Day 9 Friday 15 August

Friday morning saw the alarm clock sound way too early. We bounded out of bed to prepare for the day ahead. This saw us heading into Wangaratta on our 6th trip from the Stiles to town and on the 6th different route! We had cupcakes to pick up from the main street and then to breakfast at St Bernard's School. This is a 'special school' they had done a fabulous job of preparing a wonderful breakfast for us to enjoy.
After breakfast it was time to race the cars that were bought at auction the evening before.
We had manouvered ourselves to the very front of the que with a little help from some other Bahsers. We also had opportunity to line up Jason Bargwanna to spend half a day in Candy.
As we made our way to the starting arch we did a media take for RPM - they would not let us go through the arch. We later found out that $75,000 was paid in Bash Bucks for our start to be delayed.
We finally go on the road and pased through some pretty spectacular countryside to lunch. We went through Albury and took the opportunity to visit Border Christian College briefy.
A small school of children greeted us at Walwa. George Fury was there as his wife is the Principal. The students sang 'Love is in the Air' with John Paul Young accompanying them on the wash board. That will be something the children will never forget.
We kidnapped Jason Bargwanna for the afternoon section of the drive through the snow. It was fun having him in the car and chatting. We went through the snow and got out to throw snow balls sinking into the snow up to our mid thighs. We were then into Cooma for our dinner and evening with John Williamson.
Our accommmodation that night was in a pub in the main street of Cooma - no heaters and very basic.
We decided that Paul the camera man's room (he had held us up in the morning from getting out the gate early), needed a little visit to short street so we short sheeted his bed and left a few other surprises. We were so close to getting caught but Jason Bargwana saved us by getting Paul to show the movie footage he took from the helicopter to the Cupcake Car.
It was then back to our accommodation at the pub to be lulled to sleep by the thumping music coming from below.