Stray Tag-a-long Tales: Finished with the West.

An early start this morning saw the troops gathering at 6:00am for breakfast around Ray and Maureen's van to chomp into the famous MacDonald's breakfast. I know it probably doesn't really cut-it in the healthy stakes, but when you are trying to get 11 riders on the go by 6:45am desperate measures are called for.
As the day was dawning our riders and escorts headed out of Kalgoorlie via Boulder down the highway where Norseman awaited us after 189 kms. Riders were told to pace themselves but even after our rest day yesterday casualties started to appear. First to go was Darren, not because of his 'cold' but because he'd stripped his gears. Next was 'Lande, who was suffering with her back and shoulder. Barry continued on under sufferance due to his knee injury. ( I think Voltaren must be a wonderful drug as Barry pushed on finally making the full day albeit a little later than the rest. Tim had his moments with nausea and (yes, sorry- vomiting). Frank had another spill from his bike, but not too serious besides a little bit of pride and a gear lever offset from handlebar.
Once again we had to deal with road-trains, most being very courteous and believe it or not we actually saw 2 trains today, one stopping our riders in their stride.
We have now made it into town and all are sitting relaxing with an ale or two( reputations of 2 pots must be maintained!) some have had showers, even saw Mandy chewing on a raw carrot: she is obviously very hungry.

Team captain - Tim receiving the 'juice' from Nurse Mandy

Nurse Mandy administering the 2 Pots remedy in fast acting liquid form.

Paul is still running around like a headless chook fixing struts on trailers, or battery wiring on cars or ...whatever.
Now for a little bit about yesterday and our day in Kalgoorlie. We drove the main streets looking for electrical shops so some more riders could be 'wired-up', then went at 1:00pm to watch the big blast at the Super-Pit. Quite impressive to see the explosive grid all set out and then a poof of smoke and quite a while later, a horrendous bang nearly scaring the living daylights out of everybody. That's when the big 'Tonka' toys rumbled down the track with the excavators loading them up, only to return slowly up the road to the top. The scale of this is staggering as at the bottom the trucks and other equipment look like 'Matchbox' toys.
Back to the park to finish off washing, making up beds and helping Maureen and Ray with the unenviable task of stocking up on food and goods for the next 2 weeks on the road. Food was going in every direction with boxes packed and repack, labeled and stacked into cars, vans and anywhere there was space. The logistics of this feat is one to behold and I asked Maureen " When Tim turns 60 are you going to do something like this again?"
"NO!" Came her quick response. Sorry Tim, sounds like you're on your own there.
Then it was tea-time and a farewell speech to Nick Stray as he was flying home in the morning. I think it was a reasonably emotional farewell for Nick and the group as friendships have been formed and their bond will hold for a very long time. ( I have it on good authority (Tim) that Nick has made it to Melbourne is is now on his way home. Safe traveling Nick.