Is it possible that each rally is even more fun than the last?
The Gulf Trek, our second Great Endeavour Rally, took us through beautiful properties and welcoming towns throughout Central and North Queensland.
We started the Gulf Trek from the Bundaberg Rum Distillery on Saturday 27 July (Amanda’s wedding anniversary – eek!)
We took a detour on our way to Bundaberg to visit Matthew (one of our mates from last year’s rally) at Gympie Endeavour Workshop. It was the perfect opportunity to put our new air horn through it’s paces.
Then we pinned our ears back and headed to Bundy for scruiteneering and the fitting of one key bit of gear – our rallysafe!
Saturday was a very smoggy morning, but we found our way out of town and despite a little navigation fail detour, we made it to Mulgildie for lunch.
Our first overnight was in the Theodore Showgrounds. We dined at the pub and afterwards joined the tail end of a local black-tie ball fundraising for local doctors and nurses. Note for future: steel caps make for much more comfortable dancing than our normal formal shoes!
At the end of Day 1 we were in equal fifth place.
Day 2 started with a brief caution from Rally Director Adam.
Our rally route took us past Planet Downs Station – the home of some of Susan and Sonia’s mates. We didn’t see them, but we stopped for a photo and left them a little present in the mail.
Lunch was at Old Rainworth Fort and we delighted in meeting some of the long-term residents and caretakers. On display were some wonderful old machinery including this Corn Sheller which boasted a capacity of 25 bushels an hour!
We spent the evening in the town of Jericho. The Officer in Charge let us camp in the paddock behind the Police Station. He was also gracious not to laugh when I misheard the directions from the shower and tried to let myself into the watch house for a shower (luckily I couldn’t work the complicated lock system!)
Jericho is home to the smallest drive-in movie theatre in Australia. We ate popcorn and chocolates and watched the Blues Brothers.
Our Ellwood doesn’t smoke but I think the Blues Brothers would be proud of her driving! At the end of Day 2 we were still sitting in equal fifth spot with just 33 penalty points.
The following day saw us heading to Muttaburra for lunch – stopping for a few photo opportunities along the way. The dinosaurs were made of rusty barbed wire, so Susan and I decided not to climb anything this year!
We had lunch at the Muttaburra school, then headed a short way out of town for a photo at the centre of Queensland!
Afterwards we headed into town to buy supplies and petrol. I was walking out of the servo when I noticed Kenny had a little addition – a tiny set of pink testicles! After we finished crying laughing, we knew exactly what team to thank!
In the afternoon, we stopped for a cold one at the Combo Waterhole – thought to be the billabong that inspired Banjo Patterson’s Waltzing Matilda.
We overnighted at the Blue Heeler Motel in Kynuna. At the end of day three, we were still in fifth spot. It was country dress up night so we took Kenny to the pub for a beer. He was kidnapped not long after and we told his ransomers that we wished Kenny all the best for the future. Kenny later returned wearing a mankini that we weren’t keen to touch without gloves! 😉
Leave a Reply