Harvey - A rainy day in the bush

Don and Jane GU Patrol (trip leader) Alan and Tracey Ford Ranger Sandie and George Mitsubishi Pajero Nick Colarado7 Andrew and Yih Toyota Fortuner Conor 79 Series Toyota Landcruiser Michael, Isaac and Caleb Prado Sean Triton Wayne GU Patrol Roger Landcruiser 76 series Toyota Landcruiser (tail)

A hot breakfast and good coffee made a great way to start the day. With 11 vehicles and 16 people we filled the cafe. The forecast showers became a down pour. Not such a brilliant way to start a trip but we went and hoped for the best.

Letting down tyres was a damp event.

  The firebreak was a challenge and started with a puddle just 50 metres down the track.

We picked our way down rocky bits and slipped across the mud to reach the water.

The water level is high at the moment and instead of following the track (which was under water), we picked our way around the water to a rock-strewn uphill track.

Some took an easier line, which was only slightly less challenging. Andrew drove well, demonstrating that with the right line it was actually possible.

We drove down toward the water and carefully travelled along the track, that was only just wide enough to avoid the water. Up again, past the trees we moved on following the recce notes.

Turning off the gravel road, we took a track between the pines. It was slippery. The trip notes said cross the gravel road and keep following the track. We did, but 50 metres down we slid off the top of the ruts and came to a halt at an interesting angle.

A new challenge: how to move us without risking tipping the car to a more extreme angle. With no movement possible in either direction we called for help.  Using two winches we were rescued. Our winch pulled us forward and thanks to Sean the side winch that kept us upright.

No one was keen to follow us and now the trip notes were irrelevant. We found our way back to the gravel road where people were waiting for us and called a lunch break and planning meeting. For just a little while it stopped raining- well it was down to a light drizzle!

Some called it a day and headed home or to the cafe where hot coffee was still available. The remainder decided to keep exploring. With some help from Sean whose map showed more tracks we drove up and down and up and down. Some of us followed a track that meant the right-hand wheels were in the water.

Moving away from the water we found more challenging tracks. Some spots have been marked with a way point to drive when the roads and tracks are a bit drier.

Wayne discovered he had a puncture. That fixed we headed up and down through more pines until we found a fence line that led us back to bitumen. And of course, it rained as we pumped up tyres.

The trip was rated as a 3+ 4 and it did live up to my expectations.

Thank for joining us. We are already planning another recce and trip. See you then.

Don and Jane