Trip Report by Andrew Helme
9.30am Saturday 25th February, eight vehicles assembled at Coalpit road, and were ready to leave. James having checked that Neil, the Trip Leader, was carrying his CPR equipment decided to let the 7 trucks go ahead up to the Saddle.
Neil took off like a hound to water and we all followed over the well rutted and washed out track. Visibility was better this year than that on some previous trips.
Neil chose the easy route up to the Remarkables and by midday we all assembled 6300ft at the top. The temperature had dropped a little and Dave Marsh and his colleague were wishing that their 101 forward control Landrover had more than natural air conditioning.
We waited for another 4WD group from the South to arrive so that we could set off down the way we had come. Then we branched off to continue to Bannockburn. The track was fairly overgrown which resulted in a fair amount of vehicle scratches. We could see a glint in Neil’s eyes as he exhorted us to follow him through the undergrowth.
We stopped for the sand flies to have their lunch by the hut next to the creek before proceeding up what was going to be the more difficult part of the trip.
It was then that Stretch, Kane and Ryan stepped up to entertain us and put the 101 through its 101 towing test, and Ryan enjoyed a two wheeled ride on his first 4WD trip.
We continued out over the Nevis River to Bannockburn and all were grateful to Neil for leading us on an exciting day’s trip.
Participants: Neil: Trip Leader. Dave in the 101. Ryan in Prado. Stretch in his Hilux. Greg in his black Landcruiser. Kane in his D MAX . Andrew in the Disco
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