Morgan Centenary at Cheltenham 09

The Morgan Centenary held in Gloucestershire during July and August 2009 went well with members from all over the world attending.

Entertainment included Hill Climbs at Prescott, Boat Trips, Train Trips and Parties. A visit to Beaulieu Motor Museum and Matersfield Court where Speed Tests took place. The Morgan Factory was well visited by Morganeers from all over the world.

There were over 3,000 Morgans in the car park on the last day of the event which finished with a grand fireworks display.

Day two at Prescott

I did not take so many photos as the first day because Linda and I were far too busy driving up the hill at Prescott (Speed Hill Climb). I drove up 40 times giving some poor unfortunate people an experience they might never forget, driving them up the hill.

Being the Centenary of the Morgan car production, people came from all over the world and unfortunately a lot were unable to ship their cars over here from afar. So that gave me great pleasure in giving them rides up the hill. There were quite a few with drained faces!!!!! Also there were quite a few with happy faces wanting to go again.

The Marshals and all the staff were absolutely brilliant, in fact I am now in the possession of a CD of images of my Hill Climbs which were taken by a Professional photographer.

Boat Trip at Upton-upon-Severn

The next day we went on a boat cruise in the evening starting at Upton-Upon-Severn. The town was a very nice attractive place with lots of specialized shops. The map shop which sold every map you could think of. A motor shop that had miniature match box cars of every description. Nice unusual jewelry shops.

The boat cruise was very nice with good scenery up and down the river. The food you could not fault, entertainment we had two singers that got us going on the dance floor, I did my usual pole dance unfortunately I have no photos.

After our trip I was stopped by the police driving back to Tweksbury I was breathalyzer fortunately I was O.K I think he stopped my because I had a load of balloons in my Morgan from the party.

Visit to Beaulieu Motor Museum

One of our organized trips was to go to Beaulieu situated near Southampton in the New Forrest a beautiful part of south England. I went with Geoff, Matt, Linda, & Vern all visitors from Australia, although it was a long drive down it was a lovely day but not long enough. We saw a lot at Beaulieu but the day was not long enough to visit the Quay near by.

Plod Adventures No. 31

April 26th Still on the Morgan Run. A tour of a citrus orchard is on the agenda to day plus a Devonshire cream tea and the cream was the best I have had in Australia just like the clotted cream we have in Devon. A long pleasant drive home stopping off for lunch in a pub. We looked at a collection of Douglas motor bikes at least 41.



Arrived back at Brian & Helen's Bed & Breakfast Lucerne on Fernberg Road a splendid place he has too. I stayed for two nights waiting for my flight back home. Richard stayed one as he has a long drive back to Sydney and had to get back to work. He met up with Roger at Glen Innes - the weather was fine - so Roger will still have a clean car. Brian is a great cook and host another N.B.C man. I think I can safely say that we all had a great weekend, apart from Bob and Marira, on the way back their clutch went. And of course Tom's well polished Morgan did not make it further than the meeting point, his gears went wrong, it was a bush.



April 27th I helped Brian with a few light jobs around the place. We had a B.B.Q in the evening to end a very nice well organized event. It was nice to be back with Morgans and their owners.

April 28th I even got a lift to the airport. My 6 months trip to Australia was very exciting and educational I drove 17,428 K (10,830 miles) which is not counting the miles Richard drove up to Brisbane and on the Morgan run, around another 4,000k. If you ask me what I liked the best I wouldn't be able to say, it was all good. I have made so many new friends and acquaintances it was unbelievable. Unfortunately there was not time to say good bye to all of them. I will catch up with them next year.



April 29th I had a good trip back in the coach, the driver had a sense of humour and I met a lady called Gillian to whom I chatted most of the way from the Airport to Exeter. She is 74 years old and travels the world a great deal on her own, in fact she is only in England about 3 months of the year. I arrived back in Devon to a fine day. A wonderful trip.

