Day 8...saturday

From Eddie...
My day starts in the tent I awake, I am alone, I’ve slept in. But no its still early Andrew and Thomas are up and coffee is ready. The weather looks promising for the flight to Armidale to pick up the spare donk. Its foggy in Armidale so we play the waiting game I get the frame stripped back for the new motor. 10.00 we get a call from Rodger The club Cessna has an oil leak it needs checking out. Another call at 11.00 oil is OK. Weather is still iffy. Next call is that it’s looking good so we go to the strip and meet Roger. He is making a flight plan. He hasn’t been in to Armidale before. I’m very impressed with his attention to detail. 12.01 Rodger and I are on the taxi way doing the final checks and radio call. No guarantees but we will have a look. We take off and head on track over Lake Keepit, Manilla and on to the high country battling a head wind and thermic conditions. Rodger is having a good time he love aviation in all forms and has just bought a vintage Cessna 152. an hour and a quarter later we are lining up the Armidale strip for a perfect touchdown wind straight on. Dave is there to greet us. (I would like to take this moment to thank you for the new motor,thanks mate) Its been a couple of years since we last met. The motor is almost new and after a little catchup with what we have both been up to, a pie and coffee we load up the Cessna and retrace the flight up. There is a bit of rain and nasty cloud on track so we do a slight detour but with the wind up the jaxy we make almost 95.and are back in short time for a beautiful cross wind landing. While we put the Cessna away, Andrew not far away, arrived in a flap as he had dropped a bag with camera and headset. Thomas radioed in with the news that he had dropped it in the drive and all was well. We checked out Rogers plane then went to Deb and Harveys’ where the flyke was. Rodger who runs a computer shop in Gunnedah, a whiz on computer setup, helped us with connection problems.
The change over of motors went well. There was quite a bit of fiddly wiring issues which took some time. I had brought on the flyke what I thought would be needed for the trip most of the things have been used but weight is an issue. The tools have been adequate and all have been used. Thomas and I filmed it which will be a good resource.
For the success in being able to continue We owe a debt to the people of Gunnedah. I would like to especially thank Deb and Harvey who have arranged for us to meet so many lovely people which for me has been heart warming.