Gallery of log for Dalmayne Road for coal
Thoroughly enjoyed this virtual. Work took me over to Coles Bay so I seized the opportunity of taking the Dalmayne Road "short-cut" on the way home.
Tassyexplorer kindly supplied the co-ordinates for the junction with the coast road and away I went. Actually I reckon this road could be a real short-cut if it was upgraded. I'd like to know more of it's history as it's quite well aligned. I'm wondering if it was convict built? My observations over the years has lead me to believe that when people built roads with picks, shovels and wheel barrows they took a good deal of care with their route.
It took me ninety minutes from one end to the other. Thirty of those minutes was spent inching over the creek at GZ. Possibly my geojeep is a tad large (6m x 2.2m) for this sort of thing as I ran into a basic problem. To cross the creek from the coast direction, you enter and turn hard right. Immoveable chunks of scenery determine the path of the front LH corner but a 144" wheelbase determines the path of the rear RH wheel, and there was no path! Only solution was patient rock piling. Once the required pile (500 - 600mm high) was made it was simply a case of inching forward whilst moving the pile along as I went. It's moments like these when a passenger would have been handy. At one stage the drivers floor was at breast pocket height, requiring some serious scrambling to get back in!
All good fun. Less fun was the old bridge encountered next. I've driven over quite a few of these old log bridges over the years and I never enjoy them. The next person to come this way can be reassured that the old bridge took 3.5 ton and didn't even quiver.
The only other moment of dismay was when I discovered a large tree across the track. A brief inspection told me I wasn't going to be pulling it off the track and my only cutting implement was a hacksaw. Fortunately I noticed the paddock just below which provides a detour around several fallen trees. Coming from St Marys, this would be obvious but not from the other way. There was a moment there when I thought I'd be heading back to the coast!
Anyway you'll gather from the extensive log that I had a great time finding this cache and can highly recommend it to people who like this sort of thing. Many thanks for providing me with a fun detour!
Tassyexplorer kindly supplied the co-ordinates for the junction with the coast road and away I went. Actually I reckon this road could be a real short-cut if it was upgraded. I'd like to know more of it's history as it's quite well aligned. I'm wondering if it was convict built? My observations over the years has lead me to believe that when people built roads with picks, shovels and wheel barrows they took a good deal of care with their route.
It took me ninety minutes from one end to the other. Thirty of those minutes was spent inching over the creek at GZ. Possibly my geojeep is a tad large (6m x 2.2m) for this sort of thing as I ran into a basic problem. To cross the creek from the coast direction, you enter and turn hard right. Immoveable chunks of scenery determine the path of the front LH corner but a 144" wheelbase determines the path of the rear RH wheel, and there was no path! Only solution was patient rock piling. Once the required pile (500 - 600mm high) was made it was simply a case of inching forward whilst moving the pile along as I went. It's moments like these when a passenger would have been handy. At one stage the drivers floor was at breast pocket height, requiring some serious scrambling to get back in!
All good fun. Less fun was the old bridge encountered next. I've driven over quite a few of these old log bridges over the years and I never enjoy them. The next person to come this way can be reassured that the old bridge took 3.5 ton and didn't even quiver.
The only other moment of dismay was when I discovered a large tree across the track. A brief inspection told me I wasn't going to be pulling it off the track and my only cutting implement was a hacksaw. Fortunately I noticed the paddock just below which provides a detour around several fallen trees. Coming from St Marys, this would be obvious but not from the other way. There was a moment there when I thought I'd be heading back to the coast!
Anyway you'll gather from the extensive log that I had a great time finding this cache and can highly recommend it to people who like this sort of thing. Many thanks for providing me with a fun detour!
Rated: for Overall Experience.