Plod Adventures No. 30

April 21st Up and ready for our long journey to Brisbane, unfortunately Roger was unable to join us due to business commitments. The weather, well it is raining again so the Morgan hood had to be put up. The first day we had a 7 hour long run to Nambucca Heads, our accommodation was on the sea front and very grand it was to.



April 22nd Still raining, more English weather so the hood stayed up. Lunch time came around and the sun started to poke out from under the clouds, hooray the hood came down. We stopped at Nimbin a very unusual town and very much a hippy town, after 5 hours driving in the Morgan we arrived at Murwillumbah at a very nice B&B. Again Richard washed his Morgan and put it to bed, another long day but very pleasant.

April 23rd A nice fine day with the top down. So Richard decided to take me to see O'Reillys in the Lamington N.P a little out of our way but an extremely pretty route. Richard drove to perfection driving up and down round and round having great fun. We stopped at Canungra for a break then on to O'Reillys, a very busy place, back down the hill and on to Sanctuary Cove for a very nice late lunch looking at all the millionaire's boats. On our way again and we had to stop off at Greg's place in Brisbane going in convoy up to Maroochydore arriving rather late well in to the night.



April 24th Greg had our day planned and an early start we had, with my eyes still shut. Off we went to Mapleton Kenilworth Maleny, Montville and all around stopping off at the usual sites, and having our late lunch near Flaxton at the Le Relais Blessan with his magnificent collection of Citroen cars and one Morgan, you can walk through his collection of cars to get to the restaurant. We fetched Christine from the station and then off out again for a slap up meal.

April 25th An early start again to meet other Morgan cars for our run up to Gayndah unfortunately one car broke down, Tom's +8 the most polished car on the run, he had to limp back to Brisbane in 4th gear a common fault in a +8 gear box, that's cars for you. The day was hot just right for Morgans and I drove two of them. A lunch break at Kilkivan in The Left Bank. These Morgan folk certainly know how to live. Arriving at Gayndah booked in to our rooms, a very nice Motel, a good choice. A short distance down the road we went to Peter & Les who have a Citroen collection of 30 or more cars, all in excellent condition, they are truly Citroen experts and if they do not know how to fix it nobody does. They joined us for Dinner at the Grand Hotel.

Plod Adventures No. 29

April 16th I left the camp site at Dunns Swamp and had a lovely drive through the Blue Mountains and on to Leura where I meet Linda a Morgan owner and some family members for lunch as it is Linda's birthday on the 17th April. We had lunch at the Wayzgoose cafe. Mark the owner is another Morgan owner, and makes the worlds best scones. After lunch Linda showed me around most of the spectacular views in the district, and my camera was red hot. We also went to the Carrington Hotel. I stayed at Linda's home in Katoomba. The weather in the mountains is rather cold in fact very cold as winter is on its way.



April 17th Up at 6 o'clock and straight down to the health club for a swim and a very nice place it is. The water in the pool is extremely warm and the spar was lovely and hot. Then we went on to a cafe and had breakfast. Ready for a good days work up at the farm, Linda and I was doing some fencing as the bull had knocked it down I believe it got a little amorous! I drove the motorbike and the landrover helping to drive the cattle back into the right field. Great fun that was! Back to the house for Linda birthday party.



April 18th Up early at 6.30 for a swim. Then four of us went to Sydney to the Easter Show, an agriculture show. iIn the evening there were cars doing stunts and motorbikes as well as a lot of other entertainments on the agenda and to finish, a firework display.

April 19th On my way again, to park Plod up until I return. I made my way to Richard's place near Windsor N.S.W and it was raining cats and dogs. I had a nice warm welcome, Richard was working in his beautiful garage, on the Morgan, and yes it is a beautiful garage.

April 20th I sorted Plod out and packed up for my trip home to the U.K. Roger was working on his Cobra trying to get the clutch to work properly.

Plod Adventures No. 28

Easter Saturday 11th April I am on the move again. A good time to leave as it has started to rain out in Cunnamulla. I was going to the Races but the rain stopped play for me particularly as I wanted to get going after so long in one place. I said good buy to Nicky and Paul a very nice family making a new life in Cunnamulla, (from England) and doing up the old picture house. I drove on to near Bourke and stopped the night nothing special there.

