TRIP 1...
Kalgoorlie – Rawlina Muster
Eastern Goldfields 4wd Club April 2017
ATTENDANCE
Jan and Ray Hankinson, Ian and Cherrill Smith (visitors), Alex and Helen Smith (visitors) and Sue and Ron Mitchell (visitors), Lucia and Keith McQuillan??? (visitors)
George and Annice Henderson arrived Friday
EG4WD CLUB Reggie Carson, Bruce and Judith Brinkley (mitsubishi) Janine Rosser (Mitsubishi/Armadale), Nic and Sue Brien (LROC)
We set off from Kalgoorlie with Reggie as Trip Leader
You may be asking who are Lucia and Keith we picked them up in the car-park of Woolies so they were part of the convoy
Trip started out very pleasant but soon turned to “s---“
once we were off the bitumen It was extremely, extremely dusty and once past Zanthus it was extremely, extremely muddy
Not many happy people when we arrived at Rawlina
Jan most certainly was “not happy” dust from one end of the caravan to the other, in every cupboard, on everything thing and outside was covered with thick red mud!!!!! Took over an hour to wipe and wash everything
EG4WD Club were very welcoming and had a fire ready to socialise around.
Ablution block was a good walk away so lots of exercise was done over the weekend but compliments to Muster Organizers as ablutions were always spic and span.
We just took it easy on the Friday in readiness for the Bull Riding which was early evening and kept an eye out for George and Annice – they came from the Haig road which from all accounts was as bad if not worse than the road from Kal to Rawlina
Saturday it was skeet shooting, gymkhana events etc and Saturday night EG4WD Club cooked a great dinner for us all
Sunday a few people were packing up but the die-hards stayed on had an easy day – cheap meals from canteens/cafes so we all indulged. Girls played Euchre which was fun whilst the boys and some girls watched football and George and Ray solved the problems of the world
Monday saw us up early and heading back to Kalgoorlie – thank goodness the road wasn’t as bad – but still very dusty and had another hour of cleaning. At this stage Alex copped out and stayed in a caravan park for the night – he had lost another piece of piping and discovered that an aluminium box that was found on one of the tracks was actually his!!!!! Thank goodness Ron had retrieved it
The rest of us Ian and Cherrill, Sue and Ron, George and Annice and Jan and Ray stayed at Lake Douglas
We had another Quiz with the Hendersons taking out the title – think the quiz was stacked with English questions!!!!
Anzac Day saw Sue and Ron taking off early heading straight home as did Alex and Helen. Smiths, Hendersons and Hanks went via Merredin to Beverley staying overnight there and heading home Wednesday
Even though there was lots of dust, dirt, mud and rain it was a great trip and thanks to all those who helped make it such fun
Jan and Ray Hankinson
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Trip 2....
Perth – Southern cross plus
Helena and Aurora Ranges trip with EG4wd club Easter 2017
ATTENDANCE
Jan and Ray Hankinson, Ian and Cherrill Smith (visitors), Alex and Helen Smith (visitors) and Sue and Ron Mitchell (visitors)
EG4WD CLUB Reggie Carson, Pam Baker, Mary Copp
PEEL Geoff Dyson
Met at top of Green-mount at 1pm Thursday 13th April and proceeded to Bodallin for overnight stay This stop was not a happy one for Alex, as first time in 18 months since acquiring the van, he had not been in a caravan park and discovered that the fridge wouldn’t work on gas!!!! Then the battery to service the car fridge went flat. Not a good start to two weeks of free camping
We pressed on anyway with minor mechanics and swapping of food and drinks to other fridges and we managed to keep Alex and Helen a float for the two weeks
Reggie from Eastern Goldfields 4WD Club met us at Southern Cross along with Pam and Mary(EG4WD Club) and Geoff Dyson (Peel) and we headed off to the Helena and Aurora Ranges.
This was a real experience as it teemed with rain and the track ended up a slippery sliding experience. Ray’s ute managed to jack knife the caravan twice and Alex’s pristine van ended up a muddy mess along with all the other vehicles and caravans Reggie stopped us half way to take some photos and to give all a bit of a break!!!!
Was not a good 4WD introduction to Helen – as they say “not happy Jan” well this was “not happy Helen”
We found a nice spot to camp and stayed two nights at this camp and just went out Saturday to explore.
You never know who or what you will meet up with – and low and behold Armadale Trip paid us a visit.
Great to see all and felt like “home weekend - well day anyway”
They continued on their way and we didn’t see them again.
Lots of other clubs out there though Wanneroo Wanderers being one and met up with Mitsubishi at Mt Elvire
Fantastic scenery out around the ranges and surrounding attractions and Mt Elvire gave us a magnificent lightning show – 360 degrees and went from 6pm to 4am
Thankfully it wasn’t to close to us – just had the rain
Inquiries had been made prior to the trip re taking caravans but didn’t really have too many problems. Alex did rearrange spare tyre on the caravan and Ian had to follow another route around two creek washouts.
Wouldn’t attempt to go up the ranges with vans but along and around the ranges was not a problem
Reggie knows all the “yabby” holes around the district so managed a couple of feeds
Went back to Kalgoorlie via Menzies and Goongarrie Station – good place to stay – not so Menzies not really RV friendly and for that matter Kalgoorlie also not really RV friendly. Had great deal of trouble obtaining potable water – Puma Service Station in Maritana Street is only friendly place and had cheapest fuel
Once back in Kalgoorlie we stayed at Lake Douglas (12 kms out of Kalgoorlie) free camping but if you are wanting a shower there is none and no dump point only toilet which there was differing opinions on condition
We broadened our knowledge each night – Jan had quiz one night and then Ron (visitor) was Quiz Master for the remaining nights. Lots of fun had by all but not that many correct answers
All in all a great trip, ended up muddy, dirty and dusty
but lots of laughs and fun had by all
Jan Hankinson
