fbekholden.com

The boss has started looking at accommodation however its too far forward to see any pricing online.
I was also thinking off street parking would be a really good idea.

Any suggestion for good locations.

Thanks for the update tim. We arrive the Tuesday before and leave the Tuesday after. 4 days travel each way added on to it is as long as we can get off work. However will be making sure we pack a heap in while up there. Get Xmas over then the countdown really starts.
Lesley and roger

Thanks Tim,
I'm guessing it might be a great weekend for you at present - busy such as it is...
Looking forward to HB - we slinked past on our return trip down from Cooktown two years back... meant to go in, but settled further down the coast instead. This time, we'll get to take a snoop around - never know, it could be a winter destination with the van one year.

Like Igor, we're running 4 day travel to HB - accommodation booked for the outbound trip, and at HB.

Planning on making a little longer trip back with maybe a short stop-over whilst still up in the warmer parts.

We'll lob back in Melbourne just as the really cold stuff comes up from the Antarctic - don't be surprised that we won't like it then hook up the van and run an escape to the north again. Pity the old bus can't pull the van... but we will be there in the old bus - or bust....

frats,
Rosco

OK, now the silly season has been and gone The "serious" counting down begins
152 sleeps... That sure won't take long to go...hopefully
cheers
Lesley

Well sadly I'm out for this years Nationals. Heading o/s in August and I can guarantee I still won't have my car back on the road which doesn't help. I have slowly started back on it, but finding it hard to pull it down for what needs to be done.

In the same boat as you DR, off overseas in August too. Was entrant #9, wish i could afford to do both
For anyone heading up the coast road from Vicco, or south of me, feel free to stop in for a cuppa. Also have a few spare rooms, plenty of tools and garage if the need arises.
Oli.

SunnyTim wrote:That's a bugger Brett......

Yes and no, three weeks in the US without kids..... My biggest hurdle though really has been getting back onto the EK. spent more time and money fixing the roadster than first planned, had three burnt valves. Ended up doing cam a swell, then fuel system and radiator. But it was the easier fix. Now for the hard work on the EK. I'm going to start a thread for the rebuild soon.

Sad to learn that you won't make it this year, Brett.... I'm guessing you won't exactly be moping around thinking of us in the US.

Yes, please do start a re-build thread - many of us will be keen to watch your ride rise out of the ashes... anything ever turn up on who the culprits were? guess not..

so folk, here we are - some four months out... how many sleeps, Igor?

Tim, can you send some truncated vibes out to the humpbacks?.... we need them to come up the coast a month early this year.

I have sad memories of watching a whale "hunt" from Byron.. after watching the hunt and kill from the BB lookout, my father took us to the try-works to watch the poor creature being broken down... I'm guessing it was sometime in August - on our return from Cairns in 1962, a six week migration from the Melbourne winter cold for us that year.

To think, our old buses were still being rolled off the production line at that time.

frats,
Rosco

OK you asked for it Rosco... 112 sleeps
Pvan gets new fan belt this morning. Off to get transmission serviced on Monday. Then all boxes should be ticked off hopefully.
Lesley

Lucky you, Igor.....
I have yet to find mine - I know where it's supposed to be... or unless someone has done a runner with it and erected a look-alike structure under all the junk on top of the covers....
Once I find it, I can take a peek in the book with all the "pending" fix-it's from last year's nats -yes, that's the last time it actually went anywhere... bit silly on full original rego plates - but, it was a busy year.... maybe we'll get it out a bit more often when the aluminium road-block is removed from outside the garage door on that side....

112 it is.... and probably around the 109 until we leave and meet up in Narrandera....

frats,
Rosco

I will have your generator with me Igor, and I owe you a couple of cool refreshing drinks for the loan , look forward to catching up .........

We were stoked that we could help you out, we are always more than happy to help out people in strife if we can. Looking forward to very much catching up with everyone in 112 sleeps
Roger and lesley

Well ime out............was going to be my first NATS and only a 3 hr drive away but ive quit my job in Gladstone and am off to Darwin for a few years .Oh well, such is life ,OL Blue is now safely tucked away at my oldies house until i come home .
I hope everyone has a great time and i would still like to grab a shirt or a stubby cooler when the merchandise gets printed up.
Edo

New to the Nats Thing.
The Minister for Finance and War wants to know whats in it for her ($100)
I can not find a detail list of activities to show her
I will be attending but shes not sure wether to attend or hang with friends in HB
She just doesnt have cars in her blood what can I say !!
Ray

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