Caves to Caves - Part IV – Boyd River

Our camp at Boyd River was beautiful, but at 1250 metres above sea level was rather chilly.  We set up camp quickly decided that we would spend the afternoon inside the tent playing games and reading the Muddle Headed Wombat.  The rain was now coming down in a good steady way, and our relief at being at the top of the plateau after our journey here was immense.

I reflected on our previous few hours and realised that perhaps we had bitten off a bit more than we could chew by coming along the Kowmung River Fire Trail, but the satisfaction of taking on the track and emerging triumphant was intoxicating (or was that the celebratory beer or two?).  Jo confided in me that although our situation wasn't exactly pleasant, she was comforted in the fact we had the Personal Locator Beacon in the glove box.  We also were trialing a SPOT Messenger and my parents had lent me their satellite phone for the trip.  She was extremely confident that if all went to custard, at least she could get the kids (and her too no doubt) into a nice warm bed for the night...

Caves to Caves - Part III - Recovery should be a four letter word...

Our plan on departing Yerranderie was to retrace our steps to Mount Werong, where we would then proceed to Boyd River via Dingo Dell and the Kowmung River Fire Trail. On the Banshee Road into Dingo Dell we had our fist hint things might get a bit more exciting with a small NPWS sign stating simply 4WD ONLY. Hmm. I had been wondering to myself if we were going to see any steep hills requiring low range during this trip. Sure, some of the hills in and out of Yerranderie required first gear hauling the camper up them, but nothing thus far would have presented a challenge for a normal car, carefully driven. All this was about to change...

At last we engaged low range for the descent into Dingo Dell. As we continued down into the valley we realised that the trail was very steep in places, and the surface was clay in several places. We were looking forward to lunch at the bottom, but the clouds started to close in, and a shower of rain greeted us as we pulled into the camp site.

Descending on the Banshea Road to Dingo Dell

The creek at Dingo Dell campground

A little word in the back of my head said we needed to get out of there... now. Jo echoed my thoughts by voicing them, clearly and succinctly.

The Little Fisherman was most disappointed as we elected to continue our journey up and out of the valley before the rain set in - delaying two of the most important things in the world - an opportunity to wet his line AND lunch.

As we headed north from Dingo Dell towards the Tuglow Caves, the track seemed to be even more steep that the entry. We then stopped at the bottom of a steep and badly rutted section for a pause, a think and to drop another 5psi out of the tyres.