the trip report in..
As mentioned there were a couple of steep difficult section but that really made the trip.
Baal Bone lived up to its reputation for being challenging in sections.
Chris, 'The LEDGEND' pulled one out of somewhere crossing that mighty bog hole which would have covered the tyres for sure.
The Land Rover was a Defender 110 with a V8 and big lift, we were dumbfounded when we saw him getting stuck. He charged in there, engine roaring and full of momentum and thats where he stayed, he he, go you mighty Xy.
I lent him one of my bow shackles which saw him being pulled out.
He didn't say much, do you blame him.
All in all a top day, thanks Mat for getting it going, a great bunch of people to spend the day with. 
The bash plate paid for itself a few times today, what an investment. I will make a stronger one out of steel I think and use the TJM one as a template after I get all the dings and scrapes out of it.
I was going to pretty up the Xy this morning by ordering a spoiler through the shop, but after today's trip its getting lifted.
The T31 is a little more 'boxy' in the front at the bottom than the T30 which ramps down on an angle..
I will upload photos soon.
Tony
--- Tony X-891c
2008 T31 St
HERE is my X Trail
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19/Sep/2009, 9:38 pm
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Re: Baal Bone Gap/Blackfellows/Turon - Blue Mountains
An excellant trip, my first forum trip and the first time I have taken my Xy bush. Thankyou all for a great day, it really showed what the Xy is capable of.
An xtrail recovery of the Land Rover would have being nice, but was not to be.
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Wayne X-1308(c)
Glendenning NSW
2004 ST - Twilight, Body Colour ARB Nudge Bar
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19/Sep/2009, 10:11 pm
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Re: Baal Bone Gap/Blackfellows/Turon - Blue Mountains
Alex
I didn't realize the size of some of the bow waves that were created in your pics.
Looks awesome.
Last edited by cooch t31, 19/Sep/2009, 10:49 pm
--- Tony X-891c
2008 T31 St
HERE is my X Trail
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19/Sep/2009, 10:40 pm
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Re: Baal Bone Gap/Blackfellows/Turon - Blue Mountains
Hi chaps,
what a fun packed day, thanks to Mat for suggesting the trip. Emma suggested re naming the BFH trail to the Bouncy Castle trail. I still feel bad for the bloke who gotstuck in the puddle. He watched me come through & said "well you made it alright"! I said "yeah, just gun it, you'll be fine". Oops  I got lucky, he didn't.  At least he was pulled out easy enough. Its too late to post pics, will do so later in the week.
As for those of you who had to pull out today, sorry you couldn't make it, we had alot of fun 
Can't wait to see the pic's of this trip.
--- Happy Trails,
Chris & Emma,
X804(c), This is our ride.
T30 II ST,2004 Auto, Silver, Bashed Plate, LED Tail Lights |
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19/Sep/2009, 10:42 pm
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Re: Baal Bone Gap/Blackfellows/Turon - Blue Mountains
Tony
I like your photo from the meet-up point. A new and interesting angle for the group shot.
And you certainly got a good action shot of Wayne - good timing!
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Alex X-740(c)
2002 ST, Auto, Blue, Bash plate, Suspension spacers, Cooper ATR/Dunlop Le Mans
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19/Sep/2009, 10:59 pm
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Re: Baal Bone Gap/Blackfellows/Turon - Blue Mountains
Sounds like I missed out on a great trip but after spending 2 weeks away from home and all of Friday driving back from Melbourne I though I should spend some time at home.
Stay tuned from some photos of what I got up to today......
--- Alan & Phillipa
2008 X-Trail TL White Diamond
Mods LH Rear Drawer, Tinted Windows, tailgate LEDs, LED reversing and rear fog lights,in dash GPS, gas bonnet struts
X-1112 (C)
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19/Sep/2009, 11:01 pm
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Re: Baal Bone Gap/Blackfellows/Turon - Blue Mountains
Well done guys, looks like an awesome trip. Great pics. 
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19/Sep/2009, 11:06 pm
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