The following information has been directly copied from the official Camp Quality esCarpade site. Hopefully it's close to being correct!! The map at the bottom of the post was put together by Damian, and shows the overnight and lunch stops for the days of esCarpade.
Team Booger Mobile are going to drive to and from the event as always... the distances to and from are somewhat shorter than last year (thank goodness says Damian)!!
Booger Mobile HQ to Newcastle - 841km (New England Highway) - Thursday 11 October 2012
Canberra to Booger Mobile - 1297km (Newell Highway) - Saturday 20 October 2012
It would be slightly shorter to use the Pacific Motorway in each direction, but that's not a road that Team Booger Mobile are particularly keen on travelling on!!
Read on for a rundown of each day, or skip to the bottom for a map if you like pretty pictures!!
NEWCASTLE Friday 12th October 2012
9am - 2pm Scrutineering
5pm - 6pm Event & Safety briefing
6.30pm - 10pm Opening Night Celebration
DAY 1 - NEWCASTLE TO MUDGEE Saturday 13th October 2012
From Newcastle the track heads west, through the Hunter region passing the front door of some of Australia's most prolific wind producers, including Mt Pleasant, Drayton's, Arrow Field, Lindermans and Tyrells Wines.
Once through the Hunter we continue west where we pull the handbrake on for a spot of lunch.
The afternoon drive follows a valley road which cuts through the Great Dividing Range between Coolah Tops and Goulburn River National Parks. When we emerge on the other side we're greeted by the picturesque and fertile Mudgee Valley, our hosts for the first night on esCarpade.
DAY 2 - MUDGEE TO FORBES Sunday 14th October 2012
Our morning track on Day 2 detours north around Lake Burrandong and through Wellington. From there we head south running parallel to the western bank of the lake. Closer to Orange we pass through the gold rush region of Ophir, before dropping into Orange from the West.
After lunch we follow Burrandong Way north out of Orange but soon turn west towards Molong following the winding Belgravia Rd all the way. After passing through Molong we turn south passing through Manildra and Cudal. Rather than following the main road into Forbes from here, we take a looped detour to the North, dropping into town from the North east.
DAY 3 - FORBES TO GRIFFITH Monday 15th October 2012
This is the first day a real outback driving. Our track to Lake Cargeligo is long and dusty however the effects of La Nina are obvious. Midway through the morning we come across Nerang Cowal, usually a dry inland marsh which during our first survey was up to the edge of the road and loaded with wildlife. Similarly when we arrive for lunch at Lake Cargeligo, the lake is right up the edge of town.
The afternoon drive follows dirt roads through Rankin Springs and then down the eastern boundary of Cocoparra National Park, the mountain range which overlooks Griffith. Our entry into Griffith is anything but conventional as we drive the edge of a canal for the last 10 km.
DAY 4 - GRIFFITH Tuesday 16th October 2012
Turn your engines off and frolic by foot on your free day in Griffith!
DAY 5 - GRIFFITH TO WAGGA WAGGA Wednesday 17th October 2012
The morning's track is completely guided by canals – given that we're in the heart of MIA (Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area). Firstly we follow the Leeton canal all the way from Griffith to Leeton. Then once we cross the Murrumbidgee River, we take Main Canal Rd to the outskirts of Jerilderie. Jerilderie was made famous by Ned Kelly in 1879 when he held the town hostage for a few days while he dictated an 8000 word letter known as the Jerilderie Letter. Jerilderie is also a turning point for esCarpade because it marks the point where we turn east and head back towards the ACT. Our afternoon is almost due east through Overton, Rand and Henty before driving into Wagga Wagga from the South.
DAY 6 - WAGGA WAGGA TO TUMUT Thursday 18th October 2012
As the crow flies lunch is not very far away, in fact only 75km. But in true esCarpade style we manage to turn that 75km into a fantastic 210km semicircle taking in a couple of State Forests and crossing the Hume at Holbrook before stopping for lunch at Culcairn. After lunch it's back across the Hume and past the historic site where Mad Dog Morgan shot and killed Sergeant McGinnity in 1864. We then pass through Tumbarumba and weave our way through Bago and Green Hills State Forests before arriving in Tumut.
DAY 7 - TUMUT TO CANBERRA Friday 19th October 2012
With the Brindabellas conveniently located to our east, it's pretty obvious where we're headed once breakfast is finished. We spend the better part of the morning in and out of forests and emerge to the north following the Murrumbidgee into Jugiong for lunch. After lunch we follow the Murrumbidgee again, taking a different track back into the Brindabellas. We drop down the east side of Wee Jasper State Forest, calling into Wee Jasper at the bottom before climbing out the other side using Doctors Flat Rd. Once we clear the bush, the route passes through Urayarra Crossing, Coppins Crossing and then heads into the city for a final parade.
Another exciting esCarpade is now a little over two and a half weeks away!! Damian is excited!!
