Family picnic

Well, all good things must come to an end I spose, so we left Pine Ridge and headed for Goulburn where we settled in a tree lined avenue on the outskirts of the city facing a sports park in Eastgrove, so we had a great view of the green grass in the park and the trees surrounding it.

Looking toward the post office tower

The old brewery  in the background



For the first couple of days the temperature was over 30oC but on Sunday night we had some steady rain and it cooled down after that
Our son Heath rang and came over on Sunday with his family for a picnic.

"Here they are"

Elizabeth (left) and Victoria




                                                                                                               Mardi

It was really good to see the grandkids and their parents
The children loved Mollie and spent most of the day playing ball with her

"lunch"

 

 

 

 

Heath and Blaine with Victoria

Cheryl and Maureen

Late in the afternoon, the clouds got heavy and most of us went up to "Rocky Hill" lookout

Our parking spot

Pine Ridge

We have the good fortune to be staying with Daryl and Colleen at Pine Ridge.

This is a great place. Set in the Southern Tablelands of NSW, the property is situated on the rolling plains of the high country. It's a property of about 1700 acres of good grassland and improved pasture.

There is good water to each paddock and plenty of shelter and windbreaks for the stock.
the place is stocked with black angus cattle in excellent condition, thanks to Daryl's farming knowhow, plus his patience and understanding of all things that move.

He has a large number of breeding stock with calves afoot, and weaners which will soon be ready to go to market
He is currently using black angus bulls to sire the cows.
there were previously limousen, bulls but he found they bred huge calves, giving rise to  birth problems
I love working out here. The freedom, the fresh air, the scenery, the cattle, the things I learn.

 

The property is kept in good condition with nice buildings and good fencing and the30 km of electric fencing keeps the cattle where they should be,.
Last wednesday,  the wind started before sunup, By 9am it was gusting to 80km /h and the weather turned really hot.  I mean about 39oC, giving rise to perfect conditions for bushfires. After lunch the wind increased to 100km/h and gusting to 120.
Our best vantage point to watch for fires was the highest place on the farm which is where the hayshed is and we had to make several trpis to keep lookout, The wind was blowing so hard that we could barely keep our feet.
Mid afternoon I was outside the machinery shed looking back to the rear of the farm through the trees when I saw a sight which horrified me. A haze which looked very much like SMOKE!
I called Daryl and he came running,took one look and said "lets go to the hayshed."
Sure enough there was plumes of thick black smoke coming from behind the hill to the east of Crookwell.
The direction of the wind meant that the fire should pass behind us, but a windshift could put us right in it's path.
Daryl had already moved all the mobs of cattle up to the paddocks near the house as these didn't have as much grass in them and would not support a fire as well.
We fetched a water tank and fire pump to wet down the bus if it was needed, and Daryl turned the sprinklers on the house shrubbery.
There was a lot at stake so it was a worrying time and we spent a few anxious hours watching and waiting.
Late in the afternoon when the wind had lessened a bit we went up to the hayshed and it was with some relief that we saw the fire had passed behind us and the smoke had abated.
Very soon after, a cool change sprang up and  dark clouds began to mass.

Christmas Day

It's nearly 8.00pm so most of December 25th  2012 is gone, but there is still time for us to wish you all A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
 We spent christmas with our hosts Darryl and Colleen at their house and it was a very relaxed and happy time, despite the weather.

 

 



Crookwell for Xmas

Aah no more dramas on the way.
Stayed a night in Wagga Wagga at a rest area by the river. This is a neatly mowed area of about 5 acres with a few trees, some hills and hollows and a track through the centre. It has a nice new ablution block and water from a tap. Heaps of campers stay there in everything from tents to buses.
I really wanted to spend a few days in Wagga to have a good look around, but time was pressing and we had to go.
It was really good to reach Goulburn on Sunday and then on to a cattle station managed by Daryll and Colleen where we will stay in the bus over Xmas.
the temperature is a bit of a cultureshock, after 40o + temperatures in the centre and now down  into the low 20s
Monday saw Maureen have a day at the doctors ..... all day.....and pretty much got an all clear, Yaah!
Heaps of stuff to do here. Maintainance on our house at Crookwell, the bus lights need attention and there is much to do on our other bus to get it ready for sale.
Mollie loves this place. She pretty much has the run of it, so we have put her in charge of rounding up the hares and rabbits!

