Saturday 28 August

The run today was was quite short although we still managed to stretch it out. After leaving breakfast we headed out on the dirt. The roads today were not too bad so it was an easy run to the party stop. This was a gathering of all the cars.
After leaving the party stop we had a change in the cars. Joey from the cricketers drove Candy which was helpful as he tweaked a couple of things in the motor, and Robyn went with the Cricketers to the lunch stop.
At lunch was at Tarcoola Showground. There we experienced a little mechanical hiccup with Candy. Finding a mobile work shop, Robbo came to the rescue and found that our inhibitor switch had broken. Bypassing that we were able to start the car and continue on our way.
The locals had put on a market day and some games for the locals and bashers to be involved in.
It was then onto the road for the run into Toowoomba. We were going to be following the rabbit fence for some distance, although now there is a hole in the rabbit fence from a story car. There was also another incident on the road that seemed to dictate a steadier pace for the afternoon.
The run was peppered with some very rough terrain and sharp turns.
We arrived into Toowoomba just on Dusk to be met by friends at the Checkpoint. We watched some of the cars arrive into town then Brenda spent the evening with her in-laws and Robyn caught up with friends from Macksville.

We had a lovely evening. Thanks guys.

Friday 27 August

Moree turned on the most glorious morning for our departure. It was a more relaxed start as we were not leaving breakfast until 9am. This morning we had a 20minute drive to breakfast at a cotton gin on the outskirts of town. There was a wonderful breakfast served by the locals.
Leaving the cotton gin was a bit of a scramble to drive through the unloading bay for the cotton trucks. It was then a trek through more farms and flat countryside to Croppa Creek. Here we were able to fuel up before lunch and purchase a sticker for $20 as insurance to be rescued if you came a croppa in Croppa Creek. We were feeling pretty optimistic and felt that insurance was not necessary.
We had a wonderful baked dinner in the hall and met with the 15 children at the local school. The children had written stories and painted pictures for us to view.
Leaving Croppa Creek we headed over some badly rutted roads for about 40km to where they had prepared a huge mud puddle for us to cross. We were now beginning to think that we should have taken out the insurance. However Candy breezed through without a worry.
There was more in store for us as we had to pass through many water crossings - we were often stopped by those ahead of us who did not make it.
It was then on to a party stop just on the edge of Goondiwindi and then into town.
After dinner was Bash Idol, we were just the audience this year. The items are interesting.....

Thursday 26 August

Today was a leisurely day. We had the most amazing breakfast sitting in the sun at a lovely school!
It was then off for a trip through some of the local farms. Today we travelled along levey banks and through wheat and chick pea crops. Our meandering around Moree took us to a lovely homestead where we had a delightful lunch and held the Tripple Cars Games. These were novelty events and we had a go at shooting clay pellets, rowing on the little lake, etc. A group of children from a small school were brought out too so they could have some fun with the bashers. It was a beautiful setting around the lake and then it was back to town to give Candy a much needed wash, do the washing and have a dip in the thermal pools.
Dinner was at the showground where we were entertained with a brilliant firework display and entertained by the Knoll Brothers and John Williamson. This is an evening where the locals are invited to come and enjoy as well!
Tomorrow we head off to Goondawindi!

Wednesday August 25

We awoke early and got the car ready before heading off to breakfast. We loaded the cupcakes and said goodbye to our wonderful hosts and headed to breakfast.
We were able to travel on the dirt sections today as the roads had dried out sufficiently. The road surfaces were quite changeable from gravel to sand to black soil. Concentration was needed today as the roads were quite a challenge.
Walgett was our lunch stop where we were inundated with children as soon as we drove through the school gates. There was no official gathering so we had lunch, fueled up and headed out of town. Super Hubert ,our skinny magician stayed to do a show as he usually does each time we go to a school. The roads in the afternoon were deeply rutted and often narrow making the driving difficult. Out in the middle of no where we were greeted by a group of children and parents who have long distance education. They were very excited to have all the cars go by. Most cars had hand outs of toys, lollies etc. The kids had buckets of water set up to wash our car lights or windscreens! They also had cans of drinks to hand out! One of the Bash cars had a jumping castle packed in their luggage and so they set it up right there on the side of the road for the kids to play in! It was with much relief after more dirt and ruts that we finally got onto the tar and stopped for a well earned party stop.
It was dark when we got into Moree and headed for our accommodation then back into town for dinner with a mexican theme.

