Community Displays | Yass & Gundagai NSW
Thursday: 6 November
Yass Adventures: Displays, Breakdowns & a Wheel on the Loose
When Our Wheel Took a Solo Trip!
Our journey to Yass hit a literal bump when the caravan wheel completely came off on the Barton Highway—two wheel studs sheared, all nuts missing! A kind stranger retrieved the rogue tyre while we MacGyvered a temporary fix using three remaining studs and borrowed nuts. The team split up: Raams and Noel continued to Yass for the display (breaking the padlock when they realized they’d forgotten the trailer key!), while Kevin and Glenda hunted for parts. After removing the wheel drum, getting it repaired at a nearby workshop, then discovering damaged U-bolts, we gratefully left the caravan at the trailer workshop for proper repairs. Divine providence? The workshop was only a few kilometers away!
The Show Must Go On: Our Trio Takes Yass by Storm!
Meanwhile, in Yass… The Magnificent Three Strike Out Alone
While Kevin and Glenda wrestled with caravan wheels and repair shops, our three trusty team members—undeterred and determined—pressed on to Yass. The display couldn’t wait, and neither could they!
Location, Location, Location (Take Two!)
First Attempt: Woolworths Front
They set up Bubsie in front of Woolworths, expecting the usual buzz of shoppers. But the foot traffic was practically none.
Time for Plan B! Second Attempt: Museum Car Park Magic
Smart thinking led them to relocate Bubsie to the Museum car park—a much better fit for a piece of rolling history!
A Surprise Connection at the Information Center
Here’s where it gets interesting! They handed a book and QR card to the lady at the information center, expecting a polite “thank you.” Instead, they discovered she worked at the Canberra National Museum and had actually seen the original Bubsie!
Talk about the right person at the right time! Her eyes lit up as she made the connection between the historic vehicle she knew and the beloved replica standing before her.
Quality Connections
In their hour at the museum location, about half a dozen books found new homes. But more importantly, they had meaningful conversations—including chats with museum staff who truly appreciated Bubsie’s historical significance.
Mission Accomplished!
When the time came, our determined trio expertly loaded Bubsie back into the trailer with smooth professionalism.
Next stop: Gundagai!
The Takeaway: While one half of the team battled mechanical problems, the other half kept the mission alive. That’s what teamwork looks like!
Sometimes you split up to conquer—and conquer they did!
From Breakdown to Breakthrough: Gundagai Delivers!
Rolling into Gundagai, we searched for the perfect display location. Veronica took the initiative and popped into a local coffee shop to ask permission. Their response? An enthusiastic “yes!”
Talk about small-town hospitality! Noel expertly positioned Bubsie right in front of their shop, and suddenly we were in business.
A Beautiful Crowd!
After the quiet hour in Yass, Gundagai felt like a festival! Visitors and locals streamed by, genuinely interested and engaged. The energy was contagious, and we were suddenly busy in the best possible way.
The guys grabbed lunch one by one (someone’s always got to stay with Bubsie!), and we ended up spending nearly two glorious hours connecting with the Gundagai community.
A Museum Invitation We Couldn’t Refuse
One highlight? A gentleman from the nearby museum stopped to chat and extended an invitation: “Come have a look around!”
That’s the kind of spontaneous connection that makes this journey special.
The “Good Mistake” That Paid Off
Divine GPS Malfunction?
When the team arrived in Wagga Wagga, Veronica led the convoy to the church. Was it the right destination? Not exactly. But was it perfect timing? Absolutely!
The pastor was literally pulling out of the driveway when they arrived. He stopped, they chatted, and suddenly we had a safe place to park the Bubsie trailer on church grounds. Sometimes getting “lost” leads you exactly where you need to be!
From there, they headed to their accommodation for the next three nights—mission accomplished!
Meanwhile, Back in Canberra: The Repair Finale
2:30 PM: The Moment of Truth
Kevin and Glenda returned to the workshop, fingers crossed. The verdict? Fixed!
The mechanics had:
✅ Repaired the damaged axle bolts
✅ Replaced the wobbly tyre
✅ Discovered the original rim was bent (mystery solved!)
The Bubsie Effect Strikes Again
The two workshop guys were fascinated by our year-long journey. We gifted them each a copy of “The Overlander,” and they were genuinely disappointed they couldn’t see Bubsie in person—she’d already rolled on to Gundagai!
The Journey to Reunion
2:50 PM: Kevin and Glenda hit the road
6:00 PM: Arrived in Wagga Wagga
After a day that started with a wheel flying off and ended with the whole team safely in Wagga Wagga, we are thankful. The caravan was fixed, the team was reunited, and tomorrow was a fresh start.
When your day starts with a wheel rolling down the highway and ends with everyone safe and sound, you count your blessings!
