TRIP REPORT: ELAINE BAY - PENZANCE

Date: 18th April 2010
Trip leader: Ian Hanford
Trip report: Benjamin Crowther

This is an account of the trip taken through the eyes of a 7 year old boy

Hi, my name is Benjamin Crowther. I am 7 years old and I went with Mum (Deb), Bevan and Jimmy on April 18th 4WD trip to Elaine Bay then through the rough track to Penzance Bay in Tennyson Inlet. I had never been there before.
We drove fast to catch up to the other 4WD vehicles as we were running late after picking up Jimmy at the Rai Valley. At the top of the hill past Okiwi Bay we caught up and I took photo’s (as I was the camera man) of the 4WD vehicles coming up a big steep hill, one was green, one red, one white, and one was brown. One vehicle got a flat tyre and they had to change it on the rough track.

At Elaine Bay we had lunch and I got the camera and took a photo of a fish that some boys caught. I also touched a jellyfish. It felt like jelly. And someone’s fishing rod got pulled away by a fish. I took photos of a little dog, too.

We then drove up a rough track following some big power lines. At one point Bevan took three, four, five attempts at getting up this steep bit and I got out to watch the others drive up.
Bevan looked through a microscope (telescope - ed.) at the top of the hill and we saw the giant stingray. At Penzance Bay we saw the giant stingray: it was as big as 2 dogs. I took lots of photos and I collected some oyster shells. I went swinging on the rope on the big Macro carper (Macrocarpa - ed.) tree - it was fun.
When we went on the road homeward bound, we saw a tree in the middle of the road. Bevan asked me if he should go right or left. But I didn’t say and so he had to stop right in front of it and I didn’t tell him which way. It said on the tree CJ. Then on the way home I had a nap. It was a lovely day all round, sunny and funny.

Date: 18th April 2010
Trip leader: Ian Hanford
Trip report: Alister ‘Lurch’ Giddens

Saturday night, should have been out learing (? - ed.)up or taking in some culture, but no... I was at home reading a text from Graeme... "are you going on the Penzance trip, tomorrow"? and of course, being the prepared type of individual, the reply was "yeah why not?".

Sunday morning arrived, all be it too quickly, and as I scurried about town collecting some lunch, a drink and some more shares in Shell, the group seem to leave (on time...WOW).
After meeting in town the group wandered down to Okiwi Bay for a tea stop, and no sign of Bevan Keys. Bevan had called on the way over saying he was going to join us all after collecting someone from Rai Valley.

Once all had fed and watered we set off towards Elaine Bay, and even Bevan joined us.
There was a small detour, to check this small track and we even needed to put the hubs in, we even had a choice of climbs to pick from. I watched Leo clamber his way up the right hand side option and then have a second go with a lot more success. Leo came back to inspect his conquest and commented that you wouldn’t get up there without diff locks, which was promptly followed by our new President with his nice heavy cruiser and cruise it did. Not the same for Bob the builder... whoops I mean Miles the builder, although he did have to make some unscheduled repairs half way up, after making some small shape changes to a nice round wheel, a group gathered and made an impromptu tyre change. There wasn’t enough room for Graeme or myself to turn around so we both drove up the hill (while Ken and some others found room to turn around and drive around on the tar seal).

We made another jaunt along the seal to Elaine Bay for lunch in the sun on the water’s edge.
Once starting the track it didn’t seem to take long and we were parked in the shade listening to Jeeps rev, and Range Rovers roar, and the odd diesel do its thing as well. The rocky climb around the corner was a little deceptive and I think there was an attempt made from every book of 4WD methods by the group. Once at the summit the gaggle of four wheelers stopped for an amazing view over the outer sounds and down to our destination, and once Bevan got out his telescope he confirmed the shadows around the Penzance wharf were in fact stingrays, so I guess that put an end to any ideas of anybody taking a swim.

Once down the track there was a little time to pump up the tyres and talk Kay into an ice-cream at Rai on the way home.
Thanks Ian, once again you led a great day out.