So it’s no secret I’m a fan of the Wamuran locked gate trip. The Basin and Flats area as it’s known has a good cross-section of terrain in a relatively small area. The club has made the yearly journey to this location for as long as I can remember and it’s interesting to witness it change over that time. It is now quite overgrown with a lot of the track on the western side almost reduced to motorbike trails. We kicked off with about a dozen vehicles including the Iveco which should count for at least two. Before we departed our staging point it was confirmed all present had undertaken a DA. It’s not that Wamuran is overly difficult but there are a couple of sections that could be pucker moments for newer or less experienced members. We entered the reserve, aired down and proceeded to climb out from the old rail alignment to the north east where the power transmission towers dissect the property. The first fun obstacle is a loop around one of the towers which is a bit steep on one side. At first this was undertaken coming down the incline with most having so much fun we restaged the vehicles and then went up it as well. At this point I need to confess I have Iveco envy. This thing could crawl up a gum tree. I was astounded how sure footed it is and geared so low you could not only get out and walk beside it but roll a smoke and put the lotto on at the same time. It walked up the slope with such confidence I was amazed. I’m pretty certain there is a bit of driver skill in there also. It’s a pity I have no children left to sell. Having finished at the top of the hill we continued down the eastern side of the rail alignment under the power lines. Another descent under the lines finishes with a steep little pinch at the end. Thanks John Lynch for being the eyes outside the vehicles and guiding the group through. These are the two most interesting obstacles of the day completed before morning tea. We spent the afternoon navigating the western side of the rail alignment finding a couple of new tracks that weren’t on our Hema log. This is were the tracks are really starting to grow over. Plenty of new pin stripping on the truck which was doubling as a D9 for a bit. There is a lot to do in this little patch with a couple of nice technical bits mixed in with some winding and hilly trails. It’s a trip that is always well attended and I’m making enquires on how we might facilitate it better or have more than one trip a year available. Thanks to all that attended the trip and special thanks for John and Lorraine for sharing the Hema log of previous trips so we knew where to go.
Cheers, Nardine and Lee.