Levuka May 2010

[CheekyD1]

I woke Cheeky up at 0530 to find her full of excuses why she should not go to Levuka
My Panhard attach still hurts from the welding.
(See the full story on the Cheeky Channel http://www.aulro.com/afvb/gclro-members-rides/78639-gazzas-cheeky-project-13.html#post1257051)
My oil pressure is still on the critical list
My tyres are going crusty
I might spring a coolant leak
Mumble, mumble……on she goes.

Too bad I say as Cheryl jumps in, looking sprightly for the early hour, I felt like Cheeky at the time.
So off we goes (0600), the surgery on Cheeky’s Panhard had transformed the vehicle. I never knew you could “Feel” the road under a Disco, Cheeky has always rattled her way to the places we had to go, I never knew different.
Driving the twisty road south of Murwillumbah to Kyogle was great fun, it was wet with no traffic and for the first time I could “feel” the grip under the car. Half shagged mud tyres and all Cheeky was having a blast.
Quick pit stop at Kyogle for BBQ Gas (That’s for you Trav ) and we rolled up to the House a Levuka at 0820. Wow 2:20 to Levuka nice going Cheeky.
Greeted by Robert who quickly says that they “Only had 9mm last night and it should dry out quickly, lunch time at the latest”
Cheeky starts mumbling about her old tyres again.

Rolling into camp it was apparent that last nights “Camping” had had its toll.
Stories of setting up in the rain, soon greeted us.
Everybody was in bed early, but the rain stopped, so a fire was started. I am not sure whether this was a good thing because Uncle Big Dog has concocted some sort of beverage which some enjoyed too much.

Anyway cobwebs shook off quickly and it was down to the business of the day.

Pete had sorted the Club into two groups, Group One went up into the extreme hills behind the house and Group Two went into the Rain forest below the camping grounds.

It was apparent from the first hill that the “9mm” had turned Levuka into Extreme Mode.


Pete crawled up, but when Justin got swatted....


Us Lesser Rovers had a quick committee meeting and decided that an easier route should be used.
Justin agreed and Pete crawled back down.
Latter Justin was heard to mumble “That hill has always been a Shorty Hill”
Interestingly Pete latter confessed that after he came down he wanted to go up again for another GO!

Moving on we had a go at Rosemary’s



We had a “Look” at Monkey puzzle and gave Nicks Nest the flick, no one had $50 for the tractor.


I forget the name of this hill (I think its Dingos)
Pete crawled, Justin Jumped, others winched (after Three good Tries)


Others watched, then had their go's


Then winched

Others still watched and thought NO.


Having promised Cheeky that we would go easy, We rolled up to the nasty bit, stopped, and called for the winch.
Winch completed in no time and she drove the rest of the hill.

Lunch time and a chat with the press gallery. 4WD action and 4WD TV, who can tape channel Bris31??

After lunch it was off to the playground, to show off for the cameras.


Some showed off with their cars


Some Just showed off


Others watched the showing off


Everybody had a good time


After we were tired of that and the camera crew had run out of film, or batteries or excitement or something.
We set off to explore the rainforest
Along the way one of the ARB Airleakers on a truck did what they do, whist we were waiting for repairs


Yes again.


Moving again
Pete offered a Free Dinner to anyone who could get out of this hole, after his attempt.
No one had a go .....


Some of the contestants who did not try


We did the creek, Tim impressed with his maturity (must have a good coach) even got to learn some winching skills with his new winch.


Bull Ant proved to be a handful


Getting late, we all headed back to camp.
A very rewarding day was had by all, I think.
Hats off to Pete, who did great job of leading!
He took the hard trucks to all the “Best Spots” and when the group was mixed after lunch, picked tracks that all could have a go at. Nice Work Pete.
Thanks also to Justin, as always, there when a hand is needed.
Mentions to Nos for once again taking out the Big Noise Award. I’m not jealousy of his 4.6, Ok maybe a bit.
Mentions to Trav, The Bullet is working great.


And lastly, I have been wondering where Harry has had his navigator hidden, Cheryl took this picture as we were leaving.


Goodnight.

[Shepp]

Well as I am one of the first to return I thought I would start the thread off.
Setting up in the rain Friday night wasn't fun, however it did make for some very challenging and slippery tracks which was great. The rain did subside later in the evening on the Friday night and the camp fire kept the chill off ~ "man was it chilly".
I don't know what the mercury dropped down to but I was snuggled up to the kids grabbing every bit of warmth I could find.
Stevo and I had some friendly rivalry throughout Saturday as we have similar vehicles. He did end up getting the last laugh as I managed to stake a tyre, and towards the end of the day almost rip my rear bumper off. (If anyone has a D2 rear bar they want to sell let me know)
My kids had a ball managing to end up in every mud puddle they could find despite my efforts to keep them away from them.
I'm sure Pete will do a more detailed post but as usual a great weekend with a great bunch of people.

