A blog from Barham (Back in OZ). Day 134 “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving…” Albert Einstein
I must have started trying to write this blog a thousand times. It is now very late even by my standards. However in this instance the delay is not due to having to write in the back of Martha as she hurtles along. I am now safely back in Blighty on a comfy sofa, tea in hand, laptop on my lap with a rapidly emptying biscuit barrel. It is because I still can’t quite comprehend what the hell just happened.
England saved the first test in Brisbane. I realise the third test is now underway but even so. To see the English cricket team bat with the mental strength of their Australian counterparts on foreign soil and smash numerous records has left me immensely proud but lost for words. Steve and I had the pleasure of witnessing this on Day 134 and my penultimate day on FTFE at the WACA in Brisbane and in its own right will go down as incredible experience. Singing with the Barmy Army to the glum faced but amused Aussies to the tune of Yellow Submarine, “Your next Queen is Camilla Parker Bowles” amongst many others as England dominated the day will live long in the memory of this proud Englishman. Read more →
Due to shipping complications, we have had a few days before we head over to New Zealand. Time to get our heads down and catch up with everything that keeps this big red truck on the road. It has been like checking into rehab as Jan and Graham have shown us a crazy amount of hospitability. Parents of Amy’s friend Mel, they have the ultimate pad just outside Brisbane by the river. Here we have set-up FTFE Headquarters, giving us the spring board to not only rest but to catch up on all sorts of admin and paperwork. Dream stuff as I can finally smash through an enormous to do list, whilst catching up with the 2nd ashes test of course. There will be no internet connection on the ship, so its a frantic time re-planning the final stages, allowing for the knock on affect of shipping delays and re-routing.
Having said an emotional farewell to a mo-less Captain Paul Barham at Brisbane airport last night, Steve and I spent another day getting our hands dirty down at the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Centre. The guys there have been incredible, fixing everything from Martha’s passenger door (which we haven’t been able to lock since late October, ssshhh) to changing a few of the wheels around to stop her bouncing away unnecessarily at any speed over 45mph. Plus giving Martha a thorough clean to remove four weeks of red dust and grime from her exterior. Legends!
After 80 days on the expedition it’s time to say good bye to Paul Barham. A man instrumental over the past couple of years in not only getting this project off the ground but keeping it a float. Captain Barham, we salute you.
Even with a crazy amount of preparation, the expedition is still very much dependant upon the help and assistance of people we meet along the way. Helpful and caring people seem to pop up everywhere almost like a scene out of the Truman show. This time round it was a nice chap called Mark Griddle. Mark heard from Channel 9 that we were driving through Surfers’s Paradise a few days ago and hunted us down. During a road side natter I mentioned that the impending import into New Zealand was giving me a huge headache. Due to shipping complications stage 6 (NZ) has been cut back which has been a complete shocker on the planning side, testing the patience of our man on the ground Jamie Abela. Not sure he enjoys me moving the goal posts every other day but shipping is a silly little sausage. As we now have limited time in the Kiwi Kingdom we need to hit the ground running and this means clearing their very strict quarantine quick. Apparently NZ are even stricter than OZ, so after our experience in Perth we are justifiably bricking it. I mentioned this issue along with a few mechanical issues and Mark was straight on the blower and booked us into the Queensland Fire and Rescue Workshops.
Though nobody believes me but our timing to arrive in Brisbane during the Ashes first test is by complete coincidence. Myself and Paul are huge cricket fans and hearing that the truck was being shipped out of Brisbane just after day 5 of the cricket was greeted by excessive excitement. London to the Ashes in 133 days, a thousand pieces of the puzzle to get us here but seeing the Ashes in Australia is an uber treat. We don’t get many days off so what better way to spend a day than settling in at the GABBA and enjoying our cricketing heroes battle it out.
High point: 14,000 feet – the height Steve jumped out of a plane over Bryon Bay
Low point: Paul and Fuad were sad to have their last innings behind the wheel of Martha
No point: Getting lost driving round the block with precious cargo on board, FTFE fans Jack (8), Charlie (5) and Lilah (2). Jack should be promoted to Navigator!
Pap point: Being photographed against the beautiful backdrop of Byron Bay Lighthouse by awesome photographer Benjamin Sherack http://www.benzwaves.com
