I've had some ideas for a few tracks I'd like to try out in the Moke as well as a few other favorites which I wanted to share, but are a bit too rough and a bit too far from Tamworth to include in the big Round Up events. The other problem with a some of them is that there is only limited space to pull a group of vehicles over, so the big numbers that the Round Up attracts makes it too hard.
The original plan was to invite my "local" Mokers (Greg and Michael - the Round Up co-organisers) down for a weekend run, but then after being invited up to Wallangarra 6 months ago to Andy W's great weekend, I figured I could do something similar to that and invite half a dozen others to camp the weekend in my backyard.
Being extremely pressed for time lately, the only weekend free in the forseeable future was last weekend. The thought process was "That's too close to Christmas/New Year so most people won't be able to come". Anyway, checked with Greg and Michael - they were free. Checked with Andy W (had to repay his earlier hospitality of course
) - he was free. So it was on. I'll invite a few others and if a couple more show up, so much the better.
I've discovered you have to be careful inviting extra people thinking half won't turn up - pretty much everyone came
. The convoy that left here on Saturday morning was 10 Mokes strong and we picked up two more late starters along the way. So 12 Mokes for most the day Saturday and peaked at 13 on Sunday morning/lunchtime before a couple made an early start home after lunch.
I have a very small house but a reasonable sized yard, so luckily the weather was fine as everyone had to spend the weekend in "the campground" aka my back yard. after relocating a couple of trailers, a boat and a spare boring car, everyone found a spot to roll out their swag or pitch their tent.
Friday was
ridiculously hot, as it was most places. Most participants spent the bulk of that day driving over here and Casper/Mrs Casper showed really poor judgement in turning up a bit early "for a break before all the driving on the weekend" and spent the 43 degree day helping me tie up the loose ends.
Saturday and Sunday felt relatively mild when they dropped down into the mid 30's for our days of driving.
Saturday was a pretty long hard run setting off a little after 8.30 and arriving home sometime between 6.30 and 7.00 depending if you were with the front runners or the photographers group. The route took us across the edge of the plains and up across the Liverpool Range to Merriwa for morning tea and to meet up with Woody and Smithy who joined us there from Newcastle.
After a rest and a fuel stop for most of us (Netty reckoned she'd be alright
) we got serious and headed into the wilderness of the Goulburn River National Park. I'm afraid this wasn't quite as good as I'd planned mainly due to the heat which made any thought of walking to lookouts etc seem crazy, plus the fact that there has been virtually no rain out there since I test ran it in early Oct, so it was seriously dusty and a lot more corrugated than when I last did it
Nonetheless, I think everyone enjoyed the adventure (in hindsight...... later ...... after their showers and a few drinks that night......)
We did finally find a bit of water and shade, but they're both valuable commodities by the side of the road out there.
Stopped for lunch in an interesting little town where 3 of the keenest little Moke fans you're likely to find guided us to the local rec grounds for lunch on their pushbikes. Despite their best intentions, the facilities weren't quite as good as they made out though, and I'd left the food table folded up in the shed at home
. As our fans were using the picnic table in the only other park in town to skin their eels for that night's dinner, we had to improvise the picnic facilities parked under the trees overlooking the grounds.
After another rest stop at a nice shady creek, we looped back around to Merriwa, topping Netty up with fuel from Smokey's jerry can about 500m before the crest of a hill that rolled down into the town
) much to her son Ben's delight as he put 29.7 litres of fuel in his 30 litre tank.
Home late to cook the barby, but thanks to daylight savings and everyone pitching in, we were all fed and downed a few refreshments before dark.
Sunday was a much more relaxed affair as we rolled out of town after 10.00 for a back road run over the Murrurundi range onto the old highway as far as we could, then down a track into town. We then all headed up onto the old stock route track to an 1860's monument to a settler killed by a bushranger overlooking some scenic hills for morning tea. Didn't even bother trying to remember the table this time when the Moke bonnet did such a good job of catering the day before
.
The self proclaimed clowns of the group - Ben and Andy
Then gathered for the last time as a full group on the Wingen pub verandah for lunch before Smithy, Andy/Ben and Netty all headed for their respective homes and we took the scenic route back along yet another dirt road through the northern foothills of the Murrurundi range.
Will sprinkle a few photos through the post as I get a chance to upload them, but being busy organising and mostly in the lead of the convoys, others will have better ones I'm sure.
Thanks all for turning up and making it a hugely enjoyable weekend. A well worthwhile exercise
Newie
Topic: Weekend at Newie's (Read 2103 times)