Have spent my first few days here detailing the car after all the red dirt we went through up there.

Home at last

It was great to arrive at  the property that Daryl and Colleen manage.
We love staying here, its so peaceful and quiet, yet central to everything that we have to do while we are here.
This is a great property.It has good soil, is well grassed, has abundant water and excellent infrastructure.

Theres nothing I like better than to sit on their back verandah looking over the hedge at the symmetry of the lone eucalypt, so straight and strong and watch the cattle graze in the afternoon light.

December (life after Alice)

At last we brushed the dust off our shoes, heading south into a stiff headwind.
The plan was to make for Goulburn at flank speed so Maureen could keep her appointment with the specialist in Sydney on 17th Dec.
We left on Thursday after lunch and all went well until Friday afternoon when the tront left tyre blew out  nearly pulling us through a bridge railingand into a dry creek bed about 12 feet below. It took 3 hours to change the wheel. We were thankful for assistance of railway gangers who put the blown tyre and wheel in the back of the Suzuki.
 fellow travellers Dave and Karen also in a Denning stopped to help which was fantastic and they looked after us until we got to Port Augusta. They were a godsend and went above and beyond  for us.
I bought 2 new steer tyres at Port Augusta.
We set out for Renmark and Mildura and got nearly to the hamlet of Spalding when the engine lost power and stopped!! We had run out of fuel. I hadn't taken the headwind into account.

We were parked on a narrow road with fences close and on the upside of a hill with the left wheels in a  gutter so the bus was sitting with the left rear canted down at a fair angle. Decided it was too dangerous to sleep in the bus in it's position plus the angle it was on would have made sleeping a problem.
Booked into this really cute pub in Spalding. It was a very old long low stone building with walls about a foot thick Although it was fairly original there had been a lot of renovation work done on it recently, so although the rooms were "basic old"they were freshly painted and comfortable.
The second night we were there, they were having their "monthly social" which was Bingo and supper afterwards ( Maureen says "it was bingo like I've never seen it played before I tell you" ) but she really enjoyed herself.
 After 2 nights staying in the pub and many calls to the mechanic in Adelaide who tried to get us going over the phone with much wrestling with the engine, it was decided he should come up here.... but not until this afternoon. Hope all goes okay.... time will tell.

This is Bruce Donaldson who did the inchassis rebuild on the engine. He provided one of the most pleasant transactions I have ever had. We were able to live in our bus in his yard for 10 days while he did the rebuild and nothing was too much trouble. So if you need your detrioit motor fixed, just ask and I will give you his details.

November

Well, Maureen has a new pacemaker at last! But what a stuffup.
Had to fly to Adelaide to have the job done
We were booked on the plane and our accomodation was booked in the visitors quarters in Royal adelaide Hospital, but someone forgot to book the operating theatre for her operation.
When we got on the plane we were seated one behind the other.
On arriving at the accomodation, the rooms were good... but...the kitchen was locked, and the (only) key kept in the reception  2 floors down which had to be signed out. Not that it did it much good as there was nothing in the kitchen, no crockery, no cutlery, no cups, nothing! Maureen had her op on Friday afternoon but when they opened her up to change the pacemaker, they found that it was a 3 lead pacemaker, something they had apparently never encountered and did not have a replacement for, so they took her old one out and put in a temporary 2 lead pacemaker until they could get one from Sydney on Monday!!
Meanwhile, we were told that there were no beds available for her to rest over the weekend so she had to return to the accomodation with a partly functioning appliance. This gave me a bit of time to  look around the city, so I had a look at the museum

The proper one was installed on Monday which necessitated her being opened up twice making the site very sore.
She was released on Tuesday, too late for us to catch a plane so we caught Wednesdays flight.
Oh, and  a moment of panic at the airport. When we were checking in, the clerk enquired about Maureens' operation and when told what it was, informed us that it was considered as a major operation and that Qantas policy was that there was a ban on patients of major ops from flying their airline for 10 days.
A phone enquiry by her cleared up that it was not a major op.
Alls well that ends well I suppose.
A week prior to us leaving for Adelaide, Mollie came into season so we arranged for her to stay at the local RSPCA kennels while we were away
Imagine our dismay when we got home one week later to find that she was no longer on heat. At first we thought that she had been let run  with another dog, but after another week, she came back into season so with much relief, we put it down to her suffering from separation anxiety.

