Robe - October 2003

Trip Leader: Rick Leaderette: Cindy
Trippers: Les & Joy, Paul, Paula & Superman - Little Paulie, Rob Roy & Gareth, Iggy & Joslyn, Geoff & Jeanne, Greg, Stewart & Karen & Gordon & Chris.

We set off for Robe on Friday after work & followed the Princes Highway to Robe. The drive is very scenic & interesting as the Coorong was on our right. We arrived in Robe & set up camp in a very pleasant caravan park where you had to take a packed lunch every time you wanted to go to the loo. The reputation of the Wanderers must have reached them before we did, because we were given the remotest spot away from everyone. The weather was warm & it wasn’t long before everyone was set up sitting in front of the make-shift fire, candle light. The Wanderers are great at improvising. The talk soon turned to what had the trip leader, Rick, planned for the weekend.

I can’t remember his exact words but it was something like, "We are just down here to take a look. Nothing serious. If we feel like it we’ll go for a drive along the beach. Just to take a look and then if we find it interesting we may plan a more adventurous trip later." Yes good idea Rick!!! At this stage we should have voted a vote of no confidence because there was nothing definite planned. I thought he always said a good trip leader had everything planned down to the last detail including an ETA & mileage within a 5% error margin.

The next morning the camp site was up early & soon the whistling kettles were singing a happy tune. All getting ready for the whistling kettle competition planned for that evening. Whilst waiting for the rest of our group to arrive (visitors from WA, Stewart & Karen) we took a look around the picturesque town of Robe. There is quite a lot of character & history to observe.

We were all eager to set off & once everyone was here we were soon on our way. Remember just to have a look ... nothing serious. On our way to the beach our Trip leader mentioned that there was a beach on our left that was easy for 4wds. We would leave this until we got back & take a drive along this after we had taken a look around. Rick must have been referring to our next trip to Robe. (I’m not sure if this is the place where they record the local soap for radio but more of this later.)

We were soon driving along towards our destination. He kept telling us that he would just go ahead & test the way & get us to follow when the track was OK. He took Paul along with him (moral support). The first time he did this he left the group at the top of a sand dune which overlooked the ocean. The scenery was magic our first sighting of the coast - so clean looking. After what seem like a lot of yeses, then no, then yes we were advised that it was safe for us to follow down to the beach. We deflated our tyres & headed off over & down the hill. When we were on the beach Rick was still undecided if we should take the route along the beach. Sorry Rick you were outvoted (8:1).

Rick set off along the beach, Paul following. Paul got himself over the sand hill but Rick just could not make it. At this stage I must say that all those people who had been to Puppy Springs would have made it no trouble as Paul had just demonstrated. Rob Roy set off & I’m not sure what was happening but from where we stood it did not appear to be much.

We were next to the ocean & had a cool breeze which was quite pleasant as the weather was warming up to what was promising to be a hot day. Geoff set off down the beach, gave the OK & everyone including our trip leader, who by now had decided that we would not be able to go where the front group had gone, followed. We went over sand dunes, through salt bush, & back along the beach. It was a great experience sand driving. When driving along the beach you soon learned to keep your foot on the accelerator & keep holding on to the wheel because the sand was sending you sliding everywhere. Once you stopped momentum you were bogged. Fun?? Yes. Did anyone get into trouble?? Not really, Iggy & Gordon got half bogged but managed to get themselves out of trouble. Good driving guys - so far only trip leader having got into trouble.

I’m not sure where we had lunch because our team leaderette did not give a running commentary of where we were unlike when we went on the last trip. It was here that everyone pumped up their tyres believing that this was going to be the last of the sand driving.

We then turned into a conservation park it may have been the Little Dip conservation park (ask Rick if it was on his map) where we met up with another 4wd Club. They said that they had just driven along the beach from Beachport. It had taken them 2.5 hours with their tyre pressure at 15. After another discussion to see if we wanted to go to Beachport via the beach. This led to a check on the tides, an estimated ETA at Beachport about 5.30 pm & the probability of us making it.) So once again vote of no confidence in trip leader. The tyre pressure went down & off we set again.

The scenery was magic. We drove along the beach & then when the rocks went into the sea we had to do a left turn into the sand dunes only to return to the beach after passing the protuberance. When driving among the sand dunes we had a very hair raising experience. A group of bike riders were coming in the opposite direction to us. There really wasn’t any room for passing. When the news over the radio stated that they were waiting for us, off we set.

