http://www.againstthegrain.org.au is the story of me and three mates. We all live in wheelchairs and in August we rode quad bikes all the way from Perth to Adelaide. We visited our crash sites on the way and one of us, Anton, got married, in Uluru. We tried to blog from the road, but we didn't have much time. I will start uploading our blogs now... I hope you enjoy our adventure....
I was up at 4.30am to do my constitutional and it was still very cold.
We had a breakfast in the Muntadgin pub (big country style breakfast) and after paying our bill, and saying our goodbyes, set off for Southern Cross which was the site of Craig's motorcross accident at the King of the Cross MX event many years ago. The same event had been held the weekend before so we just missed it but the track has been moved as where Craig had his accident is now a big open pit mine.
When we arrived at Sourthern Cross (aafter picking up Terry's bike parts that had been falling off-at least his wheelchair stayed on now!!) we noted that Anton was not with us. He had run out of fuel due to a misshap during the last fuel up where he had not been fully filled. (Could that have been you Rex?) We sent Terry back with some fuel while we waited on the side of the road outside of Souther Cross. The support vehicles had taken a different route so Anton was waiting in the middle of nowhere for some time. We all regrouped at the Southern Cross Roadhouse.
Through Bernie Mauritz in Hyden we had organised the Ambo drivers who had attened to Craig those may years ago to meet us unbeknown to Craig. They were waiting in the Ambulance over the hill and we were waiting for Craig who had gone out the back for a piddle and then a coffee and thena chat and then a....... Eventually we coaxed him to come back out the front under the ruse that the film crew needed him. As he was coming around on his bike to meet us out the front I called Rob Pownall in the Ambulaance and said, come over the hill in about 5 minutes.
As we sat talking (with Craig now) the ambulance came into view.
I said to Craig, "This is probably the last thing you saw when you were in Southern Cross" as the Ambulance came down the highway.
As we watched them come they put on the lights and siren and drove straight up to us.
"What have you organised" says Craig quizzically
Out jumped Rob and his partner who was the man that transferred Craig to the Flying Doctors plane those many years ago. An interesting discussion ensued and they gave Craig a signed pprogram of the recent King of the Cross event with the current riders signatures. Thanks Rob and mates for doing this, well done and very memorable for Craig.
We then went up to as close as we could get to Craigs actual crash site. Still the club rooms nearby but a big hole where Craig actually had his crash which broke his neck.
They interviewed Craig while we quietly sat in the background.
Again, like Terry, did not seem much emotion. Poor callous bugger he is!!!
After this we set off for our overnight camp at Wallaroo Rock. Up the bitument then following the pipeline, then following the power pylons, then following the train line with us eventually arriiving at the Rock on sunset. No OKA's???
They were planned to be well in advance coming straight up the bitumen then straight up to the Rock. Eventually they arrived and they had missed the turn off and had to double back.
Setting up camp in the dark with drinks being enjoyed by all. A very good night with Anton displaying a level of frustration at being left stranded on the side of the road without fuel. As we slep we could hear Sam and Anton solving the worlds problems late into the night. The last bit of the track into Wallaroo Rock was fast and windy being just what we needed on the quads.
A late night by all.
Written on 09 Aug 2010
Over 30 years since incident
Tags:
crash site revisited
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