October

My recaltricance just doesn't improve. Had to blow the dust off the programme before I could open it.
However, we are still at Heavitree Gap and Maureen is feeling very pleased with herselfas she has now shed 20 kg at weightwatchersand has achieved her goal weight.
Since I was last here, the weather has turned from decidedly cold mornings to decidedly hot days.
first we had 155 days straight without rain and when it did we got 20mm, thenwe have had 3 weeks of 39o temperatures...... but after all This is "the Alice"
In January they began a cash for cans scheme. The exercise alone that I got from doing this was worthwhile without the pocket money.
But everything has it's down side. We were wandering in the bush near one of the communities when I got my feet caught in a loop of wire, swivelled aroud trying to free myself and fell onto my left hip, breaking the point off it. Cant do anything for it, just has to knit by itself.The doctor says 6 weeks for the pain to stop and 3 months to heal.
I met a man named Howard who had lived in Sydney and worked as a bookeeper, but went blind in the mid eighties,now he sits in his back yard all day and scratches in the dirt with a stick
For some reason I was reminded of a book that my 5th class teacher read to us called "Children Of The Dark People", about 2 abo Kids who get lost and find their way home.
I did a search for the book and found one in Byron Bay (second hand as it has been out of prinf for a very long time)I biought it online and that was instant, but it took 3 weeks for it to reach me by post!
Anyway I have promised him That I will read it to him, then maybe post it on to my sons' children.
Only since being in Alice have I begun to realise the enormity of the problems facing the Australia as a whole with regard to the aboriginies. The government (of whatever persuasion) hands them near $1000 a fortnight "sit down money don't know how to use it and have nothing else to do so they buy grog.
 Picked up cans from one place last after a weekend party. There was 35 empty VB block cartons  which equates to 1050 cans or in money terms $2100.
I would estimate that half of these people are alcoholics, and could go on with many other statistics which all add up to involuntary genocide.

June 2012

After over 12 months at the Transport Hall of Fame we decided to move on.
We scouted the van parks and settled on "Heavitree Gap".It sits in the shadow of the MacDonnell range right beside the river at "The Gap". It is a multi function facility with a motel, Caravan park, entertainment complex, tavern and store. It is quiet and at just 3 km from town, it really suits.
Think we may be here until late this year as Maureen is waiting for her new battery ( no bad jokes pls. )and I am having dental work done.
Still bloody cold round here. Some mornings my fingers near freeze early in the mornings.
Had a lucky escape 2 weeks ago when a clown in a medium sized truck on the wrong side of the road sideswiped the car... said "the sun was in my eyes". Going to need a new grille, bumper, mudguard and headlight
oh well, could have been much worse.

May 2012

In December last year, Maureen took the bold step of joining weightwatchers, so to be supportive I went along and joined also. Since then, she has travelled an allbeit bumpy but mostly downhill road toward slimness. After some weeks I realised that for most of my life I had been living in denial about my weight.( More of this to come)
In order to gain excercise, I needed to walk, but found hour after hour of that irksome, so as I have always had an interest in recycling, I began picking up aluminium cans. A profitable decision.
The weather has soured somewhat and instead of a mild winter like we had last year the wind has a cutting chill.
Maureens' pacemaker battery is coming to the end of it's life and will need replacing soon, so the medical system here is sending her to Adelaide near the end of this year to have it done.
She got a scratch on her leg and one afternoon at happy hour Mollie (our dog)was trying to lick it. Maureen instinctively pushed it away, but one of the other people there argued that dogs have a built in antisceptic in their saliva. He was joined by his wife and one other person who all said the same thing,. So against her better judgement, Maureen allowed the leg licking.
Two weeks later, a rash appeared on her leg in roughly the shape of a question mark.  It was joined by another adjacent to it.
Then both rashes began to move slowly round her leg and the itch followed.
I thought it may be a parasite.
The doctor diagnosed it as an alergy and prescribed accordingly. When it didn't heal we went to the hospital but they were at a loss as to what it was.
Went back to the doctor after some weeks and after some pressing by us, he had an epiphany and wanted to check his medical books
A week later he had not yet read up on it but with further nudging we came back a few days later, whereupon he pronounced it to be a parasite from dog faeces!!!

