Thread: EMU Creek 2012

We need more photos in this thread IMMEDIATELY!!!




As some of you may know I had been busy all week as well as the previous weekend in a desperate plea to get Fluffy ready for this trip to Emu Creek.

It came down to the wire, many mornings up early and working on the car at 5am before work, till late after work, still landed with me having to do the majority of the preparations on the Friday before my original intended departure time of 6pm.

On Friday I woke at 4am, and was at the mechanics by 5am, checking the tune, fault finding the running issue I had on the newly installed 4.6.
I serviced the Auto, the transfer and the differentials, as well as the engine oil.

By this time it was almost 8am, I took the car to the office and tried swapping bits over to see if the car would run correctly, but no luck.
It was at this time I contacted Rick and limped the car down to his workshop at around 10.30am.

3 hours later I was back home with the car running but a major leak from one of the rocker cover gaskets.
Now it was time to get stuck in.

I connected the trailer to Reggie and loaded it with firewood. Then parked both cars side by side. Emptied them out completely and started sorting out what needed to go in what car to get away for the weekend.

I rolled out the tyres and lifted the first one directly onto the draw bar of the trailer. I figured I could fit two there but as I lifted the second, something in my back gave way, and I was immobilised.
It was at this time that I had thought the worst. What have I done, will I be able to commence...
I still had a mountain of duties ahead of me... It was 3pm
I was yet to swap the front bar and rear tow ball over.
I also had to wire up accessories plugs for the fridge etc.
Replace a front globe.
Get one car packed ready to go.
The other car packed with everything that was to be left behind.
Remove and refit the rocker cover gasket.
actually get home to see Jess and Fry before I left
and of course pack some clothes and what not while I was there.

After about ten minutes of rest, I decided to press on. I completed all the items I could without assistance, then as my guest arrived (Alex), I got him to aid with lifting the tyres and packing the cars, then making sure everything was strapped down.

By this time I was well past schedule, it was about 7pm and I was just looking forward to getting out of there.
But once I got on the road and headed home to get my gear it was evident I still had a gasket problem... probably much worse then it was previously unfortunately.

To say I was gutted is an understatement... I wanted to give up, but couldn't. So we headed back to the office and commenced undoing everything I had done

Unpacked both cars again, removed and replaced front and rear bars, removed the tyres from the trailer, OMG I almost gave up numerous times. I was tired, sore and well and truly over it. Plus I had a three hour drive ahead of me.
Never have I been so over something before it even commenced, but the sheer length of my post already and having not even got to the highway yet is surely detail enough of why...

We contemplated leaving in the morning, but I was fed up, I didn't do all this for nothing. So at around 9pm Alex & I left the office for a second time and headed to my place again to get some bottles of wine, then to the bottlo for a carton of beer, then to the servo to fill up...

I don't know what time we hit the highway, nor do I know what time we got to the park, but I know that is was a relief rolling into the camp ground to see a fire and some friendly faces.

We made it, (albeit in Reggie not Fluffy) FINALLY ! ! !

Stay tuned for the next instalment!

Yeah, I had been looking forward to Emu Creek since forever!

To finally be at the park at about 1am on sat morning after the hectik Friday, having had no lunch nor dinner, was just relief.

By this time the fire was cosy, understandably most were in bed, so we only downed a couple of beers as the numbers dwindled, and went of to nap at around 3am.

Only to be awake again at 6am, I needed to pee , but my back was stiff, sore, pulsing and out of whack... it took me what felt like at least 4 minutes just to get out of my sleeping bag, then another 4 to get up and out of the tent.
But it was worth it. What a morning, we were so lucky throughout the entire weekend to have such fine weather. This Saturday morning was a pearler.

While I am on the topic of luck, luckily I had Alex as a guest on this trip as he likes food, so out came the bacon and eggs, and I believe some tomato. All cooked on the trusty steel plate over the camp fire. YUM YUM!

This was Alex first time in a real 4wd (Rangie), so you can imagine his excitement once Pete rounded us up and we headed out for our first adventure.

We went past the main house, Alex had noted how much smoother it is with the tyre pressure dropped, then through a small mud bog. Alex got further excited.

