|
|
Participants: Quite a few members attended and two Jacks who were both visitors. We aimed to arrive at Paruna fairly early and came over the hill just after lunch on Friday. There were already 2 camps set up. Gary Hallam with his helpers Len Tonkin and Jack. Someone else in Fox’s spot? On closer examination all was revealed. The Fox’s had a spanking new poptop caravan called Soki. Jamie arrived in his ‘new’ Defender. Stuart and Denise arrived confused as Turby had blown 2 headlight fuses. Others arrived during the afternoon and before bedtime, except for Lorraine. Undetected she crept into camp late at night with her 2 dogs. However everyone knew by sunrise that she had arrived. Furthermore it was show and tell time again as she had a brand new Chalet van in tow. Both Friday and Saturday nights were very cold and campfire(s) were kept stoked by the stoked stokers and some other jokers. Ice was observed on a couple of tables during the evening entertainment. Gerry made and erected a flash looking sign for the “Sandpit Hil-tin.” You will have noticed by now the phenomenon of things occurring in pairs. 2 Jacks attended, 2 new vans, 2 Defenders, 2 dogs, 2 fuses blown, 2 Supremes, 2 Phoenix’s, 2 cold nights and 2 words on Gerry’s sign. Saturday morning saw all the eager navigation trainees seated near the campfire in the outdoor classroom. Lorraine’s car became the butcher’s paper ‘easel’. Stuart used red texta in case it went through the paper onto the Pajero. Everyone attended the course and learnt much about bearings, grid references, legends, compasses, lats and longs, GPS and handling maps in the wind. After lunch we were sent bush to try our skills at finding nominated sites on the Peebinga map. A few trainees were ‘lost’ to the cause of training and went off to do some sand driving. Training was completed on Sunday morning. Saturday night’s entertainment was a Quiz night run by Denise and Dean. Contestants formed 4 teams called the Fore Plays (who had 5 in their team), Hardys, Old Farts and Dilligafs. Several rounds of questions and photo puzzles were held. Bonus points were awarded regularly. Any disputed answers were knocked on the head with the explanation that the information source was “Trivial Pursuit.” Inspector Plod, disguised as Stuart, in his driza-bone trenchcoat, navigated his way through the multitude of competitors. He scored a bit on the side. He lurked everywhere, he lurched anywhere, spraying his ‘capsicum like’ lager depressant on the unruly. Competition was fierce and in the ultimate climax the Fore Plays pulled in front and were crowned the winners. Most departed camp just before lunch on Sunday and headed for Karoonda as Leonie had suggested pies and pasties would be good tucker for a cold day. Alas the pie warmer was bare when we arrived about 2 p.m. and we had to make do with hamburgers or some other fried delights. Thanks to Stuart for his effort in presenting the navigational training and to Denise and Dean for their conduct of the Quiz night. Compiled by K-9 |
