Bathurst and Supercars

Not a good start, arriving at Bathurst with not one but two blown tyres. And only one spare! Luckily Bob Jane Tyres very very helpful they actually lent me a new tyre so I could get up the mountain for the race.

As these made thee blowouts in 12 months I was not about to replace them with the same tyres. So after much discussion I decided on four new Bridgestones. The supplied tyres on the Motorhome were under rated for the weight. The new ones give me almost another tonn of ride weight.

Wrecked tyres

So with my borrowed tyre and the spare I ventured up the hill to my next volunteer stint. New tyres ordered but won’t arrive for a week.

The Supercars is quite different this year with only 4000 spectators and 350 volunteers. No merchandising trucks and only 6 or 7 food vendors. The race however did not disappoint, and neither did my position.

First day opposite pit lane

Next tree days at the end of Conrad straight

Back to Bob Jane to get the new tyres fitted and I’m off to Mullumbimby, or so I thought. First a flat coming into Tamworth. NRMA to the rescue, off to another Bob Jane store to get repairs done. No not one of the new tyres, and I’m heading for Tenterfield. But no, there is a B double roll over that has closed the New England highway, so back track 70 k to take the Waterfall way into Grafton. Finally make it to Mullumbimby to meet up with Motorhoming friends from the Habitat group.

On top of the Great dividing range

Now I find that COVID has been detected at Bathurst, off to the Byron Bay hospital to get tested and isolation until I get results. Not before trying to get tested at Mullum but need a Dr certificate. No you can’t see a Dr for two days go to BB, better option as it turned out resaults only took about 18 hours. Negative to COVID and able to mix and mingle again. Just in time for the farmers market. Happy days.

Eco printing

What is a crafter to do. Camped up by a lake surrounded by the most wonderful trees, replicate it of course. Well at least experiment anyway.

First collect the leaves, oh and some water from the lake, without falling in. Using a collection of fabrics, silk and wool work best. Bundle it all up and boil it. Confused well here are the photos

Leaves dipped in iron water, placed on the fabric

All wrapped up ready for the cooking process

The waiting is the worst, will I get results , will I like it. Am I quite mad ( quite possibly). So after a couple of hours of cooking, cooling and waiting until the next day, it’s time for the big reveal.

Dropped all over the new bull bar to dry

Great I managed to get some great leaf prints so many variables. Was it the leaves, the lake water with algae or the hardwood I wrapped the fabric in. Not sure but very happy with the results.

I really must work out how to take photos with out my feet in them

Onward to Bathurst

Had a lovely visit with my brother, no fishing done as the weather/ tides weren’t right. Didn’t stop the Lobster catching though, totally spoilt with several feeds of lobsters. Walks on the beach,just perfect.

Chief lobster catcher

Not a bad haul, my foot is there for size

Bathurst was on then off, then on again, so I’m on my way. Lithgow was 3 degrees this morning. Filling in a couple of days at the lake here. Hopefully it’s will be warmer tomorrow so I can go on a nice walk. The traffic on the motorways yesterday was horrendous. Pulled over at a rest stop near Katoomba for the night, wrecked. Don’t know how Sydney people do this daily.

Random video I took from a lookout, about 6 pm