One option for the October Long Weekend Club Activity was the Whyalla FWD Club annual event. The trip was led by Ian Williams.

Participants camped at the Whyalla Showgrounds from where there were a range of half day and full day trips as well as activities at the Showground .

Half day trips included:

a150km drive to Corunna Downs on a steep rocky track and good gravel roads giving good scenic views of Iron Knob township and the old water supply dam for Iron Knob;

100km drive to Camel Hills, a rocky outcrop on Cooyerdoo Station. This involved good sandy tracks with scenic views of Iron Baron mining area and rocky gullies on the North Middleback Ranges;

A 50km drive to the Wild Dog Hill Conservation Park experiencing sandy and rocky tracks with creek tracks with many washouts;

300kms drive on good gravel tracks to Middlecamp Conservation Park and Paynes Weir. This gave excellent scenic views of Cowell, Cleve and Arno Bay surrounds;

A 250 km drive to the Murninnie shacks and Plank Point with some sections of challenging beach driving and an opportunity for some fishing.

The first chosen by ORVC contingent was the 100km track to Cooks North. A very advanced track to the summit of Cooks North with loose tracks, side slopes and tight turns. It gives scenic views of Iron knight and the Gulf area and returns via Iron baron,

Number 2 was the 100kms trip to Myola Station which is adjacent to Iron Baron and includes a number of old mines such as Iron Queen and Iron Cavalier. More loose gravel tracks and creek washouts to the top of the North Middleback Ranges at Mount Middleback North and exiting along side Iron Cavalier mine site.

There was a full day trip to Point Gibbon 20kms south of Cowell involving an excellent coastal beach drive with acess to shifting sand dunes. Back at the camp, Ashley and Zoe (with Garry and Ruth) entered and won a Tent set-up and pack competition. (with some help) they did the required set up and pack in 4 minutes to win a tent. They say winners are grinners and this was demonstrated by Ashley and Zoe and also by Jenny Williams who won first prize in the camp oven cook off for her magnificent damper.

All in all an enjoyable and successful long weekend.

Thanks to the Whyalla Club for a well organised event.

No doubt some of us will be returning next year.