Woodgate

26-28 January 2001

We had a perfect run up the Bruce Hwy to our arranged meeting place at the McDonalds just north of Maryborough. We picked up Danna an the way through, which was a good thing it allowed us to meet up with a few of the other vehicles which were in the wrong McDonalds in town. We all met up, had a quick breakfast and headed off.

Keith and Rob P, Rik C, John and Val S with their friend Evan, Peter end Sandra S, Wayne M, Graham and Kay H, A and Pat S and Rex and Maree H had all arrived the previous day. In tow I had Gaven and Angela McG, Peter and Maryke G, Mike and Anu Clarks, John and Julie S, David M and John McK.

Setting up camp took no time, then it was decided unanimously to hate a leisurely afternoon of swimming and downing a few cold beers. Late in the afternoon we adjourned back to camp and had dinner before heading back down to the beach for a late evening dip and a few more beers. We returned to camp in the early hours.

SATURDAY

In the morning, we all trooped off to explore Palm Beach in Kinkuna National Park, doing a dump run on the way through. It was another gorgeous summer day it was all fairly easy going by the time we'd stopped for smoko, but rumour had it that we had a, lot of soft sand driving to do from here on. We had another swim, let our tyres down and moved on. There were tracks going in every direction through the dunes, which made it hard going as there was quite a procession of us. After a bit I realized that they were ail just various routes used for negotiating the soft sand.

I was in high range and when I pulled up and changed to low, it wasn't the easiest thing to get going again. A mishap also occurred at one intersection where someone had missed the radio call to go straight through, which I think resulted in somebody getting bogged by having to wait until the dilemma was sorted.

it was late morning when David M's Brumby decided where the convoy would stop for lunch. The car's running temperature was getting a bit too warm. It was a lovely spot for David to have car problems. We lunched on a gorgeous beach under the casuarinas and, you guessed it, another swim. (We seemed to swim at every spot we stopped for more than ten minutes). It was also decided that Pat and Arnold were going to keep going north later in the day to Mon Repos Beach as the turtle nesting season was at its peak. Peter and Maryke, David, John, Mike and Anu decided to go as well.

After everyone had eaten and swam sufficiently we kept on moving. From there I got us lost twice - that's how 1 got the trip report. In one of these lost instances I turned back too soon and made everyone else's turnabout all the more difficult as we were still in the soft sand on the back of the dunes. We kept heading northbound until we reached the top of Kinkuna National Park and decided it was beer o'clock and time to return to camp. The others headed in the opposite direction to Mon Repos.

Later that evening, after dinner, showers etc. we all headed back down the beach for a few hours - some a few hours longer than others. It was about the coolest place to be. That night a lot of us had even pulled the fly off our tents to stay a bit cooler until It rained at about 5am.

I think a fun trip was had by all and 1 look forward to returning back to the area. Day 3 turned out to have some dramas so I'm turning over to the next most deserving person for the story of the remainder of the trip - Graham Hood. Thanks to all those who attended and hopefully we'll get up there again some time in the future.

Kathy Bryant SC 480

We all awoke to another beautiful day, and once again the water was like glass. Pity we had to go home. After our breakfast we went about packing up for the trip home. While some of the northern members were present a quick meeting was held to discuss the northwest corner trip, scheduled for later in the year. By mid morning everybody was looking for a piece to cool off so it was decided to head to Theodolite Creek, at the northern end of Woodgate.

A very inviting spot and the water was so refreshing and cool. All too soon it was time to leave and we followed Rex and Maree, with John and Val behind us until we turned off to detour to Childers for fuel. We caught up with Reg and Evan as they had to put air in their tyres. Rex had been talking to a fellow who asked him if he was with the Subarus who had travelled through the north end beach yesterday. He then proceeded to say "you guys looked like ants coming on to the beach, then all of a sudden this MONSTER TRUCK appeared." (I wonder who that could have been???) He had wondered if it carried the spare parts. The guy runs 4WD tours from Brisbane to that area.

Back on the road everything was going well until the other side of Tiaro, when all of a sudden the car just stopped. l popped the bonnet and had a look around, after a few attempts to start the car I knew we weren't going anywhere, Not long after Greg and Kathy, Rikki and Wayne pulled up as they had been lunching at Maryborough. After a couple of more unsuccessful attempts it was decided that Kathy and Greg would tow the camper home and " and the boys would travel with Rik. With a pasty looking storm approaching they took off leaving Wayne and his two boys and myself.

It started to rain and the wind was quite strong so Wayne said "Bugger this, how about I tow you." Out came the strap and away we went. The MY did a mighty job considering it was loaded to the hilt, golf clubs and all.

Everyone met back at Rex and Maree's where we had a cuppa and Kathy and Rik toll us about the storm they drove through, with one of the branches hitting the side of Rik's car. We were all glad and relieved to have gotten through it

Well Kaye and I can't thank you guys enough, when the chips were down you came up trumps for us and Wayne thanks for the recovery vehicle. Hope to see you guys soon on a trip.

PLUS

I have since found out the engine problem. The fuel return line was too close to the fuel pick up line inside the tank, and in hot conditions the fuel evaporated in the fuel rail.

PPS. Thanks also Kathy for a great weekend (must have a return visit soon),

Cheers,

Graham Hood SC 448