Buggying

After my last weekend trip and exploration to woodside beach, there is HUGE potential for a long distance run, I have google mapped the run and aside from a potential small creek issue at seaspray ( I can swim and I know my buggy floats), there is nothing blocking a 80 kilometer stretch.

The beach as I saw it can be buggied at least 2 hrs either side probably 2 1/2 either side so it's possible to do it in one run.

There is road access about every 27 ks, being seaspray,golden beach and loch sport.

With road support you could end the trip at any of these.

The only downside would appear to be very little mobile coverage in some areas. Worst case scenario ( other than serious injury... One could carry an EPIRB) is a day walk to the next town.

A day would need to be picked where there is better than reasonable prospects of a consistent 10-20 knot wind, with a slight tailwind blow in whichever direction one plans to travel.

So...... Is there any interest in such an adventure. Note I plan to do it regardless of other participation.

I intend to have a crack at it,

I would work yourself up to a really long run.
Ask anyone has done a long run in one direction and it can be murder on the downwind leg.

I'm sure you will get some takers.

sounds like an epic run mate, best of luck with it.
Just keep in mind that wind strength and direction can vary alot over that distance and also one leg is going to go to sleep you would definatly want a support vehicle to run along the beach with you, just in case the wind dies. Thats a big buggy to drag up the beach for a few hours.

Adventure ....... Love it

In reply......

There is no vehicle access on to the beach, here in Victoria fun is banned and 4x4 vehicles are not allowed there , the first leg from either direction will have no support, the middle leg the road is nearby.

If things didn't work out then the option to stop at either of the small towns can be taken.

As for the leg going to sleep, I found after going down the beach the other way for 10 ks the pressure noticeable, I figured just take some extra padding for that side might be sufficient.

I have run it by my wife, she is prepared to give me road support.

Not quite sure why the downward wind would be harder than the upwind, I would only aim to have enough offset in this to allow for minor wind changes. Plus you go quicker downwind( I do anyway) I noticed when I was down there the other day I had to change kites due to wind dropping slightly.

As said if it turns out to be too difficult, stops are available. But you never know till you try.

I spoke to the lifesaving people at woodside regarding the beach changing during winter or storms etc, I seemed to get the impression that enough room should always be available, at least there anyway.

So any takers ? I'm looking for a Saturday and will be watching the forecast closely, if one turns up with suitable winds and the wife is available I'm off... I will notify in this thread of when I can go a couple days ahead. ( nothing stopping another group having a crack at it)

I meant your downwind leg Clive not the down wind leg of your run

Leg cramps are killer keeping the pressure on the foot peg for long distances, try a couple of 20 to 30 km runs first and you will see what I mean.
Most of the guys that done long runs will tell you the first couple of times you tend to get leg cramps etc.

20-30km! Jesus Goz, my leg starts getting pins and needles after only a few kms. Maybe has something to do with the fact that I usually only run a few hundred meters eiher way on the beach here

You can practice a bit at Easter then Andy

I meant your downwind leg Clive not the down wind leg of your run

Leg cramps are killer keeping the pressure on the foot peg for long distances, try a couple of 20 to 30 km runs first and you will see what I mean.
Most of the guys that done long runs will tell you the first couple of times you tend to get leg cramps etc.

Ahhhhh downwind and down wind....... My mistake

I haven't had any issues with leg cramps ...yet.... I do tend to sit fairly hunched in a buggy, as here http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xprLz ... 29:31%20PM maybee that makes a difference, I see pics of the English guys with their legs out full ( stuffed if I know how they turn),
The obvious has been staring me in the face ever since I watched andys jumping clip this morning.... Tie myself in ..... I've got lots of old rock climbing gear, all I need is a sling and carabiner to offload some of the sideways torsion to one of the seat rails. then the sideways pull is transferred ,no crushed legs and given it's a one way trip risk is minimal. Then it just becomes a nice long tourist cruise.

It is more about the correcting the steering of the buggy from the pull of the kite that causes your leg to get sore. What your talking about doing is refereed to as hot wiring when you connect the kite to the side rails of the buggy if you do that make sure you have a reliable quick release in the system. What Andy is wearing is a lap belt to ensure that the buggy stays attached to him when jumping again it needs a way to release.

Hot wiring will take the load off your hips and stop you from getting pushed hard up against the side rail when really powered up.

Clive i did a run at Yeppoon once and went all the way up to the northern tip , about 16k i think . I stood up to stretch my legs and fell back into the buggy . My left leg was dead from pushing hard against the stirrup for so long .

Hot wiring will take the load off your hips and stop you from getting pushed hard up against the side rail when really powered up.

Beauty, that's what I want.

Will wait to see if any takers to join. I might get a larger kite just in case wind dies.... Will deal with that in another thread.

I will definitely post in this thread when I'm going , plus results... Good or bad.

I have google mapped the run

Linkey???

I'm always up for an adventure!!!
My current pet project is to do the "Encounter Bay Run" (from Kingston SE to Goolwa). It's 180km and I plan to take a few days to complete it. Would you be interested in this run?

Also, have you seen this thread from a few years ago?
It's only short but might give you something to chew on.

Anyway, if you really are serious I'm proper keen for such an adventure

Finally.... Someone who's interested in such adventure.

Linkey..... http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&ms ... 3f7d#bmb=1
Hopefully that works.

Hmmmm might have to remind John of his comment in that thread you linked to.

Swimming across the mouth might be interesting, I know my buggy floats at least

Sounds like a right proper adventure, hardest task must surely be getting consistent winds for 2-3 days, you would only get a day or twos notice which is the hardest planning issue.

