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I must say that travelling to Australia, connecting with family, meeting new Mini enthusiasts and...hitting the road to see the 'big island' in 2011 and to drive Tasmania this year was a terrific experience.
I owe thanks to 3 people in particular - my cousin Patricia who acted on my behalf in the purchase, licensing, insuring and advanced servicing of ROO, John who responded to my early enquiries about buying a Mini and who became a travel mate, and Andrew who sold me ROO and prepared the Window Van - yes we did more especially after the test drive but Andrew did a thorough job as we had agreed...before handover.
There were others contributing, Tony with the no fault electrical work, Graham & Greg on the suspension - and Graham, what a kind & wonderful host in North Rocks, Brett in donating the spare wheel and the Mini Relay that got it from Hay to Brisbane, Dave & Kim hosting before & during the Rylstone Classic, Ken in servicing ROO after the One Lap and both power washing and getting anti-freeze into the system before crossing the Pacific to Canada...
But John & Lynne bought into lapping Australia in Classic Minis, a proposed 10 week/70 day adventure I sent along...we did it and we became lifelong travel mates. More recently, Lynne worked out the maths, accommodation etc. on the 4 Mini assault on Tasmania. We are deeply appreciative of her efforts...and we had a marvelous time with Keith & Carol, Steve & Jenny and John & Lynne heading for Tasmania to deal with the Unfinished Business from the One Lap.
There were others we worked with, had a little fun with and won't forget - Peter and the backward fan, Swampy & the Swamp, Darryl, to whom I introduced the auto wrecker experience, but who was a very effective safety officer in the early driving experiences...and others.
So many positives, so few negatives, such a wonderful Mini experience in Australia. In fact, I may have seen more of Australia than my father's brother after whom I was named. He immigrated to Australia from England fought with the Far North Battalion in WWII, my Dad immigrated to Canada, just 15 years old when he stepped ashore in Halifax, the brothers never saw each other again.
Australia was on my bucket list and the first to be checked off...but not to be forgotten. I'm serious, if you are coming to Canada (via Vancouver) don't hesitate to call on me. It is the least I can do to say thank you for the encouragement, the support, the fun and the memories.
And, I promise to start a thread on ROO in North America.
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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!
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