Exceed Jul/Aug 2020 - 4WD Club Magazine Volume #37 Issue #4 | Page 44

TRIP REPORTS took photos. Toilet block had been spruced up with a soap dispenser and hand dryer I think due to Covid-19. Time to go so headed off down the highway to meet Peter and the rest of the group at the Willa turn off. No actual town at Willa. We met up with the group, as they had been motoring almost no stop since Melbourne, we decided to have lunch before we headed off into the National Park. Lunch completed, we headed off into the NP to our camping area. As the track was quite an easy track except for a couple of sandy corners we decided leave our tires as they were and to put it in 4WD when required, the Pajero’s selected all-wheel drive and no one had problems even though most were towing campers. We arrived at camp and it wasn’t long before everyone was set up and the fire was going again, thanks to Rod and Charlie. A few more groups had arrived at the camping area while we were away but still well spread out and the area was not full. We went for a short drive around the area collecting some fire wood on the way back, I noticed an area that had Mallee roots lying around beside the track. Picked up as many as I could fit in the foot well of the passenger seat, they really do burn well once alight. continued around the edge of the park and headed for the Rabbit Hunters Hut. The Hut has been restored recently by the local Massey Ferguson Tractor Club. They did a really great job. Decided to have lunch there and relax for ½ an hour or so. After lunch we headed off to the O’Sullivan’s Pine Plains Lodge which was shown on the map. What a great place to stay if you didn’t want to bush camp. They have rooms with a main dining area and kitchen, or you can camp in the area around the lodge and use the facilities. After a look around, (very friendly owner) we headed off towards camp stopping along the way to pick up some more fire wood arriving back in time for happy hour. Monday 8 th June Freezing cold morning with ice on the canvas but it didn’t take long for the fire to get going and the coffee to be ready. Once we had finished breakfast we packed up and got ready to leave. The plan was to go to Patchewollock to take photos of the silo and then head back towards Melbourne along the silo trail. Sunday 7 th June A lazy start and after everyone had completed breakfast, etc, we gathered around the camp fire table and decided on the days driving trip around the park. We all moved off and headed towards O’Sullivan Look Out. After stopping at a couple sites we parked at the bottom of the walk way and all walked up to the summit of O’Sullivan look out What a great 360 degree view. Beautiful day cold but sunny. After gaining our breath back and taking some photos, we all returned to the vehicles. We