29 May 2011 - Honingklip 4x4 Jeep Club Cape outing
Honingklip 4x4 Trip Report – 29 May 2011
It was overcast on Sunday morning as 20 Jeep Club members met up at the Engen One Stop on the N2 on route to Somerset West. It had rained all week and the Farmer of Honingklip - Richard Middelmann had informed me that the dams were filling up and we were in for some mud driving.
At 8.30am we had a quick drivers briefing covering travelling distance, lights on and travelling speed. Ian Newton offered to lead the group of Jeeps with Neil Muller riding in the back to ensure no one got lost.
The route was through Somerset West onto Kleinmond. The route was quite with minimal traffic as we maintained our convoy into the Farm.
Drivers paid the entrance fee, signed indemnity forms and reduced tyre pressure. Another drivers briefing was held to identify newbie’s and which vehicles had clearance restrictions like my Commander.
We all set off following one another as we wound our way to the play pit with Richard the farmer in the lead. The play ground is there for all drivers to warm up their skills before tackling the more difficult obstacles. What appeared easy suddenly turned into our first recovery of the day when Maurice slipped off the parallel logs and thanks to Ian and Neil was safely winched off and back onto solid ground.
With all the vehicles safely through the obstacles in the play ground we moved onto a well driven sand playground where all played in the sand. It is amazing to see how we men turn into youthful boys behind the wheel of our Jeeps when given sand to play in. Some attempted some more daring obstacles that gave all a great picture opportunity. Neil even managed to lose his hat out his passengers window with angle he was driving.
From the sand pit we slowly wound our way up the mountain side until we reached a small river crossing which didn’t look like much but was soon to turn out to be more challenging for the standard wranglers. Both Hernan and Brenda had their wranglers winched out by Neil and his Commander, to prevent damage to their vehicles. Then came the Jeep Extreme Team and what a spectacle they put on. Maurice managed to exit the stream with his rear wheels as the front where in the air. Unfortunately as he landed the front dampener snapped off. With a quick cable tie on the loose arm and Maurice was on his way again. Neil demonstrated his Commander’s capability by being the first vehicle to do this obstacle from both sides and even Richard the farmer was amazed. Well done Neil excellent driving.
Next came the Red Route being a horse shoe up the mountain side and back down again. The first four wranglers entered and returned back down with their bellies scrapping on the gullies on the way down. Suddenly over the radio a panic stricken voice could be heard calling for help. It was Clinton and his Red XJ has snapped the right read drive shaft and his wheel was on its way off. Unfortunately he was 50meters from the top of the horse shoe and could not be in a worse position.
Fortunately Neil in his Commander was able to use his vehicles winch with an extention rope from Vaughn and bags of stones over the winch line for safety, managed to winch Clintons XJ to the top of the mountain onto a service road. The process was slow and laborious as it took just short of 2 hrs to get the vehicle to the top. The audience were able to watch the Jeep Extreme Team work effectively and efficiently in extracting the vehicle and its driver safely to the top. Clinton was towed down and flat bedded back to Cape Town. Graeme Huddy offered to give Clinton and his passenger Paul a lift back to Cape Town. The Jeep Extreme Team need to be applauded in the way they extracted the vehicle ensuring at all times everyone’s safety was of the topmost priority. Well done guys.
We then moved onto the Dam to ride the mud that had formed from the recent rains. A near mishap was quickly rectified when one of the Wrangler drivers John lost concentration and drove into a cement drain. With low range engaged his vehicle was quickly back on the route with no major damaged besides his pride. The group all played up and down in the mud as if they had been let loose on a wet mud race track.
As we settled down to braai, the rain decided to move in and put a damper on that idea as most of the group decided to head off home and the remainder decided to play longer.
A great day was had by all and I would like to thank Richard Middlemann for hosting the Jeep Club on his farm Honingklip.
Till the next outing stay safe and have fun in your Jeep
Regards
Craig Parsons
See the pictures at:
http://www.mygeni.org/view/photoalbum.mygeni?aid=277&back=club%2Fjeep_club_cape_town.p.honingklip_4x4___kleinmond.mygeni
http://www.mygeni.org/view/photoalbum.mygeni?aid=279&back=club%2Fjeep_club_cape_town.p.honingklip_4x4___kleinmond.mygeni
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