Raf (Axle) Swieczyk NoBalls, Mickey, Dakota and Devon Trent Andrew, Roxene, 'D', Ryan and Casey Walters John (Splash) Larsen Dave, Elisabeth and Bridget Pocock

After meeting up at McDonald in Aldergrove, and causing the locals to wonder if the monster trucks are coming to town, Raf, NoBalls and Mickey + kids, Rox, Andrew, Daniel, Ryan and Casey plus yours truly (before I became Splash "ed") head out. The weather was good for early April and traffic was light. After finally getting on the gravel, and after stopping for what seemed like the umpteenth time for either gas or airing down, No-Balls trailer decides that it wants to do the driving and begins wrestling for the lead. After a bit of nifty steering wheel aerobics the Tracker takes the lead again. (Never mind the smell emanating from the driver's seat) Wasn't long after though, that the Tracker decides that towing the trailer was enough and the tranny packs it in. So after a bit of people and camping gear reorganisation, and Raf having a try at towing the trailer, the convoy moves on, sans Tracker

After finally reaching our destination and meeting up with the Pococks, it's close to midnight, actually at 12:07 I was well into a Rum and Coke and had my tent set up.

The next day dawned with a beautiful view of Harrison Lake and made the beach that much more inviting for a bunch of revved up wheelers. Raf, who had yet to exit his rig, and actually spent more time in the drivers seat than on terra firma (even slept in the front seat) began the morning by giving the logs on the beach a good going over. After a while the rest of us caught on and started doing log tricks, I even managed to do a grinder… dude! The Trooper was getting its first workout playing in the creek and was performing to expected levels (so far so good).

Dave P. on the way to Sunrise

Splash playing on the beach

Trooper gets it's first flex

It was after a bit of lunch and something to wash it down with, that the call went out to head to Sunrise Lake. Raf and Rob in Raf's YJ, Team Trooper, Dave and myself in Dave's Cherokee head out. During the climb up we were met by a British invasion of Range Rovers and other Anglo Iron coming down from the lake. After pleasantries, sorry no Grey Poupon, the PORCers continue the assault on the trail. The Raf machine was having no problems (double locker guy that he is) yet…Dave needed a few approach corrections and the Trooper was running over and through most obstacles with minimal effort.  

Playing around by the lake

Almost another dent in the rocker

Cresting a hill on side trail

After reaching the lake, an as yet unseated Raf decides to tackle a rather large rock formation and just about gets there, but after five or six tries the footing was getting chewed up, so what can't go up, goes down. After nearly giving himself a rocker hickey and a soiled seat, Raf concedes the rock to the Trooper. Once the alignment was done and the driver having completed a quick prayer to the Gods of All Things Mechanical, the descent begins. Once again the Trooper showed the merits of why solid axle is the only way to go, a minor miscalculation of driver input resulted in the first bit of rocker rash. Nothing like a bit of added character, eh Andrew!! So after having decided that the rock was sufficiently driven over enough, the group heads back to camp. At this point Raf decides that if he can't climb the rock, I'll try a dirt hill. The ascent goes well, until a stump gets caught under the right front rocker and now Raf has his bit of rocker rash. Boy I'm glad I left my truck in camp!!

 

dave straddling a 'V'

What went down tries to go up!!

After switching co-pilots, I'm now with Team Trooper, we head back to camp, again. It was maybe three or four km's from camp that Andrew notices the steering on the Trooper is behaving in an erratic manner. After stopping and reviewing the situation, Andrew discovers that the bolts holding the steering to the knuckle had worked loose. After a quick lift and few turns of the socket all is well, except that now there is a new problem, it seems that after having been jacked up the front shaft came apart, just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…….

A turn of the front hubs gave a quick remedy and the drive to camp was completed.

After explaining to Rox that the rocker wasn't that bad and that there were a "few adjustments to the steering" a run to Sunset was finally complete.

First rocker damage on the way

The rest of the day was spent mending minor wounds, getting the sauna tent set and generally enjoying a gorgeous afternoon. The evening festivities included a roaring fire on the beach, music and recounting of the many adventures that we all have had on the trails. Raf was only out of his truck long enough to get some food in him and then it was back in to completely explore the beach.

Sunday brought more clear skies and made for pleasant packing up, and a great end to a good time, until the drive back revealed that the Tracker did not fair so well. It seems that the morons who think that a vehicle on the side of the road is fair game had paid a visit. Without tires, it was kinda hard to drive it home and required Rob to return with a tow truck, but by then the OTHER KIND OF MORONS had paid a visit and pushed the truck down the hill, not a good weekend for Team Tracker.

With the exception of the Tracker incident, the Hale Creek / Sunrise Lake was a good time had by all.

 

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