I am in Neil. Bob & Frank should be up for it too....

 

I'll check with Gemma. Got a bit happening at the moment, but would love to be in it.

Cheers

 

Hi Neil,

Love to be in but I have something on the 23rd which has been booked for a couple of months.

Frank

 

Got the family thing happening on 24. Bummer. Keep exploring options.

Cheers

 

Neil, can we pick another weekend? bring it forward?

 

OK, I'll see if I can put it back a week, how would the 30-31 suit?

 

If we do 30-31 then for Frank & myself that will be three weekends of offroad adventure(considering we are planning to do Lake eyre from June 5th onwards) - which I dont mind at all!
Frank, Bob?

 

Hi Neil,

My preference is not to do the 30 - 31st given this will be three weekends straight I will be away from the family in this period. Later in June would suit me.

regards

Frank

 

I could be a starter for the 30/31. My son is playing football in Scone that Saturday which puts me up there already.

 

Good one Scenic. If we can get a third starter we'll move forward! Bob, how does the 30th look for you?
Hey Frank, you're virtually a local, we'll head back up there in the spring some time...

..Neil

 

80% Just gotta work the dates with the boss (not Gemma boss, cos she's keen). 30 or 31 should be OK and I'll take a traveller to get there.

The only fly in the ointment will be if I go ahead with the suspension work.

Cheers

 

Hi Neil,
Thanks for the consideration. As it turns out we now have a function to go to on the Saturday night.
Hey Bob, what suspension work are you looking at?

Frank

 

Neil, I am still in. ....another weekend in the touareg before we head out for the big drive to lake eyre!

 

We're in. The driving day's gotta be on the Saturday (30) cos we have to be back in Canberra on 1 June. We'll drive up on the Friday.

Frank

I've been talking a local suspension mob with a view to getting 30-40mm lift and stronger springs in the rear to hold up the trailer. Just gotta convince Gemma. I'm also looking at getting some work done on the trailer. If it comes off, it'll be about $3k for each job.

Cheers

 

I have football commitments in Scone from 11:30 -12:30 or so. So I wouldn't be able to join up till say 1:30 or 2. I can hook up as suits.

 

OK folks, here's the agenda for the weekend...
1. Friday 29th - Bob & Gemma come up from the deep south, and stay in Newcastle the night...
2. Saturday 30th. We head up the valley, and meet up with Singh at (say) 11am in Muswellbrook.
3. Head in past Gundy & Belltrees to Moonan Flat, and on into them thar hills.
4. Have an interesting afternoon's driving.....
5. Dinner by the camp fire and camp the night. It'll be cold.
6. Sunday morning we can go over the tops to Gloucester and back down the Bucketts Way, may have a detour or two. Bob can head straight back via the most direct route instead.

Now we have a quorum, I'll contact our friends with the big property and tee up the access (it was OK for the previous weekend, should be OK for this one).

Scenic, I'll pm you where we'll be and the way to find us after your football. Will you be camping too (you're welcome)?

How does that sound??

cheers,
..Neil

 

I have tent and stuff, so I am prepared for a camp. When I say 1:30 or so, I mean out at Moonan Flat area after a quick bit of lunch.

 

sounds great!

 

OK everyone, any more takers for this weekend? Muswellbrook at 11am Saturday for anyone who wants to join us!

Please respond to this post if there is anyone else who wants to come, and I will pm you. We will be largely on private property with permission, so need to know who is coming etc

cheers

 

Sorry Neil, i have been unsuccessful in getting the leak fixed. Tried Chatswood as well but they are booked out.
Hopefully Hornsby will sort it out on Tuesday & there will be another opportunity to do the Barringtons.

 

That's a nuisance for you, not to mention missing this weekend!
You can come and be a passenger if you like, but of course there will be 3 out of 3 R5's and you'd be slumming it..

 

Hi Singh,

After my recent leak, I would be interested in knowing details of where the leak is located and the required fix. Also, whether it was still leaking when the mechanics got to it.

 

Hi, Sorry that I couldnt join you guys. this is the first one I have missed!!
I found out the reason for the leak in the steering, shockingly and not surprising it was due to human error.
When i had put the car in last time (four weeks ago), the mechanic, in order to change the defective connector on the turbo, didnt put back all that had to be removed to access the turbo. The 'stuff' they had to remove inc the bits of the steering & the hoses that carry the fluid!!
I wouldnt have known but a glance on the last worksheet revealed, "..power steering fluid replaced.."
All well for now, just have to get new rubber t'row and pack for the big trip!

 

OK Sportsfans, now for the bad news.

I know Neil and Lloyd will be champing at the bit to jump in. On the weekend I had a bit of a misadventure.

After a great day's driving, we were heading back to camp and I took the wrong turn (I really should pay more attention when I'm in a convoy). I crossed through a creek crossing and said to Gemma that it seemed a bit deeper than on the way out. About 2 seconds later Neil came over the radio telling me that I had gone astray. Anyway, I turned around, popped the Treg in low-range, locked the centre diff and made my way back through the crossing. I must have missed by a little bit and it got pretty damp under the bonnet. I just made it up the exit, and the car, she no go.

Not sure what happened, whether it took a gut-full of water through the air system or the water was so cold something cracked. Anyway, the upshot is that the car starts and idles, but can't be loaded up. And oily water comes out near the #1 cylinder exhaust manifold. I'm thinking buggered gasket here at best, cracked head at worst.

As I understand it, the Treg's on the back of a flatbed truck somewhere between Musswellbrook and Canberra. I will post details as I get them.

Yes, Neil, now you can post the photo.

Cheers

Bob

PS Thanks to Neil for another tow, and both Neil (and Annette) and Lloyd (and Lyndel and kids) for being patient and not giving me too hard a time.

 

So far, Lloyd and I have observed the protocol of "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas", but as Bob has opened the bidding, I must just say that I won't start with the ribbing yet, but express our sincere sympathies to Bob and Gemma for a rather nasty thing to have happened to their trusty steed. It certainly made me wince when I saw the big cloud of black smoke come out of the back, and hear the grating sound as he tried to give it its last revs up the hill.
Much respect to Bob for holding his cool (relatively) even when the VW Assist weenie promised to send the flatbed then cancelled it later while knowing we were in a remote place and and couldn't be contacted (as they hadn't remembered to confirm his insurance details...) Good thing we called next morning from the phone box in the next town to check on progress.
Also much respect to Bob for being towed for 5 km with my R5 being in 2nd low including severe corners, steep hills (up AND down), and 5 more water crossings - all without power steering or brakes.

Also, I'll post the photo soon...

cheers,

..Neil