The Dunes - Lambert's Bay 4x4 17th to 18th February 2007 -- by Dave Short On the weekend of 17 and 18 February 2007, Russell lead a group of 10 vehicles on an outing to the The Dunes near Lambert's Bay. We gathered at the Total garage early on Saturday morning, some looking worse for wear after the Valentines Party and other events the night before and hit the road via Clanwilliam. Once we had set up camp we met up with our guide for the day, received some basic warnings regarding specific conditions and dangers, and headed for the sand. The Dunes offers some tricky soft sections, long climbs and really steep decents and gave everyone an opportunity to hone their sand driving skills and get to know their vehicle's gearing, traction and response better. The need to recover a vehicle or two at the crest of a dune added to the conversation and the experience. Shortly after a lunch break, we were instructed to swap drivers, and the ladies got to power their way up dunes and get the feel of soft sand driving which by all accounts they thoroughly enjoyed. That evening we all gathered at the Boma for a braai where we all got to know each other a little better. The early start and long day in the sun had taken its toll and by 10 p.m there was not a light to be seen in the campsite. On Sunday morning we visited the farm Steenbokfontein where Herman Burger took us on an interesting tour of one of the caves, where archeological diggings are underway and to a crop circle where we got an appreciation of the mammoth scale of a commercial potato farm. Back at the Plaaskombuis, his wife Kitta, told us the story of the HMS Sybille, a British reconnaissance ship which ran aground in stormy weather, opposite the farm, in 1901. From there we headed just beyond Elands Bay where we stopped for lunch overlooking the sea, before hitting the road home. Special thanks to Russell for organizing and leading an enjoyable and interesting outing.