Tasmania Mkii

[ducatijb]

Thanks to Fraggle for organising the fishing adventure on Monday

[Buf-Phoon]

Have a cracking time all as I am sure you will Wish I was going as well Most importantly be safe.

[Lord Cyric]

Have fun freezing your collective asses off down there (great for the turbos though).

Still wish I was going, but alas it cannot be. At least I have 7GB of photos to sort through from my UK holiday to keep me amused for now....

[KEN 24T]

Getting soooo close now ... a nice dinner with the kids, a good nights' sleep () and then ....

TASSIE, HERE WE COME!!!!

[Guest caffiend]

Have you gone yet??

What about now?

Is now good?

For most likely the final time (cos I'm gonna sleep in tomorrow, so buggered getting up just to send you guys a message before you leave...)

25 hours, 26 minutes and 49 seconds until that boat leaves.

Have fun n stuff. Corrupt Voyboy (aka Peter Pan) for me. Remember those words I told you to teach him Ken... Yes, you can give demonstrations as well.

[Falchoon]

I hear Tassie is closed for renovations and they have sold out of bright yellow yoke eggs so there's no point in going guys...are you listening...guys...I wouldn't BS you...I'm fair dinkum...honest...no, really...ok, maybe I was exagerating a bit about Tassie being closed...and maybe about the eggs too...just make sure you have fun and don't worry about me stuck here working 10 hour days. :(

[fraggle]

I just got home from the best two weeks I have ever had. Thanks to J.B , Ken , Peter and partners and Cain, You guys are just great and the other local guy "Badger"

Hope you all had a great trip home (and a safe one) will post up some pictures when I get a chance . And thanks agian for a great time .

Stuart and family

Hay homer stay out of the mist

J.B teds missing you already

[voy74656]

At the hobbit hutch now. Spirit of tassie trip was uneventful. When was tassie MK3 happening???

What a trip guys! Ken's keeping the memories flowing by creating the interactive dvd with all the pics and videos we've collated. There were over 6 1/2 gigs worth so it'll take a little while to get the dvd finished

Its just to depressing to think its all over so I'm not going to. Lets start planning the next 1!!! I've been hearing along the grapevine that November 2006 is the sail date *books holidays on calendar*

So how about the rest of u???

[KEN 24T]

It's over (for another year) ...

The trip from the Spirit in Sydney, though the city and home was a very depressing journey for me. I'd no sooner got into the M5 tunnel than I was reminded of the mentality of Sydney drivers. I believe Cain has a story to tell as well, but I'll leave that for him.

... Ah Tassie, what can I say?

I'd like to start by thanking the following people:

Fraggle (Stuart) - My old mate, the Gorilla in the Mist ... where would we have been without you razor sharp wit and timing. The line of the tour for me is the "Horribly disfigured" comment made at dinner one night in reference to my driving activities as a youngster. Went something like this ...

Ken 24T: "I managed to escape my driving adventures as a kid without injury"

Fraggle: "Not without being horribly disfigured I see ..."

Keep up the good work my friend, you're coming along quite nicely.

Ted (Megan)

George (Reece)

Ralph (Shannon)

Smiley (Katherin)

Ah, a little family influence along the way. What a great bunch of kids, and no wonder, given the example of mum and dad. I had lots of fun teasing all three and they quickly worked me out and started to return the volleys. The picture Ted did for me at dinner is now proudly magnetted to the fridge. Thanks.

Badger (Jeff)

One of the quietest, most genuine, gentle men I've come across. Jeff added so much to the tour with his local knowledge, generous delivery of information on a range of local subjects, beaming smile and sheepish grin. If only we could have gotten him out of bed before 10 each day.

The offer still stands Jeff, there's a big jug of (plain) gravy here with your name on it.

DucatiJB (John)

Sleepy (Hung)

John, my friend, my brother, my mentor. You taught me the value of true friendship this trip. You also taught my how to laugh and let life take it's path. You are a genuine rough diamond, but if you ever come up to me in a crowded shop again and say: "Hey Boyley, wanna see me clear the shop", I swear I'll take you out at the knees.

Hung is a delight to travel with. I must admit that I was unsure how she'd go for 2 weeks, but I needn't of worried. I'm sure she had a great trip, even with the extra motoring "incidents" along the way? ... Good on you Hung, and for the last time, it's not "Simpson", ok?

4runner (Peter)

Leprechaun (Leah)

Pete, the gentle giant, also discovered what it was like to be continually pounded in the arm. The problem was, that he'd cop it when ever anyone else would poke fun at the Leprechaun.

I'd cruise with you anywhere, anytime my friend. It was a real pleasure touring with you.

Leah, I'll try to keep this short ok?

It's true what they say about good things coming in small packages. You're the proof.

As close as we got during the 2 weeks, I'm not sure that I'm ready to take you up on your proposal though ... by way of explanation, Leah was sitting at the dinner table one night, and being particularly hungry, she meant to say "Feed me NOW!" ... unfortunately, what actually came out as "Eat me NOW!" ... hmmm, oh dear ....

Voy74656 (Cain)

My special boy ... Once was a gentle, shy, quiet lad who would hardly say "boo" ... hmmm, 2 weeks boot camp in Tassie soon fixed that. Cain now shares the same sore arm that I'm used to. Some of his comments to SWMBO just had to be applauded ... well done my boy, well done.

Had to laugh at the last place we stayed at, when the receptionist asked him if his parents where here? ... I believe she was found later in her bed with her heart scooped out with a spoon ... "Billy, it's time for dinner" ...

SWMBO (Lea)

2 weeks travelling the Targa roads with the handbrake on ... wish I could tell you what that was like, but as my wife has turned into a genuine lead-footed, rev-head, I can't. I think I've created a monster.

At one point, on a particularly hilly section, she complained that "the standard had been lowered" when I failed to get satisfactory "air" off the bump in the road.

Eternal thanks for enduring 2 weeks of face-reddening embarrishment and discomfort as I performed to my usual (low) standards.

Steggels (Ross)

A surprise visit in the middle of the tour. Pity you couldn't have stayed longer mate, there was so much more for me to beat you at, e.g., karts, etc.

Mini-Me (Josh)

GF (Deri)

What a great surprise it was to see these two just turn up, after another mysterious trip to his brothers' by JB. Next time they're doing the full tour, that's for sure.

Special thanks to Mini-Me for co-driving to victory in the Tassie Kart GP.

I would sincerely like to thank everyone for Good Times, Great Memories and Lasting Friendships.

... Bring on Tassie MkIII I say.

[Turbo6man]

Ken, wonderful report mate.

I'm so disappointed that again I have missed the Tassie cruise - bloody work! I HATE WORK!!

Oh well, I'm definitely going next year - maybe twice if things pan out - Oh how I'm looking forward to it!!!