EXCEED MAY 2017 May_Emag | Page 53

TRIP REPORT
SUNDAY - 16th April
The Easter Bunny had been and there were eggs everywhere. Billy and Charlee managed to collect something like 40
each ! Megan tells the story of the day’s travels because someone lost their drone ….
We woke with the excitement of Billy & Charlee finding that the Easter Bunny had found them, not only had he left a
Large Bunny on their camp beds, but little eggs all around the camper ... collection was quick! Easter Eggs were also
shared amongst the big kids  and let me assure you the bunny had been busy hopping all around the camp.
Today’s plan was for a short drive to be back for some of us to prepare for Sunday Roast dinners, so on the move
around 9am, we headed out Mount Crozier Rd towards Underbool Track ....looking for Campbell Tank we discovered
Easter Bunny Tracks & droppings but no tank! Turned onto Nowingi Line Track ..... no major obstacles on these
tracks, we verged left towards Rocket Lake. Rocket Lake is a dry salt lake, but it didn’t look salty like the pink lakes we
had seen the day before. It was covered with small scrub.
We stopped just before the camping area to find the “Rocket Launch” geocache, great views from the top of the hill.
The geocache was located, much to the thrill of Billy & Charlee and after completing the geocache swap we headed to
the campground area for a morning tea. From here we continued on Rocket Lake track to Midnight Tank Intersection
with our Charlee doing a great job of being tail end Charlie and “turning right” and again at Henschke Track.
We found the Ochre Pits and made a quick stop to check them out. It was then onto the Gypsum Mine Hopper for
lunch.
Time had ticked away and it was decided to head back to camp to give us time to do the camp oven roasts. Toby
decided to get some drone footage of the cars travelling the track! Launching the drone from the Hopper we rolled
out ..... all was going to plan & we pulled up to stop filming and pack away the drone ..... but it had different plans.
Due to low battery and operator dis-orientation, frantic messages were made over the radio ...... “the drone is lost”.
Everyone pulled up, Jan & Mike and Toby & myself retraced our steps looking for the drone ...... Jan & Mike headed
back to the Hopper and were the deliverers of good news - “the drone had returned to home (its last fixed position)”.
Lucky it was smarter than its operator! {RR: Toby, there had better be some great footage in the presentation}.
Relived, and grateful that we didn’t need to begin searching in salt bush, we headed back to camp via Mopoke Track /
Honeymoon Hut Track & Mt Crozier Track.
Dinner preparations were soon under way. Some headed up to the top of Mt Crozier (196 steps) to find another
geocache and in a fantastic sunset .... another great day!
Meanwhile, back at camp the fire was going, the lamb & turkey were cooking and fivesees appeared.
Once the climbers returned it was time for the Easter bonnet parade and everyone had come prepared. :) There were
indeed some very creative Easter headwear and dress-ups. Thanks to everyone for making it such a great and fun
evening.
And the roasts …. a great way to finish the day, with a glass of red, under a universe of stars and a great campfire. And
by the way, congratulations to Jan who wore Easter bunny ears ALL day :)
Megan Corbett (1532)
Easter Bonnet Parade
While the meats were happily roasting everyone was fully entrenched in fivesees and discussing the day’s events
around the glowing campfire.
The long awaited Easter Bonnet Parade was announced so off we went to adorn ourselves.
Mr and Mrs Bunny Reed were our judges, as always a special individual category (12 in all) was announced and the
winner hopped up to receive their foiled Easter egg and pose for their photo shot.
The bonnets were a great display and ranged from ears to a farmyard to even a pirate bunny !
Charlee excitedly dressed as a pink princess bunny and Billy as Kylo-ren (Mr Star Wars :))
With the parade over it was time to sit for our communal dinner along the long table.
Jan Loton (1151)
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Vol 34 No. 4 -May 2017