LROCWA CLUB TRIP - BUREKUP LONG WEEKEND 27 – 29TH SEPTEMBER

Perfect Campsite for the weekend.

Trip Leader:  Peter and Jo

A good crowd was gathered to camp at Jacky property by Friday evening and we enjoyed a great campfire.

Saturday morning saw 11 cars set off from camp, pulling up after half an hour or so to drop the tyre pressures.  Driving this morning was certainly very challenging!  Low range all the way, with some very steep, rough inclines, both up and down.  Hill descent was certainly useful a couple of times!  Our car has not worked this hard in a long time!!  One very tight turn between a couple of trees was accomplished by a hair’s breadth by most of us – except by the time Ian got there, the dip by the tree tipped his car just a little bit too far, resulting in a smashed rear window. 

We had morning tea at Wellington Mills which had a lot of interesting information about the history of the township.

Arrived back at camp in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, the football tragics watched/listened to some football match or other (!!), while the rest of us were escorted by Jacky on a short drive through what I would call “hidden gem” country to arrive at where the road was closed over the river.  From there we walked about 1km to the Burekup Weir.  A beautiful scenic drive and scenic walk.  Just delightful.  And enjoying the benefit of Jacky’s knowledge of the history of the area, the damming of the river and the creation of the irrigation channels. 

Another great campfire, and a few camp ovens made it onto the coals. The night finishing off with a port in true LROC tradition.

Sunday morning we were all ready to set off again, 13 cars with Ross and Rhys joining us now. 

We headed into Brunswick Junction then took a very scenic drive along gravel roads, through the valleys, until we found a spot to stop for morning tea and letting down the tyres.  Again, a lot of challenging driving, with water, mud, hill climbs, hill descents - with us providing the entertainment of the day, and some recovery practice.  Oh the indignity of it!!  Our son Jan, on seeing the photos, suggested we should be “driving around the Grand Canyon – not through it!!”  Fortunately, I was able to escape the car through the passenger window, which I have been informed was not very clever and that I should have climbed over Danny to get out as I could have just tipped the balance enough to tip the car!!  I was in too much of a hurry to get out to think of that!!  Thanks to Jim for the gentle tow and everyone else for help and advice.

But – no real harm done except to wounded pride!  Car damage is restricted to a largish dent at the rear quarter.  Fortunately we had landed onto/into clay and dirt, but no rocks!

Lunch was at a nice spot by a stream, with everyone fitting in like jigsaw pieces – in true LROC style.  Tyres pumped and we were on the way home.  Barry was pulled up for speeding (while overtaking a horse float), but after a very amicable, reasonable conversation between Barry and the traffic cop, just a warning was issued and no fine.  A lot of common sense from that traffic cop, who was interested to see so many Land Rovers all in convoy; and obviously appreciating that Barry was sandwiched into a convoy which was not speeding. 

Another great campfire night with a lazy departure by most on Monday morning.

A really great weekend, thanks to Peter and Jo.  And a big thank you to Jacky for hosting us on her property, and being such a great tour guide, telling us about the local people, history and properties. 

Report by Jeannie