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Rust de Winter Bundu Trail - 25 to 27 June 2010.

Rust de Winter is an area run by the 4x4 ATV Club and they maintain a lovely camp site and excellent challenging 4x4 trails.

The bundu trail is not really a beginners trail and it was a pleasure to join our group which consisted of members of The Four Wheel Drive Club of Southern Africa.

The trail we drove is approximately seventy kilometers there and back to the campsite.

We arrived in the late afternoon on Friday 25 June and set up our camp. The weather was cold and we took two sleeping bags and an extra blanket each. Later two more vehicles arrived and we went and joined them at their fire for a while before leaving with a kettle of their water for my hot water bottle. Sylvia said she did not want one. This decision not to have a hot water bottle may partly be because of my cheek in departing with the late arrival's water.

This was what our camp site looked like on Saturday morning. The pop-up tent is ours - the caravan is not.

Next morning more people arrived (some who did not want to spend an extra night in the cold), together with our guides. These trails are super sophisticated as you get a gate opener (Chris Gouws) at the front and a gate closer (Martin) at the back. The guiding over and through obstacles on Rust de Winter trails with their club is the best you will get anywhere.

This is the assembled group of trail departees.

This is the assembled group of trail departing vehicles. I wonder what effect it could have on the uninitiated should they rock up in a never before been off road vehicle and see the lead vehicle for the first time. (It would be interesting to ask someone in that position.)

This is a minor problem - the steering has failed.

The start of a little area where it is possible to detect whether the four wheel drive mechanism is working before getting onto something serious.

Nothing lasts forever - and that includes the steering. Think how boring this would be if you went every second weekend or so and the vehicle just turned in the direction you turned the steering wheel.

Some people drive from the outside - makes it more challenging.

A river crossing en route.

There is a part of the route which goes through a narrow gorge (Lover's Lane) and in a wide vehicle you have to fold the mirrors in to be able to drive through the gap in the rocks. There are round rocks under wheel (as opposed to under foot) and it feels like there is a real danger of the vehicle slipping sideways and scraping along.

A path up the hill in the distance.

Some areas are rocky.

Lovely sausage rolls for lunch - this was an unexpected surprise.

An ascent.

You have to provide a place for snacks in the night.

Sunday morning. That night we both had hot water bottles and it was warmer than in the valley the previous night.

Starting on a cold morning.

This is a steep climb and only this vehicle partook in this spectacle.

The guiding. This is what it looks like from inside the vehicle. Please note that you can see nothing immediately in front of the vehicle.

The step was severe - difficult to capture the bangs on a still picture.

The end of the day and everyone back safely.

Everyone who drove was presented with a certificate of completion. This picture was included because I do not often receive these.

For those of you who suppose that I did not drive at all - Sylvia had sprained her ankle - so I suggested she should not strain her ankle any more by pressing the accelerator and brake - but rather get out now and again and take pictures (there are some slippery bits with loose stones and I did not want to sprain my ankle).

Thank you to everyone who contributed to a lovely weekend.