MUDDY AT HEART
From where I’d pulled up in the Holden Trailblazer towing a Bluewater Lachlan, I couldn’t see around the bend to where our videographer had bogged her Pajero Sport. I’d been given the word over the CB radios to stay put; Tim, driving an unburdened Trailblazer, had continued around the bend to help.
I sat awaiting updates. Tensing my ears for the faintest crackle, I heard instead drops of water pattering down from the trees surrounding the infrequently used service track through this state forest near Healesville. The same rains now trickling down had saturated the dirt track and turned it to a swamp.
The rich mud smell, mingling with the scent of damp wood, reminded me of a horse stable — in a nice, homey sort of way. Steam from the brakes snaked up through the Trailblazer’s hubs, floating upwards like I’d made myself a cup of tea to wait out the moment.
All these peaceful symbols were soon to be utterly destroyed (tranquillity and 3500 revs per minute aren’t compatible). The moment started to fall apart with these crackly words: “Alright, we’re out. Come on through. Keep your momentum and favour the left.”
ON THE TOW
We’d rocked up here towing from the outer burbs and then onto the unsealed. The Lachlan weighs 1600kg Tare; you can load it up to 2400kg. At that weight it’s not a fleet-footed child dancing along behind the Pied Piper, but it’s still pretty nimble.
The 4WD’s tacho occasionally
