Platanal, Central Trinidad

18th and 19th September 2010

On Saturday 18th 2010,TTORC held our Monthly event for September. The group of adventurers assembled at UWI south gate for the scheduled 6:00 pm assembly time and a couple of us arrived between this time and 7:00 pm.

After doing the necessary purchases at the grocery, we held a sit-down/stand-up discussion for about 10 minutes during which the details of the convoy, trail, camp site, food,safety,etc were highlighted.

We departed UWI at about 8:00 pm with David leading the team east along the CR Highway and then the Eastern Main Road to Valencia and into the Cumaca Road.

Lincoln and myself stopped at Japs in Valencia to purchase three boxes of food that would prove to be vital later on in the night.

David again led the team into Cumaca but for some reason we were having trouble keeping up with him. As usual, the V8 temperature was rising going up the hill to the Quarry so we made two stops to allow it to cool back down to 180C.

The second of these stops was at the Quarry which we observed was being heavily worked but would not really appreciate the amount of excavation done until our drive out on Sunday.

The rest of the drive in was uneventful with the V8 Powered Hilux leading in a basic cruise into the Cumaca /Palatanal Valley.

We got to the Cumaca River ( North Oropouche River) at about 10:00 pm.There we had some very light snacks, stretched our legs and prepared to begin the trail.

Faiz was racing his engine and letting it idle for some unknown reason. Upon investigating, we found that he was having some carburetor problems. We attempted to use Carb Spray on it but this did not work well.

We then had to make a decision of whether we should leave the vehicle and return early in the morning to repair or pull down the carb right then and there.

The brave Engineer that he his, David voted to pull it down. Faiz did not object. So having been given permission to rip his carb apart, we all participated in an almost secondary school frog dissection and dis-assembly of the carb trying desperately to remember where each and every part came from.

A photographer was assigned the duty of recording all of the work for future reassembly of the unit. This proved to be rather useless when we could not figure out where the float was supposed to be and which screws came from where.

At around 11:45 pm,with a re-assembled carb installed, Faiz tumbled the engine and with a little encouragement, the unit fired up. The problem he was having earlier was now gone, to the amazement of everyone.

We then started the trail at about 12:00midnight and proceeded slowly in. We eventually got to the river around 2:00am and turned right proceeding up stream Andrew got bogged down at one of the river crossings and had to be helped out. His transfer case mount was having issues. After analysis, we decided to remove the rear drive shaft and give him some assistance to drive in pulled by the Hilux.

The pull up the hill and around the sharp right hand corner to the camp proved challenging but with some pulling, winching and tugging, we managed to get him up at around 3:00 am. The rest of the crew came up with little effort.

We installed our lights, made preparation for sleeping and then went back down to the river to have a bath at around 3:30am.

David slept in the area close to the food, Lincoln, Wayne, Nicholas and Sham in the front porch and as far as I know, the rest having seen the 10 ft snake skin in the camp decided that black disinfect and car seat was the best option.

With all chain saws on full swing led by chief lumberjack DavidLS, we tried to get some rest.

At 4:00 am, we were awaken by the squeaks on the flooring and sounds that suggested that some " hideous blob of gelatinous mock" ,an unmentionable monster of mythical dread was upon us.

With men cold sweating, shivering and ready to take the 15 foot jump into unknown blackness, an extremely bright light suddenly appeared. It was David who was about to take a S**T. After a verbal spanking about his light, the monster retreated into the darkness and peace was restored.

We were awakened by the Sun and immediately began preparations for breakfast of bread, eggs and baked beans.

Brain, Jason , Gaugh and the Grandkids and Naimchand came in at about 8:00am Sunday.

Andrew proceed to prepare a pelau for Lunch ( Lord forgive us).

We then attempted to drive up the river but with Jason trying to drown the maker of Lunch, we decided it better to turn around, pack up and head out to civilization.

We made it out relatively easily and un-eventful and were now running ahead of schedule. We stopped at the bridge where Wayne, Brain and Sham braved to running water in the River to drive downstream much to the entertainment of the villagers at the bridge. Hopefully next time Jason will join us.

We came out early and was happily heading home. After leaving the Eastern main Road and turning north we saw a 6' horse whip snake on the road. Braking heavily, we stopped just in time to avoid running over it. We started again only to realize that the pitman arm on the Hilux was broken so we now had no way to steer . Gaugh was called back and while I went to source another, Lincoln, Wayne and Wayne's co-pilot remained with the injured Hilux.

The Hilux was then repaired and we left Valencia and headed home.

Other than David, Sham, Lincoln and Gaugh, this was a new trail and new experience for all of the other members.

Sham
 

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