Retro Rock-It packed ready to go...
A few under-bonnet checks before heading off...
It was a very short trip - out of the carpark and onto the road...
Tony smelled fuel... a quick tighten of the fuel hose clamp sorted it out!
Safety first... protect the boys front and back!
And onto the road, heading towards Parkes. Regular blog readers would recognise this corner from the 2018 esCarpade, where the cars all lined up for the police-escorted parade into Dubbo!
This truck transporting cows was called the "Beef Bus"...
Purple People Eater following...
Through Tomingley...
Then Peak Hill...
It was a glorious day...
And past a place with more gnomes than garden!
Past the entrance to "The Dish"... the boys had been there last year, so didn't stop again this year!
The grass was getting greener as they headed further south...
And into Parkes...
Tony decided he needed to stop for another conference...
And the decision was to stop at a mechanic to have his engine error codes checked and cleared...
Back onto the road!
And into Forbes...
Where they actually have some water!!
And of course, what would a road trip be without roadworks!!
Dusty!
The Shire of Bland... doesn't sound that interesting!!
Almost to West Wyalong (where the 2018 esCarpade finished), but instead, turning left towards Temora!
Open road...
And a right turn...
Into sunny, downtown Barmedman!
Yet another railway crossing on the highway... this one with boom gates!
Past more grain silos...
And of course, more roadworks!
Trying not to throw up too much fresh asphalt!
And into Temora...
Some very old buildings in the main street...
And back onto the open road...
Angus had a little nap in the car... For about 40km!
Fields that are actually growing stuff instead of brown and dead...
And alien pods...
Past the turnoff to Junee...
And the changing landscape...
Continuing towards Wagga Wagga...
And driving behind a car towing one of those mobile light tower/generator type setups...
Continue to run down the Olympic Highway...
More alien pods... could there be an invasion coming?
They're everywhere!
And into Wagga Wagga...
Wait...
What happened to Wagga Wagga? All the boys see is a big tower!
But the sign says "Welcome to Wagga Wagga"... it must be true!
Interesting cloud formation...
Crossing the Murrumbidgee River...
Which actually has water in it!
And into Wagga Wagga...
Following the GPS to what was meant to be a McDonald's, the boys found an old-school diner...
Ray Ray's Diner!
The burgers were awesome, the service excellent... and the boys received a free drink and a discount after explaining what all the "crazy cars" parked out the front were all about!
Line them up!
After lunch, it was time to check off the remaining 200km or so to Wangaratta...
Through Uranquinty...
Looking a bit dusty again...
Past "The Rock" (location)...
The boys reckon this might be "The Rock"...
Past an inappropriately washed out sign... did it say "The Murray"?
Towards civilisation...
Into Culcairn...
With a right...
Then a left...
Then over Billabong Creek...
Past the slow moving tractor heading in the opposite direction...
And the alien pods lining up outside their shelter...
Through Gerogery...
All the while, stalking the same truck...
Over Five Mates Crossing... Named after a train vs car accident in 2001 that resulted in the tragic deaths of five mates in the car when this was a level crossing, not a bridge over the train line...
Onto the Hume Highway...
Nearly time to say good-bye to the truck...
Because this highway is dual carriageway!!
Just keep driving...
What are these bridges?
Some kind of pedestrian bridges it would seem...
Crossing the Murray River...
And into Victoria!
Keep right towards Yarrawonga...
Continuing into the afternoon...
And into Wangaratta...
Well, in theory!
Can't be too much further...
Another 13km apparently!!
Alrighty... the Wangaratta exit...
It's got to be here somewhere!
Wangaratta! The sign wouldn't lie...
Across a bridge...
Down the tree-lined main street...
And into town...
The boys found their motel...
And so did Purple People Eater!
After settling in, Damian contacted Phil whom he had worked with in Brisbane in 2017/18 (but who lives in Wangaratta), to see if he wanted to catch up. He did, and they did!
Scenic view of the Ovens River while having dinner... it's a tough life!
So the boys made it to Wangaratta in one piece... Retro Rock-It worked well on the way down (touch wood), and tomorrow will bring Day 0 - scrutineering, paperwork and official stuff, before a relaxing day followed by the official welcome dinner!
Don't forget that there's still time to make a donation if you are interested... the boys are still around $900 short of their fundraising goal for 2019...
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