MEBBIN STATE FOREST

22 - 23 June 1996

It was Mebbin time of year - wet! This small state forest situated west of Murwillumbah is famous for its mud. There is enough of the smelly slimy slippery stuff to run a Camel Trophy through. In fact, I'm sure Peter thought he was an entrant! I have the honour of writing this report because I was late to the meeting point, or was it because I had to be recovered more than any other vehicle? I'm convinced the latter occurred because the Cruiser has poor tyres, open diffs, short wheelbase, hight centre of gravity, gearing, weight, being the last car...... Nothing at all to do with the driver!

The meeting point was at Budd Park, Murwillumbah for those that got there. The convoy left the park and the stragglers were to catch up. Those that arrived on time were David (Detroit Brumby), Jeff and Sue (Red Brumby), Peter (Land Rover Defender Tdi 'Legend'), Chris and Pam (V8 Rangie), Iain and Cassie (dirty, mean and nasty MY) Rohan (red MY), Murray (white MY), and Rob and Denise (V6 Jackeroo). Those meandering behind were Martin and Simone (Hilux) Matt and Kylie (Hilux Grinner) and myself (Landcruiser). We were able to catch up to the first group after departing the bitumen to ascent a long greasy hill to a lookout. On catching up we heard via CB that Jeff was having a moment, but we were soon on our way.

Jeff Kesby - 'Having a moment" !

Details are sketchy of the trip as I spent most of the time out of sight of the main group. The trip to the lookout was stopped short as there were numerous trees across the road. Time constraints meant we could not do our usual road clearing exercises. Next we headed to Wollombi Road, which had an interesting climb on a loop off the main road. From here it was into Mebbin State Forest to set up camp and have lunch. Murray in the white MY had a prior engagement to attend and departed as we entered Mebbin. As in the case with most NSW forestry camping areas, Mebbin is spacious, green and always well maintained.

After lunch it was onto the challenge section. A ten kilometre circuit back to camp that took the tail end five hours to traverse. First obstacle, a bog hole full of water that proved too much for David on his chosen. I firmly believe David exercised retribution on me for arriving late by spraying me from head to toe with mud from wheel spin. Once a correct path was chosen, the remaining submarines, sorry, um.. Subas launched into the bog to the note of flat fours revving to redline and beyond. The track was one bog hole after another, more than once was there a call for the can of WD40. There were nervous faces in one Brumby sifting in the middle of a bog, the door handles sipping muddy water with the bonnet up and Iain and Martin working frantically to dry the electricals. No damage but driver found that hands don't make good bilge pumps.

It was not all bog holes and mud pies though. For good measure a small greasy hill was thrown in to test all vehicles. Peter being lead car had a number of attempts before requiring man handling to find the top. Most of the other vehicles needed assistance to find the top. At this stage Rohan decided to park the unlifted MY and jumped in with Iain. As the group slowly negotiated the track, darkness was quickly approaching.

As the convoy was regrouping at another bog, comments over the radio from the front were referring to retreat on this track. Concern showed on drivers' faces. The last of the convoy stopped well short of the situation and we decided to walk to the obstacle. Between us and the obstacle laid an unpassable bog by foot, after much discussion, it was decided that Maft would drive his Hilux down and across the bog so we could view what had ceased forward progress.

On arrival at the scene we could determine with the use of headlights that David was strategically parked in a creek. A fate another unfortunate driver was to experience, the only difference was that I needed to be winched out. A job that is not easy to accomplish in complete darkness, in mud (slop) and without a winch (the club winch was not on hand). Fortunately, Martin had his Tirfor and came to my rescue. While winching, someone has to steer and another person operates the winch, I opted for the strenuous job of steering.

After a long day of driving, which finished at seven o'clock at night, it was time for tea. At this state Peter, Chris and Pam headed back to Murwillumbah for the night. After tea we sat around a little fire and consumed port (Chateaux le cardboard) and Mudcake (albeit from the freezer). David still hasn't mastered the art of holding onto his mug, and on dropping it for the fourth time, a call for the taxi was made.

Morning came and everyone rose out of bed at around seven thirty. Peter arrived back at camp around nine o'clock ready to go again. It was decided that we would try our luck on the Bog Onion Road, aptly named from memory. Rob and Denise left at this point to make their way home. It was down to eight vehicles to.conquer the trail. The track did not pose as many problems as the excursion the evening before, although we all had our moments. No real dramas except one small creek that six of the eight vehicles had to be towed through. We were able to get back to camp at around two thirty to have lunch and pack up to head home.

On the way out on the bitumen, Peter showed us a creek crossing that he suggested we drive through to loosen some of the clay off the cars. Well some of us did this and a bit more. It was at this point that the trip broke up and we all went our separate ways.

Thanks must be passed on to numerous people. Firstly to the one person that had a tow strap attached to his vehicle (rear) for the entire trip and never being towed himself, Matt. He was the only person not to be towed all weekend, but managed to recover me six times! And to the Gadget man with his winch who came to save the day, or should I say night, thanks Martin. Big thanks must go to David for running the trip and Peter for his assistance in track knowledge. It was an excellent two days of mud and we were lucky to have been spared the usual weather of the area, rain!

DALE CONDON SC393