TREK-READY

AFTER MONTHS OF MECHANICAL MAYHEM, GLENN TORRENS IS CONFIDENT OF HIS MITSUBISHI PAJERO BEING A CHEERFUL CAMPING COMPANION

- GLENN TORRENS

THE SECLUDED VALLEY looked to be a terrific place to set up camp for a day or two. A sunny, grassy plain was edged with a stand of gum trees that gave some protection from the gentle breeze that, by early afternoon, was tussling the treetops and dappling the shadows over the ground below.

My 1989 Mitsubishi Pajero V6 4WD wagon, splashed with mud, was nosed into the trees. Nearby were the basics needed for a relaxing weekend in the bush: a tent, a table and chairs and a 20-litre water drum perched on a stand. Two beach towels fluttered in the breeze from a rope strung between two trees and a billy was hung over a campfire's ring of rocks.

Ahh, the serenity!

This happy little camping scene was exactly what I'd planned for my retro Pajero when I bought it in late 2021, to resurrect and enjoy as a weekend camping rig.

But, here, things were not what they seemed!