esCarpade 2011 - Day 6 - Mildura-Swan Hill-Deniliquin

Waking up bright and early in Mildura, it was time to hit the road and head to breakfast.

Nearly the entire motel was booked out with esCarpadians!!

The food van - breakfast was a bacon and egg roll and a cup of coffee... yum!!

Cars lined up on both sides - morning school visit cars on the left, others on the right!

Close up of Booger Mobile...

Kermit's artwork that Damian somehow managed to miss on previous occasions...

Damian speaks to the puppeteers to find out how many kids are at the schools being visited today...

Time for driver briefing...

Damian studiously scribbling notes...

Snot Rocket heading out for the day...

Great to see Car 49 back on the road!!

Team BSL Kombi Van looking sweet as always!!

Cars lined up waiting to head to the school...

Damian helping Peta the Puppeteer make a special delivery into the bin!!

Heading to the school in convoy...

Looking out the back window - Booger Mobile was mid-field...

Turning into Nichols Point Primary School.

Parking on the oval, Booger Mobile's stereo was booming, so the doors were open for full effect!!

The hungry hordes arrive...

Damian and Jo having a laugh and throwing lollies...

The kids head in towards the puppet show...

Zoe and Peta get the crowd warmed up!!

Kylie looking for Deano... he's behiiiiiiiiiiiind you!!

Puppet show finished, esCarpadians head back to their cars...

Out onto the dirt...

Then back onto the bitumen...

This pattern continued for most of the day.  Some tracks had deep, soft sandy soil...

Others potholes...

Past the swamp...

Winding through the trees...

1 TON following Booger Mobile...

Jo opened the gate, and then waited to close it...

Posing with the Team Afro teddy bear...

1 TON and another car leapfrog Booger Mobile while Jo closes the gate.

Driving on Unsealed Road says the GPS... gee, ya think?

Bloke cycling through the national park...

There he goes!!

MW3 (Mechanical Workshop 3) ironically broke down and waited for another MW to turn up and help them out...

Car 22 (the Octopus car) goes past...

Teddy just hanging around...

Booger Mobile leap-frogs 1 TON when they stop to let their engine cool...

Damian and Jo's daily in-car self portrait...

Car 22 stopping to refuel... Damian decides it is an ideal location to do the same and pulls over...

Limo 64 goes past Booger Mobile, while Damian splits Booger's head...

Back half of the head removed...

Lifting down the fuel drum...

And pouring it in...

Car 4 breezes by Booger Mobile...

The tracks continue...

Some more trees...

The track gets narrower...

Turning left at the Yarraby Flora Reserve...

Car 4 stopped to change a tyre... you may remember them from an earlier photo!!

Back on the bitumen...

And back onto the dirt...

Swan Hill - the lunch destination!!

A Paddle Steamer in the car park... you don't see that every day!!

On the deck overlooking the Murray River...

And a snappy self portrait...

The mirror inside the gents toilet...  interesting artwork!!

Jo standing with her man!!

Not often you see a steam train and paddle steamer in the same photo!!

Paddle Steamer...

Doc was having some problems with his car, but managed to get out onto the track and in front of Booger Mobile...

A tower in Swan Hill...

Crossing the Murray River into NSW.

Gnarly tree!

Out on the track, Doc was having more issues...  no help required, but a guest appearance on the Booger Mobile blog essential!!

Whoa, a dirt road with a curve in it!!

Apparently there's a hazard ahead...

Rickety old bridge - definitely a hazard!!

Crossing another bridge...

River again...

Back on the bitumen...

And dirt!!

Past the shallow ponds...  are they rice?  Crayfish?  Who knows?

And bitumen again!!

The smiley air freshener pretents it's a train!!

Yet more dusty dirt...

Another hazard...

Looks even more rickety than the last one!!

An irrigation canal...

Interesting tree on the left...

Being overtaken by OV (Official Vehicle) 3.

Booger Mobile beside the mighty Murray River...

Some clown ruined Jo's nature shot!!

Over another bridge...

And arriving in Deniliquin!!

Past the war memorial to check in...

After check-in, Damian and Jo found their hotel and got ready for dinner...

The roses were in full bloom next door to the motel!!

Jo stopping to check out the snap dragons in the park...

Self portrait on the bridge in the park, with Weeping Willows in the background...

Dam in the park.

A lumpy tree trunk...

Jo, Tony and Graham usurping the signs authority!!

Damian with Camp Quality CEO Simon Rountree...

Damian and Jo keeping good company - Deniliquin Mayor Brian Mitsch and his wife Shirley!

Team Afro's Rob and Darren with Peta the Puppeteer!!

esCarpade boss Ben Mildren giving Damian "the look".  He looks a bit like an evil troll-doll, doesn't he?

The band played while the esCarpadians had dinner...

Mal considering joining Team Booger Mobile...

The second last day of the Camp Quality esCarpade has been and gone, and only one day of driving (on the esCarpade) remains...

The week has gone quickly, but Damian and Jo are really looking forward to getting home to see their respective families!!