Weekend Reconnaissance.

Trevor and Irene : Blandcruiser

Bob, Rhada and Robbie: Landsnoozer

Colin and Cindy Jobson: Patrol

Peter and Cheryl: Patrol

Mark and Allana: Patrol

Mark, Nicole, Aaron and James: Patrol

Brian, Jodie, Bailey and Jasmine: Patrol

As you can see this trip was heavily weighted in favour of the Datsuns.

This was a good thing. I shall explain.

The trip was a reccee so chances are we were going to get lost and stuck so we needed capable vehicles to brave the frontier that lay ahead.............

(I should write Sir David Attenborough's material. No you're right I should stick to what I'm good at. If anyone knows what the hell that is could you please let me know!!!)

However, back to the tales of adventure.

Some of those more fortunate souls left on Friday to head up to the valley of discovery. The rest of us had to head off on Saturday morning. To our delight Jasmine decided to, how does one delicately say "express" all through the bed on Friday night. Of course cleaning a mess that looked like a scene from "deliverance" took some time so we were late.

Luckily the Wallers, Jobsons and Douglas's are more patient than I so it wasn't a big deal.

For something a little different we decided to meet at Macdonalds in Lithgow. Lucky we did as it was there we met up with the Scouller's. They were heading out on a day trip with some friends to Mt Walker. They are now locals in the area after moving to Bathurst to live.

Rochelle is in Portland now and enjoying herself as usual. Kieran has moved with them as well. It was nice to catch up and we told them not to make themselves strangers.

Of course in fine form Bailey pushed his tray and poured hotcake syrup all over Jodie's jeans. Don't you just love them............

A glorious day weatherwise was almost too good to be true. It was however totally true. You see I have friends in high places. Oh OK more in low ones, but we can get to that later!!!

My friend Trevor had put a call in to higher authorities, yes even higher than Irene, to arrange for a fine day. Mark Douglas led the convoy out of Lithgow and for a moment I was a bit worried as he had no idea where we were going, but my fears were laid to rest. You see it was a reccee so we could get lost anyway, but more importantly he didn't have his GPS so we probably wouldn't miss too many turns.

After overtaking we drove through some virgin tracks. With many thanks to National Sparks and Wildfires Services of course they all led to locked gates. Oh well that's the point of a reccee. Heading back out and up the highway we took the main road in.

WOW.

What a fantastic drive. Beautiful scenery with a backdrop of escarpments in the widest canyon in the world.  A photographers dream.

Whilst the valley itself is in a rain-shadow, it appeared to be quite green and very picturesque. Even despite turning around a few times and backtracking we managed to make camp on schedule. When we arrived the group from Friday was out exploring.

They had set up camp in the town common. It is a bit like hill end with a campground and facilities. The campground was slightly sloping so finding a flat spot was priority. It also had a playground for the kids which provided much entertainment. The facilities were hot showers and toilets provided by the community centre. They were really hot, high pressured and clean. They were also free.

A small notice explained that they were provided by the community for visitors and the only financial request was to buy an ice-cream from the hall to support them.

This we of course did numerous times and also gave a small donation on behalf of the club members present.

Not too many places left that provide these facilities for free.

After lunch we were taken by the Friday group to the Dept. Of robbing you blind and locking you out of everything's, campground (Dept of environment and climate change aka NPWS)

It was without facilities, but in a place this beautiful you can do without them.

It was a massive grassy area on the banks of the river with plenty shade and fire-pits.

Escarpments within a stone's throw and spectacular scenery. Even better was that it was only accessible by 4WD.

Oh how I wish I had of known about this place before I pitched the tent.

Everyone agreed it is definitely the place to camp. The showers and toilets of the community ground are only a short 10 minute drive, or 5 in a Patrol, away so you can head to town for a scrub up. Or of course you could plonk your posterior in one of the numerous water holes along the riverbanks and soak up the good life. I do however like the yuppie luxury of soap and shampoo so I think next time I will still head to town with my skirt hitched up and wash like a pommie has nightmares about.

Of course one would express gratitude with a donation to the community.

We were going to head off for the Saturday afternoon tour of the old shale oil works but Mark Carmody ruined everything for us.

He brought out some homebrew, and it was decided that it provided a much better option for the afternoon's relaxation.  Thanks Mark. It was a very good brew too. Oh how we suffer the indignities of life!

It was of course without doubt we will be returning to this wonderful place very soon and probably very often so nobody was too upset about missing out. I also didn't relish the thought of carrying Jasmine around an old mining area, especially after a few medicinal ales.

(Purely for research purposes only and to help Mark with his "yeast" studies.)

As the sun set happy hour was upon us. I actually intend moving a motion at the next meeting to change this traditions name. I think "happy hour" makes us sound like a tawdry pub selling  cheap drinks to tradesmen. I feel a more appropriate name for this little session of festivities could be "watch the children stuff their faces with junk, while we consume alcohol." Of course happy hour latest for at least three hours............

We then managed to sneak in a little meal before bathing the children. A nice supply of hot water made bathing easy. They events of running and splashing in the river combined with hours in the playground had tired them out so nodding off to the land of slumber was an easy task. This left a few hours of campfire conversation for the adults. How we got from discussing the escarpments, to me wearing a nurses outfit and Trevor getting a Brazilian, is beyond me!!! I blame Allana and Rhada. They always seem to drag Mark Douglas and I down to their level. (Only kidding, we usually fall to that level ourselves, upon consuming vast quantities of medicine)

The night was perfect. Warm, great fire, good company, bourbon, and some pole dancing.

(O.K. no pole dancing, Nicole was just hanging on to the tent pole, but my mind tends to wander......)

We had a very in depth conversation about camper trailers and all drooled over the "quantum" then slowly one by one we retreated to our tents.

The following day was slightly overcast but still a beautiful day. We headed into the southern reaches of the valley exploring a 4WD trail that led to a lookout. The track wasn't too hard but did require low range work. We had morning tea and a photo session then headed back out. Upon returning to the main road we lined the cars and folks up for a group shot. Peter Ward moved his car to the other side as he refused to be photographed next to a landcruiser. There were also concerns over catching rust, but I think his patrol has been immunised. Oh sure he made some excuse about not wanting to be parked on top of an anthill and getting bitten or having them all through his car, but we all know it was just to avoid hurting Trevor's feelings. Those 60 series are awfully sensitive too.

We headed back for lunch and packing up. From here the group split up again. Some heading home, some going back to the river for the kids to have a swim, and some going to visit the local museum.

This was a fantastic trip in every way. Everyone agreed they loved it and we will definitely be going back.

Some of you may be wondering why I haven't actually said where we went.

Well..............it's a secret, you should have come along!

No actually the real reason is I don't want the name on this report because it will allow every looney with access to google to be able to find out how good the place is, and I don't want it to end up like Pitt St.

We will definitely be returning in the near future and I would like to suggest you come along. I also want to thank everyone who came on the trip for the company.

Jodie and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

Brian Norrish

P.S. I hereby declare that this trip was a reccee so no information in this report or on the trip can be used against me to prove my stupidity or make claim for alimony! All representations and accusations may have involved a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon and I cannot vouch for their accuracy. Except of course any statement in regards to a "toy"ota.