Today is all about the National BASH, first a parade through the centre of Alice past Dick Smith (father of the Variety BASH) and Ms World. I had a photo with Dick and Carla and I managed to be part of a television interview with the man. Lunch is spent at the Annual Henley on Todd boat racers in the Todd River. This is series of events held in the dry riverbed of the Todd River. The BASH concluded with a large dinner and conert including preforances from JPY, Brian Cadd, John Williamson, Leo Sayer, Franky J Holden, Wilbur Wild and The Screaming Jets, HUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! The National BASH raised over 8 Million Dollars for special needs kids. The highest fundraiser for all the States raised $320,000 for the kid, outstanding. That concludes this BASH Thank You to everybody who helped us raise money for the special needs of Queensland. Cheers from the Crew of Mischieif & Mayhem.
Archive for August, 2009
Here are some more updates from days 5 to 9…
Click on the live updates tab to see the updates as they arrive!
Day 5 & 6 – Mt Isa to Adels Grove & Lay day Adels Grove – GPS Track & Map
Day 7 – Adels Grove to Urandangie – GPS Track & Map
Day 8 – Urandangie to Jervois Station – GPS Track & Map
Day 9 – Jervois Station to Alice Springs – GPS Track & Map
Today is 345k’s to Alice, the problem is 181k’s is the same rough dusty roads we have been on for the last two day. One spare tyr, questionable front shocky’s will mean a slow start to the day……… NO MORE DUST!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice run into Alice for lunch at the Transport Museum at to pick up our special guest? We cross the finish line and were meet by our special guest, Carla. C, which was a surprise. We had our Queensland party to celebrate getting to Alice and announce the highest fundraisers. The Queensland BASH raised over 1.3 Million dollars, Mucheif & Mayhem raised about $8,200 dollars for the kids.
Today we had the group photo and hit the road as soon as possible. Next stop was the Northern Teritory board and the Plenty Highway. The it’s call that is because there are PLENTY of sharp rocks, blown tyres and brocken shocky’s. We got one flat tyre and replaced the top shocky’s rubbers, Lunch was at the Arther.which looked more like a desert than a river. After lunch a short run to Jervois Station and our last night in the swags. The road conditions have not inporved, with a lot of cars needed TLC to get them to Alice. Some of the problems include broken shocky’s, gearbox seals and a diff housing.
Today it was time to get back in the car and find some fun. A couple of creek crossing provided entertainment, Dave getting wet from his mate the Clown…… Very funny. The 19 Hole boys ran a fun stop on the way into Camoweal for lunch. The afternoon run was nothing but bull dust and I had the cheat seat, two inches of dust on my face. Boys thought it was very funny. No showers at small aboriginal community of Urandangie, so addated the water canon into a make shirt shower. Another theme night, come as on of the following letters B A S H.
Sleep in for the first time, 8.00am for breakfast. Because this is Lay Day from driving it gives us time to look over the car. We did a trip up to the Lawn Hill Gorge for a swim and a walk. After lunch it was time for a cold drink and some games, big fun was had by all. Dave Gelison, James Blundel and Leo Sayor have joined the trip. Tonight they each picked an area of the camp ground and put on a little jam sesson with BASH Band members, great to watch Dave singing.
Today we commissioned another Liberty Swing in the park behind the Mt Isa PCYC. A short run down the road of 304 k’s see’s us have lunch and a party at Gregory Downs Hotel. Dick Smith stoppped here in 1985 on the first Variety BASH. After lunch we head to Adels Grove for the night and a rest day tomorrow. So may not have coverage.
Here are some updates from the first 4 days.
Click on the live updates tab to see the updates as they arrive!