April 2012

It's been a long time since my last entry, and even now I find it difficult to wrtite.
shortly after we arrived, another volunteer named John Dods, a 74 y.o. divorcee in a ute and caravan turned up.
A likeable fellow, he was very clever with his hands and soon settled into mechanical repairs. We became friends and began going to Garage sales together. Problem was he was a talkative kiwi and if he picked up any trace of an accent or any other excuse, he would stop for a chat, so we never got very far.
On a Saturday in late March he began to mention that he was not feeling well after a hot day on the tractor and slasher and put it down to heat stroke, but he didn't improve. On the Saturday evening, I said I  should take him  to hospital to which he readily agreed. but a doctor checked him out and pronounced him to be in  good health. The following Tuesday he was having dinner when a valve in his heart blew out and he fell down dead.
His relatives came from Brisbane and N.Z. and stayed for a week to make arrangements and have the funeral
Liz Martin the CEO here did everything she could to make their stay comfortable, arranging a memorial service and a Saturday night dinner,as well as giving them accomodation and the run of the place.
well, fortunately Mollie isn't in pup!  HOORAY
Although Maureen has been keeping fairly good health her weight is still a reason for some concern, so we decided to give weightwatchers a shot. Early signs are that it is working as we have both lost weight.
We took a few days and travelled  out to the West Macdonnell Ranges where there is some stunning scenery. Stayed at "The Glen Helen Resort" which is the remnants of a big old cattle station. The accomodation was basic but clean and comfortable. The food was very good and plenty of it.
The second night we pitched our tent in  their caravan park (a new experience for Maureen) We had a great time.

March at "the Alice"

The weather has cooled to a balmy 30o or thereabouts most days and the nights have settled round 15o.
As it is not yet reached the busy season here, there is still not a lot of work to do, but we are filling our minds with plans of moving on. We have both been shedding some of the "stuff'" that accumulated over the last 8 months.
Maureen is pretty muich over the moon tonight as I surprised her with a new washing machine today. She was complaining of flu like symptoms but looks like it disappeared as soon as I told her about the washer.
Mollie, our little staffie pup is now 8 months old, has been through her first season and looks like she is in pup to the neighbours dog. Thankfully is is only a very small animal.  Actually I think it must have stood on a milk crate!
But seriously, We wanted to avoid her having pups until she was fully grown. Not a lot we can really do about it now.

February 2006

Can't believe how long we've been here....... arrived on 13th June last. Seen and done so much.
Had a small function in the Ghan tearooms for Xmas day together with the other volunteers that were still here. (about 10 of us)
The newest Kenworth prime mover was delivered early this year and has taken it's place with all the others in their pavillion.
They were also gifted several old trucks from various donors.
A beginning has been made on a new paviullion at the rear of the cmplex which will measure 60m x 40m
Our week in Hong Kong has come and gone. We had a great time, not long enough but srtill a relief to get home where there is some space between people!
We flew to Melbourne on 7th Feb and waited 8 hours for a connection to Singapore, with only enough time to walk from one end of the airport to the other before we left for HKG,
On arriving at the hotel (the selection of which I had put a lot of research into) we were shown to our  room after a story about it being a belated honeymoon gained us a bigger bed on the8th floor and a bottle of champagne,

After Maureen had unpacked, I returned to the reception and returned with a booking for a a suite on the 29th floor.... I thought she would be happy,
The view from our new room helped mollify her somewhat,
we were surprised at the cleanliness and development of the place with a new state of the art underground rail system, all modern double decker buses and almost no traffic jams
The place was sooo clean considering a population of 7 million.
Disneyland was good with the grand parade spectacular. Access to the park is by it's own rail link and the carriages are decorated with mickey mouse figures.
Went on a conducted bus tour to "The Peak", a mountain behind the city from which the view is fabulous.
Each day brought it's own adventure and we were kept busy day and night
Maureen scored a new watch and I got an Iphone and camera.
Met up with an irishman named Ronan and his friend Janet who were staying at the same hotel. Sure made a fun time ofv breakfast and dinner.
One night .Ronan, Janet and their friend Tony came up for  a party in our room and then decided at 1pm that we were hungry so went out for  yum cha.
The return legs to Singapore and Sydney were by A380 for the first one we were seated on the top floor and the second, the bottom floor. The plane was so quiet we could pretty much only hear the wind rushing over the fuselage
Stayed overnight with Lachlan at Cronulla. Must say the cool sea air was good.
Was very impressed to see Lachlans physical improvement, the result of a 10 week boot camp as he wants to take on Kokoda in April.
Home at last to dust and 42oC temps.