It was not long after this that Rick got himself bogged on the beach. Paul lost momentum &, according to him, had to stop to help Rick. The rest of the group did a 90° turn & went back into the sand dunes - the way we had come. This was not an easy feat. Rick was digging his way to China. Meanwhile we had reached the top of the sand dunes & it was like being in the desert - sand for as far as the eye could see. Rob Roy & some of the other drivers took off to find the errant pair. Some of the group waited to see what they should do. Meanwhile a 4wd that we had passed on the beach drove past the group that was waiting & followed a fence line & disappeared into the sunset.

Eventually the pair got themselves out of trouble & with guidance from Geoff & others managed to find the rest of the group. I do believe that Rick mentioned how much he loved Paul, thanked him profusely for the amount of times he had got him out of trouble. But we all know what an Indian giver Rick can be & he retracted the statement a short time later. At this stage we have to thank Paula for coming up with our new trip leader song:

Nine little Wanderers went out one day Over the hills and far away Trip leader Rick said, "Quack, quack, quack But only seven little Wanderers came back

By now Les’s car was in the lead & he assumed the trip leader’s position & took the group via the fence line. This was OK until the fence ran out. It was follow your nose & hope for the best. By now we had well & truly exceeded our ETA time of 5.30 pm. The sand driving soon turned to a dirt track. It wasn’t long before we were following the track along a lake. We came to a property where there was an appropriate sign on the gate. But I am not going to tell you what it said, you will have to access the forum & look at the photos that have been posted there. This will give you a smile & an incentive to join the forum. A couple of cars traveling in the opposite direction informed Les that we were traveling in the right direction to find the main road.

Once we hit the bitumen we once again pumped up our tyres. Rick came around with what he considered was a peace offering - fairy bread, to be looked at but not eaten. This was our happy hour. We went back via Beachport, two or three times around the round-a-bout to check out the wedding & the decision was made that it would be too crowded here to have a counter meal. After this everyone went back to camp plus have their evening meal wherever they pleased.

Once round the camp circle (no fire this night & no whistling kettle competition - Oh well) our trip leader suggested that some of us would be interested in an easy drive along the beach. About half the group went with him.

Gee they’re a devious lot the ones that went. Devious but not smart. Those that were left around the camp decided to turn on the radio so that we could listen to what they were doing - just incase we had to go & pull them out of trouble. Well did they plot to tell us a whopper when they got back to camp. Police raid, Les getting caught with something illicit like reading matter. Unbelievable!! The best part was that they even enacted it on the radio as though it was really happening. This was the best entertainment - a real saga. The trouble was that when they got back to camp they could not get their story straight. How many police men were there?

The next day, after packing up & treating the kids (this included most of the group) to some of Robe’s best ice cream we set off for the Coorong. The Coorong is one of South Australia’s most spectacular national parks. It features a long, shallow saline lagoon more than 100 kms long, separated from the Southern Ocean by the sand-dunes of the Younghusband Peninsula. At the 42 mile crossing, Geoff who had been here before, took over as trip leader & we had a thoroughly enjoyable drive across the beach & through the sand dunes to the crossing which was closed due to it being under water. It was great 4wd country. We then had our lunch break.

On our way back everyone felt a little more confident in driving in the sand & so some of us took to going along the beach instead of keeping to the tracks. There were quite a few that got themselves in & out of trouble. We had some great demonstrations with lots of assistance to get out of the sand when your axle is deep in it. It must be the tag "Trip Leader" that gives you the incentive to show everyone how it is done. Get bogged that is!!! Yes even Geoff demonstrated the art of getting stuck in the sand. This gave Stewart the opportunity to show his retrieval skills in pulling the Toyota out of trouble. Great work. We all know that if we were by ourselves we would never have gone where we had so thanks everyone for being there.

Once away from the sand we inflated our tyres & before we said our goodbyes Stewart & Karen (the visitors) thought it would be appropriate to give the trip leader a little present as a thank you. For a while there I thought they had put us to shame. Not so, because instead of a bottle of port, as you would have expected, a bag full of sand to remember the number of times Rick had got stuck was given to him. Good one Stewart, I hope you & Karen become members.

What I have learned about the weekend with Rick as trip leader:
He is a true 4wd’er & follows the code - Stop, Look, Assess, Action. Rick is always game when Paul is there to get him out of trouble. Thank you Rick for being trip leader there was never a dull moment & we would certainly put our hands up for your next trip.

Chris & Gordon.

From the Editor:- The editor accepts no responsibility for publishing true stories about Wanderers’ behaviour.. Oh, and Chris isn’t twisting my arm!!

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