Watagans Day Trip

Victims:      Trevor and Irene                             Shiny blue chicks car

                   Scott Jones                                  Thank God I finally bought a patrol

                   Nathan Lucas                                Its red, it goes faster, patrol

                   Bob, Suren, and Tarik                    80 seriou'sly wrong cruiser

                   Martin Clark                                  100 series mobile Telstra station

                   Brian, Jodie, Bailey and Jasmine    GU little ripper patrol

As with most highly organised and well prepared trips I run, I had very little idea of what or where we were going, but thankfully I knew the meeting point very well. Bit of a shame Martin didn't, but I won't let a bit of the truth deviously find its way into this report.

Knowing where it was, and getting there on time were 2 different things.........

I wanted to blame Jodie, but as she reads these reports, I'll have to blame the kids.

It had absolutely nothing to do with me sleeping in! All evidence has been destroyed, so no legal correspondence will be entered into!!!!!

Once we made it, we met two guests that Bob had brought along. Suren and Tarik.

Now, I should start off by saying there were pleasant to meet and had a sense of humour, but unfortunately I will have to embellish the truth, as they did come with Bob, and they were in a landcruiser. They will have to suffer the same wrath as any other victim of a club trip.

We set off, and as usual that damn F3 was longer again. I swear the RTA adds a couple kilometres when nobody's looking. We made the turn off and Co pilot Jodie took over the maps. Jeez she drives me nuts sometimes. Why can't I read a map, drive the car, talk on the radio and eat at the same time? We've got a bullbar and front is already smashed.......

Wandering through some fun little hills we got to a C grade climb which most opted to tackle.

I think Suren and Tarik were a bit concerned and I actually think they thought we may have been joking..................We obviously showed them how little respect we have for sanity.

It's a hill. We're in 4WD's, what were we supposed to do?

Oh the bypass........Yes. Well Trevor was the only one with enough brains to think of that!

Or perhaps it was his co-pilot coaxing him.............

Up and away we went with no problems. Martin had a second attempt and while I think a change of line was put down to the accomplishment, I believe it was just a Toyota thing.

Scott then had a go at the next section of the climb, but with wet clay and a huge rock face it was decided to retreat. I think he had fun trying, but secretly wished he had his hilux there.

Onward to Muirs lookout for morning tea. Bailey and Jasmine demonstrating the fine art of elegance while they stuffed face and got covered in mud. A spectacular view to Lake Maquarie was quickly enjoyed before we progressed to the area I had planned the trip around. A series of hard rock steps, a couple creek crossings and some fierce hill climbs.

It would have been great, except for the 26,000 people there on motorbikes and the road closed signs...............

A  quick reccee around the tracks proved unsuccessful. Utilising the accumulation of high tech GPS's we had between us and the mobile satellite station that is Martins car, we realised we better pull out the maps. Have you ever tried to read a topo map, standing in gooey mud, with wet bonnets and a slight drizzle. It's about as much fun as trying to keep things on Lindsay's roof rack. Not very successful. After about 25 attempts at folding it, I managed to find a few tracks we drove past in years gone by, but never ventured down.

One that we found was a lot of fun. Trevor had to turn around because his car couldn't handle the rough stuff. He really should have bought a Nissan.

(For Irene's sake, I'll secretly let you know, I actually asked him to go around as the scrub was getting very thick and I didn't know the track, or if there would be a point to turn around later if needed. Don't tell Trevor though, he'll think I'm being nice or something sick like that!!!)

We met up with in a few minutes with a bit more bush pin-striping on the patrol.

Where we met him was the good part.

Rock faces. 4 of them. Really good ones. Starting on the left with a nice c-grade hill, progressing to the right, getting harder and harder.

We had lunch and then a good play on them. Boy am I glad we found them. Definitely a trip back there in the future. (Check the Calendar in this month's magazine. You will find 2 trips there in the next month)

After a good play and a photo session, Bailey sent the Hummer down the hill. I think it performed about as much as you could expect a hummer to. It rolled several times, crashed and smashed its way to the bottom, but somehow landed back on its wheels. Of course this had to happen several times, just to make sure.................

We headed out and aired up then parted ways. Bob, Scott, Nathan and my tribe went back in further south to reccee a few areas we used to visit. Slippery clay and big ruts made it difficult and after a while of constant bush striping, we turned around. I now know what lantana sound like along every panel of the car...........

Lucky it's going in for some body work and polishing.

It was getting dark and late so heading back out made sense. We did reco the area and work out what we remembered and where it led, so this will prove useful for further trips in the future.

Now if anyone hears some vicious rumours about my patrol getting stuck on a 45 degree angle with both axles hung up and wedged against an embankment, could you please talk to a member of the committee about it. Such untruths and allegations need to be dealt with swiftly and harshly, before it tarnishes the reputations of those involved.

There was no bogging, no snatching, and no winching. Disrespectful lies......all of them.

By the way Nathan, thanks for photos, but don't let them ever make the magazine!!!

You know, obviously, because it didn't happen, they can't............

I have a reputation and morals to protect. Ok a bad reputation, and very low morals, but this is a trip report........no way, I'm going to let the truth get in the way.

Thanks to all who attended,

Looking forward to seeing you again soon

The Norrish's