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    Day 131 : Schoolies and Toolies

    Day 131 : Schoolies and Toolies

    High point: Getting the laptop fixed by the dudes at Clix Computer Centre http://www.clixcc.com.au/ and saying good riddance to the scary blue screen of death

    Low point: saying good bye to the lovely Miss Louise Mahoney at Byron bus station.  Awesome work Lou, you rock!

    No point: being a toolie

    Byron Bay is the perfect place to go if you need to kick back and relax, maybe recharge your batteries if you’ve been driving a big red truck around Australia.  The atmosphere is so chilled out its horizontal, with a big alternative scene and hippy population.  In November however it’s a different story, the town is overtaken by high school graduates known as ‘schoolies’ who in true Oz tradition take a week off to party hard after their final exams.  Who can blame them? Read more →

    Day 130 : And its goodbye from me.

    Day 130 : And its goodbye from me.

    This is unfortunately (not sure if that’s the right word…) the last blog from me as I am due to fly out of Brisbane this Sunday.  The long journey through Australia is almost at an end, and sadly I have to return to reality.

    Plan for the day, head up to Byron Bay from Port Macquarie.  We had another long days drive ahead of us so everybody enjoyed a bit of time out of the truck.  Active start for the whole crew, Amy and Louise went for a scenic walk into town,  Paul and Steve were jogging around parts of the Port Macquarie Iron Man track and I went for a cycle and swim along the beach.  We decided on taking the inland road to see the Big Banana instead of the coastal, so this gave me plenty of time to reminisce over the events of the last month.  So here are my top worst and best moments of the trip.

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    Day 129 : Time to say goodbye

    Day 129 : Time to say goodbye

    Sydney to Port Macquarie

    HIGH POINT: Getting to see Sydney Harbour Bridge up close and personal

    LOW POINT: Navigating through Sydney city centre.

    SHOCK OF THE DAY; The smell in the hostel corridor after the boys had been hanging about giggling and looking sheepish.

    Safe to say when I looked at the rota for the day I was filled with absolute panic.I was tasked with navigation and the mission for the day was to get us from Sydney to North Sydney and then onto Port Macquarie for the evening. Now to most, it wouldnt seem like such a big deal but I for one was terrified, You see the problem is I dont drive and to make matters worse I cant tell my left from right. It wasnt looking particularly promising, lets just say ..

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    Day 128 : Its Sydney Showtime!

    Day 128 : Its Sydney Showtime!

    Starring : Martha the Mercedes

    Co-starring : the FTFE crew, Sydney Fire Fighters, a Police Escort, two Ozzie fire engines, Channel 9 News crew and 14 crabs

    Act 1 : A spectacular convoy across Sydney Harbour Bridge

    Act 2 : A monumental match at City of Sydney Fire Station

    Grand finale : The crabs go crazy at The Friend in Hand, Glebe

    Today Martha was to hit the big screen, her name in lights, this was her Martine Mccutcheon moment.  We had to make sure she looked gorgeous darlings. Cleaning her windscreen with baby wipes and bottled water wasn’t going to cut it, a garage screen wash the only way to make sure she was dressed to impress.

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    Channel 9 News Australia

    Channel 9 News Australia

    A logistical nightmare to pull off but with help from the NSW Fire Bridgae, the highway patrol and channel 9 news we did.  A convoy of fire engines across the harbour bridge in Sydney. Lovely stuff.

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    Day 127 : Hanging on too tight Mav

    Day 127 : Hanging on too tight Mav

    Obviously the motivation was there but many have suggested the concept of driving a fire engine around the world has a hint of a mid thirties crisis ! In some way hanging onto my youth. At no point is this true, in no way did I drag the crew round Sydney today, showing them where I lived and played in Sydney when I was 22 and in no way I am hanging on too tight. Okay, well maybe a little bit…

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    Day 126: Were you the man asleep on the dog, and missing an absolute sitter for our hat-trick

    Day 126: Were you the man asleep on the dog, and missing an absolute sitter for our hat-trick

    Day 126: Were you the man asleep on the dog, and missing an absolute sitter for our hat-trick

    Melbourne to Sydney 875km

    A couple of my favourite things are coffee and chocolate. I think we all can wholeheartedly agree with Julie Andrews that Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens are also right up there but bare no relevance to the expedition so I will focus solely on coffee and chocolate. In fact chocolate has no relevance either, aside from the fact that I love it.  I was hoping to eat less on this expedition and I have, not that you can tell. I will make up for that when I’m back. So I’m left with coffee. I was hoping to drink less on this expedition but I haven’t. I will be even more addicted when I’m back… Read more →

    Don’t Stop Me Know

    Don’t Stop Me Know

    For Claire Hester from the stage 5 crew. We had officially retired from
    Cab Karaoke so this is quite the treat (or maybe not).

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    Day 125 : We just died on the stage tonight!

    Day 125 : We just died on the stage tonight!

    HIGH POINT: Getting to spend the day with some key FTFE friends

    LOW POINT: Someone attempting to mug me in North Melbourne 🙁 not happy

    NO POINT: Trying to sing The Chain by Fleetwood Mac

    QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Just get off…you’re dying!” As shouted by friends as we belted out yet another karaoke song

    Read more →

    Day 124 – Proper Job

    Day 124 – Proper Job

    High point: Melbourne, simply amazing!

    Low Point: Not winning the raffle at the fundraiser organised by Voyage Express.

    Most people don’t realise how much of a battering a car receives whilst driving across rough terrain.  Even fewer realise how much worst it is for an old fire truck thats not quite designed for the the job.  The team has put in place a strict daily routine which is designed to spot any small issues which could latter turn into major problems.  This works great for most of the time but inevitably cracks will be missed…

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