The run I suggested should be a one day event , it runs along the beach, not quite like the route suggested.

The tyranny of distance is the big issue..... you over there and me here.

Finally.... Someone who's interested in such adventure.

I'm always keen

I have also been championing the "Simpson Crossing Thread" if you haven't seen it. There was a bit of a discussion about the "Encounter Bay Run" in there too:

Linkey..... http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&ms ... 3f7d#bmb=1
Hopefully that works.

That one appears to be the "Kingston" link I submitted before

Is this the kind of thing you're thinking: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=203 ... 310fa9146e
It appears to be 180km-ish as well.

Sounds like a right proper adventure, hardest task must surely be getting consistent winds for 2-3 days, you would only get a day or twos notice which is the hardest planning issue.

All I'm really after is westerlies turning south throughout the weekend, and in fact we might have exactly that on our way now!

Given perfect conditions it should be doable in a day but I like the adventure of camping out
Last week down at Kingstone there was one day where the winds were almost perfect and I easily averaged 50km/h down to the Granities. At that rate the whole beach stretch could have been done in 4 hours!

The tyranny of distance is the big issue..... you over there and me here.

It is a fair drive (about 800km between us), but hell, I'd do the drive for such an adventure

80km is easy peasy. wait for an oncross on day and hauls arse.... you'll crank that bad boy out in a couple of hours if powered.

last time i punched muriwai beach (46km) it was a slight upwind tack i creamed it in 1.12.

ps that was on the landboard.

Clive,

Sounds interesting. I'm a landboarder and have always been tempted to try the run you are talking about. Picking the right time for wind conditions has always put me off since the only semi reliable wheather station is the one at the air port, the one at the Inlet only gives 9am and 3pm readings. I suspect most of the land there is pretty flatt so guessing or is that eternal kiters optimism that the winds will not be gusty if from the inland ? I would have thought the best bet would be a SE wind for a direct onshore wind, problem is at least in Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay those winds don't come around to often but when they do they make for sweet runs.

A quick look at google shows there are a access roads along most of the way. I would assign set check points for kiter(s) to meet up with the support vehicle to narrow down where to start looking if things go pear shaped (ie no wind, buggy/kite/landboard stuffed, injured kiter).

One could even make it an over night trip. A tad troublesome for landboards as you have to carry the gear on your back, but for buggies should be a piece of cake.

I would be inclined to do a looksee trip first to see what the wind conditions and sandsurface is like before committing to a full on Lakes Entrance to the SW corner run, or just be ready for either.

I mentioned such a trip to my son quite a while ago and he was keen. Could just do it by having set check points, kiter and support vehicle persons meet, ask kiter if they are still up for more or call "Uncle" before tackling the next leg. Taking my 11 year old son I would definitely have to do it that way.

I'll pose the question on the dinner table tonight and see what happens.

Legs and feet falling asleep, happens with landboarders as well, imagine we would have to stop every once in a while and tack the opposite way to get the blood flowing again.

Regards,
Norman.

Sounds good Norman

I played around at woodside a couple weeks back, went 10 ks down to the south and back, conditions were fine there.

The proposition is to go from woodside to loch sport ( or other way depending on wind) in 3 legs each about 27 ks each, there are possibly more acess points I haven't looked at.

There is a wind station at yarram not too far away, it would have to be a check the weather forecast regularly prior to going http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/watl/wind/index.jsp

I currently have spoken to the lady of the house who can run this sat and next as support with the ute. Further weekends would be on an as you go basis, although march isn't looking good as she has sport commitments. I can snaffle Mondays and Fridays from time to time as well.

I need a minimum 7 knots to move, so 10-20 knot forecast would be the sweet spot for me.

A quick google images on the up leg locations show a very similar beach to woodside.

The sand dunes are reasonably high, when I went behind them was still, yet on the beach was 10 knots, so I would just look for the SE wind.

Thanks for the feed back Clive.

Talked to my family last night. This coming week end is a no go as Zach and I have just come back from a long spell at Kingston and besides we have some family outings planed. The response so far to head off to Lakes Entrance is luke warm being such a long trip.

What were your plans on getting there and when to start the buggy run, ie drive there --- buggy run --- drive back home on day ; or camp over night so drive up one day, buggy run the other? I'm guessing it's a 3hr drive from the West side of Melbourne where I'm from.

Also looked at the tides for this weekend and low tide only kicks in late afternoon, not the best for the buggy run espcially looking at some of the google maps of the beach there. I guess it's all in the timing, if you're planning to drive up same day as the buggy run then afternoon low tide would be perfect, but is there enough time then. Hmm lot's of variables.

Regards,
Norman.

Ah ........

It's 2 hrs 20 mins to woodside for me, so I was just going to drive up on the day, although if low tide was early one could go up previous night I guess.

Tommorrow the wind is a bit suspect, it's almost there, but would like a few more knots.

Given it's almost calm, I have booked a charter boat to go fishing tomorrow morning, probably the best way would be for me to make some indication in this thread, about the potential viability if the wind forecast looks good..... Otherwise assume it's a no go.
A Wednesday heads up for the weekend would give a bit of notice.

Have spoken to John holgate who has also indicated interest, but having just been to Kingston, he needs to catch up with work etc, so he's a few weeks off.

Tides are a little more flexible in the buggy, specially with 12 inch tyres, I could probably just shorten the lines and run a bigger kite on the soft stuff, I would be guided by yourself as to viability for a landboard, it doesn't have to be done instantly... If there was interest I would wait.

Having said that if perfect conditions jumped up I'd take it, and maybee do it again with others later.