Bents Basin Camping and Car Rally Weekend
we raised $210 for care flight from the car rally run in September 2010, well done Kevin & Ellen
Bents Basin Camping and Car Rally Weekend
11th & 12 September 2010
Saturday Attendees : Sunday Attendees:
Kevin & Ellen – Nissan & Van
Stefan & Madison - Pajero
Glen & Jel – Ford Ute & Van Bolding family -
Jackeroo
Mick & Charm – Toyota & Van Ritchie family - Jeep Cherokee
Colin & Renate – Toni & Van Steve Bushell – Jeep
Pete & Gloria – Nissan & Camper Phil & Carol - Toyota
Trip report from the camping perspective:
Glen and I haven’t been on a Rare Breed camping trip for a little while and through excitement we arrived at Bents Basin gates Saturday 7.55am, thankfully the gate code number provided worked to enter the park.
Glen and I haven’t visited Bents Basin before and what a great spot & close to home. We soon found the designated preferred Rare Breed camp spot as circled by Ellen on my map, we started to set up only to find the next lot of Rare Breeders arriving, Mick & Charm, closely followed by Kevin & Ellen and Col & Renate.
After many chit chats, ample cups of tea, claiming the designated camp fire ring, we wondered off on a little bush walk through the park and onto the Basin & rapids. Unfortunately we startled mother duck and babies on the Basin’s waters edge and a chick was separated from mum and her brothers and sisters. After much deliberation and the men convincing me that mum duck and her chick will be re-united, we headed back to camp for lunch, more chit chat, cuppa’s, while Kev & Glen started the camp fire.
During the course of the afternoon Pete & Gloria arrived and soon enough so did happy hour, out came the nibblies along with alcohol. As the sun slowly set to the west which was pretty amazing, our friendly Ranger looked in on us and gave us a report the mum duck & chick were re-united, phew.
As the day went into night both Glen and Ellen kept to their reputations as fire bugs/fire keepers/fire watchers/fire stockers, after many laughs around the fire it was time to hit the sheets.
We woke to another beautiful day of blue sky and sunshine and those listed on the Sunday attendee’s list soon arrived one by one. Kevin soon sent the car rally participants on their merry way with instructions sheets in hand, meanwhile Ellen was busy preparing lunch together with her assistants. With tongs in hand, Mick & Charm on one BBQ cooking chicken schnitzel’s and Glen & I on the other, Kevin busy setting up tables & counting money from his family air loom a 100 year old leather money bag but soon enough the gang started trickling back.
Lunch was enjoyed by all sitting in the shaded area under the beautiful gum tree’s on the menu was chicken schnitzels, various salads, home made pumpkin scones, boiled baby potato’s & condiments. Desert was home made apple crumble and custard, tea & coffee
After prizes were awarded for the winners of the Rare Breed car rally and the best bush hat competition, the afternoon soon came to a close, it was a perfect weekend.
On behalf of those who attended the weekend, a big thank you to Ellen & Kevin for organising a very successful, fun filled weekend with a fantastic lunch, venue & car rally.
See you on the next trip,
Signing off, trip reporter Jel
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Rare Breed Car Rally (2010) – Bent’s Basin (Gary's report)
Firstly I apologise for the delay with this report.
The day started quite casually with flickering remnant of what must have been a cosy night by the fire. We grabbed a coffee while waiting for the last few to arrive as the clock approached ‘tee off’ time.
We were given our car number and as we were first cab off the rank, headed off as Stephan arrived with a passing wave. He was right on time.
First order of business was to procure the first clue a short distance up the road from camp. Deep thought was required – and thankfully some did give it a second thought!
The next clue sat as bold as brass in the centre of a lovely garden. I grunted the answer to Robyn as we trotted on past to our next sabbatical, the dead centre of the region, to find dated information now faded in time – was it a ‘3’ a ‘5’ or an ‘8’? We used the zoom on the camera and sure enough we ‘appeared’ to have the answer.
After acquiring information needed from a few chicks further along the road (should I mention they were 18?), we carried on in the “hope” that we “wood” establish what type of establishment it really was. We resorted to sending Caitlin in for a brochure.
In the footsteps of a famous explorer we crossed the Nepean River and reached Silverdale Road, when we realised that we had missed our last chance for a cup of water. So back we went to test the waters of “No Pee in River.” As we turned into the Reserve, Colin & Renate spotted us from the opposite side of the road. Like a mug, I held my cup tightly to my groin and made a bee-line down the steep embankment to the river’s edge. With all provisions now procured it was time to make up time as we would have to do time and again.
Above the ‘Chain’ wire fence we ‘saw’ it and at that moment realised that Bert, Michelle and the rest of the Bolding Gang had beaten us to it. He waved and as they disappeared up the road I heard a faint gruesome chuckle. No! Surely they hadn’t, but they must have, Bert had my number & I was left there without a clue. By adding up the adjoining pair and dividing by 2, the answer was not odd enough to be correct. We needed to catch Bert to see if his number was up.
Shooting right past the next clue we reversed back to check the mail. One had been removed leaving just a pole – had Bert been at it again?
The next 3 clues were pretty straight forward. At the old church I left nothing to chance. After all, I could not put it past Bert to switch a plaque or add a name or two. I clambered through the barbed wire fence and examined the memorial closely – more names on the back! Was this the edge I needed to beat Bert?
As we pulled into the car park alongside a Jackeroo with a large “Deer For Sale” sign on the roof racks, a couple of Creek signs and a four digit street number in the back, <joke> there was Bert. Used wine tasting cup in hand he meandered over and asked “so, how did you guys end up behind us?” I mentioned having to go back for water. Yes, he had missed that opportunity. Maybe karma, maybe he was just not that thirsty.
I stuck around just long enough to stave off my need for the product surrounding the grape press. Then in hot pursuit I was off, with Robyn yelling “Where’s the fire!”. Like a race car driver doing laps of Oran Park, till I realised it was all 50kph, the ‘S’ bends were actually ‘slow points’ and the pit signs were actually street names!
Back on the rural roads, surely there would be green bovine at Greenway Dairy. At first glance the answer was black & white. So where does flavoured milk come from?!!
With more questions than answers we filtered back into camp, …. But where was Bert???
Soon we were advised that Stefan had crossed the line in pursuit of his ‘Roadside Litter Challenge’ and was in negotiations with a fine group of young bike enthusiasts to bring back with him a slightly damaged Harley Davidson, This was surely going to beat my acquisition of plastic replacement parts for the Jeep (refer photo in Jel’s trip report).
Lunch was incredible! Dessert was amazing!... and the company as usual was exceptional with many hands assisting (your efforts have not gone unnoticed).
Outright winners of the Rare Breed CareFlight Car Rally for 2010: Gary & Robyn Ritchie
2nd Place: Bert & Michelle
3rd Place: Peter & Gloria
Best Roadside Litter: Gary & Robyn (refer photo)
Most Unusual Rock: Gary & Robyn (photo?)
Best Bush Hat: 1st Place Gloria (photo?)
Best Bush Hat: 2nd Place Colin
Special thanks to Kevin & Ellen for putting in the time & effort that made this a Rally great event.
Gary Ritchie
P.S. Apparently the winner gets the privilege of writing the trip report (Rally section) as well as organising the next years Rally. Really looking forward to the challenge!