Just got back in....
A job well jobbed....it was very stuck in a swamp at the bottom of a shortish fairly steep hill...
Jamez, those bullrushes are a kinda hint that the ground aint gonna be too firm!
Left here just after 10pm and we armed ourselves with "supplies" from the workshop on the way, loadsa strops, spare shackles, chainsaw and my good friend "Incredibly long rope"...its actually a mooring rope of a naval barge...and is bleedin long and heavy as the SE lads will vouch for who have humped it round many times when it wasnt needed...
Forgot to grab the satnav from the van when we left home

but James' directions and Sallys unique navigation skills homed us in on James house eventually by about 11.30
Then off to the track where his fronty had gorn its own way shortly before midnight...
Straight pull up the bank didnt work, it was so slippy and couldnt get enough traction out of the a/t's on the bus....even in 3rd!
Then kinda almost ended up sliding the 2.8bus backwards down the same bank as James did, but with brain placed in glovebox, throttle through the bulkhead, load of lock to lock trying to find an edge somewhere, with Sally and James pushing and we were free and able to put plan B into play...
Dragged a tree out the way with the 2.8 to clear a better exit route that Sally found...
Attached a rope (3" diameter!) to the stuck fronty with a jate ring on the end...secured "incredibly long rope" off round a tree to the left and in front of the stuck one, and through the jate ring....and then between the trees up the 2.8...
This gave us a 2:1 mechanical advantage, 2metres movement of the tow vehicle, only moving the load a metre...kinda double line pull like you snatch block a winch...
James trucks rear end was dug well into the swamp, axle imbedded in the sludge which was firm on top, but goey underneath...
With a bit of a run taking the stretch out of "incredibly long rope" through the snatch, the stuck one came out surprisingly easily....
The tow was then shortened and James truck dragged up the remainder of the slope, it could have probably done it under its own steam, but was quite sideslopey and not worth risking it sliding into a tree...
Then cleared everything away...and went and gazed into the holes that James' truck had left in the swamp...
A different way to spend an evening, at least Sally cant say I dont take her out!
Glad we got it sorted Jamie....and cheers for the diesel money, much appreciated...
Thanks Sally for joining the midnight excursion....I know I am so lucky, cant see many other wifes/girlfriends being up for it at this time of night and helping out in the mud...
We took some pickies on my phone but it was pitch dark so I dont know how well they will come out, will upload em in a minute when I have finished this beer...as my phones out in the truck still...
Thanks for all your kind words above...I am sure that many of our members would have done what we did, if they were near enough and sober at that time of night...thats what makes Foggers what they are, always willing to help out each other...
Cheers though...
