The Impromptu Land Rover Club

We’re members of the Land Rover Owners Club of Brisbane and hoped to meet up with them somewhere on the way to Cape York as a contingent was making its way to the top a couple of weeks after us.  However, it seems we managed to miss them but we’re sure they are having a great trip and will write up their adventures in the club magazine.

 

After another dusty day we pulled in to the Musgrave Roadhouse to camp for the night.  Almost immediately another Defender followed us in and parked behind us.  We noticed that it had British registration plates and were intrigued to find out more.  We learned that it was owned by Glyn, a softly spoken Californian Englishman who’s hobby is driving in unconventional places.  He’d driven across most of Africa and had many adventures including having the vehicle half submerged and after recovering it, getting the water out of the engine, starting up and continuing the journey.  With Chuck as navigator they’re touring around Australia.

 

 

And another LR arrived, this time with two incredibly dusty occupants, Cameron and Robert.  Their very new Defender 90 had really been put through its paces having started from Hobart in Tasmania.  They’d travelled up the Old Telegraph Track, rather than taking the bypass road as we had done (for which I claim a seniority and dotage).  They made it through in one piece taking the rough patches in their stride and getting pretty mucky in the process.  Best wishes Cameron to you and your wife on the pending new addition to your family.

 

 

We had a drink and talked at length about Land Rovers.  We compared notes on why we preferred them to other 4WDs and looked at the different ways that each of the vehicles had been prepared for their respective uses.  We exchanged contact details and swopped recommendations on places to visit and places to avoid.  A typical club meet really when complete strangers become friends.  It’s the way with Land Rover people – the Impromptu Land Rover Club.

 

 

Then we went our separate ways.  Glyn and Chuck to The Tip, Cameron, Robert and us travelling south.  On the way we spotted this monitor lizard.  Almost as large as a man, it doesn’t really qualify as a member of the ILRC.