After aborted attempts, over 12 months to do our first trip we finally arrived for the Portland sand dunes weekend. This was our first drive in the sand so were really looking forward to it. Arriving Friday early afternoon and set up out van and were all ready to go. Barry and Ed asked if we would like to go out on the sand a have a drive around as not many members had arrived, so after a few instructions off we went Barry & Ed lead the way around through the sand dunes a although we were very nervous we both ended up driving around, up, down and through sand dunes – what great fun. We spend about an hour driving around and then back to camp.
On Saturday we joined in the beginners group and after about 2 hours with both of us taking turns to drive, we really started to get the “hang” of it. On the way back to camp – Disaster! We bottomed out before taking on quite a large and steep dune. Trying to get our speed up and a bit too early we hit a dip before the climb. Luckily we were able to limp back to camp before realising the damage. Bash plate gone, radiator broken, oil filter damaged – car (Pajero Sports) un-driveable.
Everyone around the camp has been very, very supportive to us and we really can’t thank people enough for the offers of lifts, even an offer to tow our camper back to Melbourne, and people making room to take us back out onto the sand as passengers so we could enjoy the rest of the weekend activities.
Next step is waiting for our Pajero Sport and Camper to be flat bedded to Warrnambool and the insurance assessors to assess the damage – well that’s going to be another story.
Thanks to all.
Rick and Di Law 1822
pajeroclub.com.au
Vol 35 No.2 - Mar/Apr 2018
63