Last weekend I had the pleasure of re-learning how to handle our 4WD in challenging off-road conditions. We went to 'Outback Vic' of Great Divide Tours (GDT) because we have known him and his company for more than 15 years, and we have travelled across this amazing country many times on his tag-along tours ("Across the Top", "Across Oz Safari", "Burke & Wills Experience", "Cox's & Kowmung Rivers Tour", Camp Oven Cook-Off"). I have always been impressed with Vic's calm professionalism in the face of challenging landscape, challenging weather and challenging tag-along customers. His patience is boundless, and he has a very quick wit and great sense of humour that keeps everyone laughing even across the radio waves on tag-alongs. The introductory tour is a two day affair at GDT's training facility near Braidwood. There over two days Vic took us from the very basics of understanding how 4WD cars work (diffs, hub locks, traction control, and so much more) to wheel placement on difficult terrain and controlled climbing up and down steep tracks, both forward and in reverse. OK so there was heaps more... heaps. But to try to describe this to you all in words will not come close to relaying the experience because the course is definitely something you have to experience behind the wheel in your own vehicle. Whatever vehicle, Vic and his team understand them all, and you will learn how to handle all the different types of terrain in your vehicle, sometimes with an instructor sitting in the passenger seat next to you. So I can now aim my car's wheels rather well at whatever rocks or parts of a track I choose, even though I can't see the track directly in front of the car. This means I can drive on tracks with deep ruts. And if my car starts to slip into a rut, I know what to do to correct and get out of the rut. I know how to tell if a water crossing is safe to even attempt crossing or not - and how to get across if it is. I know how to drive up or down a steep unsealed track, and when to even think about trying to do that. I also know what to do if I start to climb a steep track but can't make it all the way up. I know how to handle the car on sand and how my tyres will react at different pressures. I even understand a bit more clearly some of the technology that goes into tyre design and why light truck tyres are a better option for our car. I know what river pebbles feel like to drive over, and I know the safe place to attach a snatch strap on my car if I or someone else's car gets bogged and how to much easier a hand winch is to use with even just one pulley than without. I even know about the etiquette of radio communications and the range of available communication systems I could choose to take with me if I want to travel in remote country, and the difference between some of the different technologies (HF, UHF, Satellite). I tried and achieved all the skills even though I was convinced at every stage that I wasn't going to be able to do any of it. Vic made sure that both drivers in every car achieved every aspect of the training. Then we finished with a drive through a fire trail that put all that learning into practice on tracks we hadn't seen before. It is an exceptional course. Vic and his team covered every area of the training with the focus on staying safe in all conditions while enjoying our 4WD adventures. He has more than 25 years' experience driving in the Australian outback and leading tours off-road in Australia and overseas. He has trained more than 25,000 drivers, and knows exactly what he is talking about. It was a weekend of learning at it's best. Thank you GDT and thank you Vic Widman.
http://www.bathurstartretreat.com.au/I was one of the first artist guests of the Bathurst Art Retreat. It was an amazing experience with a wonderful group of people in an isolated beautiful, place just outside of Bathurst. It was just brilliant!!!! Seriously amazingly brilliant. This is a beautiful property that once used to be used by scouts and I can see why. A few buildings now stand on the flat spot where scouts used to pitch their tents, and which boasted this view of the river that passes through their property. I can just picture canoes lined up on the sandy river bank below during any camps or jamborees. Bathurst Art Retreat is location is 30 minutes out of Bathurst and the property itself has no mobile phone reception and the entry road is 4WD only - but don't be put off. It meant that I spent the entire weekend 'in the moment' and blissful in the serenity. Hosts Robbie and Steve Fayle warned us well in advance of the road conditions, and they have a parking area within their property where we parked our city cars at the start of the 4WD tracks, and they came with broad welcoming smiles to meet us and transport us and our gear back to our accommodation. As the road swept over a big hill and down and round toward the buildings we could see a number of individuals in the distance down on the beach standing in front of their easels, looking in various directions up, down and across the river. Serenity. At every stage, where we needed it, we had help from caretakers Merv and Trish Burley to take gear to and from our chosen painting locations. We never had to carry anything if we didn't want to. This made it very easy for all of us to be able to work in front of what vistas inspired us. At the water's edge we met fellow art students and our amazing tutor David Lake (you can find some information on David and his gorgeous art work by clicking on his name or here: http://bathurstartstrail.com/david-lake/). David finished two demonstration studies each day - one first thing after breakfast and the second after lunch. That left us plenty of time to work on our own pieces. As we all worked, David moved continually between us all (sometimes across a distance of more than a km up and down hills) providing feedback and suggestions or merely positive noises of agreement (which made me smile to hear). Between plen air sessions, we were fed and watered well. The food was very very very very good. It was abundant and way beyond what I expected. Robbie, Steve, Merv and Trish worked hard for us all weekend. And they were all so happy to be there with us. Nothing was too much for them to do. And the mealtime conversations were lively and interesting and everyone seemed to really enjoy each others' company. I think that speaks as much about the atmosphere created by the hosts as the wonder mix of students and tutor that were there. If there are some people you get on with well or if you are on your own... just take a chance and book into a retreat... where you can paint, sketch, lie down and listen to the birdsong, go for a walk along the river or up to the top of the mountain or just eat, drink and be merry. The Fayles and Burleys are wonderful company and all of our conversations lively and interesting. I feel like I have known them all for a very long time after only having met them two short days ago.It was utterly fabulous. I can't recommend this place highly enough.
Bathurst Art Retreat's next painting weekend is coming up on 19-20 November. The artist tutor this time will be Elfriede Barnitzky. Look at some of her work here: http://www.elfriedebartnitzky.com/paintings.html |
AuthorThe northern beaches area of Sydney is a lovely area and I am lucky enough to have lived here all my life. Archives
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