Left behind

Have come across a few laners over the years who have decided to do it alone, and we do it ourselves sometimes. Provided you know were you are going and have a workable rescue plan we think its ok.

It was March, cold and wet, we were eastbound on the Llandrillio side of the Wayfarer when we came across a Disco stuck on “Diff lost stone”, the occupants were a family of four, clearly novices, who were very glad to see us. The lady passenger had been quite upset and the children crying, the father had tired to lift the vehicle with the jack but this proved to be impossible.

Without passing judgement we assisted in the recovery, it wasn‘t difficult but tricky, the stone has become stuck just under the front cross-member, the driver had become more concerned about damage so was been cautious..

After recovery the couple told us their story, they had paid for a commercial group £50 for a Greenlane trip. They had got to the top of the Wayfarer with the group and stopped for a break. The two children had gone off to play, the group started off and just left them behind. They tired to follow, but got as far as the wash out, then decided to go back the way they came and got stuck. They had never been off road before, and this was their first lane. They joined us for the rest of the day and enjoyed it, so much so they often join us now.

Its not the only time I’ve seen trucks left on there own, have witnessed it among groups I have been with. It happens, so count you trucks.

Couple of months later I spoke to the organiser who remembered them, he stated people often just disappear from the group or get lost on the UCR’s. They were in the middle, the drivers behind panicked and overtook them, but no one passed on the information. To confuse matters someone had decided to follow the large convoy, without booking or payment so vehicle numbers matched up. It was assumed the non payers had stayed behind.