Easter Sunday 12th April I drove through Gilgandra a nice little town then on to Mendooran at a very nice free site N0 393 in the camps4 book, with a pub nearby. I have met lots of very nice people here and a couple from England touring around looking for a place to settle. The weather is much colder now, and yes it is raining, cats and dogs.



14th April. I had a very pleasant drive down to Mudgee a nice friendly town, stopped and had a look around and popped into a shop to get my hair cut. Then on to Dunns Swamp Wollemi N.P through Rystone, the countryside around here is so much prettier than in the outback from whence I have just come from, but quite different. I struck lucky again with my camp site, even though it had a 10K dirt road, fortunately in very good condition. Thank goodness it has stopped raining.

15th April It is nice and sunny. This site was so nice and lots of friendly people I stayed another night. I took a 3 hour walk around the place and had fun climbing over some rocks and up to the view points.

Adventures of Plod No. 27

Helping out on a station has it's advantages meeting lots of people and making new friends. I went out on a girls night out in Cunnamulla and very interesting it was too. Unfortunately I was unable to have a drink, as the Police over here are extremely on the ball when it comes to drinking and driving. They wait around the corners of the pubs and pounce on you. Exactly the same as speeding when the sign says 40k you only do 40k an hour.


I went out with Rob to do some delving (ditching in England) that was quite a laugh unhooking the chain from the tractor, and opening the gates (gates made out of wire and a pice of wood or metal pole) I almost lost my boots in the mud, I had to rescue them from the mud 'ouch' now I have very muddy feet, never mind it's all good fun.

We're having roast leg of Lamb as Rod's son Alex is coming home from school for the Easter holidays. I am off to Paul and Nicky in Cunnamulla to send out this message and some photos, as well as catch up with the news. Then it's off on my way towards Sydney - I'm leaving the cattle station which was a very interesting stay. I have seen how the station owners live.

Plod Adventures No. 26

Life still goes on at the Cattle Station, I am enjoying the stay with plenty to see and do. After shearing the sheep, they were Mulesing, a funny word, anyway it means the removal of strips of wool-bearing skin from around the breech (buttocks) of a sheep in order to stop the blow flys. It is a horrible job and very messy.

I was invited to Paul & Nicky's home in Cunnamalla who have three small children, and more to the point have broadband so I was able to go on the internet to catch up on all the news.



I will soon be making my way to Sydney via the Blue Mountains and very much looking forward to my last week with Richard and Roger who are very kindly taking me back to Brisbane for a Morgan run just before I leave to go back home. What a joy it is to be an NBC member to have such good friends all over the world.

Not much else to report, looking forward to seeing the family and friends back in England now that I have escaped the coldest winter in 20 years.

Plod Adventures No. 25

I am still on the sheep farm at Cunnumulla and the shearing has started. The men were busy getting the shearers quarters ready. Although the shearers were at the farm only a few months a go the dust and dirt had built up, especially in the showers and toilets where all those little green frogs get to, blocking up the drains with there jobs. Still the frogs help to keep down the insects.

Saturday March 8th We went to the big night of the year, Cunnumulla Ball. It was a nice evening unfortunately a lot of my photos were a bit on the blurred side. The bar at the Ball did
not have any red wine so I walked across the road and went in to the pub and brought a glass of the red. I was not allowed to take in the glass, so the door man went and got me one of those
horrible plastic ones for me. I notice the wine was dripping out of the bottom of the glass , so a kind man, Paul quickly fetched his wife's one. Apparently the bar at the Ball sold red wine by the bottle so I ended up buying a bottle of red, a small communication problem.



Sunday March 9th A pig had to be shot as the pig was into everything like damaging the plane and even opening the cold room door. He was a lovely pig just a bit lonely and wanted a little bit of company.

All the shearing has finished now so it is time to relax a little. They have shorn 3,400 lambs and 69 sheep.



