Trip leader: Bill Knowles
Trip report: Lloyd Knowles

The assembly of vehicles under the gum trees at the Waimea College bus bay slowly grew larger due to an accident on the motorway which delayed a few people getting there on time, there were real off road 4wdrives to shiney town trucks including two landrovers, a kermit frog Jeep and Sav’s modern 4 door Jeep driven by Kooze and friends with which Diane and I were teamed up with. I was driving Diane’s town Prado and had brought along a new dishwasher for a ride. Maybe that was how I got the trip report and the booby prize.

Finally away with sheets of paper and directions, left right etc. and lots of questions eg. what is the field at the end of Beach Road, three questions in McShanes Road, which was now in the dark, then Ranzau Road and something about a yellow stone in Hope, then Bill’s favourite Lord Rutherford memorial, and out with the torches to look for the answers, then onto a very dark park for tea break, which was in the vehicle with the lights on as it was too cold to be outside. Back on the road, next clue was under the bridge and then something to do with a hop garden which couldn’t be seen in the dark and an intersection with no name!

Then it was off to Rabbit Island for some fun in the trees. First loop had lots of stick scraping noises underneath, then into the sand hills, still under pine trees with deep wheel ruts and lots of reversing, even new tracks were made, dont want to bend these town cars. Round and round, up and down, left, right searching for little green arrows stapled to trees, some people call this fun and others find it frustrating!
Eventually Bill and Rick rounded up all the stragglers like lost sheep and herded us out and set us on our way to supper in Richmond. A nice warm hall with lots of sammies and sausage rolls and prizes awarded for the best efforts.

Thanks to Bill / Rick, and team of helpers and the kitchen ladies for the amazing supper.
Signed ‘The Dishwasher’