On Saturday the 26th of March 2005 a team of intrepid explorers set off to cross the Megalong Valley via the historic 6 Foot Track starting just before the Jenolan Caves and finishing (for some) at either the tea-rooms in the middle of the Megalong or at the top of the Megalong valley road near Upper Shipley. The "expedition" included 8 people: Will, Annette, Mat, Larissa, Bryan, Michelle, Louise and Roman. Louise arguable managed the hardest part of the adventure which was to take care of 3 boys and one dog and managed to survive "just," while everyone else biked the 6foot track.

We started our day reasonable late with the first car leaving the cottage at just after 9:00Am. The drive to the start of the track just before Jenolan caves was unexpectedly long and took 1 hour with a short grocery stop. Once the second car arrived at the starting point we took off at around 10:30Am. It took the group of 7 people approximately 2 and a half hour to reach the camping ground at the Cox River with lots of little stops and photography. Traffic on the track was reasonably heavy due to the Easter weekend and included 4W drivers, bikes and lots of hikers. This first part of the track is mostly downhill with two river crossings and two steep hills.

After 30 minutes rest at the Cox river camping ground we departed for the final stretch on the single track. The day was getting pretty hot and the steep nature of the single track slowed us down considerably. We arrived at the last gate to the Megalong valley road after about 2 hours riding on the single track. The car shuffle had been expertly organised by Mat and Will and our car was waiting for us in the middle of the Megalong valley. Most of the tired boys and girls took the quick way out in the 4W drive via refreshments at the Megalong valley tea rooms.

Larissa, Michelle and Bryan kindly made the long journey back to Jenolan caves to pick up the car. Only two out of the group had the "guts" to tackle the 15 km uphill remaining part of the route, well done Mat and Will. "I will be back" one of my fellow country men once said, next year to tackle the exit route.

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