Despite zero interest shown by Melbourne listees (perhaps due to the vicMTB ride, or maybe because they are all pikers), a mission of discovery took place on sunday in the bush off the Maroondah Hwy about 10km past Healesville. Much was discovered. Those present were myself, Row who used to be on the list, Rich and Duncan who were never on the list.

The first thing we discovered before we even got into the car was that we all have beards. Many thanks to Row for pointing this out. Not sure how significant this discovery was.

Next was that the car park (near a little river, before the road climbs up to Dom Dom Saddle) was extremely muddy.

The first discovery that really affected us was the signs on the locked gates (with lots of barbed wire and shite) that said that the track we intended to ride is off limits to everyone because it is a catchment area. On close consultation, the map confirmed this. An alternate route was quickly found, starting on the other side of the river on the same side of the road as the carpark.

I am ashamed to admit that there were similar signs on this gate, which we flagrantly ignored as we climbed over. As a consolation, we took extra careful care not to polute the area...not even peeing on trees.

This part of the ride was firetrail, which is really only a clearing in the trees. Often grassed, always thickly covered in sticks, leaves, bark and logs. Several substantial trees down across the track. Easy climb, steeper and very slippery descent, across the river, then a long climb up to the road. The logs, sticks and wooden bridges were all insanely slippery. No hope of turning, braking or accelerating - complete momentum work. I guess that happens when tracks are never used, in a very damp area, and it is / has been raining. That ended the illegal part.

An easy road climb got us to Dom Dom Saddle, which was really cold and windy and rainy.

The sign on the next gate just said that it is catchment, and that you are allowed in, but be nice and don't pollute. I was overly concerned ahout limiting trail errosion etc., until a bit further on where a whole hillside had been clear-fell logged. If that is how they treat their catchments, then I feel less guilty about riding in it.

More climbing firetrails, then a signposted walking track veers off to the right. This climbs a bit further (over the clear-felled hill) then goes for a steep, super-slippery, but wide descent. A few un-ridable tree falls. Everyone had front wheel slide-outs and came off, at least once. About 200m of firetrail at the bottom, then off to the right again.

Too steep and slippery to ride up, so we shouldered bikes and crawled to the top of another hill.

Then the fun started.

It just kept going down and down and down. Really tight, really technical, insanely slippery. Front wheels washing out all over the place. Hidden potholes sending you over the bars even though you are sitting on your back tyre and doing about 3km/h. The whole thing felt like riding on a flat because the surface was so loose, soft and mushy. Duncan had a couple of huge stacks, and twisted his ankle a bit. Made him a bit hesitant for the rest, not wanting to twist it again and have to limp home. Row gloated that his ATACs were not filling up like our SPuDs. In all, a gratuitous descent (for about 3 km, dropping about 400m), and bloody good fun.

Eventually came within earshot of the river, which we would then follow for about 5 k's of windy, slimy, techo singletrack back to the carpark. The walking track crosses the illegal firetrail we rode earlier about a k from home: we did a bit of a figure 8.

Not sure how this ride could be done legally. The desent was legal, or close to it (probably supposed to be walkers only, but I doubt it would be ridden often even if it is legal), and definitely the best part of the ride. The most legal option would be to ride up the road, but that would be less fun. Maybe start along the walking track to the firetrail crossing, then ride halfway up the hill on the fire trail (which had signs, but no gates, saying to stay the hell out). The descent was definitely worthwhile, and may even justify a long boring road slog to the top.

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