UTV Training, Volunteer Dinner

We finally did our UTV hands-on training today. It only took a month to schedule it after our taking the online part of the course.

Dave, the instructor has built a course with hills and dips and tracks through the sand and brush out behind the maintenance area. It is intended to replicate all of the types of terrain found on the refuge. We were the only takers this time around. There are two types of UTVs used here, Polaris gas-powered ones (lightweight and speedy) and Kubota diesel ones (heavy and strong). We trained on each.

They were pretty similar in operation, with automatic transmissions and several modes. The Polaris has four-wheel drive with a locked rear differential, two-wheel rear drive with locked rear differential, and one-wheel drive. The one-wheel drive is used on pavement. It also has high and low ranges. The engine is based on their snowmobile engines.  The Kubota is a 900cc diesel. It has low, medium and high ranges with two and four-wheel drive. The engine reminded me of our Mazda Bongo, our New Zealand campervan, but with one fewer cylinder.

We got to spend an hour or so driving around the course, following Dave's directions as to where to go, ensuring that we took all the bumps, climbed all the hills and drove through all the bushes. We both spent time in each vehicle. When I was driving the Kubota, there was one steep, soft hill that Dave kept saying that no one had been able to climb without bogging the Kubota down. Finally, he said to give it a try. I floored it and hit the hill at mid-range top speed. It just zipped up the side and over the top. He said no one else had been able to do because they all slowed down as they approached the grade. I did just the opposite, which was the right approach.

Later that afternoon, Tom, Jean and Kathy showed up, having spent the day touring the refuge. We'd invited them to join us at the volunteer potluck dinner that evening. The other volunteers were happy to have some new faces to talk to. A great time was had by all, with lots of food and lots of desserts and more than enough wine. We still couldn't talk Tom and Jean into applying for that empty volunteer slot/