Thread: Sundown National Park June 2010

Ouch!

Some great pics and good to hear you had fun.

Actually was standing around a fire last night at a mates place in Pac Pines. Talking to Camo saying how cold it was... then both happened to say at same time... ****ing glad we're not at Sundown

So what did you get down to???

My electronic thermometer said "LL" which I think is low limit. Saturday AM at breakie was 0.2° and Busman reported -4° early Sunday morning. This pic says it all.....

Again a great trip

Thanks to all who attended as the company was top notch. Absolute total jibberish and quality GCLRO slanging kicked in after the 3.00 pm deadline around the fire. God help the other clubs on the joint trip.

They will understand if they are a bisexual vagrant possum who likes "man cans" and their favorite pastime is watching baby oiled girls cat fighting.

Oh, during the day a totally enjoyable drive was had by all exploring parts of the Park.

On the run out John R and myself gave the trailers a workout following the trailerless guys out through Red Rock Gorge.

Hope all got home ok as we all left at various times.

Other than some members suffering from broken trailer shocks, a leaking radiator hose and the odd loose trailer wheel bearing, the trip went without a hitch.

Will go through Patricks camera tomorrow and post any good pics.

Thanks to Stevo for a great trip.
Look forward to the next installment

Justin

ps

Pete, Trav will hunt you down you know

Originally Posted by DRanged

Again a great trip


They will understand if they are a bisexual vagrant possum who likes "man cans" and their favorite pastime is watching baby oiled girls cat fighting.



Pete, Trav will hunt you down you know

Good pics and trip reports so far.....

Now according to the quote above it was a really good trip for some, and I can't wait for the rest of the trip report to follow......... could be some juicy bits in there???

As usual great trip and usually great crowd. No major mechanical issues although the starter solenoid on the bullets starter motor is not in best condition. Might as well fork out some $$$ for a newie at least I know it won't break down again.

Arrived Saturday morning, had a lazy arvo setting up camp and taking the **** out of each other after 3PM as per GCLRO club standard, then the usual possum jokes started and it all went to **** from there The campfire was good especially with the resident fire-psycho on song as per usual club trip

Sunday was the trip around the Rats castle track, offerd some technical sections. Not too hard on the vehicles but had a couple of interesting side tracks for us idiots with bigger tyres and diff locks to have a crack at. The lunch spot was a pleasnt if not painful ones esp. for the kids whio insisted on walking through the grass and getting hammerd by nasty cactus spikes. Some coped better than other but then we all headed back to camp for a bit of r 'n' r and wood hunting started in earnest. Plenty of wood for a big arse fire to be had later on that day and into the evening.

Monday was a slow start, pack up and head off. Some got going earlier but the 6 vehicles left (Stevo, John, Justin, Rod, Pete and yours truly) made out way out with a few more intersting detours. We also decided to do the red rock gorge road out which was a tad more challenging and more interesting than the other way which we had come into the park. No issues or recoveries were needed so we proceeded to the gate, aired up and headed for the local McStodge's for a feed at Stanthorpe (service was ****, long story).

The trip overall offerd some easy and somewhat slightly challenging sections. The bullet as usual did it's job with no fuss apart from the dodgy starter motore of course but apart from it not starting at all at camp after a couple of whacks with a hammer it didn't fail although it will need to be replaced regardless.

No pics from me sorry, I am a **** photographer so I'll leave that for the rest of you

Trav

Looks like you guys had a great trip. So devo I couldn't go, was stuck in my room all weekend studying. Ah well...next time.

Interesting track you took on the way out, I've always wanted to do that track, but we've never had time on the way out on 3 occasions I've been there.

Well we are back....was too knackered to knock something up last night....plus Jackjack was like a constant shadow from having missed daddy . The trip started off early on Friday with Grumble Grandpa still complaining about leaving so early.....this continued with comments like "where is the sun"...."are we there yet"....."why is it so dark" . Also leaving from Nerang were Wayne and Lyn and at Beauy we picked up Mark and the boys. After a stop at Aratula for coffee and bread, Vincenzo's for wine and port and a look around for an open bottle-o, we got to the gates of Sundown. Where upon were greeted by the ranger......who mentioned the temps were negative the night before. Whoo hoo.

