Saturday – DEC 3RD
TRIP LEADER, DES CLARK

Photos here

Always a favourite trip area for a lot of members, it was not surprising to have a large number of vehicles on the trip.  Consequently, once again, the group was split into two groups at the woolshed area on the farm, Des being Trip Leader for one group (with 14 vehicles in it) and Sav kindly being Trip Leader for the second group.

Off we set, using different radio channels for each group, traversing over the Fergusson farm and through Jock Wiley’s farm, for the day.  Both farms are being farmed by Jock, who managed to accompany us on part of the trip on his 4x4 farm bike with three of his (canine) farm workers and a couple of his other farm workers managed to spend the day with us, too.

First stop for us – once we got through the very vocal mooing cows and their calves! – was the crash site of a Lockheed Hudson NZ2007 on a hill at about 700ft.  It was returning from a patrol of the West Coast on Dec 15th 1941, with four men on board aged 27, 25, 20 & 20 and who are buried in Stratford, Nelson, Levin & Wellington.  It is thought that the cloudy/foggy low atmospheric pressure caused the altimeter to register a false high reading which caused the plane to crash and explode on impact.  There are still several large chunks of the wreck on the hillside which we walked up to for close inspection.

We then carried on over the farmland, experiencing some very rough tracks and great 4x4 challenges throughout the day.  I have to say, at this stage, though, that being the “TeC” (aka “Tail-end Charlie”) really doesn’t enable one to be an intrepid Trip Reporter.  However, here are some of the things we got up to.

We came to a steep hill:  10 vehicles made it up; four vehicles remained behind due to the first mechanical hiccup for the day.  After much beating and banging at the starter motor with a hammer (yes, qualified mechanics), a jumper cable was used and away she went and the rest of us got to see what the first 10 had been up to.  It was a nasty little mud hole, then a sharp turn and on up another steep track – some had to be towed up on top, others made it “solo”.

Next thing we know, we have a wee track (optional) to attempt just before the sand dunes.  That was a great source of entertainment.  It is amazing just how far off the ground a vehicle can have a wheel or two and still not fully tip over!  Will try to include a photo of Kerry Smith in this position for you to see what I mean.

From there, we found ourselves at the top of the huge and steep sand dune!  Now THAT is just amazing and manages to make both male and female a tad nervous looking down it and contemplating the decent to the bottom.  However, all but one of our vehicles managed to go down it.  The vehicle that didn’t go down the steep slope headed for the side slope and got seriously stuck several times in the sand.  It required “PP&S” power (people push & shove!) to finally get it on its way down the side sand dune to the bottom.  Still, thinking about it, the steep sand dune shouldn’t be so tough next time we do it because I am positive a lot of us carted off enough sand in our hair, clothes, eyes, mouths and EARS to reduce it somewhat!!  Sand dunes are not the most intelligent place to hang out, in strong wind.

We drove through a lovely bit of bush and had lunch - at 2 p.m. - in a nice little area by the bush (out of the wind) before trekking on towards the Lunar Bluffs.

On our way to the Bluffs, we took a “short cut” up a track.  It was here that unfortunately “Montana” tried to take (with permission) an even “shorter cut”.  He has been advised now to add a spare rear axel with all his other “just in case” spare parts in his trusty tool box.

Yessiree – there’s nothing like towing, panel damage, broken axels, vehicles that just won’t go, etc., etc., etc. added to excellent terrain to make a very entertaining and all in all a really great day.

Thanks, Des, for organising another great weekend in Golden Bay.

Report by Sharlene (SAM) Madill