December

Getting close to Christmas and there are very few people coming through the facility. The days are mostly hot  (up to 40o) but with dips to 23o rain threatens often gut produces very little most of the time.
Had a dust storm a couple of days ago but lucky for us the wind changed and blew it north so we only got the edge of it . Still put a layer of red talcum powder all over and inside the bus.

Don't know how I missed telling you about our new puppy.Before we found Mollie, we had previously looked at a litter of thoroughbred  Staffordshire Terriers and had seen one that Maureen really liked, but had rejected it due to cost. However, a few weeks after we lost her, the kennel owner rang us saying that we could have the dog at a fraction of the price. We had decided to wait until February when we returned from Hong Kong but it was too good to pass up. So now we are proud parents to a very lively staffie pup named ............Mollie.
A couple of long term volunteers by name of Colin and Moira are getting ready to leave next week and we will really miss them as they have been really good company.
Thankfully I still have "JD" to hang out with. He's an old Kiwi with a glint in his eye and a story for every occasion.

November / December

During the last 2 months we have had an epidemic of bushfires mostly caused by hoons with firecrackers and "black lightning" although a few were ligitimate lightning strikes. Fortunately most of the country is low grass and scrub so the fires though bad enough, weren't as destructive as in heavily timbered country but the fires were huge in scope, some were on a 35km front. Last summers' heavy rain had made the grass grow much more than usual and it had died off. In the end they brought in firefighters from interstate and some of the culprits were caught and punished so the problem seems to have gone away.
It is with much sadness that I must report that the little dog whbich wormed its way into our hearts is no more. She got into my medication and died.
I was asked to be the tour guide for Hall of Fame. I have met so many interesting people people and I have learnt so much about trucks. Most of the tours are from Ghan train  passengers together with tourists staying at hotels and schoolchildren both local and remote.
Had some trouble walking and the Doctor recommended a podiatrist who fitted me with orthotics for my shoes. Left foot has been great but right one is almost crippling! Had about 6 lots of acupuncture but doesn't seem to work.
Life here is still great, we both love it
Maureen got a bee in her bonnet about going to Hong Kong and  once she got a glimmer of agreement from me she was like a dog with a bone.... I didn't know she was this tenacious. Think I will hire her out  as an event organiser.
We leave in early February.

October / November

Most of the other volunteers have left  as the temperature has risen sharply to average round the mid to high thirties. The pace of life slows here so it isn't so tough.
Rocky arrived yesterday in his old Leyland with his dog "Ned." Ned has to be the biggest dog I have ever seen! He weighs over 80 kg and is under 2 years old. He's  a huge  gangley slobbering mutt. When I went to pat him he put his mouth over my arm (which worried me a bit)
Last week the papers reported an incident where police stopped A car being driven by a 13 year old towing a dead donkey. On the back seat they found A .22 rifle, a shotgun and a high powered .243 rifle.
He must have been taking the donkey home for the tribe to eat.

Alice Springs - September / October

Have settled into "Alice" and seen a lot of the natural sights like Palm Valley,Trephena Gorge, Simpsons Gap , Standley Chasm, The Macdonnell Ranges, Desert Park.
Were lucky enough to be here when the annual "Henley-on Todd" dry river races were on. What a spectacle!

The yearly reunion at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame has happened and 84 veterans of the  road transport industry were inducted

We have had to endure 10 weeks of idyllic daytime temperatures between 21o- 30o with such low humidity it's very nice.
Have just taken delivery of the newest member of our family.

World ........Meet Mollie

Since we arrived here on the 14th June I dont believe we have had a day without bushfires (a legacy of the prolific growth of low foliage from last years heavy rains) Mostly started by lightening, black lightening and young idiots

The smoke has been so thick for the last few days that Maureen has had trouble sleeping.

This is because of a large blaze to the west of Alice which is tonight on top of the West Macdonnell range.  As the town is in a depression, today it was filled with thick acrid smoke and the hospital has been kept busy with patienrts with breathing difficuilties.

