Mundaring Mud Stomp

• Date - 15th October 2006

• Trip Leader - Paul, Louise, Matt & Sam

• Trip Notes - Wes

• Tail-end Charlie - Keith

  SHORT DRIVES: LONG BREAKS

The day started at the Lakes Roadhouse with a leisurely meeting of the four vehicles participating in the trip. It was pointed out that this was to be an all Pajero trip. Our trip leader was Paul with Louise, Sam and Matthew. The other participants were John & Sue, Keith and then Jayden and me in the remaining vehicle. The trip was organised at late notice to take advantage of the last of winter rains that were predicted to fall during the week, but never eventuated.

After a late breakfast and coffee and much discussion revolving around the shortfalls of the new model Pajero we finally departed close to 10 o’clock. We decided to head south of the power line track and do a bit of exploring. The gravel road soon turned to a track as we traversed along the edge of some beautiful farm land. Despite our concerns about the lack of rain over the last couple of days, it didn’t take Paul long to find some mud.

While Paul examined the mud hole, I took off and did some exploring. On my return Paul had already made his way through, John followed and then it was me & Jayden. Perhaps I should have paid a bit more attention during the inspection as I was soon stuck. John reversed up and after much searching for pieces of his Reece hitch, in the back of his car, we had the snatch strap hooked up. After a couple of attempts at a slow pull (the ground was too slippery for John to get any traction), we decided enough was enough and John executed a perfect snatch and removed me from my predicament.

Keith quickly followed and we then decided that after all the excitement of the 30min drive and snatch that we had better stop for mornos. We found some dry ground and got comfortable as the drinks and food were shared around. We must have been enjoying the serenity and conversation because no one was really in a hurry to move and it was about 60 minutes later before we decided we should actually move on.

So at close to midday we mounted up and moved out. We headed a little further south to a small creek line and found some more mud, a much larger hole which everyone gracefully declined to enter. We followed the creek line for a way, which was dry and found an area with a couple of crossings and had a bit of play in dry river bed. Paul then found a nice long mud hole and, well as my car was already dirty, I just thought it wouldn’t be right to drive around it.

Chorus

Perhaps I was wrong, in hindsight it might have been better to drive around it. So there I was stuck again, this time in waste deep water. This is where roof racks come in handy; use No 3 (behind No 1 – carry luggage and No 2 – sling a hammock from) – something to hang onto as you climb out the window. John kindly volunteered to help out once again the snatch strap was hooked up, however this time due to the protruding tree roots, steep banks and John being on dry ground we executed the perfect tow.

A bit further down the track as we were looking for a lunch spot (after all we’d been driving for nearly an hour!) we found some more water and mud.

Insert chorus here.

That makes three!! But I was having fun . . . . and who’s counting . . . really . . . . no one would be that childish would they?
So it was around 1:30 when we stopped for lunch. If you take out around 40 minutes for the recoveries, then we had been driving for a grand total of around 45 minutes since mornos! What a strenuous day!!

Lunch was another long lazy affair of at least an hour. While the kids occupied themselves with rock and stick throwing and little bit of exploring, the adults once again enjoyed the bush surrounding and some varied conversation that moved from the future of the club to some of the worst jokes I’ve heard in my life (but you come to expect that when John is on a trip).

So it was mid afternoon as we left the lunch spot and headed north again. It was incredible how quick the track turned from brown gravel to soft grey sand. I’m happy to say I survived the sand, however it wasn’t long before the gravel and mud holes returned. John sent a warning over the radio (“No Wes, it is too deep”), however it was too late and I think I heard him crying into the microphone as I entered the mud hole.

Insert chorus here.

I believe it was about this time that Sam (or was it Mathew) asked the question; “Mum, why does Wes keep getting stuck?” Out of the mouths of babes. . . . . . With hard hitting probing questions like that I’m sure Derryn Hinch will be looking over his shoulder. Well what could I say? I tried every excuse in the book, but none of them seemed to be believed by the kids or the adults!!!

John B had also decided enough was enough and told me we were leaving the snatch strap hooked up for the rest of the trip. It was at this stage that I actually made it through some mud; a couple of small pot holes that had some water in them. Despite my cries of joys that I had finally made it through some mud; the snatch strap had remained slack the whole time; Paul was adamant that he saw it go taut, which meant technically I couldn’t claim it as an unassisted crossing.
After that the track widened out and John kindly decided I could be trusted again and removed the snatch strap. We soon hit the black top, turned west and ended up back at the Lakes Roadhouse, where ice-creams rounded off a very enjoyable day. Despite my best attempts I don’t think anyone bought the story about getting bogged on purpose for training purposes. It was then off home where the high pressure sprayer removed about 12kgs of mud from under the car (hopefully the top will get cleaned some time soon).

It just goes to show that you don’t need a large crowd or to much preparation to have fun. A sense of adventure and a little humour will get you a long way. Thanks to all who attended, and particularly to our trip leader(s), for a most enjoyable day.

Wes
”If you’re not bogged, you’re not trying hard enough.”