Exploring in the East

So after finding some new trails at Smiths Gully last weekend, I thought I would do some more exploring, and see what else I could find. One thing I really enjoy is just getting out and exploring an area and searching for new trail. No firm plans just ride. My "grand plan" is to link track from my place in North Ringwood to the Smiths Gully loop and then eventually through to Kinglake. Stage 1 was a reconnaissance mission from Kangaroo ground to Smiths Gully. Stage 2 will be Warrandyte to Kangaroo Ground and stage 3 will be to ride the whole loop.


So with a bit of knowledge from some road side tracks I had seen on a road ride I had done out this way I headed off and found this place which has a small network of tracks, which got me a bit closer to the Smiths Gully trails.



This creek was completely dry but obviously flows hard when it rains as it has moved a few cars along its bed. I rode next to this creek bed for a couple of kilometers without seeing any water. It was at the base of a steep hill so I would assume in a heavy rain it would fill up quickly.


After a cool foggy start it was great to see the sun rising. This section is part of some new trail at Smiths Gully and it was good track, I rode it in reverse as I climbed up all the way, and it would have been great going the other way. Next time.

At one stage I came upon a area that I not ridden but it looked familar. As I headed down the track towards the Eltham Yarra Glen road I realized that I used to run on this trail and the surrounding area when I lived in Yarra Glen.


This photo is not that clear but this was the biggest bull ant I had seen. When I got close he reared up at the camera

This was my "art" shot, whilst it had not rained the fog had caused a dew on the wire fence.

So after about 3 hours I had found enough new trail to satisfy myself and now have connected Kangaroo Ground to the Smiths Gully loop. So Stage 2 is next