Saturday/Sunday 11 and 12th March 

On Saturday morning we meet at Bright Water sail yards, there were about 9 4wd’s drives. We then set off on our way to the Whangapeka with Bob Dickinson leading the charge.

We all got to Tapawera and stopped for a ice cream and a pie. About 30 minutes later we arrived at Mitch Irvine’s farm. Where we set up our tents and then farted around for about 1 hour. Then Mark Logan and his father took us on a scenic drive on the farm where we ended in a bog hole, a few of the keen old farts couldn’t resist the mud, Sav put up a couple of good roster tales, and Chris Hollis was in there boots and all, Jim and Bob also had a go, but the star attraction was no tow Nickels making it look easy.

We then made our way up a sandy hill climb where we gathered at the top. On the way back we were told to get some pine cones. When we arrived at camp Bob introduced us to the sling shot, We had found out what the pine cones were for. After we had the sling shot contest we cooked a feed and had some beers. After a wee while Bob came around and inspected our old fart material, and Andy produced a valve radio but when he got to Beven keys Landrover, it looked like a mobile museum and he easily took out 1st prize, he also had the biggest thermet, I’ve ever seen so it was around that we all gathered for a few bears and some tunes.

The next day we left the camp at 10 o’clock and followed Bob to play some old fart games and then headed up to the top end of the valley. On the way back Bob set up a golf driving range with a circle of rope about 3 metres across to represent the hole it was a lot harder than it looked and no one got a hole in one. Then it was back to camp to pack up the tents and have lunch and head of home.  

Thanks Bob for a hard case week end.

By Mike and Joe Murph