I took a trip in to Cunnumulla to see some people I met at the Ball as I am able to use their computer. I will most properly stay at Cunnumulla until April 5 when I will slowly make my way back to Windsor to Richard's place where I am going to keep Plod.

Plod Adventures No. 24

Sunday 8th February I arrived at Cunnamulla for a big cattle/ sheep muster and to my surprise Rod the owner said I could stay in his very nice bungalow all to myself so I spread myself out and hung up my clothes.



Good a well earned rest, apart from quite a lot of frogs. I caught one big one and one baby one threw them outside. That's not counting the ones in the toilet, probably about 6 of them I got rid of. I found another 5 baby ones and I cut them in half, my word they do take some killing. I thought it a bit cruel but then the little blighters would only come back again.



Monday 9th February I was up at 5 a.m to go and sort the cattle in the correct pens!! Well that was a laugh, not really, because a gate was left open the day before and a lot of the cattle got out of the paddock. Rod and Dave could not find them, they had scarpered!! Rod had to get his plane out to see where they went. Great, he found them and drove them back to the holding pens for the slaughter poor things. I can understand why people are vegetarians. Anyway the day was very long we branded some and Rod said I could have a go at removing the balls. I tried but I guess my heart was not in it and I gave the knife back to Rod.



I got back to the house about 7 p.m and it was getting dark, found some food in the fridge a good slice of ham again. I took my plate to my bungalow, Rod calls it the cottage. Well I went to go to the toilet and guess what 5 baby FROGS were sitting on the loo seat. I cut one up and well, I was so fed upwith them I opened another bottle of the Red. I think I will have my ham for breakfast.

Tuesday 10th February Rod went to fetch his daughter a 500k around trip, nothing much to report really. Just one minor detail, the new outside water tank sprung a leak, the bung could not take the pressure. I climbed the Tower to have a look.

Wednesday February 11th Cleaned up the kitchen a bit, to help out, and cooked a meal

Thursday February 12th I had a look at a water pump no spark in the engine.

Friday February 13th I did some gardening and once I started I did not stop.

Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th February. I just lazed around as I was rather stiff from gardening.

Monday 16th February I went in to Cunnamulla to do some shopping with Rod
.
Friday February 20th I am still on the cattle/sheep farm observing everything that goes on. Life is rather busy on the station fixing everything, not me personally though. I have a lot of baby frogs that climb up the plug holes and particularly in the toilet in my cottage. At the House we have a vast number of large green frogs that croak. Mice as well, still that is farm life for you. To day we had a thunder storm and a nice lot of rain. It was a frog croaking day.

Saturday 21st I still cannot get on to the internet. Dan popped over to my cottage and I showed him a picture of my Morgan, which surprised him, as he had not seen a Morgan before.
We had dinner a joint effort, Rod and me. Rod cooked the lamb spare ribs and burnt them, I just had to smile, anyway it tasted quite nice. Dan went in to town to check out the nightlife he is only 20 years old. I helped out Rod with his computer he is just like I was when I first started so I felt quite good in being able to help him. He is quite nice when things are going well.

Plod Adventures No. 23

Sunday January 25th I was going to be on my way but we were invited out for lunch so I stayed, and Monday was Australian day, and so it goes on. I left Bill and Rosemary Tuesday morning and went up the coast to see see Geoff. I could of stayed but I had been static for too long and off I went.

I did not travel far as I was taking in the beautiful scenery. I stopped at Cruice Park according to my book it was supposed to be a good site, well it was really but on a very busy fast road so it was quite noisy. Anyway in the morning it was quite fun as a lot of travellers stopped to have a cup of tea, as usual I chatted to all, including a bunch of bikers. I drove off down a very pretty road past Somerset Dam and Esk. I have been on this road before, it is a lovely drive.

I stopped at a very nice site at Ravensboume 466 for those that have Camps4. I stayed another night here as I was on lovely green grass. Unfortunately it rained most of the night and in the morning the mist was so thick that you could hardly see in front of you. So I decided to head West instead, I left the U.K because of the rain.



