Swartbergsvlei - February 2010 By Graham Combrink Having recently joined the 4x4 Offroad Adventure Club, this was our family's first outing with the club to the Swartbergsvlei 4x4 trail. We all met at the Total garage on the Westcoast road just outside Melkbos at 07h45 on a very windy Sunday morning. Many people were seen to be having coffees when we arrived and we were not quite sure if that was the effects of the previous night or because of the cool windy conditions. Pleased to say that it seemed to be the latter. After Russell gave us a brief chat about the days schedule, we were soon on our way in a convoy of 15 4x4's up the Westcoast road to Swartbergsvlei. At Swartbergbergsvlei we all deflated our tyres and after a "pit stop" were soon on our way on the sandy tracks in low range. Our first obstacle was into a riverbed and out the other side which we all managed without too many problems and certain 4x4's certainly lifted a front wheel for the watching members. Our next stop was playing in the "sandpit" and we all had lots of fun trying to see how far we could push our toys up the sand dunes with lots of sand being thrown up by the spinning wheels. The only "worrying" moments were Neil trying to reverse his Cherokee sliding sideways down a dune... but luckily no harm was done. The next play-area was going up a sandy narrow incline which was a bit of a challenge with lots of fun with only Mark's Colt getting stuck at the very end of the incline going nowhere. A few efforts trying to be pulled forward did not help but eventually a gentle pull backwards did the trick and we were on our way again. At that stage a few of us were starting to get hungry so we decided to call it a day and went down to the dam for a wonderful picnic/braai where many discussions took place over a cold one or two with the kids really enjoying playing around the dam. It was really great to see all the families with kids attending these outings and we certainly look forward to the next one to meet more wonderful people and make new friends. Kind Regards Graham Combrink