VENUE: Lake Keepit

DATE: Sunday the 24^th July 2016.

TIME: 10am ride out. (please arrive in time to complete any paperwork if you are a visiting rider). 

THINGS TO CONSIDER: This is a nice easy relatively flat ride that goes around a portion of the extremities of Lake Keepit.  We have sought permission from the Lake Keepit Authorities to do ride. When I did the pre ride the weather was lovely and the lake looked beautiful. If the wind is up though it could get quite cool so please dress accordingly. The ride is an easy ride and is rated a 1.5 out of five for degree of difficulty. For the most part the ground is soft underfoot (hoof), however there are sections of rock surrounding some parts of the dam.  Bearing in mind the recent weather conditions, it may be damp and boggy in parts, however due to the nature of the ride we should be able to negotiate our way around those areas. This time of the year it is very quiet out at the lake, however there is a possibility of a speed boat or two being out on the water. There is also cattle in the area.  The ride will leave from the camp base and we will stop for morning tea along the ride.  We will return to the camp site at the end of the ride and a late-ish lunch will follow the ride. We also have permission to camp over the night before, for those who wish to do so.

Camping options for the Saturday night are as follows:

1.      Cabin accommodation/powered sites.  The cabins/powered sites are situated some 3? Kilometres away from the area designated for the horses. There are a variety of cabin styles available and as well as the powered sites.  Please refer to the website or phone 67 69 7605 for further details and to book your site. 

2.     Bush camping.  This is the area we are allowed to have the horses stay for the duration of the night, and where we humans are allowed to set up camp.  It is also where we set off from on our ride. There is no power to this area and it is ‘free range’.  There is a toilet block and a cold (brrr) shower.  The cost for bush camping for the night is $16.00 per vehicle, (which from memory covers two people – any further people are $ 8.00).  We are allowed to have a campfire, so please bring whatever wood you can as there is very little in the nearby vicinity. Remember to bring your food and drinking water and whatever your horse requires, including temporary yard.  There is a hose at the toilet block for filling the horse’s buckets.  Following the ride please be sure to remove all rubbish and spread manure so as to leave the area as we found it. Please note the horses are not permitted in the area of the cabins, playgrounds, kiosk etc.

DIRECTIONS:  From Tamworth:  Head out towards Gunnedah.  Approximately 10? kilometres from Somerton you will see the right turn into Lake Keepit.  Follow the road towards the office, there is a boom gate in this area.  Here you will pay your camping fee.  There is no fee for those riding for the day only. Once through the boom gate you follow the road to the right for approximately 3 kilometres.  Turn left after the aero club and you will see an open bush area on the lakes edge.  There is a composting toilet in this area.   If you go a little further along you will see a larger amenities block and an undercover picnic table.  I will be camping in this area.  Feel free to camp anywhere in this open area.

RSVP DATE: Please RSVP to me, Megan at yarrabee5@gmail.com or via our Facebook page, by Thursday the 21^st of July.  Under 18’s to wear a helmet. 

MORE INFORMATION:  Please feel free to contact me on the above email address if there is anything I can assist you with.