Community Display | Mt Barker WA

Wednesday: 7 January

A Warm Welcome to Start Our Adventure
What a wonderful morning it was! We rolled into Mt Barker right at 9am, greeted by the smiling faces of our dear friends Patti and Bill Woods. After safely parking the vans at their lovely home, we felt that familiar flutter of excitement knowing the day ahead would be filled with new connections and shared stories.

Bubsie Steals the Show at IGA
The town centre was buzzing with energy as we set up our display right at the doors of the local IGA. We couldn’t have asked for a better spot! It turned out to be seniors’ discount day (what perfect timing!), and the steady stream of shoppers meant Bubsie had quite the audience throughout the day.

Conversations That Filled Our Hearts
Watching people’s faces light up as they discover Bubsie for the first time never gets old. We spent the day chatting with curious locals, answering questions about the mechanics, and sharing the passion behind this beautiful machine.
One of the day’s highlights? When Glenda spotted a group of bike club riders passing through town and warmly invited them over to take a look. You should have seen their expressions when they compared their bike motors to Bubsie’s engine – the contrast was absolutely fascinating, and their enthusiasm was contagious!

Making Connections, One Story at a Time
By the end of the day, we’d handed out around 150 booklets and had the privilege of meeting so many interesting people. Each conversation felt like making a new friend, and that’s exactly what this journey is all about – bringing people together through a shared love of engineering, history, and community.

An Evening of Gratitude
As the afternoon sun began to soften, we headed back to our accommodation feeling wonderfully tired and fulfilled. Patti and Bill welcomed us with open arms and a delicious meal that nourished both body and soul. Sitting around the table, sharing stories and laughter with such generous hosts, we were reminded once again of the incredible kindness that makes these adventures so memorable.

Here’s to small towns with big hearts, to new friends and old, and to many more days like this one!