Woomera welcomed us with a glorious morning a bit on the chilly side. We were able to have a more leisurely start to the day as breakfast was at 8 am and then it was into Armed Services day. Because we had destroyed another tyre and Woomera does not have any mechanics or tyre repair places, we thought that instead of partaking in the games we should enlist the help of the mobile workshop to put our spare tyre on the rim as it was an afternoon of tracks.
We were well positioned for the exit from the oval! So with our tyres all set we were ready for the rough terrain.
The first sheet of our route instructions were dropped from the helicopter so it was a mad scramble to get them, race back to the car and get ready to leave.
We followed the old Highway - what a road! ... huge bolders and rocks We moved over to let F 1 -11 past and went bouncing through a rather large ditch. Everything bounced even us... ouch.
Not far along the track we heard a dreadful scraping noise so we pulled over to find that the bolts from the back of our bash plate were gone. The Beach Bums came to the rescue and we were on our way again.
We bounced and jolted along the track. Coming around the corner we saw this magnificent lake, so it was photo time and time to off load some cupcakes.
Lunch was a packed one that we could eat where we chose.
The afternoon was more tracks, but very sandy.
We arrived in Coober Pedy and found our underground motel. What an awesome place, some of the rooms are from a disused mine.
It was tea and then a fairly early night as the next morning was to be early for a big drive to Alice Springs.
Friday, August 21, 2009
19th August
Another glorious day, crisp with bright blue sky. We headed off early again to stake our position as close to the front as possible. As per usual there was a window of opportunity to get fairly close. We had one of the Cricketers cars in front and one behind. We were quite pleased with ourselves. It was all looking good. Then an opportunity arose where we could take advantage of the situation so we jumped in their car to find something which we could use to bargain with. We made it quite difficult for them to remove us. We managed a few items and we also lost a few. It was then time to eat, so we left Candy and went and listened to a great school band. While we were at breakfast they managed to put a picnic table with attached stools in front of the car. One of the Virgin members of their team was extremely nervous when we came near - it was really very funny so we took advantage of that situation. Some of the locals wanted a photo of his team - he sat in the car with the window down for the photo and wouldn't get out!
As we headed out of town we collected our cupcakes for the day.
lunch was at Jamestown at a school. They had prepared a great lunch for us.
As we headed out for the afternoon we had to wait as someone had paid to have us wait.
The track we went on was very rough, resulting in another tyre being wrecked. With some help we changed the tyre and were almost done when he NRMA bus came to a halt. The 7 passangers piled out and proceeded to show us their spud gun using oranges. What an awesome machine shooting oranges 500m.
Along the track was a boy sitting at the gate in a wheelchair so we stopped and gave hime some things.
It was quite late when we pulled into Woomera a town of 450.
At tea we squared things up with the cricketers....what a funny day. They did bring us a peace offering of chocolate cake - unfortunately for them it tasted like it had had a dusting of petrol so we thought they were trying to sabotage us again.
We stayed in a school hall with many snoring people.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
18th August
Another beautiful morning, we collected our wonderful cupcakes and headed off to breakfast and presentations at a local school. Arriving early we were fairly close to the front of the line for the exit, unfortunately we had a slow leak in one of our rear tyres so it was back to our friend Brad at the local tyre centre to get it fixed and cut some of the length off our fuel guard as it was dragging and creating too much dust for those behind.
Mid morning many of the Basher's were visiting a local pub and desperately longing for cupcakes so we called in and sold stamps and gave away free cupcakes!
It was then off to lunch. It was a long morning with a few patches of dust to keep it interesting. One of the cars tipped on its side and fortunately no one was hurt.
When we got to lunch there was a nice little path left to the front of the que which we took advantage of. We were able to block in The Bush cricketers, interesting move. While we were getting our lunch 25 men were trying to lift our Candy car into the sandpit. Being unsuccessful they manoeuvred 5 cars to block us in. Some Virgin Basher's saw this and paid $200 to put The Bush Cricketers into the lockup. The Bush Cricketers paid to get out, so the Virgin Basher's paid another $600 for us to leave first. Two cars had to go out so we could then leave, those two were stopped so that we could pass them. Brenda managed to get the keys to The Bush Cricketers car, they were unable to fill with petrol as they only had one key to the petrol tank. It was all a bit of fun.
Late in the afternoon there was a fun stop where most cars took part in. It was then into Berri for tea. At tea Super Hubert did one of his magic shows.
We are now thinking of strategies and some pay back.
Mid morning many of the Basher's were visiting a local pub and desperately longing for cupcakes so we called in and sold stamps and gave away free cupcakes!
It was then off to lunch. It was a long morning with a few patches of dust to keep it interesting. One of the cars tipped on its side and fortunately no one was hurt.
When we got to lunch there was a nice little path left to the front of the que which we took advantage of. We were able to block in The Bush cricketers, interesting move. While we were getting our lunch 25 men were trying to lift our Candy car into the sandpit. Being unsuccessful they manoeuvred 5 cars to block us in. Some Virgin Basher's saw this and paid $200 to put The Bush Cricketers into the lockup. The Bush Cricketers paid to get out, so the Virgin Basher's paid another $600 for us to leave first. Two cars had to go out so we could then leave, those two were stopped so that we could pass them. Brenda managed to get the keys to The Bush Cricketers car, they were unable to fill with petrol as they only had one key to the petrol tank. It was all a bit of fun.
