Rydal Pub Club Trip
Newnes & Mt Walker
Sat 8th & Sun 9th August 09
Trip Leader:
Brett & visitor Emma– GQ wagon
Trip Followers:
Charles & Jen – GU Ute
Glenn & Sarah – GQ SWB
Max & Rose – GQ wagon
Peatey & Hayley – 80 series
Mark L – Hilux
Dave, Cheryl & Brendan – 60 series
Pub Only Revellers:
Ant & Monika – Bourbon & Vodka
Kenno & Julie – VB schooners
Di & Carmen – Cocktail mixers
Saturday Driving
An 8:30 start at our usual meeting spot of Richmond Maccas had only the dedicated AT4 wheelers heading up Bells Line to Zig Zag for a play in the dirt and mud. The remainder of the mob were chickening out and meeting us up at the Pub at days end.
The first stupid comment of the day goes to me and the first call of the day goes to Glenn. I had invited my friend Emma along for the trip as she hadn’t been 4wding before. This in turn had the club rumor mill working overtime as to our “potential relationship??”
After a few failed attempts at a muddy section of track, I was heard over the radio to say “she’s a bit wet and sloppy up here” as to which Glenn replied “Yeah, but what about the track!” It took me a moment to realise what I had actually just said…Yeah, opps!
So after much laughter at my expense (I sense a common theme here), firstly for my bad comment and secondly for being the only one who couldn’t successfully drive that section of track, we continued on.
Driving the Pipeline track was our next challenge and it’s here that Dave Brock showed us how to get some serious wheels up as the old 60 series got on a very nasty side angle negotiating a rutted section. With a few of us blokes hanging off the bull bar and the rest grabbing a strap around a tree we safely lowered the truck back onto all 4 wheels.
A short time later we were driving some deep little ruts down a track that Mark and Peatey knew.
Back up to the main road had us continue over the western side and down to the sandstone step track that leads to the Lost City. Here Jenny jumped behind the wheel of the Ute and drove the step on her first attempt – that did show us blokes up a bit, very impressive! With some rock packing and the odd snatch all were up and parked at the Lost City for lunch.
After lunch we drove Son of Bob and Ranger Bob with pretty much all of us having a moment of two with some massive wheels up and sketchy angles attempting to drive rocks, trees, sandstone, people more trees and whatever else got in the way! Gave my newbie passenger a good scare as I attempted Ranger Bob and the look frightened look on her face was priceless! hehe!
After this we called it a day and made our way down through Lithgow and out to the Pub.
Saturday Night – The Pub
With the rest of our merry group meeting up at the pub it was time to quench our thirst. Beers, bourbons, vodkas, rums, shots and all other sorts of drinks were being hastily consumed. Some having quite a few more that others!
After a nice roast dinner it was back to the bar for, you guessed it, more drinking! Then came the singing and dancing as the old “juke box” belted out retro song after crap song after retro song well into the wee hours of the morning – 3am to be precise!
With photographic evidence a plenty of the night’s antics, I don’t need to describe in detail what went on. However, the highlights of the evening were probably Charles with his Rum & Milk (YUM!), Di, Rose & Kenno inflicting mental anguish and physical pain upon me in a sort of wrestle mania “we’re not letting you go to bed” type fight and Carmen singing and dancing along to her retro songs from her childhood schooldays!
Sunday Driving
With many a sore head and some not so good looking faces, Sunday morning breakfast was consumed at a slow pace. After comparing bar tabs as our bills to Phil at the bar, goodbyes we’re said to our pub revelers and the dedicated AT4 4wding crew once again headed off for an easy day’s drive of Mt Walker and surrounds, except for the Brock family who had to head back to Sydney.
A pretty much incident fee drive was had and with the weather being perfect, the view from Mt Walker trig was fantastic. An impromptu lunch was had in the middle of a nice grassy paddock then it was onto the “3 sisters” track in the Lidsdale State Forest. Apart from a minor locker issue in Charles’ ute, we all made it up in one piece, aired up at the top of the hill, turned back onto the Highway and headed on home.
Big thanks to Phil & Michelle at Rydal Pub for the great accommodation, meals and warm hospitality as always.
Thank also to all the club members who came on the trip, both those who drove and those who only came to the pub. We all had an absolute ball and it was really great to get such a large number of us together for a fun time.
I’ll be running this same trip again next year so make sure you mark it on your calendar!
Brett