37 Members of the New Zealand Four Wheel Drive Association came to California to see some four wheel action. So of course the Diablo 4 Wheelers were one of the first clubs to volunteer. We got help from six other clubs and on Wednesday, January 3rd we took them over the (soon to be closed permanently) Calistoga trail.

We made some great friends and heard many interesting stories of "jeeping down under."

Trip report logged to Diablo Historic Photo album

NEW ZEALAND * CALISTOGA TRIP

BY KEN KNULL

The prospect of a midweek trip across the Calistoga Trail (playing hooky and all) was indeed an intriguing idea. As the likely hood of it actually becoming reality came closer, and arrangements falling into place better, I felt better. It is very gratifying to know, and have reconfirmed again that when a call for help goes out 4-wheelers really come through. What started as a few phone calls - “You wanna go across the Calistoga on the 3rd?” turned into 40 vehicles lined up at the Calistoga Glider Port awaiting the bus load of touring 4-wheelers from New Zealand.

The New Zealand group arrived December 28th and started their tour with Ted Burton, Central District Vice-president, and a trip to Pismo Beach over the New Year’s weekend. They then came to San Francisco and it was our turn to share the tour with them…

After lowering tire pressures and greeting our passengers, and soon to be friends, We headed up the Old Oat Hill Mine Road toward our lunch stop at “Halfway House”. Being at the front of the caravan did have its advantages, but I don’t really know about much of the happenings further back. I regret never seeing the front and back of the caravan at the same time; we just got too strung out. I was able to watch however most of those that attempted drive-shaft hill. No casualties, unless you count the Power Wagon’s front axle (and return directly to Calistoga). After the “look-out hill” and drive shaft, the run into “half-way House” was uneventful. The sky began to cloud up and it was darn chilly at this point, so we pressed on after lunch.

Wonder who had been up in the area of the top of the “short cut”, or “big dipper” with a bulldozer? And who cut a new road from there over to the road after the top of the “stair steps”? And maybe more importantly, WHY???

By the time we, either went up “slippery rock” and “stair steps” or around (as the case may be), it was hailing or snowing and COLD. Many, including the 01’ Blue Jay, didn’t have tops. Thank goodness the Cooley Jeep with Julie at the microphone organized and led the hasty retreat down off the mountain.

After airing up in Pope Valley (thanks Brad) we got the very last rig back to Calistoga by 5:30p.m. I found out late5 that Larry Wells had trouble after a dinner stop in Napa (something about a spring falling off) and was quite late and quite wet before he was able to repair and get home.

Several things about this run are important. First, I found the entire group from New Zealand to be extremely delightful people, and I thoroughly enjoyed having the president of the New Zealand 4-Wheel Drive Association, Bruce Pattie as my front seat passenger and Colin as my backseat driver. Second, I found sneaking away from work restful and petty much needed. I think I’ll do it again, soon. Third, we had no major problem except for two broken axles, which is pretty darn good considering there were 40 rigs. Of course, I’m still waiting for Curt Johnson to tell me what it felt like to have his Jeep stand on his cool can nearly vertically, balancing there for a few seconds, before going back down forward. I understand that his New Zealand passengers were scared, to say the least. Fourth, I am extremely gratified and would like to extend a big THANK YOU to all of you who responded to my call for help on this fun project. To those of you who encouraged, helped organized, and participated we owe the success of the trip to you.

LATER THAT WEEKEND:

The tired, hungry 4-wheelers from New Zealand met a small group of Bay Area 4-wheelers at the Jack London Inn on Jack London Square in Oakland for an evening of sharing movies, scrapbooks, hors D’oeuvres (almost a buffet dinner), and spirits to wind down, re-hash and re-run the trail, share experience of 4-wheelers (yes, it is different in New Zealand), and exchange addresses. I found myself wishing we had the time and resources to make a similar trip to New Zealand. It can be done through Trans Pacific Tours; three weeks for about $2,000. Bruce and Lyn Pattie have promised to return our tour on their turf. Come to think of it, anybody (about 30-4- of you) want to talk and dream about it?

It was really difficult for many in this group of New Zealanders (our new-found friends) to say good-night and goodbye. We had shared the previous 15 ½ hours together and it was difficult to part knowing we would probable never see each other again.

After leaving the Bay Area, our friends will go to Sacramento, Reno to have lunch with Reno 4-wheelers (sightseeing stops all the way), then on to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Diego for events with Southern District clubs. Then it’s a long 22 hour flight back home.

Most of them will return again, some soon, and we can only hope that we will have a chance to visit with them again. It is a wonderful experience, which left me feeling really super.