After a quick refuel and a hearty breakfast of Dagwood dogs, we set off with the remainder of the party for Sundown NP Ron, with Wade aboard, led the way in the Challenger, and the mighty Mazda was elected to be Tail End Charlie. A few minutes down the road to Ballandean, then west for a few more minutes of sealed road, then onto the dirt and the gate into Sundown.

Soon, we came to a fork in the track. Ron informed us over the CB that the left hand track was fairly easy going - 2WD or high range 4WD for better traction. So we took the right hand fork, which gave Kathy an opportunity to select low range. We couldn't help but notice that this track was fairly rocky and lumpy, but all of the vehicles seemed to be travelling reasonably well ­ until the Challenger "died". To be honest, it didn't die. But It wasn't happy. As soon as it started attempting steep uphill sections, it ran out of breath and stalled. It wouldn't even maintain revs in neutral. Up with the bonnet The group eventually agreed that the most likely cause of the problem was a blocked fuel filter. Ron decided to persevere with the poorly running Challenger so that we could make it to Red Rock Falls for lunch.

Tin Mine

Creek Crossing in Wetter Times

Back to the campground for lunch and a closer inspection of the Challenger's problem. With the only other fuel injected vehicle on the trip, I parked the Mazda next to the Challenger so we could compare notes. We listened to fuel pumps (both situated in the tanks) and traced fuel lines to and from the injectors. We noticed plenty of similarities (even to the extent of a number of Mitsubishi manufactured parts under the Mazda bonnet) but found no cures.

So the decision was made to set up camp at Red Rock Falls for the night (rather than the intended stop at Burrow's Waterhole). Alex and Wade got on famously whilst the tents were erected. A reasonably lazy afternoon ensued, followed by a cool night around a warm campfire under a blanket of stars.

Next morning, Ron and Wade hopped into the Mazda, so with the trip leader In my vehicle, I led the way (it was my turn to drive). On the way down to Burrow's Waterhole, we passed a solitary bushwalker travelling in the opposite direction - our first contact with another human since arriving in the park. After a quick chat, off we bounced from one rock to the next until we stopped off at the old abandoned tin mines for a nostalgic reminder of much tougher times, then we continued past the abandoned sheep station to the main camping ground at Burrow's Waterhole. A good place for morning tea.

The waterhole is part of the Severn River, and Ron stated that he has never seen the waterhole so empty. More human contact - the group spotted another camper a few hundred metres away.

After a quick snack, on we travelled into the most interesting and challenging of the 4WD tracks in the park. There were some good, steep, bumpy and well rutted tracks leading into the Rat's Castle, followed by some bumpy tracks travelling along the river bed, to a very bumpy river crossing at Rat's Castle itself. I was glad to see that the river crossing was dry - the track across the river required precision wheel placement to avoid wheel and panel damage. Previous club trips have apparently involved crossing at this spot with two feet of water flowing over the rocks. Not for the faint hearted!

We arrived at the exit from the loop track around Rat's Castle, and Kathy bailed out. The steep, exceedingly bumpy, well rutted track required a good deal of low range grunt. It was a pity that Kathy forgot to take the camera with her at that point - I'm sure that there were a few spots on that section where I managed a good deal of air under the front tyres.

We immediately hit a steep, exceedingly bumpy, well rutted downhill section that is said to be impossible in the reverse direction. It was, however, fun going downhill in the Mazda. Thank you Mazda for the well geared 1x gear in low range.

From there, we re-traced our tracks back to the campsite for lunch. All too soon, It was time to pack up and head home.

At the gate on the way out, we had only our third contact with other people. Sundown NP is a rugged and fairly remote place. Considering the trouble that Ron had with the Challenger, it is not a place that I would like to visit alone. I would also advise against visiting the area during the bushfire season. Having said that, Sundown NP offers some excellent four wheel driving (amongst the many thousands of bumps endured along the way). For the record, I suffered cramps in all of my fingers at the end of the day from gripping the wheel so hard whilst steering over the thousands of bumpy rocks. How much worse would it have been without power steering?

Ron's Challenger managed to get out of the NP without suffering any of the fuel problems of the previous day. Back at Ballandean Kathy, Alex and I bade farewell to Ron and Wade, and headed off to a couple of the local wineries to rinse the dust out of our mouths.

I'm sure that all five of our crew had enjoyed the weekend, even taking into consideration the problems endured with the Challenger.*