Late in the afternoon there was a fun stop where most cars took part in. It was then into Berri for tea. At tea Super Hubert did one of his magic shows.
We are now thinking of strategies and some pay back.
Monday, August 17, 2009
17th August Day 2
Another glorious morning. We were up early and ready for the new day, we got to breakfast in time to get a great spot for exiting realatively early. While at breakfast a lady came to us who was running a street stall in the main street selling cupcakes as it was National Cupcake Day for the RSPCA. She wanted us to bring the car down to her stall. When we left breakfast we turned left instead of right so everyone thoought that we were heading the wrong direction as we took the shortcut into town, little did we realise that the Bash Route instructions were taking us down the main street.
The stall was not operational when we got there, so stopped a few Bashers by using the pedestrian crossing with a few of the locals. The ladies took some photos of Candy and we headed off as it was a big drive before lunch.
Some locals were on the side of the road so we made that our cupcake stop. Many cars stopped for their cupcakes. The locals told us of a small school 5 mins around the corner so we detoured with a few other cars to the school and gave out some toothbrushes, toothpaste and a bear. The children loved it.
The next leg of our journey was quite a stretch on the dirt, it was dusty, There were paddocks of canola and some beautiful countryside. It was along these stretches of road that we did our first ever tyre. One of the front tyres destroyed itself. So with the help of Minnie and Mickey Mouse we changed the tyre getting to lunch at aobut 2.30pm. It was a quick bite then we went on the blacktop to Hay so we could get the 2 front tyres replaced as the 'Coopers' are difficult to find out here.
Dinner tonight was with a shearing theme. They had a shearing demonstration and then some relay races of shearing and pie eating.
It was then a quick catch up with Bashers and then back to bed.
The stall was not operational when we got there, so stopped a few Bashers by using the pedestrian crossing with a few of the locals. The ladies took some photos of Candy and we headed off as it was a big drive before lunch.
Some locals were on the side of the road so we made that our cupcake stop. Many cars stopped for their cupcakes. The locals told us of a small school 5 mins around the corner so we detoured with a few other cars to the school and gave out some toothbrushes, toothpaste and a bear. The children loved it.
The next leg of our journey was quite a stretch on the dirt, it was dusty, There were paddocks of canola and some beautiful countryside. It was along these stretches of road that we did our first ever tyre. One of the front tyres destroyed itself. So with the help of Minnie and Mickey Mouse we changed the tyre getting to lunch at aobut 2.30pm. It was a quick bite then we went on the blacktop to Hay so we could get the 2 front tyres replaced as the 'Coopers' are difficult to find out here.
Dinner tonight was with a shearing theme. They had a shearing demonstration and then some relay races of shearing and pie eating.
It was then a quick catch up with Bashers and then back to bed.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
16th August Day 1
What a glorious morning for our departure with the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge as the back drop.
Wanting to get an early start we left Macquarie at 6 am to go to the start for a good postition on the grid. It was then time to catch up with past Basher's and meet some of the Virgins. We had several of our friends and Brenda's family to come and wave us off from the Opera House.
It was then along the M7, M4 up to the Blue Mountains, through Lithgow and on to Bathurst. Passing through Bathurst we felt that it was an opportunity to revisit Mt Panorama as we drove around there on our first Bash. We stopped for some photos under the banner and continued on to Orange for Lunch.
There we had the BBQ lunch then proceeded to grant the wishes of the school. Being a Special school they were very happy to receive a catamaran and another sailing boat for the older students. Much to the delight of the wheelchair students they got the keys to a liberty swing. As we were about to leave there were a couple of boys swinging and laughing, they were so excited as it was their first ever swing.
After lunch it was onto dirt, dust and gravel. The countryside was stunning with the green rolling hills and a grey sky as the back ground. We had a small amount of rain as we stopped for our first fun stop with the Firies. It was there that we took advantage of the crowd and gave out pancakes (pikelets with jam and cream).
Tea was followed by an astronomer from Coonabaraban, he was quite entertaining with his knowledge. Then we had a few Elvis impersonators do some dancing and singing to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his death.
Then time to retire.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Well here we are on the eve of our 3rd Bash. We are ready for the adventure to begin. Candy is looking particularly attractive with her wash and polish. She has a new silver patty paper, and some fresh dribbles of icing and best of all a new petrol tank.
The new petrol tank has made a real difference to our fuel consumption...
We are now staying at Sally Mae's so that we are close by for the early start at the Opera House.
All our theme clothes are in and packed.
Tomorrow we have some pikelets for our cupcake stop with jam and cream - thought it would be fun since we left the Bash last year being called the Pancake Girls.
See you at the start.
The new petrol tank has made a real difference to our fuel consumption...
We are now staying at Sally Mae's so that we are close by for the early start at the Opera House.
All our theme clothes are in and packed.
Tomorrow we have some pikelets for our cupcake stop with jam and cream - thought it would be fun since we left the Bash last year being called the Pancake Girls.
See you at the start.
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