As the morning run continued the obstacles grew larger and each time Alex was dumbfounded at how easily the vehicles tackled the 'rugged' terrain

I too was surprised at the capabilities of all the vehicles, given the technical sections and variations in the terrain, and the large diversity between vehicles and drivers we all drove exceptionally well.

Upon returning to camp for lunch it was now I who was excited, as it was time to sample the qtr of a cow that Alex had somehow crammed into the Engel the previous day!
OMG... it is frozen... like a rock... damn fridge and its orsumness!

But just like the day before, nothing was stopping us from achieving our goals.
With the aid of the sun, some toxic home made Uruguayan marinade, a poo shovel, and of course the camp fire, we were well on our way to culinary delights.

Fed up to perfection, it was time for an after noon drive.
But first a quick pee.... hmm what is this by my side... a small doggie by the name of Sally.
Where did she come from you ask.... She is the owners dog and I think she has a crush on me.
She followed me to my car and sat just out from my door as I clambered up into the drivers seat.
I had barely uttered the words 'you wanna go too' by the time she had pounced up onto my lap.
So now our party of two became three

Heading into unknown territory we embarked on a journey to locate a dead end track...
We missed it, went straight past it actually, but we found a couple of small technical sections on our way which caused some grief for the series vehicles.
Bullets suffering some panel beating to the sill mounted tank and TimJ a rather unsightly cross member that caused further issue when the front shaft uni decided it had had enough.

As always its the afternoon drive where these things happen, usually just before sunset, so a quick fix and a turn around to head back to camp was in order. I had to located Sally who was roaming up and down our parked convoy then took the lead on our way back.

The first obstacle that proved a challenge was a climb out of the valley we had descended into. Kelvins winch was called into service on a number of occasions. But it was smooth sailing after this. Back down the main road which isn't exactly graded or easy took longer then tackling the tough tracks.

Just getting on sunset we arrived back at camp and got stuck into some good old fashioned binge drinking
It was long after we had eaten dinner (twice actually), that the fire grew larger, the crew stronger, and the banter louder.

MOOOOOOOOOOSE

We talked about knitting, creme caramels, french waffles, ponys and daffodils.

Sick of sitting or standing, I took retreat to the comfort of the ground amongst Bob and Kate, where I promptly fell asleep. Thus as far as I can remember.

I herd stories of Samantha trying to awake me by use of Shovel to the head... cold ice was another, and JohnR possibly assisted me to my final destination. Let's call it a night hey.... 'it's already called that'

Nek Minute... Sorry Next morning, another pearler. Back still throbbing (not that it's actually ever stopped, even now ) head pondering how on earth I managed to get into my sleeping bag, and why on earth it was inside out
Time for breaky again, Yippeee

Today was a bit of a fizzler... we headed off in search for a so called 4x4 play area and the comp section. Lets just say we didn't find anything of the sort.
Upon leaving the park I questioned Blair in regards to the old comp area and he said it no longer exists. He then proceeded to tell me the new comp area also doesn't exist No wonder we were unable to locate it.

The trip home was also not your ordinary drive. Like previous years we had intended to stop in at Bangalow for pizza, but we had an issue to work around for our entire journey.

You see earlier in the day Grant was having problems with the alternator in the Disco. It was removed at camped and stripped and cleaned but to no avail. I guess Grant would like to thank JohnR for his assistance in the above procedure and maybe a small thanks to Pete for the use of his soldering iron.

So with the light dwindling we arrived at Bangalow and stopped for pizza. About 2 hours later we found ourselves leaving bangalow, but prior to our departure, we had to swap batteries from Reggie into the Disco.
We also disconnected one headlight (which I hope Grant remembers to reconnect) in an effort to save power should they be required.

So with Grant mid convoy we ran the whole way home, Grant solely on his parkers, in an effort to save the batteries, and keep the 14CUX firing the bores correctly.
We stopped at Nerang to swap the batteries back over as I was to depart the convoy at this stage and we believed the original battery out of the Disco should have got a sufficient amount of charge from Reggie by this stage.

I dropped Alex home and had one more hiccup when I discovered a large portion of smith street was closed, so had to double back through Ashmore and down Olsen Ave.

By the time I got home I was so over the pain from my back that I just flopped onto the couch and completely forgot to ask Jess to cook my dinner IMMEDIATELY!!