January 30th After driving through very misty roads it started to clear near Toowoomba I bypassed the town as I had been here before. I reached Millmerran on the Gore HWY a very well kept small town. I stopped at Goondiwindi quite nice but not impressed but they had a very good bakers and they are hard to find in Australia. I reach my night spot 723 Nindigully Hotel an excellent spot right by the river several campers at this spot fishing and one man caught 5 turtle's. I strolled up to the pub it was happy hour so a beer was on the menu.

January 31st I greased up the shackle pins and repaired a mud flap on Plod not much else really generally lazed around watching people trying to catch fish instead of Turtles. The evening was great fun as a lot of very friendly bikers came in and stayed at the pub.

February 1st I was taken for a ride on a Harley Davidson Motorbike and time we had messed about as you do, it was lunch time so here I am another night at Nindigully Hotel.



February 2nd I went for a trip into St George brought some provisions drove back to Nindigully and then in the pub for a cold beer as it was happy hour, a lot of campers and locals were in the pub and a very interesting evening it was too. I went back to Plod and I cooked potatoes and some fresh fish for my evening meal.

February 3rd Time I was moving on so up to Mitchell I will go. I reached Mitchell at the Neil Turner Weir this was a lovely spot with nicely mowed lawns. Another camper was there as well.

February 4th I went on to Amby on my way to Roma in order to go on line at the Big4 site. I stopped at Amby where I had been before and was greeted with open arms. I got my usual deal free electricity and food for a little help around the place so I decided to stay a while. I am off to Charleville to watch how they do things out in the bush mustering up the cattle which I am very much looking forward to.

Plod Adventures No. 22

January 21st Delivered Plod to the Spring people and then went in to town. Collected Plod at 4 o'clock in the evening. Greg and Christine took me to a car club and had a BBQ at Manly, near Brisbane.


January 22nd Generally tided up then I went out with Christine to another car meeting.

January 23rd I drove up the coast to Warana to sort out my battery that went duff within 4 weeks - I got my money back - 10% for the handling charge, still at least I got most of it back after a few polite words. I called in to see Norman and then Rosemary and Bill. I parked up and then went down to the Surf club for an early evening drink walked back home and had dinner.

January 24th Rosemary had a few visitors around and what a hectic life she has visiting people and generally enjoying life. We went around to their next door neighbours for early drinks and then they came round for dinner in the evening, also with Geoff my cousin.



January 25th We all went out to a friends house for a BBQ lunch and in the evening we all again went out to some more friends.

Plod Adventure No. 21

January 12th Richard took the day off work. We gave Plod a quick wash and off I went. I had a most spectacular run to my night stop. From Windsor I drove up to Putty were I had lunch, through to Singleton, Gresford, Dungog. I had to make a slight detour as one bridge was rather on the dilapidated side. I got to my chosen site 313 at Barrington Reserve to find the council had put up notices No Camping. So I went off to the next spot 311 Gloryvale Reserve which was even better quite a few campers there camping along the river bank.



January 13th I decided to stay there another night talked to several people the night before. Jane a lady with three boys one of her own the other two were friend's, went down the river in one canoe and the boy's had a lilo each, what fun. I did the same thing many moons ago canoed down the river Wye in Wales.



The free site was very pleasant a lot of campers came and went but not really very interesting people, only Jane was worth the time of day then she was off down the river, in other words every one kept to themselves, so I could not get to know them. Oh well it did not really mater as I was feeling rather on the tired side. Properly my hectic weekend with the two R's and there wives.

January 14th I drove along up to camp 281 Wollomombi Falls on the Armidale to Grafton road. I stopped off at Walcha for a few provisions and met a couple that was very interested in Plod we exchanged polite conversation as they were English, been over here for 30 years and on their way back to the U.K for a long visit. Again the scenery was spectacular. I stopped at Uralla which was very nice as well. At the camp site which is a N.T site at only $3 a night each, well worth the money plenty of room and privacy to each pitch and they even provide the firewood free; Australia is a fantastic country, as well as free BBQ who wants a camp site at $35 a night or thereabouts.

