Our clubs yearly trip to Lake Daniels was held the weekend of 25-27 Feb.

The plan, leave early, casual drive, refuel Murchison & tea, arrive Reid’s store, wait for Sav. Reality held up, leave late, push wagon hard, refuel Murchison (ouch that hurt), miss tea, push on, Sav’s given up waiting and left ( Bugger ). Luck is with me, as the radio cracks in to life and Mike Dredge gives me directions, no problems, great Sav’s heard & is waiting just up the road. Catch up with Sav & Tracey, and James & his mate. Off we go Sav’s in a hurry hoping to get in to the hut before dark. (jezz does he know the two wagons following are leaf sprung ) An interesting drive up the river as the night closes in sees as at the hut in about 45 mins. Some of the teams already in and have the camp fire roaring enjoying a quite ale. We do the same and hear a few tales of the afternoons adventures. Its not to long before the rest of the team arrive (Scotty, Kuz, and Clyde ) after having stopped at Murch for tea. Everyone’s amused with Kuz,s latest modification to the jeep. A Blue flashing light mounted on bonnet. (it’s a jeep thing ? ).
    Saturday dawns fine, Grahams up early tending the fire. Breakfast, ready vehicles, leave to meet the Saturday arrivals at Reid’s store. 10 o’clock everyone’s arrived , around 19 wagons. Instructions from Sav for the first part of the day and we are off to meet Mike who is taking as in a new route. This was a great little track working its way through the bush, narrow in places some tight maneuvering through some trees, down a hill and out of the bush on to river flats through a rather boggy hole. A stop here to regroup as some were needing a wee bit of help getting through the bog. Not to long and we are rolling again. through more bush and we are out to the main track, regroup and another discussion to be made option 1 drive up the road to hut, or option 2, turn off track to start into some more difficult terrain most take option 2. Sav warns everyone to expect damage. The drop off the roads into a deep water filled mud hole with a nasty climb out the other side, Sav’s through, John’s through, James stuck, gets a gentle tow from John, our turn no problems. Mikes through behind me and we move on slowly. As we move on we negotiate mud holes, river crossings, and some nasty little sections, all good fun. Buy now the groups spread out as every one helps each other through. Kuz and Scotty as tail end Charlie are still on the road at the Mud hole. Sav decides to stop for lunch and give everyone a chance to catch up. A good time for a chat and survey any damage. I have a couple of small dents to my left front and rear doors after a soft encounter with a bank. Time to go off we go into more of the same , not to long and we pop back out on the main track in to hut. From here you can go back to the hut and up Thompson’s flat or stay and do all the mud holes of the side of the track. Most take of and head up Thompson’s, about 8 wagons stay to do the side tracks. I stay to do the side tracks  with Sav’s group (Sav, James, John, and Myself ) Its not long before we are up to our neck in it, all needing recovering from some of the bogs. Then Sav got really stuck, Johns cruiser could not move him forward and after breaking a strap (a controlled  demonstration on what happens when a strap breaks ) he had to be recovered from  behind. Finished doing the side tracks and headed back to hut. Some of us then took a quick run up Thompson’s for a look  before coming for a well needed beer and tea . The day was capped off with some ales, yarns, and a sing song around the camp fire before the rain come in and sent as to bed.
     Sunday arrives raining everyone is slow to rise. I decide to pack and head out down the main track as do some of the others. Some are still keen and are going out the hard way. I am sure they will have some more tales to tell. This was an excellent weekend with some very good  tracks  and great company. Thanks Sav and the team.