Mullion Creek Farm Stay
29th Sept to 2nd October 2007

Written by Bryce Messner (owner of “Eulah” Mullion Creek)

Friday

The long weekend started out a little early with the arrival on Friday with the Boyces arriving mid afternoon, Steve Shaw & the Mawbys later in afternoon.

Prior to this of course was the preparation for me of the camp area & of course obligatory fire wood collection sufficient for at least two nights.

Saturday

This was totally devoted to all the participants of this weekend to arrive from mid morning to lunchtime. They all proceeded to erect or unfold their temporary dwellings for the next three days or so.

As promised the pet sheep kept them entertained by begging bread which was gratefully received by Sadie, Mabel, Socks & Baby Lamb and of course Lucy the Angora goat.

The Thorpe’s had commanding views over the nearby dam my choice of the campsites here. Through out the course of the rest of the afternoon a number of members walked down to the big dam and through various paddocks around the farm.

The majority of us kicked tyres of the many Land Rovers parked around the farm including the seven Landies I added to the visiting Landies. My workshop was also envied by a number of guys as well. Others played the French bowls game with polished steel balls very interesting to watch.

Clive after he arrived, set about to get his series 1 kicked over that is having a short stay on the farm. After about an hour and I might add also of over 24 years of not been started, was fired into a lovely idle. Unfortunately this $120 treasure was purchased only for the roof, door tops, rear PTO & drive shaft and would be cut up & dumped as the chassis beyond repair, of course the engine is now to be kept.

Later in the afternoon the campfire was started and poll position was jockeyed for in the circle of old friends and the new friends that would be made around the circle this night. The night not overly cold and the warmth of the fire certainly thankful giving out a glow & meals were cooked by most on the open flames.

The chitchat flowed with the red wine, port & an odd beer & no club politics ruined the night, a nice friendly night. The Thorpes oldest son Eric had driven up from Bathurst where he is at uni for the night and a visit with mum & dad.

Sunday

It was decided after breakfast that those wanting a 4x4 experience on the weekend we would depart at 10.00am. The Boyces and Hugh decided that they would remain and rest for the day around the farm and do what ever they wished, although I didn’t mean for Hugh to drink my 2 litres of Coke in the fridge.

Phone calls from Neal & family that they would meet us at the Bathurst turn off on the back road in half an hour. We travel led through Ophir to the meeting place and after waiting only five minutes saw the Brindley family arrive with new baby of four days old, little baby Emily Grace and another Brindley joins the four wheel drive Land Rover Family.

We travel over very dusty graded road heading towards Bathurst until our turn left. Proceeding along here until our next turn through a property gate that heads down to the Macquarie River & rocky crossing up to the Bridle Track. Before we cross though we turn and drive downstream to the end of the track & a nice sandy spot for a lunch spot.

As I watched the entire cars file into the area where we had stopped, a certain “Ute” without his front hubs locked and stopping dead in his tracks in the deep sand in the middle of the track. We watched with some mirth as he extracted himself easily from the sand.

A buzz for me as I get to nurse baby Emily and wondering in awe at these bundles of little miracles. Asleep in her capsule for the entire journey down the steep grade to the river has to be woken for lunch.

From here we backtracked to the river crossing and I stop to take each vehicle doing its thing at the crossing and steel rocky exit up onto the track out. With half of the vehicles across three Nissans stop to watch our ascent, as they will cross in the other direction when we are finished.

It’s not a big area so some shuffling was done to accommodate all the vehicles at the crossing. Alan put on a show for us with his new troop Carrier and getting use to where low range & neutral selectors are and not quite reversing into the Macquarie.

We wound our way along the narrow graded track towards Hill End, but not before a detour this time down to the Turon River & the Macquarie River junctions. We arrived after a number of shallow crossings that on a previous trip the river was fast flowing and high, what a difference in three months. We had a lot of fun skipping flat rocks over the still Turon, young Joseph beating us all.

We moved on after a pleasant half-hour stop to our ascent from the Turon up to Hill End. Once we started to the top we passed a number of other four-wheel drive clubs descending the narrow track. The vehicles like us with their clubs name brandished across the windscreen. One club must have had every member on this track as we passed at least 20 vehicles in one group. Some of which needed some driving lessons & etiquette on passing and not rudely sitting in the middle of the track forcing us to pull over, now had I not had my club markings it may have been a different story. Clive & I had not seen this many vehicles on the track in our lifetime.

Arriving at the Royal Hotel at Hill End for a few milk shakes we just about had all the roadside car park. In the beer garden it was very pleasant in the late afternoon sun and we were visited by a couple of feeding King Parrots.

We leave here and after forming up we made our turn to Orange via the Long Point Road. Steve Shaw & Dean Hagan leave us here for Sydney, & young Reece comes with Clive & me as he is staying for a week on the farm on holidays.

This is one of the nicest cross-country drives you could find any where for an afternoon’s drive. It is a four-wheel drive recommended road but quite an easy drive, just sit back & enjoy the views.

The Macquarie River crossing awfully low & we wonder if it will ever get back to the dangerous crossing this spot can be when it really rains.

Only twenty odd clicks from here to the farm gate and a very nice day of off roading ends.

We learnt that David Lee arrived sometime through the day with a mate and after their dogs traumatised our sheep, left before we arrived back. The dog was expressly told to be on a lead whilst on the farm and wasn’t the owners fault of course.

Another nice night around the campfire was had by all and off to bed to finish another great day.

Monday

Monday as always turns up after Sunday and it was going to great weather. After breakfast everyone started to pack their campsites up and nicely emptied their excess water into our water tank.

The Boyces Defender had some noise in the gear box in fifth gear so they left their camper to pick up another day after their car was checked out by Graeme Cooper Automotive.

Yesterday one of our goats had given birth to twin kids which delighted all but sadly the little girl (nanny) passed away through the night No particular reason, the mother decided to rear only one, nature is tough sometimes on the weak.

By lunch all had gone and the site was as clean and spic and span, a credit to our club members who are all welcome back again anytime.

Thankyou to all that made the effort to come and make it a very pleasant weekend.