On the Bottom Half

Where has our Argon gone?

The title is the important part for this post. Say it to yourself once or twice without enunciating the "our"... I love the english language!

So, as you may have guessed, our bottle or argon, which we used for the TIG welder, went missing yesterday. Garett and I rose early to drop the returning gang (Colby, Laurie, Travis, Sean, and BJ) at the Adelaide airport. I went back to get a little more sleep as did Garett, but he had some other stuff to do and was in a different vehicle. When we rose once again later that morning, we searched for the argon bottle, which was in the boot just the previous evening, to find it missing. Where did it go? No one knows! Maybe it fell out at the airport in the morning?

Hey I have a great idea, let's go back to the airport and see if they've picked up a stray bottle of argon this morning... Just another adventure with Kyle - pressurised canisters of inert gas left lying at the airport. However, I'm pleased to announce that the canister was not at the airport and is yet on holiday. More to follow later.

I'm also yet to hear from Hertz about the brand new Maxima I wrecked. I should have saved the grill as a trophy - it was so cleanly removed from the front end. Hmmm...

Continuing with the random theme of the last few posts: the race finish in Adelaide was awesome! We rolled in first place in Production Class and 10th overall. More importantly, we beat an open car!

The finish is best described as well developed. After parking the lead and chase vehicles in a parking lot, you are marshalled into a waiting bus with your team name on the side. They then get the solar car to follow behind and at the finish, everyone hops out and waits in Victoria Square (Central Adelaide). The solar car is driven into the square, through a finish-line arch, and everyone runs in behind it. Pictures are taken, in the case of the Belgians (at least), the beer and champange that was loaded into the car that morning is cracked and everyone gets covered in frothy alcoholic muck. What was that about drinking and driving?

Then, the car is cleared through scrutineering and parked in tents to be put on display. We leave and wash our filthy bodies off at the hotel room and go out for a cocktail party put on by the satellite internet people - at the Hilton, no less! Next day was standing around talking to interested people about solar cars and getting names and addresses of friendly ladies that want me to come and stay with them in Melbourne for a few days. Don't worry, they are not my age, more like mums who want a Canadian visitor to take around and show their friends.

On that note, we packed up the next day, and yesterday drove back to Melbourne. Garett and I successfully navigated the port today to drop the car crate off and then got back to hotel. You have no idea what Melbourne is like to drive - Garett said today that it is one giant accident waiting to happen, which, I must say, I've proven and as of tonight, so has Garett.

We went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tonight. Mom, you must see this movie if you have not yet done so. Tim Burton is incapable of doing wrong.

Miss everyone and I've got lots to post, but that is enough to for one night.

Update complete!

posted by Kyle @ 05:23