Day 1 – Townsville to Undara
Day 2 – Undara to Hughenden – GPS Track & Map
Day 3 – Hughenden to Wintonk – GPS Track & Map
Day 4 – Winton to Mt Isa – GPS Track & Map
Today is the longest day on the BASH some 600 k’s which went an early start, bagpipes at 5 am from the Highlander team. A vote was taken and due to a couple of extra cold drinks last night we took the soft option to Mt Isa via the main highway for 450 k’s. We stopped at the famous Walkabout Creek Hotel for a cold drink. A Hotel room was found near tonights dinner, which is a 70’s theme. The three boys froed up and hit streets for the short walk to dinner, which attracted a couple of looks from the locals.
We leave with a giood beakfast in our stomachs. After a rough day yesterday everybody is hoping for an easy one today. We stopped for a Kodak moment at the geographical centre of Queensland. Then onto Muttaburra for the Annual Burry Race Day and a show from the kids of the local school. We spoke with lady who was feeding the Variety mob and she explained how they hand made the 500 raps that were needed for lunch!!!!! A short run into Winton gave us time to watch the end of the Winton Rodeo. After talking to some of the participants it’s nothing for them to drive 350 – 800 k’s for 8 seconds. Had a cold drink with the director of the New Zealand Variety BASH, very interesting. They provide assistance for Australian BASHERS to travel and enjoy the fun?
Today we removed the spring from the thermostate to fix our overheating problems. Today we had red and white dust which made Greg happy awho is a big St George surporter. After lunch we stopped at Porcupine Gorge which is Australia’s answer to The Grand Canon. Tonight we had a hot shower at the show ground and onto the Entertaintment Centre for dinner. We presented some special education kids with bike and music equipment for the local school.
Breakfast on the Strand for the start and a quick run down to Ingham for the opening of a Liberty Swing. Lunch was at Mt Fox State School which has 9 students. Vaterity donated a water tank, pump, weather station. After lunch it was time for dust….. Lots of dust. Nights stop was at the lava caves at Undara. The car was running when accept we overheated just as we pulled into the camp ground. A job for first up tomorrow.
Free day in Townsville to prepare the car for the trip ahead. We picked up some supplies and parts for the water canon. After fitting the Water Canon we fuel the car in preparation for tomorrow. Dave found some coolant on the floor, some investigation was required. We got a tip on a local radiator bloke who had helped a couple of other Bashers. The left hand tank had started to seprerate from the core, so a new radiator was the only solution. Caught but with the boys from the 19th Hole car but an early night is required as we have a 5 am start tomorrow.
Hit the road early as we 8 hours of driving ahead. Passed lots of flat wildlife and spotted more Variety cars as we got closer to Townsville. Arrived early in to Townsville meant we could get the car through final scruitneering and Variety check in, one less job tommorrow. David tried to contact Poland but the Internet connect is just not clear enough, funny to watch him holding the computer on different angles to improve the reception.
After a splash of fuel and a clean of the windscreen we hit the road at 7 am. No road works meant the trip north was quick and painless. After lunch at Childas, we made a detour via Bundy to say hello to Peter B. A change of drivers then onto Rocky for a steak and cold drink at the Criterion Hotel. The hotel is ownered by a fellow Basher and always a great place to stay in Rocky.
All systems are go!!
The 2009 Variety BASH starts in Townsville on the 13th August and finishes in Alice Springs on the 22nd of August. This is a National BASH and celebrates 25 years of people raising money for sick and disadvantaged children around this big country of ours. Over 2000 BASH cars will descend on Alice for a huge 2 day celebration.
Mischief & Mayhem is fuelled and ready go!!!! We are joined by a new crew member in Dave B or “DB” and welcome him aboard. Thanks to Scotty for all his help over the last couple of years he will be missed on the trip.
The Live Updates will be streamed straight from the car again via the mighty iPhone.
The Adventure starts on the 10th of August when we start the trip north to Townsville.
Cheers
The Mischief and Mayhem Crew
The 2009 Variety Bash begins next Monday 10th August!!
This year we will be posting photos with our live updates!
Stay tuned for this years LIVE UPDATES as we drive around Queensland raising money for the kids!!