[Hendrik]

Wow good effort with the rear bar Shepp, might be time for a steel one. I will be making one for mine in a few weeks, as I'm not happy with my current steel one.

Anyway, sounds like you guys had a great trip. Can't wait for the pics

[philco]

First out there was WIK / Wayne and his wife at 2pm, I had a dry trip out, getting there about 3.30 then it started to rain, I'd like to thank WIK Wayne for the tarp over my tent for the night, was chilly, colder outside than in my fridge! Aquarangie arrived 15 min after I did, DRANGED and BIG DOG weren't much longer after him. We set up our tents in the rain and got some wood together and started the fire about 4.30 during a short break in the weather, others started to arrive as we had dinner. Had a good night and plenty of verbal sparring at the campfire friday night, Steveo, Justin and Josh all enjoyed The Steves buttlicker supplied by Big Dog. Thanks to Bullets for letting me ride shotgun on saturday morning, I'll let others carry on . . . . . .

[Shepp]

Wow good effort with the rear bar Shepp, might be time for a steel one. I will be making one for mine in a few weeks, as I'm not happy with my current steel one.

Anyway, sounds like you guys had a great trip. Can't wait for the pics

Yes definitely time for something stronger. Having said that I have been bending things back into shape and it has come up a treat. Enough to keep the car looking ok while I get some money saved to get a steel one.

[Psimpson7]

Thanks to everyone for making this a great trip.

Attendees were:

Trav(Aquarangie), Justin(Dranged), Mark(Noz), John (Bullets), Dave and Louise (Busman), Rod(Bigdog), Tim (Longstroke) Rod (Tims dad), Matt (Shepp) Wayne and Leanette (Wink), Phil (Philco), Glyn(Bolts) Stevo (Stevo!), Gary and Cheryl (CheekyD1), Josh (Outlaw) and Sam and I, most along with families.

We ran a couple of groups and swapped a couple of people around for the afternoon and Sunday morning runs.

Was a great weekend and thanks to everyone, notably Rod for running the second group for us, the TEC's, and also to Tim and his dad for driving up from Coffs!

So onto the pictures (Sorry I dont have that many, nor pictures of everyone):

Justin nearly making it to the top of my newly renamed '90' Hill:



Bullets in the mud hole on Rosemarys Road:



Trav:



Trav again:



Mark:



Rod in the playground:



Some of the group:



Matt, Gary, Trav and Dave:



Matt needing a rescue!:



Tim on a very steep desent!:



Justin on the same:



And then Trav:



Me in the mudhole on Rosemarys Road: (the tyre track on teh far right was from me the day before when making a random line!)



Tim exiting Havoc crossing:



Justin doing the same:



Trav aswell:



Justin Wheelstanding!:



Dave:



And thats it from me!

[DRanged]

Well
Not a bad run down on the friday although it ****ed down from Murwillumbah to Kyogle. Arrived around 3.30 and had to set up in the rain
Once finished it slowly got heavier and heavier. Soon discovered my gazebo set up had some technical issues.

So once fixed it stopped raining of coarse and we settled down to dinner etc. People drifted in through the night and we set off to bed on numerous occasions thanks to the rain. But finally it stopped and we got stuck into some beverages and the fire. But to our amazement 1.00am rolled around and it was off to bed for everyone. (cold & wet).

We woke to find a clear cold morning with not a hint of cloud.
For those who know Levuka it was going to be a cracking day.

To top it off just after breakfast we were treated to this.

Set the scene for the whole day I reckon. Thanks to Pete and Big Dog for leading and some of us helped out with tail end duties.

Must admit the Trepadors struggled compared to the Extremes but it just made you pick better lines and attack strategies.

Had a ball as usual now dreading the cleanup.

Justin

[NOZ]

Yes thanks to all, was a trip I wont forget for a while. Probably the most times I have ever since cars using a winch.

It was a great experience.

Thanks to Pete for leading us around, that little 90 of your is an amazing machine.

Also thanks to Justin for his tips on the right lines.

Campfire chat was great, food was great (2min noodles ) all in all great people, great 4WDing, great weekend.

We must go there again

[Shamo]

Looks like it was a good weekend had by all!!

He did end up getting the last laugh as I managed to stake a tyre, and towards the end of the day almost rip my rear bumper off. (If anyone has a D2 rear bar they want to sell let me know)

Almost rip off? i managed to take mine to the next level of ripping offness... you can have it now if you want? I'm starting my steel one next week!



Shamo

[Psimpson7]

Great report and Pics Gary!

Nice work.

And far out I didnt realise the water was quite that deep