Tuesday August 24

Day three saw some last minute changes as the weather had deteriorated and, the flooding had now made the trip to Louth and little school of 5 students impossible. Seats were auctioned in the plane for a small group to fly out and entertain the children and shower them with a variety of gifts.
Today we stopped for morning tea just off the main road where we were able to light a fire and share some stories. These rare opportunities are great for catching up with other Bashers and often involve some kind of activity. Once again the sling shot took centre stage with the water bombs.
Refreshed we headed for lunch, where a school in 24 hours prepared a meal for 450 Bashers and 300 children. This is when you see real community as the locals pulled together to make this a memorable day. The Principal was there with his troops to greet us and make us feel very welcome at his school, despite the fact that he had had little sleep.
We were then on the Tar to Byrock where there was a little pub. John Williamson sat in the beer garden and sang some of his favourite songs for us.
Bourke was the destination. Here we were staying with Marilyn and Bernie who gave us a warm welcome and had made cupcakes for us to take the next day.

Monday August 23

Monday was a cool start in the town of Temora with a yummy breakfast by the locals at the school. Then it was off to the Aviation Museum for a look at the old planes and the Armed Forces Day. This year the teams were represented by just 4 people. The games seemed to involve water, plus the contribution of a huge sling shot used for sending water bombs into the crowd. There were a lot of very wet and cold spectators.
We had a short interview with a TV station from Wagga and apparently it was on channel 10 news....go the cupcakes!
Lunch was at Lake Cargelligo where the local school spoilt us with many wonderful treats. Presentations were made to th school and then we were off to Cobar for the night.

New Look Candy

NSW Bash 2010 B Shed to Byron Bay

Sunday August 22

Sunday morning we were finally ready when the alarm called us from our final sleep before the 2010 Bash. Yes, we were ready with all the last minute dramas now behind us. The engine was in a condition that with careful driving and continual checks 'workshop' felt that it would make the journey. So with our electrics up to speed and the gearbox fixed we were ready to head to the start.

Sunday morning was clear and crisp as we headed to the Sydney Markets B Shed. When we arrived there were several other Bashers there hugging their coffees. It was our opportunity to catch up with the wives of our Bash friends and see the brightly decorated cars that would make up this year's contingency of cars.

It is always exciting to catch up with our Basher Friends.

We headed south out of Sydney along the highway. Giving us time to settle into the rhythm of the car and get our Bash bearings.

We headed over the hills passing by several tiny towns to be welcomed with a wonderful lunch at the Bigga hall. Thanks to the wonderful work of our Basher Friend Mel who was not coming on the Bash this year. We parked along the main street in the town and lunched in the sun.

The afternoon saw more dirt roads as we wound our way into Temora. Unfortunately our welcome into Temora was not how we anticipated. With our accommodation all sorted we headed to the Royal Hotel, where the hotelier told us that we were late and that he had given our room to the Navy Team - He was most unhelpful, but his brother and father said that we could sleep a matress and lounge in the dining room. We were pretty desperate and shocked at the attitude of this young fellow. We went on a search for the mattresses with the father. Due to poor lighting and a dark grey painted floor with small steps. Brenda fell down a step and sprained her ankle.

We decided that tea would be a good idea and left the Royal Hotel - not so Royal. At tea a team form Inverell said they were staying at a friend's house and had a spare room that we could use. To top it off apparently the Navy never showed up for the room.

That was our night at Temora.