Robe to Beachport 4x4 Challenge

Little Dip Conservation Park, located on the outskirts of Robe, South Australia, and is the gateway to the famous Robe to Beachport 4x4 run. This is the place many Victorians head to for beach driving, as its not legal in that state. As we know South Australia is a strange and quaint place but maybe they got this right, what great fun. I came across the park Ranger while preparing the D-Max for the run, letting the tyres down to 15 psi, fitting the sand flag and putting the UHF radio on scan to pick up any broadcasting traffic on the track. He was about to do his weekend daily run to patrol the park repair fences and check the tracks. "The first beach" he said "is so soft and fluffy that if you get through that without getting bogged the rest isn't so bad". The 50 or 60 Km, if you keep heading south and don't divert onto any of the many tracks leading into the dunes, took me 5 hours. Just got bogged once when I got a little ambitious on a pointy soft fluffy dune just off the track. I was belly deep in it and sideways on a 45 degree angle and the Max Trax and my shovel were very handy. Or else that would have been camp for the night. The track is rated as Moderate to Easy but hearing the horror stories from the locals I think its moderate to challenging, even if you are properly prepared. I think plenty of those soccer mum 4x4's would come to grief pretty quickly. Anyway I got to the destination on dusk and snapped the sunset below. Spent the night in 3 Mile Bend camp ground on lake George near Beachport where I caught a great sunrise and explored the jetty.

iPhone 4

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iPhone 4

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 48mm f11, 1/400 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 18mm f11, 1/250 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 16mm f11, 1/250 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f16, 1/200 sec

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*Sunset*

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/640 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 1600, 16mm f2.8, 1/20 sec

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*Sunrise*

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f5.6, 1/1000 sec

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 Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/500 sec

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 Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f5.6, 1/250 sec

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Early Sunday Dog Walk

While on a cold morning walk along a local reserve pathway with Hermione I took the opportunity to give the Nikkor 105mm Macro a run. Winter rains on grass in the 5 degree c morning and the first forming of Wattle flowers waiting for spring to bloom. Then I tested the focus pull from a lemon tree through a fence and gradually pulled back until the wire fence was in focus. Some interesting effects. Lastly a couple of shots of a dead gum tree denuded of bark and showing the grub trails that were beneath making some very interesting patterns.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 220, 105mm f2.8, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f3.2, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 320, 105mm f3.2, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f2.8, 1/125 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f2.8, 1/100 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f2.8, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f3, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 220, 105mm f3, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 400, 105mm f3, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 800, 105mm f5.6, 1/80 sec

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Over Mt Hotham

This weekend we went on a road trip to Mount Hotham to see the snow. We had to hire snow chains at Harrietville as you are not allowed in Alpine Parks in winter without at least carrying them. 4WD vehicles are exempt from the compulsory fitting and the D-Max didn't need them. At one stage between Hotham village and Dinner Plain the snow storm and depth of the snow over the road made it impossible to distinguish sky, ground, road, anything it was a white out. Except for the orange poles that designate the left hand side of the road. After it stopped snowing the sun even peeped through. Going South to Cobungra and Omeo it was crystal clear blue sky and great views.

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Altitude 900 Metres

 Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 250, 11mm f8, 1/80 sec

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 Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/250 sec

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Altitude 1200 Metres

 Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/250 sec

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Altitude 1600 Metres

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/800 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/1600 sec

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 Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/640 sec

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4x4 Rig Project

I have just installed drawers in my Isuzu D-Max ute. I heard my wife mumble something about removing the balls from someone if any more money was spent on this ute . . . not sure? I didn't get it all as I was busy. This is a much more efficient and convenient way to store things in the tub and when I have the roof top tent on (see post here) it gives me easy access to stuff from lockable drawers. I have a kitchen drawer that has all I need and a tool drawer that has recovery gear and  tools etc. I also made a wooden table / chopping board that slots into the top of the kitchen tray and slides away with the drawer. In the wings of the drawers I have a large storage area each side with a fishing rod, waders, a PFD, torch, spotlights, sand flag and odds and sods. At the back is my dual battery, air compressor, water and other stuff. Of course from the carpeted floor to the hard lid there is about 30 cm of space for more stuff, like camp chairs fishing rods etc. Oh and the Engel fridge sits in the middle of the back seat :-) Now if anyone wants to donate 5 Maxxis Offroad 4WD MT-753 265/75R16 tyres my kit would be complete.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 1100, 35mm f8, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/125 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 800, 35mm f8, 1/80 sec

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 Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 000, 35mm f8, 1/80 sec

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 Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 220, 35mm f8, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 320, 35mm f8, 1/80 sec

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 Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 1100, 35mm f8, 1/80 sec

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Winter Fishing Reconnaissance

Pictures from a scouting trip to some fishing spots in the Swan Hill and Kerang region of Victoria. On the way I stopped and looked at the interesting vista in the frosty dawn at Tragowel Swamp near Kerang, then dropped a line into the Murray River and Little Murray River on Pental Island near Swan Hill. On our way back we visited Kow Swamp near Gunbower and even had a quick fish in the famous Box Creek that runs out of Kow Swamp to the Murray. Not even a nibble :-( The last picture is my attentive passenger and companion for the trip.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 1600, 35mm f8, 1/25 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 200, 35mm f11, 1/160 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 200, 35mm f8, 1/800 sec

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 Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2D @ ISO 200, 35mm f8, 1/320 sec

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Sign Of The Times

During the gold rush in Central Victoria three brothers from Denmark Moritz, Julius and Jacob Cohn, founded a small cordial factory in Bendigo. Cohn products were sold across the Australia and exported to the United Kingdom and Asia. The brothers went on to hold prominent positions on the local Council, and were part of the group that founded the Bendigo Land and Building Society, which became the Bendigo Bank. This sign was hand painted by Bendigo sign writer Frank Barr around 1954. It was hidden for decades by an adjacent building but when it was demolished the sign was revealed. It can be found near the corner of Bridge & Arnold Streets, Bendigo. Source: http://www.cv.vic.gov.au/stories/made-in-bendigo-cold-beer/

iPhone 4

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