Stadia Trip
9th October 2010 as told by Jeff Clarke

Couple of tiny showers, but otherwise a nice sunny day greeted us in the Coromandel.


Onwards up the trail we went. Initially the trail was that of dozed clay.


Shortly we were found to be circumventing a concrete tree (apparently not to be confused with a concrete plant).

 
Along the way Jocelyn impressed us with the skill at which she commanded her divining stick to locate water.
 
 
The track grew stickier as can be seen by the large lumps of clay flying from Martins tyres. Spot any sign of tread?

   
The track also got steeper with a few holes to winch through.
 

Then at the end of this “Formed” track was a nesting pair of concrete trees.

(In the distance could be seen “The Pinnacles'” for those of us who have climbed to the top to see both the firth of Thames and the East Coast).

 
These trees seemed to be tied by some kind of umbilical cord.
This gave Steve something to think seriously about (just check the expression)




Further on we found a small pond where the track had once been.
This we turned into a scale model of Huka Falls.
Turned out that although deep the bottom was as hard as that of a Rhinoceros.



Some valleys required winching up out of. Steve managed to luck out with weight, wheel track, angle and location to be able to traverse this one with driving only.
 
 
 
One of these holes saw Jeff being over cautious and getting stuck trying to get INTO the hole.


Couldn’t go forwards, couldn’t go backwards and no where near up the other side like all others had been.

At this point I’m sure Steve is thinking this to be a good candidate for the dipstick award, but seriously come on let someone else have a go with this award please.


It wasn’t long after this that the track turned real nasty. It had been dug down over the years leaving a toboggan run with metre high walls of solid clay.
Martin attacked this with gusto only to find his steel box was treated no better than the steel ball of a pinball machine. The noises heard by all we far less exhilarating (as you will be able to testify to once you have heard the video clip found here - turn up the volume).


For his efforts Martin’s truck was rewarded with a bashed in mirror which in turn pushed the door panel in and exploded the window in Martins lap!
 
The next victim of this hill was Steve who got beached on the very rock that had caused most of Martins misfortune. Not realising that while the engine was spinning hard the tyres were not. A pungent cloud of smoke engulfed the area as the clutch lost the bulk of it’s effectiveness (apparently they run on smoke and if this escapes they stop working).
 
With Steve’s truck blocking the way Jeff was unable to make an attempt at the hill. Ok so Jeff was in truth relieved by this, not welcoming the prospect of imminent carnage.    


Ross and Dianne working to avoid sliding down into a small lake.

So Jeff and Steve jumped in with Martin and Jocelyn the next part.
Jeff was fortunate to be ridding shotgun a found the leather clad Jesus bar both luxurious and practical as it allowed one to really dig their nails in. For example when the truck came perilously close to parking itself in the below culvert (hey it’s worse than the picture looks).


Ross inspecting the collapsing culvert made from old tree trunks.

A quick stop for a late lunch before inspecting the track ahead. This turned out to be a skyward pointing bunch up pot holes. The consensus was that it was too late in the day for this type of exercise.

So a hurtle down to track to collect the other vehicles of which Steves had enough clutch for the downhill run.
Loading up and on home for dinner.
 
Again another great day, thanks to all the players.