Redemption from the Bosom of the Pacific

A post by popular request.

Indeed, my Pajero [Montero for our US visitors] was almost lost to the bosom of the Pacific Ocean. The photos above capture the moment. I went 4WD-ing on Stockton Beach, Newcastle, in 1999 with the Year 12, 2000 Christchurch St Ives leaders [Clarkey, Simon, Emma, Helen, Kylie and Deb].

We were driving right along the beach front – like they do in the 4WD advertisements. I did not see the place in the beach where all the water was draining out into the surf. But when the Pajero hit that point, the car simply stopped dead. Then my wheels spun in the ‘quicksand’ as though my car was in neutral.

“It’s all good”, I tell myself.

Even as we dug for an hour [well – Clarkey did most of the work], and even as the ocean was swirling in around my car, and even as an experienced 4WDer said to me: “Mate, that car will be dragged away to sea within an hour”, I kept saying to myself: “It’s all good.”

It was only once I had come to terms with my loss that a tractor [from a nearby sand quarry] came to my rescue.

It's rare to feel so good.

And it only cost me a case of VB instead of $$$$$$$$.

I like redemption.

Love, Justin.

PS Emma C – your comment on my previous post is correct: due to the whole issue of being above reproach, Clarkey, Simon and I did indeed sleep on a traffic island in our swags. Tidy.