Healey’s West                                                                                                               April 2008 February 2008

continued to a fine evening. The Harbour cruise pickup was from the jetty at the bottom of the garden, easy stroll for nautical types to walk up the gangplank again to a fabulous sit down dinner, plus some great music and dancing. Just a perfect evening on the water with good company

 

Sunday was overcast and rain threatened but never got worse than uncomfortable showers all day. 80 healeys lined up for a convoy to the Nelson Bay marina in the centre of the CBD where the display was arranged along the foreshore and drew plenty of public interest despite the lousy weather. Lunch was a cash gift to do your own thing and worked well with plenty of food opportunities handy. The weather cleared as the display broke up with everybody heading back to the resort to get ready for the dinner dance across the road at the Bowling Club. The Gala Dinner Dance was just that, lavishly decorated, superbly presented, great food, heaps of drinks, pre-seating with new friends, music and dancing, prizes and presentations. All in all, a fabulous evening and short walk home in the moonlight. Amazingly, the Rally was all but over, a late start and lazy brunch next morning, pre-empted the continuous exhaust roar of departing healeys. Goodbyes were said, and promises made for yet another gathering elsewhere, and by mid afternoon, suddenly there were about 40 of us left, drinks in hand contemplating the empty carpark. Except for Shearers, all the West Ozzies were present: Arthur and Tony M, fettling the car, Noel adjusting his Nullabor snorkel, Mike worried about the mountains to ride, Nigel researching ways to get his latest purchase home, me packing the trailer probably. The ladies were probably enjoying the respite, because it was soon on again when 40 of us went for dinner and drinks. A top Rally, well planned and brilliantly executed. Congratulations to the AHOC of NSW on a job well done.

 

Tuesday morning we departed for Sydney, taking a scenic (motorcycle type) route back through the lower Hunter Valley and inland to Wisemans Ferry and the western suburbs,             

taking tea and cake at the Bancrofts place enroute. The rain started again about then too. Anne flew home the next day, and a phone call from Arthur today (3 April) advised the 3 100s had an uneventful drive back to Perth. Nigel phoned yesterday to say they (he and Mike)  were in Mudgee taking liquid refreshment from an exhausting ride and very BIG hills, halfway through their bike journey. His new purchase containerised and posted. Great work. I’m still in Sydney, helping my sister and her (newly) quadriplegic son settle into their recently purchased and renovated home. It aint easy, but quality time with the family, mum and my 2 brothers, offsets any negatives. Think it’ll be another couple of weeks before I can feel comfortable to resume my trek……………………..more later.

 

Tony Ash 

 

 

     

 

  

 

Self Portrait and Happy

Tied down at Nullabor in the wind

Failed towbar under repair