We soon hit the long and bumpy track into Sundown.....we saw roo's, deer and in the distance feral goats. I think Lyn was glad for a stop at the mines . From there we continued to Burrows....where we had our pick of the place as no one else was yet at the campsite. We set up camp and Richard ( aka Grumble Grandpa), Wayne and Mark went off to get firewood as I was still and hr + into my 30 second tent set up . By about 3 pm the temp was around 8/9 degree's so it was agreed from then on in that 3pm was beer and fire o'clock. When I mentioned that it surely was a good idea getting here early so that a) we had pick off camp site and b) set up and chillax....ol Grumbles with a smile and a nod agreed .

Around dusk True and I went to find what animals were around.....we saw a magnificent buck....with huge antlers and got within 50 metres before he and his harem buggered off. We always wandered up quietly and got close to a big mob of roo's................before they buggered off to.

That night and subsequent morning...we endured the coldest temps......it was blithering cold. True who decided to tent it alone came the next morning to see if she could come "home". Big thumbs to Camo for lend of his tent heater...came in good use. Being a Stevo trip........it was a cruisy morning...making breakfast and standing around yakking.

Around 12ish we heard the sounds of a diesel coming ( At Sundown you can hear a pin drop so anything "strange" is heard straight away) and down first was JohnR and family. One by one they came into camp where I was greeted by some shocking news. No not that some springs came off somones trailer or a bearing here....but no Gan ( formerly known as Rod) was off the turps. Whattha? Brother Rod of the homebrew? We all stood around in silence at this unbelievable news...............................but then it was forgotten . For the remainder of the day it was balance of 8 cars setting up camp and off on a firewood run. Whilst the Jap cars scouted the plains for wood.....................nooooooooooooooooooo..... ..us hardened Landy folk went down Rats Castle.....through the massive wombat holes to get our wood.....and drag it or percariously have it piled up in the back of ones D2a....hoping one won't take out the rear windscreen .

From there....the beginnings of my favourite part of the trip...CAMPFIRE. Not only was 3pm designated...Beer and Fire O'Clock. It was also Sledging O'clock . We had the massive man mountain looking more like a giant orange peel....though no one had the courage to tell him he looked liked the 6th member of the Village people .

Trav.......who is now on the hunt for someone who can make up new stickers for the Bullet...........I love the Possom......If the Bullet is a Rockin...the Possy is a knockin......and other variations. As usual......Trav takes it in his stride. I of course came under some good natured hammering as per any usual gathering. I think we may have to have a CFAT ( Camp Fire Awareness Training) for newcomers . All in all a good laugh for all around the campfire.......it truly is a central part to the bonding experience and in some cases shock therapy for the new acquainted.....but I don't think anyone would want it any other way. I would mention Gan....but off the booze he had about as much personality as grass watching wall paper dry .

The next day after a late brekky it was off for a picnic lunch. The water levels were down alot since we last came through so river crossings were a pinch....though I still elected to send Pete through first...............just in case. We had a nice lunch by the Severn River....where the count before we left was Cactus 4- Children 0. On the way back some tackled a bit of gnarly track and then we all met up and headed down Pine Ridge and back to camp. Another firewood run was done and back to the shenanigans around the campfire.

All in all a great trip......once again because of the people who came along. Everyone chips in, offers help where needed. My temp guage climbed on way out and long story short seems a repair may have been done a bit dodgy and thanks to those there who got it sorted out.....plus other stories of people helping/ assisting where needed.

The children all had a ball and its why I love going to the more remote spots to camp......you can enjoy the great outdoors and really not just the kids...but we can all let our hair down and run a bit wild. Was great to see Wayne and Lyn out on their second trip....so obviously the first one didnt scare them away......Roland and Andrew? (sorry memory blank) out on a first trip and catching up with mates of old.

Thanks everyone for a memorable trip.....was sitting in front of the telly last night...wishing I was around Channel 66 on Caveman telly with my mates..........so see ya soon,

Regards

Stevo

P.S. No pics as such as forgot proper camera.......did take some of deer and roo's on phone...will see how they are and post them.