Some of the Jeep Club members took Friday off and had a leisurely drive to Jakkals Kloof just outside Redlingshuys. The rest arrived just as it was getting dark. It was hot 40 degrees in the shade, while we all set up camp and enjoyed our refreshments.

We all gathered around the Boma for a dinner and conversation about work, jeeps, and the route planned for the next day.

The next morning we all signed indemnity forms with Izak and Marinda the owners of Jakkals Kloof and eleven Jeeps set off on the trail. The morning trail was mainly sand with a few river crossings; we all set our tyres to 1bar.

We reached the first obstacle a steep river crossing and then a sharp right, back across the river. All made it safely and then for the second obstacle a horse shoe down to the river and back up the embankment. All five Jeeps that tried it successfully made the obstacle with only Johann needing to re-inflate his left front tyre as sand had penetrated between the tyre and rim.

 

The next three Grade four obstacles we bypassed as three Landcruisers and a Patrol where making heavy work of the obstacles ahead. So we jumped a head through the escape route and continued following the river. We all successfully did the dune hill even stopped half way and tested all the Jeeps drivers to their limit. All made it up without incident.

 

We then made our way to the lookout point and had a quick bite in the sweltering heat, we could see Elands Baai from this point.

The group slowly made their way back to the campsite to cool off in the swimming pool.

In the afternoon just before sundown we decided to drive the route behind the Campsite with guidance from Mark and Vaughn. Both wanting a challenge told us it was a gentle sundown drive and proceeded to take us through the route starting from the wrong direction. This was a rock section and all drove with utmost care and awareness to the loose rocks and sharp sides around their vehicles. As the sun was going down we made it to the top and safely returned to the campsite. The drinks we had on return were needed to calm our nerves from what was meant to be a sundown drive (anything BUT).

Saturday evening we all gathered around the fire at the Boma and got to know one another a little better. The day’s events had us all hitting the sack early that night.

 

Sunday morning some of the members left by 8am as they had other commitments, three of us stayed behind to drive the grade 4 river section we had missed the day before. The 2 dr Rubicon handled everything she came across. I managed to stall her on the horseshoe obstacle and could practice a hill start with a manual. “Only driven auto to date”. Mark required a winch recovery while choosing a more aggressive line through the river.   The rest of the river was pure fun and we all exited without further incident. Though we could have been horribly stuck on route if Vanessa had not pointed out how deep the mud was when she sank knee deep in it at the exit point. We safely recovered her and her shoes.

A big thank you to all those who joined in for the weekend and look forward to seeing you at the next outing.

Craig Parsons

Jeep Club Western Cape