As usual preparations for this event usually take some time well in advance of the 25th, but with other commitments/interests etc., some planning was put back with my thoughts everything will be OK, well that was bulldust I can tell you.
Over the past 4 days I have had to buy 3 new batteries to the tune of almost $600.00 add to that $100.00 for fuel, anyway moving along washing all vehicles clean the glass paint the tyres (all 40 of them, I didn't have the No5 attached) early start this morning moving vehicles out onto the street
and from another angle
and yet again
yesterday (24th) I fitted a new battery to 112-587 it started up fine, but the clutch pedal felt a bit ordinary, anyway it appeared to be OK, but not this morning, the vehicle wanted to bolt away with the pedal about 2mm of the floor, so given that last year the parade took 19 minutes for the 1.3klm journey, I retired 112-587 @ 0700hrs, it was going no-where.
Also yesterday afternoon I was checking fuel levels and my mind running in circles (have U done this n that etc,. etc,.) checking in my mind yes I've done this n that, but I hadn't, and that would haunt me today.
My mate Ken a veteran of the conflict in Sth Vietnam served with 8 Fld Ambulance, here he is sitting in the bloodbox in my neighbours driveway
at 1000hrs we headed off down to the FUP, to see a local who just invited himself along with his jeep, he did the self n same thing last year, just rolled up and asked me could he tag along, well I told him last year that I am invited by the RSL, and that I could neither invite him or tell to ***s off, so he just turned up again along with another fellow in a jeep damn hide,,.
Anyway one on my usual veterans thought he could ride in the jeep (which is OK by me) but he couldn't get in the darn thing, so he came back and rode in the lead 109, I think it will be his last ride as he is 93 and his mobility has gone south since last year, shame to get old, well all 7 of my vehicles had a veteran in them, the local car club had been asked to provide some open topped cars from memory 'T' model ford which was taller than any of my vehicles, a Mustang, Studebaker car and I haven't a bloody clue what the other 3 were nor was I interested, but I did see that they didn't have any veterans riding in them,,.
Back to the mishap that will haunt me for some time, NBN 3 was at the parade (first time ever I have seen TV coverage), well 112-501 was performing faultlessly as she does, but when the owner forgets to put bloody fuel in it, what happens it stops that's what happens s***, anyway with many willing hands we pushed 112-501 about 300 meters and parked it.
After the service I rounded up the drivers and gave them instructions on the route home so as to avoid the traffic congestion, well 112-655 wouldn't start, battery DEAD FFS, so I told Dave to wait while I went home in 113-372, collected battery jump pack, some spanners ( as at this stage I wasn't sure why 112-501 had stopped).
Arriving back at the scene of the mishap LOL lifted the bonnet right back, took off the air horn, poured some fuel down the throat of the carb, she fired up but died as expected, Hmm, undo the fuel delivery line to carb, prime fuel pump, can hear the fuel pump working, check dipstick in tank, nothing on the stick %^&%, that's when I remembered that I hadn't finished my checklist.
Anyway here are a couple of images from the parade before the mishap at the FUP, note I didn't include the ceep in front LOL
and along the route
anyway that's been my day, hopefully better next time around if I'm still able to do it, cheers Dennis
ps the gunbuggy will have it's battery checked before I shell out $200.00+ again this week,,.
the video clip
just shows the Aussie spirit people coming to help without being asked,,.
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