Many rivers to cross…

By Rosie Ogden

FEARS that last week’s hot, dry spell would spoil the fun proved unfounded, as scores of ‘Jeepers’ assembled last Saturday in Paphos for the 2003 Jeep Jamboree.

This annual event is based on an idea which originated in the United States. Its aim is to give owners of Jeep cars the chance to test their off-road skills in safety — and with help and advice at hand — as well as showing them what their cars are capable of.

New owners who sign up for the adventure may not know what’s in store, but when they’ve completed a full day’s driving on the Sunday their pristine new vehicles have had a baptism of fire or, in this case, water. Covered from roofline to hub cap in mud, by the time the cars reached the end of event ‘lunch’ stop (at just before 6pm!) there wasn’t much most drivers didn’t think they could tackle.

The dry weather did mean that a lot of the mud on the route had dried somewhat, but there was still enough in some places to present a challenge — certainly enough for several cars to get stuck! With drivers of mixed ability as far as off-roading is concerned, the marshals accompanying each team had their work cut out to make sure the ‘rookies’ were suitably briefed when certain obstacles or hazards were about to be tackled. With instructions to engage ‘Low’, or which gear to use to cross a river or maintain traction in deep mud, for the most part there were few problems, though it was clear that some of the inexperienced drivers became apprehensive if their car began to slide. Once again, the marshals were on hand to encourage and advise, and there’s no doubt that tackling the difficulties in convoy raises confidence, because you can see the cars in front of you successfully negotiating the hazards. If they can do it, goes the thinking, why can’t you?

The first part of the chosen route — which was only finalised the week before the event, because of the changing conditions — was fairly dry. There was the occasional stream to cross and some mud, but mostly it was rocky terrain in the hills north of Paphos. There were enough problems in some teams (solved either by the swift intervention of the Jeep mechanics who were traveling with us or by the marshals towing the offending vehicle out of trouble) to put us about an hour behind schedule, so the coffee stop at the lovely and remote restored monastery of Panayia tou Sindi came nearer lunchtime.

The second part of the route proved the more challenging, with countless river crossings and plenty of slippery mud as the teams made their way south east towards Pissouri through some spectacular countryside. The organisers certainly saved the best till last, with the torrents swollen by melting snow getting progressively deeper as the day wore on.

It was a long but exhilarating day, and as the Jeepers gathered over their evening lunch at a tavern in Pissouri stories were swapped, there was much jollity (relief for some that they were back on ‘terra firma’ perhaps) and promises to meet again next year.

For the experienced drivers there was also the hope that they wouldn’t have to wait that long: Lefkaritis Bros, the local Jeep agents, are thinking about organising a smaller, more specialised (and more challenging) event later this year which may include two full days’ driving and a night under canvas along the way. Judging by reactions, that, too, will be oversubscribed.