M arrived at Bankstown for the second time. He had flown in early before returning to Sydney Harbour for the fly past. Genevieve and I were at the Opera House to watch him complete the final part of the route, but we waited and waited..... we saw the Campbell team land the Albatros and some of the subsequent melee in the harbour. It was a wonderful spectacle and a fitting conclusion to the race.
M spent a considerable amount of time talking to journalists and reporters at Bankstown, before returning to Sydney on the last coach. A scurry then ensued to get ready for that evening's bash, a reception and dinner to present prizes and to mark and celebrate the end of the race. John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia, awarded the prizes and, not part of the programme, presented M with a new pair of boots on behalf of the Kai Tak team. M's subsequent speech resembled something from the Oscars "...and I would like to thank my family, and everyone that knows me....... and did you hear about my oil leak? and I would like to thank my mother......" type of thing until mercifully cut short by the Kai Tak team. Luckily, M does not remember in detail. He has resumed his red wine habit as he is no longer dieting (a condition of his return home).
Although I knew of the plot to replace M's boots, I was unaware of the next bit of the plan. Phil Black or "Blackie", the cattle auctioneer and pilot, who had entertained us so brilliantly at Longreach was called to the stage to auction M's old boots for a charity. Amazingly, bidding was brisk and the hammer eventually fell at 2,200 Aus dollars to Geoff Beesley. M duly and protestingly (he loved his old boots) autographed each and I rejoiced in his smartening up his appearance.
Sunday was a public day at Bankstown and we met lots of people who had travelled some distance to look at the aircraft that had completed the Kangaroo Route 2001. G-KIRK commanded a lot of interest owing, I think, to the sheer unlikelihood of her completing the route. During the afternoon Geoff Beesley arrived with M's old boots. He had reflected on these being M's good luck and returned them. We replaced them with M's Piper Cub baseball cap which had also accompanied him for the whole trip. This was signed and oil plastered and certainly looked as though it had been through the mill and back. A more fitting and less smelly momento of the trip.
It was particularly fun for me to meet a number of people who had been communicating with me via our website during the race. Richard Jeffery, now of Sydney, late of Dinas Powys, S Wales is one such person who kindly spent his whole Sunday helping us make arrangements for the safe B and B and crating of G-KIRK. Until this was arranged M did not relax. Richard then drove us back to our hotel and expanded our Australian experience by introducing us to Twoeys beer.
All good things must come to an end. We left Sydney on Monday, 9 April to fly back to the UK, to rain, cold and animal health problems. Our flights were straight forward other having to decompression the gas cannister of the life raft before being allowed on our airoplane. On arrival at Heathrow we were reminded sharply of the contrast of attitudes between continents. We had carried M's broken propellor by airline, coach, taxi and private car from Coolangatta via USA to London - no problem. But at Heathrow bus terminal we were met by a furrowed brow and scowl "You can't put that fing on yer, mate". Attempts at compromise did not yield any benefit and so we hired a car and drove home.
I had forgotton to keep an eye on the heating fuel situation while M was away. It had run out. Nice to be home.....