My son & I trundled into Golden Downs camp to find some 4wds lining the road side. Sun not up yet with a huddle of blokes with steamy breaths standing around, temp -4 degrees. Sun came up over the hill, so we all wandered to the bright spot to thaw out. Eventually someone said ‘cant wait all day, let’s go’.
15 vehicles off up a track to the left of Motueka river bridge, through gate into paddock, off track down through manuka and swamp, where I got stuck going downhill, wheels too small.
On the fl at we were lead to two bogholes, the Jeeps were first in. What a mess!, then the big Nissans; Toymota drivers have more respect for their vehicles (? - ed.) and just watched, except Leo. It took a huge tractor to retrieve a large Nissan, Leo jumped in, slipped into the ruts and it took a good Jeep winch and manuka tree to get him out.
Off up to the top of the hill for great views and a cuppa. Down again through farm land to a muddy little gully. Why was the tractor waiting at the other side? ‘You really want us to go through there’, Suzuki 4door went fi rst, tiptoed right across and nearly out. Christened his truck ‘Slop’; the exit had to be widened to get him out. One red Hilux was getting towed without its driver: ‘stop, stop!’. My attempt got me through but I had not enough power or grip to mount the steep bank, but the noisy Nissan showed us how: up the bank and totally airborne nearly on top of a Toyota.
That’s it, down to the bridge for lunch and wait for Higgy. Sav took us up a skidder track, looped back down into the river to their favourite playground under the douglas fir trees. Higgy took over the lead off up Wellington gully, off a skid site and old skidder track, as usual never been driven before. The track went along on up 200m to top. Dry and stony but most made it unassisted. From here it was right around the gravel to Kerr’s hill and back down on sealed road to river crossing and away home with no brakes.
Thanks Abe for a great day out and a chance to test ones skill and vehicle,and now to clean it!
Past club trips 
