New Years Eve 2010/11

At 1030 this morning while visiting friends at Port Germain, Smeghead my 21 month old traveling companion was run over by a car. I rushed him back to Port Pirie vet Clinic, Both rear legs were broken, one had a badly smashed paw that would have needed amputating.
So we had him put down.
RIP Smeghead March 2009 to December 2010

Late report of September/October trip

A bit late, but had a lot on my mind lately.
Left to travel to the NSW side car rally via dirt to Broken Hill then onto Menindie and the road to Ivanhoe.
Followed the railway to Mt Hope, took the wrong road, used the one shown on my map south of the railway and got hopelessly bogged in the mud 30 K from Mt hope. Camped the night and got going again by 9pm on the Saturday. Arrived at the rally site late Saturday & picked up the trophy for Longest Distance Side Car & also one for the most Interesting Side car as well.
Then on up to Wingam to visit an old mate I went to Epping Boys High with.
Then on to Brisbane to visit Dan (Dagger) Freakly for a day or two then back home via Goondwindi, Bourke and Cobar.

Border Run & OCR 2010

5 side cars left Gladstone on the Monday for our first camp 14 K's west of Mt Ive.
Beet K1100, Fred & McArdell K1100, Slab Suzuki 1100, Doubleday & Brian K100 & me with Smeghead K1100.

Saying goodbye to Doubleday & Slab who were to attempt Goog's Track.

Then onto Fowlers Bay via Penong for a bit of fishing.






After 3 days of catching nothing, (Beet says we should have been here LAST year)
McArdell drops Fred off at Ceduna Hospital, we then head for Nullabore Roadhouse, where I head off up to Watson & the rest to the Border.











Could not find Watson, the road I was on went north then east to the sand mining road. I then went north along that till the road to the left took off to "Oak Vally" which led me to the railway at Ooldea.
I then went east to Kingoonya, getting bogged in sand for 8 hours (over night) near Barton Siding.
Stayed 2 nights at Kingoonya while waiting for Beetle & his mate to catch up to me.


Left Kingoonya & headed for Pimba were a dissension was made to head for the OCR via White Cliffs. Camped over night, Wednesday at Gladstone.
Beet and friend headed off Thursday for the OCR & I left Friday am & camped Friday night about 50 K's north of White Cliffs & into the OCR Saturday morning.




Left the OCR Sunday morning in the company of Sarge, Potter & Justin, all from Adalaide for the trip back home via Broken Hill caravan park, arriving home Monday 1pm.
A good time was had by all.

August 2010

Friday 30 July, all packed and ready to go, McArdell & Beetle due here Saturday, Doubleday & slab due Sunday.
Heading for Fowlers Bay for fishing & then some of us to the border & the rest to the OCR in Wanarring NSW.
Smeghead has been de-sexed, the camping bed is slightly modified & the bike is serviced & re-shod
& ready to hit the road.
The BMW workshop in Gladstone will be closed till the 18 August 2010.
All for now
PJ

Update 30 May 2010

Well being a bit quite here lately, have fitted the camping swag/tent to the side car (photo in the banner above) had to modify the pivot points to allow the fitting of a gas strut to hold the camper up high enough to facilitate the entry to the Engel fridge I have installed in the chair. Have also fitted a second battery and an electronic relay between both batteries to look after the charging. Since I now run a 12 volt to 240 volt inverter to run the Engel (cheaper then repairing the inverter in the Engel) I have rigged up a 240 volt camp light. As an electrician with 55 years knowledge, it will be quite safe. Will give the unit a test run to the Wintersun Rally in Mildura in a couple of weeks.
Happy 60 th Chris McArdell (in June)
By for now.

Lake Gairdner Speed week

The run was a bloody great success, warm & sunny, 5 side cars & 5 solos,
& 2 quadracycles.
Bear, side car, WA
Gunner, solo, WA
Slab, side car, Bendigo
Cecile (& Brian), side car, Bendigo
Jack, solo, Bendigo
McArdell, side car, Melbourne
Beetle, solo, Kieawa Vic
??? Nick's (WA) twin brother ???? solo
Terry, solo, NSW
Self, side car, Gladstone SA
Sargent quadracycle, SA
A couple of other ring in's
& Claw, quadracycle, Alice Springs arrived on the last day.

The postie bike from Bendigo achieved 58.6 MPH, on a budget
& there first attempt. Not bad considering another 3 postie
& a lot more money could only do about 73, 78, & 87 MPH each


I hope I did not miss counting anyone.
A great bush camping spot, & you really need to go and stand out on the salt lake
it is mind blowing.

Well worth a trip with mates just to have a look, but print out an entry list from the
net before going.

Sunday 7 March

Waiting here in Gladstone, rain & 16 degrees. The Bear from WA rang, he will be in Wirrullia hotel to night & at the Lake tomorrow.
Expecting John Sargent any moment now, and heard that the Bendigo mob were about 4-5 hours away at 11 am this morning.
McArdell was expected at Beetles this evening, both him & Beetle will be leaving from Albury tomorrow am.
We are expected to leave for the Lark Gardiner speed trials on Monday 8 March at 9 am.



The new 7.5 x 6 mt carport is up and ready for the wet boys to arrive.

2010

I have been a bit quite over Xmas & new year, too hot to even think,
Have fitted a Metzler K block tyre to the front wheel, took a bit to acquire
shops in Port Pirie can not supply, had to get Vince in Sydney to send
me one.
Have taken up the challenge of being the Regalia person for the Ozbeemers group.
Metal badges are being made & the Tee shirt printing is now organized.






Regalia is only available through the Yahoo Groups site, you need to subscribe to the "ozbeemers" group.