Day three started quite early, with Damian and Angus filling up Booger Mobile before heading to breakfast. What would the day have in store for them?
Damian taking pensive selfies...
Some of the esCarpadians in the carpark...
Inside the breakfast venue - East Lismore Bowls Club.
Out in the carpark, the rest of Team Queensland (the unofficial team of the Queensland entrants) were milling around. Team Afro in the Fireman Sam truck...
Mud rats - new entrants for 2013!
808 made it back after their mechanical problems forced them to spend a night in Childers...
Madagascar - new team for 2013.
Shark Mobile, of course back in 2013...
Team Ryan - new team for 2013.
After breakfast, it was time to hit the road.
Some of the faster entrants were queuing up behind Booger Mobile...
Angus moved over to let them pass, and the rear window was clear (as was the front window a short time later).
It wasn't long before the boys were on the dirt...
Passing through cane fields...
Through slow zones right through house yards...
Past old farm sheds...
Lots of windmills...
The occasional breakdown being attended to by the mechanical workshops...
Angus was driving the morning session...
T intersections - everyone's favourite!! They are pretty hard to miss...
Back on the bitumen for a while...
Across old bridges...
Long stretches of straight road...
More dirt...
Dust remnants from oncoming trucks... (this features in the video below)...
Down tree-lined dirt roads...
Off and on the bitumen...
It was a glorious day!!
Dirt...
More dirt...
A navigator selfie for Damian...
Angus - a picture of concentration...
Some of the dirt roads were pretty good...
Some had windy bits...
Long open straights...
And on and on it goes!!
Kicking up plenty of dust!!
Sharp right!!
Further through the bush...
Climbing upwards...
And up...
The ruts started to get deeper...
As the tracks got narrower...
With lots of potholes and rocks!!
These ruts looked nasty!!
81 had broken down - their bash plate had decided to tear off a couple of bolts, so Team Booger Mobile stopped to lend them a hand (being in possession of some of the items they required).
The Ambos and MW1 turned up...
One under the car, the rest watching!!
Once the problem was temporarily sorted, it was onto the tracks again...
And a selfie with Angus Junior (Team Booger Mobile's painted egg).
The tracks continued to get narrower...
And the ruts deeper...
Until the track resembled a four wheel drive track!!
At the top of the hill - a fire tower!!
Another breakdown - Team Booger Mobile had no parts to help them, and MW1 were just behind, so on they moved!!
The video below covers some of this section...
The track seemed to close in around Booger Mobile...
81 were following, being guided by calls from Booger Mobile (since 81's bash plate was temporarily removed).
Ah... the fun stop... but where was the fun? Seems Team Booger Mobile missed it...
The roads become a little more friendly after this...
Still narrow though!!
Past more old farm houses...
Straight bits...
Bendy bits...
Bridges...
Over troubled water perhaps?
This is a long drive... and it was a short drive by comparison to other days!!
The trees watched the procession...
Past the tree trimming tractor...
Past OKA...
And back onto the bitumen.
Down to the river...
Where Booger Mobile and 81 lined up for the ferry.
Looking good!!
That's a nice looking river!!
Still waiting...
And time to get on the ferry!!
Team Booger Mobile didn't pay the ferry man... they didn't even fix a price!!
Off the other side, the journey continued...
Past a modern looking house overlooking the river - it looked pretty nice for a new home!!
Back onto the dirt...
To find the Clowns had a little mishap...
But they were towed out nicely...
Booger Mobile looking good!!
Past more cane fields...
And into a cane field...
This doesn't look right...
It wasn't... this was the right turn!!
Past machinery...
And turning onto the highway...
Back onto dirt...
Nice open roads...
More bitumen...
Straight stretches...
Bendy sections...
And sneaky sharp bends that jump up when they are least expected!!
Over more bridges...
And more...
Past trees...
And onto the highway again!!
More tree lined roads...
Surely lunch must be getting close!
T intersections!!
Team Booger Mobile arrived at lunch at the Grafton Golf Club. Unfortunately, stopping to render assistance to 81 meant that they didn't have time to have lunch and visit the school, so yet another school visit was missed...
After lunch, 101 was having some issues, but MIB were helping...
Damian took Booger Mobile to get fuelled up...
While in town, Damian heard a call over the UHF that wasn't someone from the esCarpade... it was a local who was not too far from where Damian was, and she wanted to make a donation to Camp Quality. Damian doubled back, met some lovely locals and collected a $20 donation. Woot!!
The afternoon drive was cut short due to a bushfire in the area, so Damian and Angus decided that driving straight to Coffs Harbour on the bitumen was the best option.
Across this old drawbridge...
Under this newer train bridge...
Onto the highway...
More highway...
You get the idea...
Heading to Coffs Harbour...
Past the Big Banana!!
Under another nice bridge...
And to check in!! The benefit of getting in so early is that Damian and Angus were able to hang out at the check in for a while having a chat to some of the other teams, before going to find their hotel, where Damian reviewed the day's videos and created the montage!!
Damian eating a snotty cracker, much to the delight of those around him!!
Dinner was at the Coffs Harbour Ex-Services Club.
Plenty of people were there for the rock'n'roll themed dinner...
Damian stuffing around taking selfies...
Some local high school kids doing some dancing - they were pretty good!!
The band played...
And the menu looked awesome!! Damian ended up with the lamb shank!!
Banana Bender and Giggle entertained the esCarpadians with a repeat-after-me singalong!!
One of Quintin and Nina's friends Kristy was performing at the club for the esCarpadians (she's a very good rock'n'roll dancer) - Damian made a point of saying g'day and posing for a photo...
The full length photo might tell something though - what could it be? Oh... Kristy is standing on a chair!! ;-)
A great day was had by all, and a good night also. Wednesday is rest day, so the boys will have a chance for a sleep in and to wash and check over Booger Mobile.
In the mean time, why not get a hot beverage of your choice and settle in to watch the day 3 highlights video, with some spectacular action and scintillating commentary!!
10 points for the Chris De Burgh reference!
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for Booger having to bounce over those rough roads. Lucky today is a rest day. J
ReplyDeleteAnother Fantastic fun filled blog,was great to see the close up pictures of some of the other cars in the escarpade.
ReplyDeleteWhat a rough and ruggard Adventure you had today,the video was great and now I know why you need to have a bash plate,could you imagenion the damage with out it. As always Booger is taking it all in her stride and looks like she is driving like a dream, well done today guys take care looking forward to tjhe next exciting blog :)
Still watching the video while I comment.