“si, the beautiful senoritas”

The drive into Perth is in beautiful sun – that is unless you are behind Dino’s combi which is burning about 6 litres of oil per hour!

The procession into Forrest Place through the hills and Guildford is cool fun. Perth doesn’t know what hit it as the streets fill with noisy, smelly, badly dressed bashers.

The cars all parked in Forrest Place are an awesome sight!

But our families are even more of an awesome sight!

The Three Amigos split up for the first time in nearly two weeks and head home before the final night dinner at the Sheraton - Mark takes the Amigomobile and his three little Amigos!

It was an outstanding experience and one which will always be remembered – massive thanks to Tom and Sean for agreeing to be part of it, our families for letting us disappear for two weeks, everyone who donated and our other supporters!

“what do the wiggles, the amigos and santa’s elves have in common”

They all snore!

The day starts with brekky at the school – grants are made by Variety to a bunch of very worthy causes. We miss the start line and head for the mech workshop.

Geoff Watson however has had no luck and with no replacement diff he sends us to Coles. Three bananas installed in the differential and we set off to catch up with the others.

Taking it easy on the bitumen road to Southern Cross where we reach another school – kids are having all a ball and making sure that the bashers are well fed and watered before we head out through the bush to Bruce Rock.

The diff is making a hell of a racket but when you drive offroad we notice it less so we take the bash route rather than the bitumen. We want to finish what we started and are determined to.

About half an hour out of Bruce Rock it starts to rain and the road turns to mush. The Amigomobile gets a bit of sideways actions but holds up well.

Driving in the rain is no issue – but what about sleeping? Tonight almost all the bashers are sleeping in swags and tents and on arrival at Bruce Rock people are pitching up under the eaves of all the local establishments…..because everywhere else is soaked!

We end up sleeping in the kitchen at the local campground along with Santa’s Elves and the Wiggles. The ground is hard, the snoring unbearably annoying but at least it’s dry and tomorrow we get home!

“Kalgoorlie, what’s the diff”

On to Kalgoorlie today. And maybe we can get the diff sorted, maybe.

We are off earlier than the pack so that we can prepare for “sombrero the gringo” before the others arrive. “si, this ees a traditional Mexican game, only 5 pesos for three throws of the sombrero”

After this it’s a bash through the bush to the Broadarrow pub, next to a minesite and adorned with the names of everyone who has ever visited. A beer and a burger – just the shot!

As we head to Kal we are pulled over by the police for a breath test. We get a canary (yellow sticker)! The whole thing is captured by a local television crew.

(see WIN News 28 August)

In Kal we go searching for a diff. No luck but Geoff Watson Autos reckons he might have one in the morning. Of course he might also have shares in the local greengrocers!