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I was out in the area on Tuesday, bloody wet and slippery everywhere, some parts fun, some not so much, once the surface of the clay out there is wet, it's anyone's guess which way the bike will go.

@@SqueakyBoot plenty of sideways action 🤣

I might do a loop this Saturday down Fingerpost, Firth and Saltwater. Just the main roads. I'll probably avoid all side tracks as they will be slushy as after the recent rains.

@@julius8966 the weekend weather apparently will be pretty good 👍

It was a great climb, just went on forever, as I mentioned in one of them when you ride downhill at some point you have to climb out, and boy, when I saw the start of that hill climb, I just held on and hoped for the best.

Cheers, trying to find a way to balance the riding and life...

Cheers, welcome aboard...pretty close to Wombat, close enough to do a run for coffee, but, I have also ridden to Jamieson for coffee...love riding. Wombat/Lerderderg/Blackwood have so much to offer all types of riders...and is accessible to the people of the West, though I am looking forward to getting back to the high country... The beard, it's a bit of work, not sure what to do with it, every time I take my helmet off, it looks as though I just rolled out of bed.... Appreciate you watching and commenting👍

@@SqueakyBoot No worries. I'm in Altona Nth. and ride up to Lerderderg at times. In another vid you mentioned a 606 rear. I have one on my WR and it howls at speed. Yours?

@@dalewyatt1321 I don't find the 606 too bad,but I wear moulded ear plugs, the other thing is the DRZ400E is so loud, I rarely hear anything more than exhaust and induction noise.

@@SqueakyBoot Sorry, not being a stalker. Just watched your fall in the high country then you speak of getting an adventure bike (701 etc.) Imagine trying to pick one up when you've done your ribs, impossible. I ride solo and carry an EPERB and avoid ultra gnarly stuff. I've got permanent screws in and don't want to bend them. My WR is a noisy bugger also, might try ear plugs. Anyway, more catching up to do.

@@dalewyatt1321 All good, my DRZ is my small ADV bike, my other ADV bikes are in excess of the 200kg, so a middle weight 701 would fit in the middle, this is where commonsense comes in...when you ride alone you have to consider the risks and how far you want to push the limit....when it comes to earplugs I tried a shitload of them, bit the bullet and got some molded ones made...best money I've ever spent on bike stuff, wear them religiously ( I ride 365)...they don't block all the noise, but they are so comfortable that you forget they are even in...

@@rond5323 Cheers, come along anytime...appreciate you watching and commenting 👍

Definitely wet, definitely fun. Cheers.👍

Still wet in many places...the mud and puddles don't bother me too much...knowing how deep those puddles get due to the 4x4's but not knowing which ones are deep, that's the adventure.

@SqueakyBoot still looks good riding, will head out Saturday hopefully not much rain between now and then.

@@KDSADV650 👍

There are a few tracks to see, but like you said, some exploring may be best when it dries a little, easy to end up in a big deep hole.

@@julius8966 Definitely understand where your coming from, there can be some really big holes out there...look through my channel, it may help give you some ideas and help plan your ride.

@@SqueakyBoot Cheers, will do. This weekends wet weather unfortunately means my DRZ will rest till at least next weekend.

Still pretty wet in some areas...after over 45 years of riding, I unfortunately have lots of memories of disastrous rides...still lovin" it.

@@OzADVRider Agree...being able plan a route is great, also being able to document it giving others the opportunity to get out and and enjoy a ride without the stress of not knowing the area.

Thanks, there are a number of tracks that are easily linked, differing terrain and skill levels...and the coffee shop is always close by...appreciate the support...cheers👍

@@OzADVRider Yeah, looking forward to getting back in that area when it's drier, where there is one track, there must be more.

G'day, was out there yesterday, it's beginning to dry out a bit, still a bit of water and mud in areas...Blue Gum, Obriens, Firth, Chettle are all dry, many of the main tracks are still closed until October...but plenty of others open...Enjoy the time out there.

Mate, sounds good, thanks for watching and commenting...enjoy getting back out there.👍

I mentioned in a previous video, that the Wombat/Lerderderg/Blackwood has something for everyone. 4x4, Bikes etc. My preference is the bike...Appreciate you taking time to watch and comment.👍

Sounds like a successful adventure ride!

@@OzADVRider Not the closest coffee shop, but it is the best ride to go and get coffee.

Cheers. Appreciate the watch and sub...apologies for the late reply to this comment.

Cheers, appreciate the input, always happy to take on some constructive criticism.

The XR's were good bikes back in the day, the 701 is a very nice piece of kit from all reviews almost a Unicorn.

Thanks, the coffee was definitely worth the effort, didn't anticipate the hole to be so deep, was expecting to have to go for a swim...appreciate your support.

Yeah, pretty wet, was out there yesterday, wet, muddy, slippery...just means you have to take it easier...still plenty to see...helmet on, boots buckled and a sense of adventure, not much more needed...except stopping for coffee in Blackwood.

Thanks, I still think I'm too young to be a grandfather, but, then I look in the mirror.

Cheers, have more in the works...hopefully they will help on your next ride out there.👍

It's fun, fast when drier. Quite a few tracks run off it...Like your last vid, exploring is always fun.

It was a bit rocky, the bottom part between Nolan Creek Road and the picnic ground was closed due to the seasonal closures.

