Mud, Mud Glorious Mud ....

With Rick and Cindy, Iggy, Robroy and Gareth, Kevin and Brenda (visitors), Paul. F and Barb, Rob, Paul. C.

Throughout the weekend I’m sure that Rick has modeled his leadership style on JC’s. The trip left Munno Para 15mins late with Rick about the last to arrive.

We passed through Kapunda when Rick chirped let’s take the scenic route, (meaning let’s take every stock route, bike track & walking trail legally possible for a vehicle). In an attempt to hide Rick’s ability to err at every junction Rick enlisted Robroy to go Tail-end-Charlie. That worked for Rick because we were continually backtracking to find our T.E.C. video taping the country side quoting his now famous "I may never be back here again!"

As we drove through Robertstown I noticed the lead cars continued straight ahead. I turned right and summoned Robroy to do the same, we jumped out of our cars and headed across the road to the pub to sit on the verandah and wave when Rick’s convoy worked out where to go and finally drove past us.

After setting up camp, Rick took us for a play around Burra gorge. We drove over the creek a couple of times, which was over bumper height. We found a lot of the tracks had been blocked off by the local council but managed to find enough to play on.

The hills and tracks would normally be found to be pedestrian, but with all the rain it had caused the clay tracks to be very, very slippery. Rick found out when he attempted a hill climb, gave it a bit and climbed 2/3 up and was spat down the hill over double the speed he went up! Due to the slippery clay, quite scary until we realised the wheel tracks were keeping us nice and straight as we kept getting propelled backward, finally both cruisers and the Maverick made it up the top.

Gareth was on the radio to let Rick know that part of his Drizabone was hanging out of his door and was covered in mud.

Another exciting moment came as we were desending a hill most vehicles ended up doing sideways including Kevin’s Maverick which just clipped a tree. At that point Paul, Barb and Rob arrived so we headed back for happy hour.

In my two years with Wanderers this was the best campfire yet, (we loaded Kevin’s Maverick and my Cruiser with wood before our trip), and it was nurtured by visitor Kevin who also supplied a flagon of port. It was at that point where we were trying to see if we had a quorum to vote him in as a member.

The pizza comp went well with Paul. F judging Kevins pizza the best and myself judging Ricks pizza the best until it was found out that I wasn’t really a judge.

Time to farewell Paul, Barb and Rob into the night. Cindy was getting into the swing of things and had paid Gareth $5 to supply her with drinks and footy scores throughout the evening. Well Gareth did his job as Cindy was soon singing the port power theme.

After brekky another play in the creek then onto Mongolta gold mine. After arriving at the gate Rick decided to wait after reading trespasser’s shot, survivors prosecuted!

It was here we met Wally our guide who showed us around. He had re-opened the mine in 1990 after it was closed in the late 40’s. He had been working the mine by himself since 1990, as he had not found anyone he could trust to work it with him. Wally handed us a rock that contained gold. Robroy tried to bite it to see if it was real gold but couldn’t get his mouth around it, so he popped his teeth out of his mouth and clamped them around the rock! Wally took us deep into the mine and I was a little apprehensive at first but really enjoyed the tour and would recommend it to others.

Rick announced time to move on and in a half-hour we would be at Caroona for lunch. 2 hours later we were still negotiating some of the most slippery driving since the Ottways. Robroy got lost again so the rest of us took time out whilst he backtracked.

After lunch we headed home when I finally realised Rick had finally learnt something - he let me lead and made Robroy sit in the middle of the convoy.

Great trip Rick!!!!!!

Paul.C.

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