Day 3 Buladelah to North Haven

Great to wake up in down town Buladelah. This Caravan park must have been the toast of the twon BEFORE they agreed on the by pass Freeway, which will now go over the hill.

Last night we had the Freeway at Morriset about 1 km away from our campsite. Last night the main road was about 50 metres away. And let me tell you - the Brisbane to Sydney (and vice versa) double d's start before midnight on a Sunday. I suspect that most of them are manly supporters after their win against Souths on Sunday.

We had Breakfast at the Pub in Buladelah, with again a good spread on offer. Eggs and bacon were on the go, to fire up the riders to North Haven. Luckily there were no baked beans - or the fire may have been more amid the Pack riders. We had no early openers at the Pub - not for a lack of interest among the riders who were barbing their skippers.

Pack 8 had by now found some deserters from day 1. Whilst the girls had moved on, and a couple of blokes, we came to realise that only the stayers and true believers belonged in the pack. We were like a group of fillies before a big race; nattering away, and failing to realise when we should head off. Unfortunately, our biggest frolicking filly was skipper Chris. He loves a chat, and seems to work on Fiji time - 'relax - it will happen'.

Regardless we gathered up at the caravan park for our 7.30 departure at 7.55am, only to see 2 of our team leaving the carpark (in a car). A level of frustration was offset by the chance to visit the toliets, and reacquaint one self with the surrounds of the Caravan Park at Buladelah. we eventually left at 8.20am, once Peter and Carole Anne had settled their bike finding difficulties.

We set off up the hill from Buladelah, and skipper Chris quickly taught us the art of rollovers, ones and twos, and avoiding trouble on a busy freeway. The freeway was relatively uneventful, with little happening but some neat rolling, and working in pairs. Pack 8 was moving like a well oiled machine - certainly since we had moved off the likes of the Red Baron, Shirley and Laverne, and others who didn't even warrant a nickname.

Our first hiccup was when Michael the Speculator ran over a rock at 40kms an hour, after about 16 ks on the road (no embellishment here, but it seemed like a bolder just appeared out of Mad Max). Pack 8 was to begin a love affair with the p ssssssssssssh .ss. hhh sound of the deflating tyre. Welby / Erroll / Curtley Kelleher assisted with repairs, and the repair team for punctures was tightening in Pack 8 (time taken = 7 minutes). I was making a serious challenge for the most flats in the week, and was confident of a good return here.

We made really good progress to our morning tea at Nabiac, where we found another 5 Packs waiting our arrival. That was because of the last on - last off principal; as there were roadworks further ahead at Kew, that meant riders had to be mini-bussed for 20 kms or so. Hence there was a backlog at Nabiac so as the queue wasn't south of Kew where the buses were running. The RTA who suggested this solution thought it was best not to use a new stretch of road, and keep the queuee (Kew) at Nabiac. Sound confusing? Join the queue.

The lengthy stay at morning tea became more confusing as we realised that skipper Chris had driven to Taree to replace his wheel. We in Pack 8 moved on in support of our skipper, and relocated Chris around the reentry to Failford north of Forster. We rode on a some balmy weather for this time of year. We journeyed over the Manning River twice, and our local GP Doctor Kildare was making more local calls into our riding lines then a Victorian Police Officer covering Underbelly. Kildare was riding mean (but not lean - his calves would make a great roast dinner) and was preoccupied with riding in the highest gears (and ring). Still - it made us feel safe so he could do what he wants.

Our Tandem bike riders had been summoned to another precinct, rode ahead all day to keep the other packs in order, and famously known today on day 3 as the Dukes of Hazard. They had their lovely wives with the for the trip, who along with Adrian assisted to the needs of Pack 8 like no other in the ride. The Dukes had a flat before the bus ride, and waited for the trusty team of Pack 8 to assist (once we arrived) to fix another flat tyre. Mark welby assited with the change, as did Michael, and luckily we both had helmets on as we knocked each other over bending over to fix the rim of the replaced tyre. Johhny wasn't impressed, and we looking a bit like the 3 stooges with a lot of riding to go. We were starting to collect enough bike tubes to setup our own trampoline business, and began putting out sounders for disused tubes to other Packs.

Eventually we made it to the mini bus changeover to Kew. Johnny found a better seat away from the back of the bus (with no emergency exit signs attached), but Mark / welby collected his head on the roof at the back sitting down. The trip was uneventful, but Pack 8 is lobbying that this 15 - 20 day scenic trip be part of every year's trip - every day; targetting steep climbs etc.

The Investor took us to his father in laws palce in North Haven once we pdealled from Kew into North Haven, a lovely coastal retreat on the mid north coast not yet effected by the 'big town' commercial effects of better known places. Booby Tanner was a delightful host, with refreshments, hot showers and washing facilities, and proper beds after camping for two nights.

Dinner at the local club, and off to bed.

105 kms. 4 hours 10 minutes. 23.3 kms an hour