We are about 10 km sou/sou/east from it and the wind is blowing it towards us. Every time the gusts of wind pick up, we can see the flames dance high into the air. 

Will set the alarm for 2am to check on it.

 

Alice Springs June - July

After camping one night at "the rock" turnoff, some 200km back, and about a million mice, we set sail for "The Alice"
It was about this time that I stepped on my computer. This is why my blog is so far behind.
The weather is very much on the improve with near zero mornings but 20oC days
On the way into town we went straight to the truck museum, where, as we had been told, we could stay for at least a month for only the cost of our electricity use as long as we worked 10 hours a week eack
We had just finished makin enquiries and had turned to go to the bus and Maureen tripped and fell on a raised paver in the path. As she went down her head hit the bricks and her glasses cut through her eyebrow causing a nasty gash which required 5 stitches.

Since I last wrote, We had camera trouble, I stood on the laptop, breaking the screen, rending it useless and I had motivation problems, so this pretty much brought my blog writing to a standstill.
It wasn't until I bought a new computer and  received a severe phone castigation from Alan T. that I managed to pick up the thread.
On arrival at "The Alice" we went straight to The Road Transport Hall of Fame about 8 km south of town just off the highway where we understood that in exchange for 20 hours volunteer work per week and paying our own electricity, we could camp on the grounds.
This facility is really huge. It incorporates the Ghan Museum which details the history of the old train that used to run to Alice.
The truck section contains pretty much every truck ever made in one form or another
The original first road train in the world(an Australian invention)
A pavillion containing only Kenworths
A shed of Macks
Ford model "T"s
Heaps of rare vehicles and engines
plus 8 rooms of "walls of fame"
We had met John and Suzanne at Port Augusta  and they arrived the same time we did.
Teamed up with them to explore East and West Macdonnell Ranges.
We were in awe of the landscape all round the town.
visiting such places as Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Herrmansberg, Palm Valley, Emily Gap, Jessie Gap is all I can think of just now
The town itself is about 30,000 people,very prosperous and has a high cost of living. It has most of the large stores and good facilities.
There is a big number of aborigines here and to us it may appear that they look pretty hopeless. The alcohol problem is bad as it is the cause of a lot of domestic violence. 4 litre wine casks are banned from sale and there are a lot of other regulations covering sale of alcohol.
Maureen is set up with clerical work and manning the front desk, while I have been making ladders for top bunks for sleeper car carriages which were converted into B&Bs
Since our arrival, we have been treated to visits from Noel and Beverly, Ian and Sue, Steph and Duff and Daryl and Coleen who stayed 3 days.
I would like to give rave reviews on the local bakery as their stuff looked sensational but at $4 each, there was no way I was going near their vanilla slices.
Can't download pix from camera to new computer yet . Think it's lacking software but I promise to try to remedy that Alan.

the Olgas



Millions of years ago The Olgas may have been shaped like Uluru but as the stone is much softer, it has broken into pieces and looks like a giant hand slung things everywhere.
I feel that they are  visually much more stunning than the rock and I undertook the 7.8km walk through them, much to my sorrow as it was for the most part a grueling trek, but I wouldn't have missed it.

Ayres Rock

Maureen was worried about the border quarantine inspection as we had lost so much fruit and vegetables going into S.A.  and we had been warned about how ruthless the inspectors were, so she was meticulous about having nothing that could be confiscated, however there was noone to inspect us when we went through the check point.
Arrived at a rest area 30 km short of "TheRock" on Tuesday afternoon where we hooked up with Don and Pat, Jean and tony plus Stan and Noela, whom we had met at Port Augusta together with John and Suzanne. Noel and Bev were parked about 100km back at Clinton Springs (where diesel was $2.20 a litre)  and joined us next day
We camped 30km short of the rock at a rest area where there is a hill which is a good vantage point to see it.

It had been raining all the way from Coober Pedy but eased in the afternoon and we were having happy hour when Don mentioned that it was raining in the national park. Maureen immediately wanted to see water on the rock so we set out post haste and sure enough there were streams cascading down it.

Have seen many pictures of the rock but there is no substitute for looking at it.
The huge monolith towers over you dominating and almost threatening. everyone agreed it was a bit eery.
Looked at the climb track and decided it was not for us so we drove round it.