17^th LEG

The best thing for us to do was to get cracking fixing Matilda’s problems.

Get cracking was the right description and by 9:30 the car was ready, and I had packed our meagre belongings. We farewelled our friends and left for Perth, or at the very least Kalgoolie our stop for the night. Kal was about 520 kilometers from where we were camped a very big ask for Matilda at any time and prior to her new gasket at 30 kilometers per hour an impossible task. However the new gasket and stud did the trick and for the first time since the accident Matilda purred along at 55 kilometers per hour. We were thrilled.

Now on this stretch some thing happened that made us laugh for hours. For a short while we managed to get our hand held radio working. Chris had his and so a lot of silly banter was exchanged as the miles slipped by. Suddenly from the corner of my eye I saw something that looked awfully like a dead camel by the side of the road. ‘Chris, look to your left and tell me what you see," I spoke urgently into the radio.

"Nothing much, just a dead camel."

"Can you repeat that."

"A dead camel."

"Is that a camel?"

"I should photograph, it no one will believe me. No we haven’t time. Don’t worry."

"Would you like me to photograph it?"

"Could you?"

No answer but Putt Putt, his grey 2CV did a u-turn and disappeared into the distance.

When we caught sight of Chris again I was eager to check whether I had been mistaken.

"Well, was it a camel?"

"Two!"

Now I have not seen the photo but I’ll ask Shayne to print it straight from Chris’s Email and we can all judge for ourselves.

Even with Matilda’s improved performance it was still a long, long day. 9pm and we were just on the outskirts of Kalgoolie when Shayne arrived to hand us some much-desired chicken and chips and a drink. By the time we reached our destination all we wanted was a shower and a good nights sleep. Our friend had left us 4 bottles of beer in the fridge, but we were just too tired to bother.

Saturday morning countdown minus one. Our goal for the day was Cunderdin, a mere 65 kilometers from Northam. The day was a really good one. We began to drive through the fields of wheat stubble and scattered gum trees and we really felt we were nearly home. Each passing mile brought us a real excitement. My daughter had planned to meet us in Cunderdin and she was bringing someone very special with her.

I had best explain. Before I met Tom he had with him as his constant companion his dog Dixie. They were inseparable and people knew Tom by his dog. He even brought him on his dates with me. When we went on holidays we had left Dixie with my friend Margaret. Very shortly after we left, Dixie became sick and Margaret took her to the vets. After tests and xrays a diagnosis of lung cancer with metastasis was made. Marg kept the awful truth from us for a long time but shortly after my release from hospital she broke the news to me in a very emotional phone call. With people everywhere I had no chance to speak to Tom and when I went to bed that night (my bedtime was a little earlier than his) I had a very heavy heart. That night Tom woke up crying having dreamt that Dixie was dying. In his dream Dixie told Tom that she was waiting for him and he was distraught. Of course I told him of my phone call and together we had a bit of a cry. Consequently we began a race against time and the ravages of this dreadful illness. Luckily Tom and Dixie were the winners and Tom was to be reunited with Dixie that very evening.

It the day somewhere between Southern Cross and Meridan we passed a car and caravan by the side of the road in obvious trouble. We stopped to help and were met by a very grateful elderly couple. They had lost a tyre, completely shredded, and were stuck on the side of the road. The elderly gentleman was unable to repair it and the lady explained that she had bone cancer and was trying to live her remaining days to the full. Could we ever relate to that!! We were going to do the work ourselves but Shayne and Chris chose this time to catch up with us again after a short break and as they travelled so much faster than us common sense decreed that they stop and repair the car while we moved forward. And so that was what we did.

We arrived at Cunderddin at about 7pm and after a wonderful reunion with Dixie and of course my daughter, Jolynne and grandsons, Lee and James, we were off to bed to prepare for the final day.

Up early and we looked at Matilda. To wash or not no wash, that was the question? Matilda was covered in mud from her spell on the Nullabor. She looked rather awful but we decided to leave her as was. We were eager to get moving but had said we would arrive at Grass Valley, just east of Northam at 9:15 and so we were forced to cool our heels for a few minutes. Finally Mrs Monitor (that’s me) said "It’s time to be off," and into the car we got.

