Ditto that, thanks to all of the above from me also, and apologies if I have left anyone out, I am now home also after being squashed into 2 economy flights
Here is another pic of the Great Australian Bight, bloody Bruce got in the way of this one
And another, this time with Rob and his dad Stirling in the foreground, just couldn't get a clear shot!
Despite the disapointment of not finishing, I still had a great time, the 600 k's in the road train
was unreal, it was a great Nationals and I advise anyone who is considering going to the next one in Tassy to just do it!
Mark Bannister was the blokes name, him, his dad and his brother run a family trucking usiness out of Dungog
His Grandfather before him and his Dad started with 12 teams of horses! so a real family empire, they operate 10 trucks and several sub contractors as well, hauling huge loads to service the mining industry all over Australia
I was a bit sheepish about asking for a lift but I needn't have been, the 1st bloke knocked me back because he said it was againt company policy, but said his boss was likley to be following so ask him
So sure enough, after a while this other road train pulls in, I waited until he had had a feed and asked if he had any room for a lift to Ceduna, I think he felt sorry for me standing there with all my stuff in 1 bag, and he said yeah, ok, so long as I didn't smoke
600 k's and many hours later he dropped me in Ceduna, refused all offers of money, food and coffee, topped up the tanks and off into the darkness again, what a trooper, only sorry I din't get a pic, but not much opportunity as we didn't stop
A few facts,
the all up weight was about 75 tons
the fuel tanks hold about 1500 litres of diesel
It was a Cummins diesel in a Mack Truck, it was nearing either a complete overhaul or trade in with 700,000 k's on the clock
It uses 1.5 liters of Diesel per kilometer....but thats only because he drives it economicaly !
18 forward gears, and he used all of them to get away from a dead stop and didn't need to change again until we hit the hills on the other side of the Nullabor
Many more bits that I have left out
Cheers, Gary
