Day 5 Tues 20th March
Noresman to Balladonia - distance 191 km
Wonderful send off from Norseman Tourist Bureau, Evelyn put on the urn to make us all coffee and tea. Then along came Shire President Jacquie Best to flag off every entrant and Richard Brookes the CEO of Shire of Dundas. A little sun squeezed out very occasionally. So without the head winds from York to Southern Cross, followed with wind and torrential rain from Southern Cross to Kalgoorlie and the next day to Norseman. Today was a soft day with a little rain and a sliver of sun.
Unfortunately, by Sunday Gavin Mutton’s, defunct 1913 Swift was nestled into its backup. Listening to problems from one of the entrants who visited John Handley “mobile workshop”, Andrew Howe Davies, 1914 Renault, presented with a broken carburettor part seeking a remedy. Gavin realised his Swift could quickly provide the solution by donating the necessary part.
Bob Lamond’s 1910 was limping along on one cylinder, speed tops 20kmh. So we tried to use David McCredie’s 1912 Maxwell spark plug assembly. I was so impressed that when I asked David he immediately handed me his spare without question. However that was not the solution and then our team of expert Brush men all rallied to assist. Oh yes, such a fuss was made to fix the problem that one of our entrants discovered there are three old cars behind our accommodation and in morning light will do a search of the wrecks. I found that there was a single ignition coil in the two shelves of spare parts in the ignition shop after I called on the entrants and their backups for assistance. Daniel and Ian Sargent who have a 1912 Triumph looked at Bob’s spark plug situ, went to get their tester. Took an hour or so to fix, the following morning another test and Bob’s Brush was running more happily and faster than the last few days.
We all stayed in the Balladonia Motel or Caravan park- just one place to overnight as we roll along the Nulla. Surprisingly from Norseman to Balladonia there are many hills today and as our “lovely ladies” aged between 90 and 110 years as they danced the many hill climbs each created music for their driver’s ears. I see our “lovely ladies” as aged and need at times a nanny nap in the back up truck. What ladies of such an age can be cranked into action on demand. Must treat them with tender loving care and ensure all their physical and emotional needs are met. Every evening we often wrap them in protective blankets as they snuggle up to rest.
Judie Stephens OAM - Expedition Director