Australia Day Beach trip

This proved to be a pretty uneventful day (as expected). Just a run up through the dune area of Wilbinga, north of Perth.
Paul brought his sister along in her Sierra. She was unexperiences as was easy to tell as she was having problems as soon as there was a little challenge - we all have to learn some time and I am sure she has a much better idea on how to get up a sand dune now!
Of course there were lots of other learners out there to as we found out just after we set up the umbrellas on the beach. An intitial volly of "big machines" roared through the middle of us as the first of the them made their way off the beach and up into the dunes. The second needed a push (from us) to keep going and the remainder (Nissan Patrol, Toyota Prado and Ford Teritory) just sat at the edge of the beach looking stupid! After a few frustating and fruitless attempts, I recommended that they let their tyres down to 10psi and have another go. Again, approaching the incline off beach like snails, they still sat there. This time, I told them to get back a bit along the beach and get some speed up. At last we saw them dissappear into the dunes.
On the return journey, I came across a "lost" 4x4er. I think his girlfriend must have been chewing his ear as he was very keen to follow me to where ever I was going so long as it was back on the black hard stuff.

Mylup to Mandurah

This trip is a real easy one in that for quite a bit of it, I could have not even used four wheel drive. However, getting started while up high on the beach near the dunes required low range and for the sake of my transmission (and the environment) four whell drive is a good way to go.
The tide was really low and, unlike other years, we had plenty of beach to drive on and the sand near the water's edge was quite firm.
I took my mate Jim with me. He just veged out and enjoyed the passing sand and water vistas and we had some "in depth" conversations on the meaning of life - I am still confused!! :)
Graham thought he would try to catch a fish on plastic. Although I am no expert, I think I should show him how to do it. Next weekend's trip to Wilbinga might be a good time. After all, I have caught at least six (6) herring on plastic so far. Maybe I need to start a blog on "fishing with plastic"?
Anyway, we made it all along the beach from Mylup to Tim's Thicket this time - we usually can't get past the rocks at the Mandurah end but the very low tide solved that problem for us.
I can't say it was a really exciting, problem ridden 4x4 adventure but is was a nice day out.

I am really looking forward to the reverse Collie run!

Reckie to Collie

Rob called to organise the reconnoitre to Collie in preparation for the return reverse trip in February.
An early start on Saturday saw us back in the Brunswick Junction area heading for the exit point of our normal winter Collie excursion looking for an alternate route to the main road rather than scratching our way along the very overgrown exit track.
Fortunately, I had taken the time to look at the DOLA Land On Line site the day before and made up some mud maps using the arial photographs of the area we were interested in. In no time at all and after following fence lines and inspecting firebreaks, we were at the exit point with some new challenges in store for those zookers who are brave enough to return with us next month. Rob gave me 14/10 for navigation!
Futher investigation also provided us with a second, alternate exit route and an escape route halfway along the "track of no return" just in case we need it in the future.
The entrance point for next month trip (old exit point) is not looking good, with deeper ruts after the winter rain and a very rocky, rutted drop off!
Should be a fun trip! I will let you know.