Trip Leader Adrian and Sue Cornish - Patrol
Phil Dalton - Patrol
Wal and Beryl Phelps - Jackaroo
Ken Clarke - Jackaroo
Allen and Robyn Ferrett - Jackaroo
Brian and Anne Hanrahan - Jackaroo
Chris and Michael Sawer - Forerunner.
Colin Hunt - Patrol
Steve West - Pajero. Trip Reporter
Brian Brody and Trish Crossley. - Patrol (Sunday only)
Friday.
The push was on, the bulk of the group met up at Pheasant’s Nest. I had to work so was a planned late arrival, as was Christ Sawer and his father Michael. As I was coming through Sutton putting out occasional radio calls on Ch20, Chris responded, he had been trying to find the camp site. He was also having trouble raising Adrian. Finally Adrian called Chris’ phone and we were on our way to the camp site, Robyn and David Hastings arrived at the gate as we were passing through it.
We arrived at the campsite to Phil’s new Patrol, and what has been christened “the Castle”. Also in attendance was two of Chris’ hire campers.
Camp was set up, I picked a spot under a large tree and set up my new swag, and was promptly informed that the spot I had picked was prone to flooding by run off.
During dinner preparations a scream was heard coming from the Hastings’ camp. Robyn’s ear had become home
to a moth. After a number of wise-cracks and some unsuccessful attempts to
remove it she was quickly taken to the hospital. Where upon they filled her ear
with olive oil to drown the moth and flushed it out with water. The moth was
quickly named “Walter”. 
Robyn returned to camp and proudly displayed Walter to us. After being the subject of many bad jokes, Robyn threatened to remove David’s "Bunning Discount Card" and poor Wal and Phil were singled out by their formal first names of Walter and Phillip. We decided to ask Ken Clarke about his tent and the fact that it had been to the Cape (York) and he had not.
Saturday.
Rain finally falls, if you want to see what the
trenches were like during WW1, just ask Col to put some rain trenches around
your tent or camper. It took longer to fill in the gutters he dug than to pack
up a swag.
Colin Hunt arrived
and after he was informed that he was to set up camp at “Swagtown”, near my
camp (something about snoring). The trips for the day’s recce were decided upon
and drivers decided which they wanted to partake. Robyn Hastings was trip
leader for our recce party, Brian and Anne, Wal and Beryl and myself as Tailend
Charlie. We left for Cotter Dam, Gentle Annie Track, Flea Creek. Lunch was had
at McIntyre’s Hut, we then proceeded to the old Hume sawmill. From there we
travelled out to Dingo Dell and back into Queanbeyan before returning to camp.
The Flying Fridge Hill recce was abandoned due to track closure . Mushroom rock
recce was successful. Dinner was had around the communal electric
campfire/bbq. Ken had brought out an interesting piece of drink ware the night
before and it reappeared this evening, only this time full of a red wine
supplied by Colin Hunt.
Sunday.
With Ken feeling the effects of an epic evening of sampling various red wines, plans were sort of made over breakfast of the day’s recce trips. The majority went off with Adrian to Sugarloaf. Wal and Beryl and myself decide to recce Tallaganda. Allan and Robyn Ferrett broke camp and decided to head home.
After the second creek
crossing I pulled up at the top of a short hill, I made a trip note and spotted
what I thought was smoke coming from under my vehicle. I called Wal to let him
know I had a problem and bailed out to look for the problem. It was pretty
evident from the green water pooling under “Herbie” that I had lost coolant,
the question was where and how. A quick examination found that I had managed to
rip a heater hose off; most likely by a stick being tossed up by my front
wheel. After quick repairs we headed off, the temp went through the roof, more
water was added after allowing the radiator to cool. A second attempt was made
to move off and after a frantic call to Wal that the temp had again gone
off-scale high, lunch was called early and more water was added. Wal and I
decided that the quickest way back to the highway and maybe to Queanbeyan.
After the run out to the highway and having made sure that the overflow bottle
was full at a few stops, I decided that I would be able to head home without
too many troubles. So I bid farewell to Wal and Beryl just near the Mills Cross
Radio Telescope.
We trekked out to
Tallaganda, we made good time along the proposed trip, stopping at a proposed
morning tea and finding an interesting trig station. Heading off we did two
minor creek crossings, whilst heading to the lunch stop.
Steve West.
Trip Reporter.
