The Outback Air Race 2009 Day 1, 2 and 3

Well here we are on day three.

Sitting in the Katherine Motel.

Day 1

Broome to Emma Gorge

Pleasant trip across the arid areas to the west of the King Leopold Ranges.
Found and overflew the starting point at Willare Bridge Roadhouse no problems (0.01NM of according to the race gps)

Rather turbulent from there on to the finish point at El Questro Homestead. In case you don't know (as we didn't) the homestead is now the big resort building on top of the gorge edge, not the old homestead near the airstrip. So we were 3.9NM off the finish and 22 seconds off our nominated time, total lost points 851, oh well we'll just have to do better tomorrow.

Look at the daily race results and find we actually won the match race for today as the other team did not post a time or were more than 30mins off their nominated time.

Arrive Emma Gorge strip about 1pm local, first race aircraft in after the official aircraft, and are met by the lovely Lily from Denmark in the lwb Landcruiser "Tour Coach".

After settling in to our "Tent" head up the gorge for a look. It's about the longest 1.6km we've ever walked but it's definitely worth it.



Dinner at Emma Gorge is a rip off, $45.00 a head for a buffet that I'd be loathe to pay $15.00 in a pub at home. Anyway I guess when your a captive audience there's not much else you can do.


Day 2

Emma Gorge to Katherine

Well Stuart's got a problem with the Moonie and needs to offload some gear to get across to Kunnurra to have it looked at. We agree to take one bag for him and see him in Kunnurra as we are going there for fuel anyway.

Depart Emma Gorge after much stuffing arround trying to find the race director to lodge our flight time for today, finally get airborne only about 1 hour later then we intended to.

Land KU and refuel, no sign of Stuart and The Rats, even though we can see their aeroplane. Decide better not just leave the bag there and leave a message we'll see him in Katherine. Just get airborne and he calls up on the radio that he's at the plane and really needs his bag, something about the rest of the charts are in there. So back we come and drop this of. Todays just getting longer and longer.

Anyway depart again and head of to the start point. The quarantine station on the Victoria Highway is not marked on the WAC but it's pretty hard to miss. Right over the top of it and on to Timber Creek. Finishing point at Timber Creek airstrip can not be confused as it's really distinct. Finish there and continue on to Katherine/Tindal. As the airbase is active we have to come in via the Victoria Highway at A015, which is only about 800ft agl in most places. Outside air temperature is 38degC and everything is running hot. Arrive Tindal circuit area and follow an F18 in to land, pity I was too slow to grab the camera would have made an interesting shot.

Unpack and head of to the terminal, Bill and Julie have been there for an hour already waiting for the bus (which did not arrive until 3 hours later), so had ordered a taxi, luckily its a 7 seater and we grab a lift with them into town.

Arrive at the Katherine Motel and what's the first thing we see



that's right it's an EO wheel cover, must be the only one in existance as everyone else's seems to have disappeared. Turns out to be SidR from Qld who is helping out with the bar and restaurant tonight as with 60 of us in house there's plenty of work.

No race results, as the time keeper did not arrive at the motel until 6pm and it takes at least 3 hours to down load from all (23) gps's so will be announced tomorrow night at dinner.

So far Katherine Motel has been the best of the trip, the very friendly hosts, Fiona and Mark. The great Stripers Auction which raised over $3000 for the RFDS, excellent bar and food, with a terrific swimming pool that's just the thing after a longgg hotttt day.

Off to Tennant Creek tomorrow and on to Sweer's Island the next day. Look for more tomorrow or in about 3 days as depend's on availability of internet access.

Don't forget to also check the Outback Air Race web site.

Cheers
Ross & Belinda

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