I would not be telling the truth if I did not say that this day was very special to us. Tom and I felt very emotional and were close to tears as we saw the cars gathered at Grass Valley waiting to greet us back to Northam. We drove into the town and filled up for the last time at our local service station, Dunnings. Then down to Bernard Park and to a rapturous welcome by vintage car buffs, friends and relatives. It was very moving and we felt very honoured to have been able to do this special journey.

After an hour or so and a cup of tea provided by the local car club, we set off towards our final destination; the causeway car park in Perth. To escort us into town we had an array of Citroens and a row of Austin Sevens. In turn they would pull out pass us and then at some point later down the track drop back again to follow us on our special journey. The rain started again and so our roof went up, jumpers went on and we continued on our way. At the Lakes I managed to buy two cups of homemade leek and potato soup and fortified, we continued on our way.

Just out of Northam, Matilda decided that she had been well enough behaved for one day and gave me yet another boot from the magneto. When I explained to Tom just why I had yelled guess what-- HE DIDN’T BELIEVE ME!!!!! After a second boot a little later he just said "I’m not bothered." My reply was somewhat testy but there was no way that he was stopping to fix the problem. I just had to make sure that my feet never got anywhere near the advance /retard stick for the rest of the way.

It was exciting to see various friends waiting for us by side the road at various vantage points along the way and vintage cars of all makes passed us as their drivers moved on down to the Causeway to welcome our arrival.

We laughed heartily when at the top of Greenmount Hill we saw Malcolm and Sue’s Van with a large WELCOME BACK TOM AND LOIS sign tied to the front, approach, pass, turn around, pass again and then lead us into the city. Something else that touched us deeply was the sight of Dieter perched in the back of his station wagon filming our entire return into Perth. Much of the time I was terrified that we would run into him, but we didn’t, so hey, no worries.

At almost exactly 3pm (great timing Mrs Monitor) we drove in to a tumultuous welcome at the Causeway car park. We were showered in champagne and kissed by all and sundry. I almost forgot, but eventually remembered my vow to kiss the earth beneath my feet. There was somewhere between 2-3 hundred people waiting for us and both of us felt very emotional about it all.

In all of that emotion there were things that we forgot to say. We did not thank Gary and Heather Stewart of Datanet for their sponsorship. It was most helpful. Thankyou not just for the sponsorship, but for your continued support and friendship.

Thankyou to Shayne Harris who kept the web site up, provided an immense amount of back up and advice post accident.

Thank you to my Mum, my children Jolynne, Luke and Bronwyn, Philip and my sister June for their love and constancy and especially for ‘being there’ each in their own special way after our accident.

Thank you to Ralph and Hanny for the many hours that they dedicated to helping us prepare for the trip and their ongoing assistance.

Thanks to Jo and Helen Schemri and Yo and Gerry Freed who provided a home away from home when we needed it most and of course Gerry who orchestrated the rebuild of Matilda. As for that rebuild special thanks must also go to Keith and Marion, Gus and Maryanne, Debbie and Craig all of the South Coast Chapter of the NSW Citroen Car Club, Wendy and Ray and all from the Illawara Motoring Museum and of course Elliot and Sandra of ‘Starship’ fame.

Other people gave time and effort and even parts, sometimes unbeknown to us and we do not want to miss anyone. People visited us in hospital, others rang, sent cards flowers or Emails. There were so many other people who helped in various ways along the way and we wish to thank each and everyone who had a part to play in our journey. Some, I know would prefer not to be named , but that is not to say that we have forgotten or taken their help for granted.

Thank you all, for part of the success of our venture belongs to you.

Ps The bolt had come loose from the magneto and he did fix it before we drove home!

SUNDAY 2 February 2003

All is well that ends well. A quiet meander into Northam, down the hill to do the deed at the causeway carpark and the journey ends well

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