So finally some kilometers have been turned under the wheels of my car as I started by leaving a sunny 260C Nambucca in shorts and singlet and did a run up to Bellingen and Dorrigo via the scenic Dorrigo mountain past Ebor and into Armidale to have tea with my sister activate a gobalgib card so I can read your responses to our travel blog and a few other jobs before the car gives way to Qantaslink and the hour ten minute flight to Sydney tomorrow.
Rain storms why is that in this title? Well with the internet even my friends in Calgary Alberta Canada heard about the savage weather experienced over the past four days on the Australian Eastern Coastline. Unfortunately 3 deaths to date all in vehicles trying to drive through flood waters. Talking of driving in flood waters I was having a lovely tea with friends at Nambucca Heads when our emergency pagers went off. That's The New South Wales (Australia) Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA). In case you don't know I am the Captain of the Nambucca District VRA Rescue Squad and Deputy Regional Co coordinator from South of Macksville to the Queensland border.
Our task was car stuck in flood waters at the local Island Golf Club (the only Island Gold Course in Australia by the way). So I collected the 4WD command vehicle a Nissan Patrol Turbo Wagon while other members responded in Rescue 2 a dual cab medium rescue unit. Arriving first with my trusty side kick John we commenced a search by driving along the causeway to a high point and lighting the area. Nothing could be seen apart from a rapid incoming tide and lashings of a combination of waves and rain not exactly a ideal situation but one as rescue workers we are expected in endure. We saw a car on the other end of the causeway in no danger so signaled to them to remain (all night?) but the club was opened and warm. We beat a very slow (22 point turn on narrow concrete single road way with no no visible sides and rejoined our other vehicle and after Police liaison and phone contact with the club the road was closed so we beat a retreat home to dry out equipment wash away salt water and then make myself comfortable.Wet gear everywhere just what I wanted prior to an overseas trip!
My crew also went out the next day to retrieve two stranded horses in flood waters. Lucky me I had been summoned to a meeting with the President of Swimming NS why? Well all good news he presented me with a certificate of appreciation for over 40yrs of service to swimming.
So what has this blog to do with the trip very little but serves as background to who I am and why and how I operate. Apart from that it gives me the opportunity to fine tune the list of people who will receive the trip hopefully to correct a few gremlins in email addresses.
So with our Travel Sim phone cards, Globalgig data cards,cash passports and smart traveler all activated we just might be ready to go . The best news my sisters port only weighs 8.8kgs and mine slightly less truely an amazing effort so armed with one tank top Canada better have warm weather!
Christopher