Sunday evening 29.5.20011.
Managed to get on the web for the first time for some time. We are now at Halls Gap in the Grampian Mountains after the most wonderfull few days with the Fordson Tractor Club of Australia. We have been visiting museums, vineyards and cemetries (?) and having a great time with Barry and Dawn Milsom, Leigh and Bev Donovan and many others.
Barry and I spent two days in his shed talking and looking at tractors. We went to meet a farmer friend and I was introduced to the Ford 8401, a very interesting tractor. I got to drive it around the yard.
I have never picked grapes, oranges, lemons and grapefruit direct from the tree and vines or, eaten walnuts straight from the tree for many years. Leigh and Bev Donovan had this all arranged for us as well as a great line up of Dextas.
We just cannot express our gratitude to all members of the Fordson Tractor Club of Australia, there are not enough words in the English language. Leigh put on a fantastic few days for us and Bev fed us and kept us going with tea.
We then moved on to Warracknabeal and the "talkfest" really got underway. We spent time in the museum there and I have never seen such a collection of tractors and implements, there are huge hangers full of tractors. Last night we had dinner at "The Rusty Nail" after we found it and the talk carried on. I gave a short speech ( I can do that Pascal, if I put my mind to it)(but it is hard).
Today we visited a museum belonging to Micheal and John Woods of Rupanyup, another fantastic place to visit with exhibits from shops, houses and farms in the local area, again all housed in huge buildings.
Pictures of all these great days will appear eventually but the internet connections are too slow to load the pictures to Photobucket.
And I must not forget that today I met Eric Schultz, Aussie Frank and Barrie for the first time face to face. More chat! Thanks chaps for coming, I know that Frank travelled a long way to make the day.
Today was also an emotional day for us all. When we left this afternoon we all felt that there is a possibility that the friendships made in the last few days may possibly never be renewed face to face. We are determined to come back but will have to save very hard to afford it again in the few years we have left before insurance costs rise to unaffordable rates.
There is a fantastic experience waiting for Fordson Tractor enthusiasts if they can get here, but do it before you get too old!
