The Long Drive - Currumbin Waters

August 29

I am now resting at Doug and Linda's waiting for Plod to "come out of hospital".  Things have changed very slightly, the NBC Morgan Group are unable to make the trip from Sydney to Perth because of various other commitments and personal reasons.  I have therefore decided to go around Australia anti clockwise because of the rainy season in the Northern Territory, I am hoping it will be better if I go anti clockwise because of the timing.

Unfortunately I only have nine months to do the trip in and you never know who I might meet!!!!!!

August 31

To day I went to a church center where they had a very well equipped wood working machine shop Doug has just joined to learn about all aspects of wood working. Fortunately    some off the men are very good craft’s men and give up there time to teach beginners like me and Doug. I had got on quite well at turning, and had a great time teasing the aged men. (smile)

Linda was in charge of the ladies they were 350 ladies doing craft work knitting, quilt making, painting, and all sorts of things that retired ladies do a fantastic achievement.

One lady drives over an hour to attend. Again men and ladies give up there spare time to help the beginners. A real good achievement by the church members. 
The ladies pay $4 a time that is how they know the numbers.  Over 480 members regesterd.

The men in the wood shop pay $7 a time cheep I would say well worth it. seeing as we can use all machines and tools.

THE Long Drive - Grafton To Currumbin Waters

August 25

I left Geoff & Stephanie's place making my way up to Currumbin Waters to get my rear axle revamped Doug & Linda have got the same vehicle as mine (I brought mine from them a private deal) and had a little problem with the rear half shafts so to avoid any problems driving around Australia I decided to do the same as Doug has done. How could I refuse an offer so great as to put me up while the job is being done at Aussie Diffs.  Doug has arranged every thing, what a man, not many like that!

Another tale I was happily driving along without a care in the world my Diesel gage was on empty help, I had forgot to feed Plod with his fuel, 419k later I fortunately found some Diesel or he would have been rather sick.

I stopped at Jim’s place near Grafton, I knew no one would be in, another good man. I arrived in the dark as it was an 8 hour journey from St Ives Sydney I left rather on the late side. I managed to find the key to unlock Jim's gate in the dark.

Jim’s house is made out of straw rather unusually to say the least very attractive in a sort of way. A place to meditate. I travelled 620 K today.

Jim's Place

August 26

Plod went through an inspection improving a few small items and checking what I had left in it from last year. My memory is not what it used to be.(I even left a bag of food from shopping in Woolworth's, did not think any more of it until I got 3hours away from St Ives.) I got the deck chair out dressed in shorts what a lovely warm sunny day.

August 27

Guess what it is raining cats and dogs to day, still it will give me time to write this Blog. Jim has solar panels for his electric light, unfortunately the weather was rather on the dull side. Night fell minding my own business all of a sudden I was in pitch black no moon help I can not see, and of course I had no torch. I scrabbled back into Plod nice and cosy with light.  A torch I must buy!!!

August 28

Up early thank goodness it has stopped raining every where is wet, wet, and even wetter.
I packed up and locked Jim home up. “Think” have I got every thing I hope so off I drove up towards Currumbin Walters. I took the pretty route up Casino along riversides and across a ferry, rivers and streams all around me. Then on to Kyogle &  Murwillumbah the Kyogle Road is a joy to drive. Drove up to Coolangatta Beach another brilliant place to spend some time. I passed a night stop nearby, parked up, locked up. and guess what I locked myself out and it was dark again. Eventually I managed to climb in through a side window as I was unable to open any of the doors after much trial and tribulations. I borrowed a touch from another parked van. A touch I must buy!!!!!!!!!!!!

At Doug & Linda's Home backing on to Currumbin Creek.

The Long Drive - Sydney St Ives

August 22

Geoff took me to Richard’s home near Windsor to fetch Plod.  We had a great drive up to Hornsby Heights unfortunately the road was closed so we had to do a U Turn. An hour's drive ended up more like two hours. I did some shopping first like maps and an E tag for the toll roads.  Back at Geoff’s to sort Plod out and help him with his 4/4 Morgan rebuild, another very busy day.

August 23

Still sorting out Plod.  Also refitting the doors to Geoff’s Morgan. Otherwise a quite day if you can call it that.
Stephanie did my washing and ironing not to mention cooking all the dinners. 

The Long Drive - Sydney

17 August 2011

My trip has started at last, I am flying out with BA. I did not sleep that well, had a 2 hour stop at Singapore then back on the plane, arrived in Sydney on time August 19 at 5.15am. Geoff fetched me from the airport which was really very good of him what it is to have great friends. He took me to a Telstra shop to get a new phone number and a Mobile Broadband for my computer.

Saturday 20 August 2011

Early start 6.15am to Eastern Creek-MOCA Supersprint I was helping with the Scrutineering and then I was on flag point a little cold when the wind got up (like being back in the UK) but we all had fun. We had a very good BBQ afterwards with flowing drinks which really warmed me up nicely. It was so great to meet up with many old friends from the Morgan community.

Sunday 21 August 2011

Another early start 8am off to Eastern Creek again for a car show 19 morgans turned up and the Australian’s certainly look after their cars. There were 1200 cars on display all in fantastic condition. Much well preserved English cars. I met more friends. Then it was back to Geoff & Stephanie home for a very well cooked roast lamb with a wine or two. What a great day I had.