This is the trip that we’d previously done a recce on the month before. However we were greeted with some wet weather which totally changed the whole aspect of the day. To this day it is still spoken about fondly by those that attended for a number of reasons – none more so than a suspension & body lifted RAV4 completing the run from start to finish!
I hope you enjoy the read as much as we enjoyed the day…..
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Left home @ 0730 and had a good run through to the Freeway. Waved to Max as I passed him, and then had the pleasure of passing 17 Jeeps, probably much to their disgust!
Met up with everyone at the Twin Servos at Wyong @ 0845, discussed what we were going to do for the day, let the tyre pressures down to 26 psi and we headed off.
Going down through the first track of the day turned out to be quite challenging for a few of us. The rain had changed the track from an easy climb, into a very respectable obstacle, and very slippery.
As can be seen from the two photos it was a nice wet track that greeted us. To the Rav 4’s credit, it went everywhere we did during the day, and suprised a lot of us watching as well.
Where some of us had a little bit of trouble in areas, the Rav 4 continued on without having to be recovered once during the day. Which is more than I can say for myself. A rolled tyre in an awkward place
followed by getting stuck
we decided to continue on to the Pines Picnic Area for some lunch. We met up with the other guys and proceeded down to the Zig Zag area, where everyone had a drive around the training area.
From here we decided to travel down into the gully, realising once we were down there that backtracking was really a LAST resort. The U-turns on the way down were very slippery, and we would have had some fun going back up them!
Over the radio I hear a call “has anyone got a snatch strap”. Round the corner and MY02 is stuck pretty good trying the harder line across a boghole.
After that we continued up some rocky hills with some minor steps enough to trip some people up. Exited on to Lemon Tree Road and made our way out to Maccas on the Freeway. A few looks were given to us as 17 muddy vehicles were travelling down the F3 Laughing
I would like to say that the trip home was uneventful, but unfortunately it wasn’t. My old Landy’s alternator decided to call it a day – perfect timing with 150km’s of night time driving to home. MY02 initially helped me, until Red Disco pulled in front of me and the 100 series pulled in behind me and gave me an escort to the end of the F3. Started off with headlights, then park lights, and then no lights by the end!
MY02 backtracked after dropping of his friend, and followed me from Hornsby to Windsor. Hooked up the battery pack to enable some lights on the way home. There is one good reason now that I can think of for a Landy’s battery being under the passengers seat Laughing
Anyway, I thorougly enjoyed the day, and special thanks to the guys that helped me get home. Looking forward to the next trip
Cheers
Chris