January 15th I called in to see Jim an acquaintance that had built a house basically made of straw near Grafton.





I arrived and was shown around his very unusual home. Jim had quite a lot of jobs to do so I mucked in. Helped to start the generator and change a water pump over etc. and talked about his tractor, by this time it was time to have some dinner and a very nice steak was cooked for me.

January 16th I got my overalls on and so down to work it was. We took off the bonnet of the tractor, on went the new fan belt. The diesel tap was leaking diesel so off to Grafton we went to do some tractor shopping, eventually we found a union that would work in tead of the tap which we were unable to buy. Off came the Diesel tank as we found a few holes in the bottom of the tank. I was going to solder it but we could not find any solder etc. So we took the tank to a mate of his just down the road that is an expert on welding, and all so a good opportunity to spot weld a bracket on Plod so off came my water tank again. Jim had guests for dinner and they had already arrived in there camper vans.



A quick shower and a glass of the red, every body helped in getting the dinner ready, out came the fresh Oysters, and a big pot for the stew, I left them to it while I tried to take a few photos. The evening was great fun talking about different camp sites and horse riding etc.



January 17th Jim and the others left for other commitments, while I stayed working on the Tractor and putting back my water tank once again. I washed Plod's curtains and did some of my own washing while I had the opportunity.

January 18th A day of rest. It is so lovely up here quite and peaceful so I decided to take it easy for once and just potter around, any way after a lazy start, I remembered that my drinking water tank leaked when full up, so out it came. I did not like it as it is stainless steel and you can not see how much water you have left in. In went two plastic water containers one of which was my spare that I had rescued out of a dustbin on a camp site (I saw the person put it in). Anyway that was my day of rest which turned out to be rather on the busy side.

January 19th I drove from Grafton to Currumbin Walters to see Doug (the chap I bought the van from) had a beer and he gave me a box to fix on the back of Plod which will be much more useful than the push bike, which I had borrowed from Heather and Jim. I than drove to Ipswich to drop off the bike and had a nice chat and a cupper. Unfortunately I could not stay long as it was geting dark, I had arranged to stay near the spring shop in anticipation of sorting out Plod's springs. Good job I have a satnav as it was dark.

January 20th I was going to remove Plods springs and put new ones on but the Spring Factors gave me a good deal in fitting them so I will have them done tomorrow. I fitted a box on Plod and did a few other jobs and while I had the chance fitted a spot lamp on as well.

Plod Adventures No. 20

8th January I left John and Caroline's and made my way to Canberra I popped in to see Robyn & Robert Morgan owners that I met at Bathurst. They made me very welcome - stayed the night in Plod after they had given me a very nice dinner and drinks.

9th January I made my way to the Blue Mountains, Plod reached (132km = 82 mph a record speed) and stopped at Bilpin Reserve in a wood. I got my computer out and blow me down I was on the internet.

10th January In the morning I started up Plod and then stopped again at the rubbish bins. Well it would not start up again so I opened up the bonnet and a lady came over to see if I needed any help. Thanks a lot I said but I will be able to fix it, any way there was quite a crowd looking on; all Jehovah Witnesses. The battery terminal had broken and was not making a good contact, I fixed it and I was appalled by my onlookers.

Off to see Richard and Liz who live near Richmond N.S.W. Richard and I drove in to town and got a few parts for Plod, and then we redid some of the wiring on Plod to make him better. I renewed the fuel filter which was very dirty so good job we did that.

We had a lovely BBQ in the evening with lots of red wine Richard's mother came over as well and we all had a great time. The only problem was in the morning Richard and I had rather thick heads.

11th January Sunday Richard and Liz took me to see Roger Shawyer near Gosford and what a splendid place he has. We had a very nice BBQ in his garden right on top of a cliff.

Plod Adventures No. 19

January 5th. Arrived at John Merton's place in Tuross Head. John took me to a man to weld up my pipes in to my water tank, which broke off very mysteriously. We went in his +8 and very fine it is too, the +8 I mean. Went around a few shops and got some spare bits for Plod. Fetched the tank and put it on with a secure bracket which is bolted on to the chassis. It is almost fixed - hah, hah.

