18th June 2005 (Maryborough, QLD) STOP NO: 203

TOTAL RAISED TODAY: $50.00

Final Collection Total: $107,159.85 - Days on the Road: 566 - Total KM travelled: 67,219 - Number of towns visited: 408 - NSW Total: $42,763.40 - QLD Total: $32,560.70 - NT Total: $1,345.15 - WA Total: $5,479.95 - SA Total: $4,612.80 - VIC Total: $10,283.00 - ACT Total: $10,089.90 - We were on the road early so that we could reach Maryborough in time to meet Warren Truss MP outside the City Hall at 11am. Warren had asked us to meet him today as he would be unavailable on Monday when we are meeting the Mayor. The ride was uneventful other than the fact that it was freezing again so we arrived in Maryborough safe and sound. As we were low on petrol Garry pulled into a fuel station and while Doreen was sitting on the trike waiting Ken walked over to her. She looked at him and he asked if she was cold with a big grin on his face because he could see she was freezing!! Doreen thought it was Ken but we have met so many people it was really hard to clearly remember everyone. Anyhow, she greeted him as if she was sure, as she didnt know anyone else in Maryborough, so it was pretty good odds that it was him. Garry then returned and as he had recognised Kens car he was more certain of who it was. We had a quick discussion with Ken about where to meet as he had some things to do and we also had a few items we wanted to do before going over to Ken and Maryannes. We agreed to meet at a caravan place we had passed on the way into town as they had a camper we were interested in looking at. We hadnt been at the caravan sales yard long when Ken arrived and had a look at this camper with us. It was a great little unit and folded down really low and was only 6ft by 6ft but popped up and out and included a small kitchen and dinette setting. We love our Retrovan but its not really very good for Doreen trying to do any work while we stay in it and when it rains we have to book in somewhere as all of our gear would get wet. We needed a compromise between our Retrovan and the campervan we were looking at. The Retrovan received heaps of attention because of its shape and we dont want to loose that but we really could use the facilities that the other camper had!! Ken could make one as he is a boatbuilder so we decided we would all think about how it could be done over the weekend. Ken had to continue with his errands and we were almost due to meet Warren Truss so we parted company again with clear directions this time to Kens place. We arrived outside City Hall just as the clock chimed 11 oclock and Warren Truss thought that was pretty clever to be exactly on time. We spent a bit of time talking to Warren who signed Martha for us and gave us a personal donation of $50. A local reported also came along and had her son with her who was very exited to see the trike and had heaps of questions about everything. At one stage he was asking about Arthritis and Warren told him that he didnt have to worry as he was too young to get it!!!! Doreen told Warren that he was completely wrong and thats why we were doing this event to stop people thinking that it was just an old persons disease. Garry stepped away a little thinking that Doreen was going to get real cranky about it but she didnt, she knew when to keep calm. It appears that we taught Warren Truss the real facts about Arthritis today! While all this was happening a couple of local bike riders stopped to have a look and to talk to us and as soon as Warren Truss left we were able to redirect our attention to them. One of them didnt stay long but the other who was a Vietnam Vet stayed for quite a while and said he would be back on Monday to be there when we meet the Mayor. When everyone left we rode over to Ken and Maryannes and found it easily as Ken had give clear directions and good landmarks. Maryanne was in Gympie for the day with her friend collecting three Dashound puppies. They already had one miniature Dashound which was named Ben and about seven years old but wanted a puppy and so did several of their friends, hence picking up three of them. Ken showed us around their house and his shed which he built and the house was amazing as was the landscaping. You felt like you were in a tropical villa on an island somewhere. Ken showed us the room we would be staying in and we unpacked what we needed and sat around for a chat. It was quite late in the day when Maryanne arrived home with the little ones and very cute they were too. Doreen had never seen a Dashound puppy before and their legs were so short that when they walked in the grass you couldnt see their legs at all. For them it was like walking through a jungle!! Several of Ken and Maryannes friends arrived one by one, as a barbeque had been planned for tonight. We had a good evening and their friends were as nice as they were so it was easy to talk to everyone. A considerable amount of time and attention was also given to the puppies and the reaction of their other dog Ben to the puppies. There were some really funny incidents between all of them. It wasnt really late when everyone left but we were all pretty tired so after a bit of a chat over a drink we all went off to be

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