Shakedown Trip

On Friday 13 May, we drove up to Mansfield to meet the NSW Morgan touring group who were overnighting there as part of their Victorian tour.  We left Melbourne at 2.30 pm and arrived at Mansfield around 5.30 pm, after much heavy rain, low cloud and wet roads.

Had dinner with the Morgan group and Saturday morning, set off to drive home.  We thought we'd go via Woods Point, deep in the hills.   We wanted some good rough unmade roads to try out the new Yokohama RY 818 tyres.  Those tyres are 195 70R 15 and are designed for light vans and utes, being called "Delivery" by Yokohama.  They are Yokohama's attempt at having a light truck tyre that will actually have some grip as opposed to never wearing out and consequently having NO grip.  I can report that these tyres are very good.

So, setting off from Mansfield, travelled through Jamieson and several other small setlements before seeing some snow on the side of the road.  Stopped to take photos.  Don't know why we bothered with a few traces of the white stuff as when we were only 7km from Woods Point, we reached REAL snow.  So much that we had to turn back, not before we sort of got stuck and the engine cut out.  See photos below, our sump guard "snow ploughed" the snow up into the engine bay.

After turning back, we drove downhill from 1000 m altitude to Jamieson around 300m and cut across to Eildon, Buxton and on to home.

Nothing came loose, so all seems well for the trip.

Now need to finalise luggage and packing arrangements before the Puce Goose goes into the container mid June.