John dragged me down to the beach with his son and three grand children to play in the surf which was great fun. The sea was a bit on the cold side not like the warm salt water pool at Silverton , but the sea was fun.


I fixed up the tank while John and Caroline cooked the dinner.

Plod Advertures No. 18

1st January 2009. After I had sorted my photos out and the Blog it was around lunch time. I was hoping to travel to Hay, a stop by the river but time I had downloaded the Photos and Blog at Mildura time had really caught up with me and I stopped about 65k before Hay as it was getting dark and finding the right spot is hopless at night.

2nd January I did a long drive to Adelong Falls and stopped the night. On the way down I tried to get my water tank bracket welded up but no luck everywhere was still shut for the Christmas holidays just a waste of time really, never mind.

I had a nice long chat with Ron Clarke a famous craftsman in steel Murals & Signs at Waddi New South Wales. Ron was born in London, a true cockney who came to Australia when he was still a teenager.


I Stopped in at Narranders, Clarks was a good bet to weld up my bracket but they were shut. I had a quick look around Wagga Wagga as well, no good either.

3rd January I was really angry to day as when I put my water tank back onto Plod two of the pipes were missing, I looked around but I could not find them, must of dropped off at my last night stop it is quite a mystery. So I was in a foul mood all day, good job nobody was with me!!! Still I have only myself to blame as I should of let it be welded up at Adelaide, but I did not think the chap would have made a good job; my pride got the better of me, now I am paying the price. I just wanted Plod to be in good shape again, so I just kept driving and ended up at near Cooma 707 site. Another reason for being soar, I went to download at Big4 in Jindabyne but they do not use Net4 so again I was stymied.

Anyway at my night spot I met a lady called Carol from Canberra. She rebuilt her own motor bike from scratch, we put the world to rights and she is very much like me. Oh no not another one like me, yes, Carol and Julia, we have a lot in common!!!!!!! I took her photo twice but I can not find it. I know I did take it obviously too many Reds were consumed.

Plod Adventures 17

December 28th I left Mintabie around midday. On the way along the rough road from Mintabie my water tank bracket broke. I knew it needed welding but I hoped it would last a little longer. I could of driven back to Steve's place but that was 30 km back on a rough road so I took the tank off and than drove back along the Stuart HWY in a head wind, rather slowly, never reaching above 80 km, under 50 miles per hour. Using my Camps 4, a Travellers Bible for campers, a must if you camp in Australia, I made 514 Bon Bon Rest Area.

I did not stop to take any photos as you have plenty to look at of Mintabie although I did see a few nice views, different to the ones on the way up. I called in Coober Pedy to download all the Mintabie Photos.

December 29th I stopped early at 501 Hesso Rest Area where I did my washing on the way up as the water pipe runs above the ground and is hot from the days sun. I again did some washing and cooked up a T bone steak with three veg. That night I had at least four trains go past with flashing lights and hooters which wakened me up so I am rather sleepy today.

December 30th still a head wind in to Port Augusta. I went in to the Botanic Gardens at Port Augusta, well worth a visit and a very nice restaurant as well. I met two ladies, Karen and Norma, both Aborigines. Karen's great grandmother had to get permission from the Queen of England in order to marry a white man from England, his name was Tom Adams. We went up to the look-out and afterwards they showed me where the Sturt Desert Pea flower was, the floral emblem of South Australia. Karen told me it is illegal to pick them only an Aborigine is allowed to pick them, anyway I was given the flower. http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/sa.emblem.html


I drove along to Orroroo, then Burra and on to Morgan a very nice place right by the River Murray, then on to 169 Heron Bend, a camp site, right on the river bank, for the night. A really beautiful spot.

December 31st New years eve. Stayed here by the River Murray, a great spot and watched the house boats go by. Two moored up and off to the pub we went for a New Year Eve's bash

http://www.nationaltrustsa.org.au/s2_things/01_buildings_and/72_OverlandCornerHotel.html