My first outing with the Wanderers has proven to be an amazing experience. My friend Kris & I set out Sunday morning at 6.00am from Adelaide. After Mount Lofty a dense fog was encountered the whole way past Koomandook - Yes we missed the Peake turn off, must have been the fog! Back to Tailem Bend for fuel then finally on to Peake.

By 10.00am we finally arrived to a fog blanketed Wanderers campsite and John & Kym introduced us to everyone. The friendly people & the campfire were warm and welcoming. After some chatter John, Fred & Tony led us into the dunes for a lesson on using a snatch strap. What a joy to see a Mitsubishi Delica tow out a Landcruiser. We drive a Triton and wish we had a camera to capture such an event. Kris & I drove for a while on our own but realized our inexperience was coming to the fore.

Tony came to the rescue by offering to be an advising passenger. After lectures like "keep hold of the steering wheel" & "forget what is behind you, concentrate on what is ahead" we dropped a rattled Tony back at the campsite. Great first lesson - thanks Tony. Sorry about collecting the tree branch and the downhill incorrect angle approaches. Kris had a drive then we settled in for our lunch of peanuts & muesli bars - all we thought to take!

After lunch Fred was taking John on the final leg of his sand course. We eagerly followed in the Triton. A few small hills later we were thinking this is a cinch ... too easy! Then came the harder stuff. Seemed to keep up OK until Fred guided us to the top of a large incline. One look over the edge saw Kris and I out of the 4WD and Fred explaining how to drive down. Get stuffed was the immediate thought. John took his Delica down and then tried to reclimb the slope. He did not make it, reversed, got a huge run up by using a barb wire fence as a catapult and was successful.

Fred calmly said "your turn". This resulted in Fred driving our vehicle down & back up with ease- we were passengers. Fred convinced us it was fine so Kris & I went down with ease but could not make it back up. Why could Fred & John do it ... Hmmmm ... experience? Followed around a few more tracks then encountered a real tough one. We got through it but the UHF told of Shaun’s soiled jocks and Kris’s soiled G-String which brought thumbs up & "You Beauty" from the lads in the Delica.

All up Kris & I had one of the best days of our lives. Special thanks John, Kym, Fred & Tony. I am hooked & will see you all soon when Mitsubishi can outgun Toyota & Nissan.

Cheers,
Shaun



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