I know some places use the cameras, I try not to ride on tracks that are marked as walking tracks or indicate that motorcycles are not permitted...I also do my best to stay off closed tracks (which is not always possible) sometimes tracks lead in to tracks which lead in to tracks.

Appreciate you watching and commenting, Craig...have only just been thinking about maybe trying to organise a ride of some sort...just waiting on a new job roster, to see where my future days off will fall.

Craig McElligott

@@TheTenderiser Cheers👍

Cheers, appreciate your time watching and commenting...there are so many tracks out in this area, I think I have mentioned in one or two of my videos, "There is something for everyone"...many of the tracks are closed at the moment over winter, still have many open, but, slippery as F@%K...

@SqueakyBoot will be something I'll do when it's dry, bike is to heavy to be picking up over an over again. Any recommendations on entry points and tracks to ride, I ride from melton and only been there a couple of times and I ride alone so not wanting to get my self into trouble I generally take is easy so I don't get caught out with the unknown

@@KDSADV650 Bacchus Marsh/Gisborne Rd, on to Lerderderg Gorge Road, turn right on to Camerons Road, follow all the way, will become Blue Gum Track, follow to Obriens Crossing Rd...at that intersection, you can make a million choices...best is to just cruise through.... worst case scenario, is you will end up in Blackwood or Trentham or Gisborne or Bacchus Marsh.... Happy Riding (heads up, watch the apex of all corners, two-way traffic and 4x4's)

@SqueakyBoot thankyou will go for a ride sometime during the week, 4x4 almost cleaned me up on my first visit there.

@@KDSADV650 Yeah, those bullbars come up on you real quick.

At this time of year, traction is a challenge in most places. Having this area close to home makes it an easy day without too many asphalt kilometres, there's a little bit of everything, for all riders out there.

@@andrewford80 appreciate the watch and comment...these are the good days, just out exploring, dealing with the tracks as you find them...

@@JB-zg9hb Cheers, trying to document some of the tracks out there, some of us are getting too old or carrying too many injuries, my days if crazy single track and jumps are behind me, but still love riding and exploring...look forward to seeing the DR out there...bloody slippery at the moment.

@@user-xe6qq9zi8s Appreciate the support, have some more coming with track names and the GPS coordinates, trying to find my place in this CZcams game...

Thanks 🥰

Yeah, wasn't going to attempt it, will check it out another day, pretty sure I've been down it when I first got the DRZ

Appreciate your insight, I agree we are lucky to live where we do, I have spent a significant amount of time in SE Asia and sometimes our problems are nothing compared to many others... I think for all of us it is a matter of finding "our way" to manage the down moments...I think it is especially important for men to be able to express and talk about things before they get out of hand...I think my generation and those before me grew up being told "boys don't cry", problem is we do, but generally it's when it's too late.

Sticks, tree roots, mud, wildlife etc...it's like a mine field out there...lucky we love what we do...😁👍...appreciate the watch and comments.

Yep. I thought that too. Bloody root gave your back wheel a kick. Doesn't take much especially on the red clay. Almost had an off last weekend out Chichester Dam area..

Yeah, slippery, only need a touch of rain out that part of town and it changes completely...some great riding, though. Injuries, suck, at least with ribs I could still ride (painful though) a shoulder, don't know about that... Watching CZcams, has its moments, just made me miss riding, so, jumped back on the bike, till it threw me off. I ride 365 to get to work, so either way had to get back on the bike, healed or not. Cheers, thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing...Rest up, recover and get back out there.

Good to hear it worked, too bad you had to find out that it worked...have looked at them, it's the way of the future

Ouch , looked like that tree root got ya, nasty same side hope your ok. Was that on the Blackwood side ,some of those tracks looked great, don’t think I’ve been down them. Enjoyed the video 👍

@@user-xe6qq9zi8s Yes, The off was Blackwood side, Frenchmans Track, Kearneys Road area from memory.. Ouch, it was the same side, had to walk it off a bit. The bark hut tracks were off Allens Creek Road, I think. Currently working on some other vids, covering some of the tracks in this area, with names and GPS locations.

@@SqueakyBoot nothing too serious, I was practising slow speed manoeuvres through trees while standing and stalled. To avoid getting wedged between the bike and tree I kind of launched off the bike a bit and did a flip. I guess to the gyros it looked like a high side, I’m sure I would have been fine with just static armour. Still very neat to test it out though…

It certainly is a journey...thanks for commenting, I appreciate the input.

Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment.

Thanks, there were some dark days, now, just muddy days.👍

Cheers....uh, hmmm, Thanks 😄

Cheers, really appreciate your input...it's a tough slog sometimes, doing all the things that are expected of you...takes a lot of re-learning to find time to be kind to yourself...

Cheers...

Well done, It was a good all round then. Hopefully no damage.

Finding that time out is really important...maybe it's an age and generation thing, I find the current world we live in "too loud"

I found a push bike even more stress releaving. Better for my health and overall fitness as well!

@@Vince1648 I agree , I raced mountain bikes back in the early 90's unfortunately due to too many years running and cycling, my knees started playing up, when I was about 40, saw a specialist, who recommended I find a new hobby if I don't' want to be in a wheelchair by the time I'm 50....well I'm now 57, no wheelchair (yet) ...appreciate you watching and commenting

Yeah, it seemed to go on forever, was a great day, some great riding out that side of town