TRIP REPORT: HIRA

Date: 27/07/2008

Trip Leader: Tracy ‘Hillbilly’ Cotton
Trip Report: Hillbilly

I put my hand up at the last meeting and said I would lead a trip as fill in; nobody had any better ideas for that day.

I should have remembered, the last time I did this in January I smashed the back differential in my range rover. So far I have put some disco diffs in, but have an auto gear box, running gear to get it all working as I planned. So here I am going to lead a trip with no wagon. I was wondering about a push bike or be like in the old days of being out front with red flag and telling them to all follow me. I suppose I could use my RVR but I don’t think that could keep up.

Well I picked up the Key and permit for the Hira and waited for Sunday. Saturday night, Mountain man rang and asked about the trip and he offered to drive me. I figured a trip with Mountain Man and Hillbilly in front in his $3000.00 turbo Landcruiser would be a good idea. That was also the night that ‘Dingo Deans’ stole our baby (the Bledisloe Cup).

With some pork and tomato beween four slices of bread, two bottles of Bundaberg Ginger beer, two oranges and a bottle of water I arrived at the meeting point, info centre. At 9.30am or so eleven wagons and we departed for Sharland’s Creek being lead by a RVR which badly needs cleaning out and a bath but got the rest of the day off and was parked up at the start of the track. I grabbed the $55 for CHH hoped they don’t send it overseas as it did use to belong to the Nelson City council and I am a ratepayer and feel that I am paying twice.

I had a fight with the lock to get it undone, but with a lot of help from Rowan and away we went. This time we did arrive at Kaka Hill without getting lost. We took in the view while Mountain Man and Rowan and his Jeep had a look at the big hill next door. I was hoping he would have a go, so we could get some great photos for the mag, but I don’t think he would be around to see them.

We went along the fence line doing all the side tracks, having a great time including the steep bit on Bob’s Fern Road. All was going along well, we hear on the PRS of a broken axle on Harald’s Landcruiser. The wheel was stuck out the side like an outrigger, but it was straight on a downhill part which meant no recovery problems. We spent about half an hour on it and came to the conclusion that a cerclip at the diff had broken so it had to be parked up. A manuka branch was tied on the side over the wheel with a strop to stop the wheel coming off and it was put down on the road. We tried ringing around to get someone to bring a car trailer to the gate but nobody was home (well it was a Sunday and who answers a phone on a Sunday anyway). Harald, his passengers and his lunch got in other wagons and onward we went. Then there were ten wagons.

When we were getting near the Wakapupu Lookout the bargain basement Landcruiser started sliding sideways on a steep bank and Mountain Man had to turn downhill. Fortunately there was a track below us so we headed for it. As we slid down the bank on to it, we got a boulder under my side and nearly tipped his bargain basement cruiser over. It was close and wheels on my side were both off the ground. Very scary but a short tow and all was well.

As well as me having a good time my lunch and fags were doing the same, a drink bottle and an orange arrived in the front seat floor at times. We stopped at the Wakapua Lookout for a break and it was about 11.40am on the gray dull but clear day. On we went and some had a look at Yamaha Hill, but none made it on, we had some piglets and a hare for company at times and on to the Boar’s Back. We did not find it but there was a very new skid site in its place. That track should have been protected by someone or something as this was my favourite offroad track. How sad, we went back to the road and down the hill. It was strange as all the trees had gone and it looked like a moon- scape.

We got to the bottom of the hill there was a another skid site so we passed through and on the side noticed a wild looking track to right of loose rock throught no way. Some of the party found a steep track on the side of the hill heading towards the old Boar’s Back and stopped to have a play. I hear that they had a couple of bad situations but got away with it. We came to the no exit sign that leads to the Widow Maker. Up we went to the top and turned right. There was lots of scrub and gorse growing on the track but down we went and guess what, the track I spied at the bottom was the one we had to use to get out. It was not as bad as it looked and we got away with it and and I brought us back while the rest of the party were having a play. If you remember that track it has changed at the bottom of the hill the others were playing in the steep thing beyond that turn around area. With a bit of a hunt around we found the old track on the other side of the road that lead down Lud Valley exit. Down the track, along the road till we came to the steep rough climb back to the top of the hill. All made it OK. Along tops with no drama and a little mud until we came to Goat Hill. Mountain Man took the steep track on the right but we had no luck. We went backwards and bottomed on the ditch with the back end. The bargain basement started to sound like a compressor letting off air, I got out and said it was a tyre, I was wrong, it was whole lot of dirt jammed in the tail pipe and letting just enough exhaust gas to escape to make a hell of a noise, did some digging with a screwdriver and all was well. He broke a mount that was the tail pipe.

Down Goat Hill and Harald departed to try and find a trailer to tow his cruiser. The rest of us carried on and did a few more tracks including one dead end one and finished on the steep bit near the gate. Nobody wanted to do Fringe Hill so that’s were it ended. At this point of a report you thank the leader of the trip so I will thank myself very much for a great day.

However when you get driven by the club sheriff named Mountain Man, I know this is going to cost me. I’m jealous of his bargain basement cruiser and he has got himself a real bargain. It was a good day and sorry you could not all come with us.

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\ \ \ \ \The Hillbilly \ \ \ *

/ / / / / Re’tyre’d &/ / / /

\ \ \ \ heading 4 the hills \ \

Photos here