Day 22 Eureka to San Francisco 501kms

Finaly our last day on the road!!!

A much cooler start to the day with the covering of the marine layer and a little light drizzle both came as a pleasant change from the last 10 days or so of scorching heat.

I woke feeling a little shabby once more, but I'm sure I was not alone! this seems to be becoming a little bit of habit! - I think I need to return home for a bit of a dry out and let my liver have a rest, if I'm luck I might manage about a week!

The test sections may be over but we still have to arrive in San Fran to clam first place, yesterday was a tough last day with the last three regularities pushing everyone to the limit - some crews using the challenge to climb a little further up  the leader board others finding it really tough and loosing a place or two to other crews who had been nipping at their heels.

Route amendments were handed out as we left the hotel in the morning telling us that the dissision had been made to have the final MTC at the lunch stop, part way along the Pacific Highway - there for ending the rally at that point - phew! What a relief, we could then relax a little rather than have the worry right up to the end in SF.

The mornings drive was fantastic, a little run on highway 101 before turning off and driving through the fabulous Avenue of the Giants for about 31kms, these stunning giant redwoods tower high above you and sit right on the edge of the Tarmac road that twists and turnes between them - majestic! 

We then turned on to the iconic Route 1 "Pacific Highway" to lead us all the way along the rugged coast line and finally into San Francisco, this drive too is quite sensational and should be on everyone's bucket list!

The lunch stop arrived and we could now safely say we had won!

I am genuinely knocked out and really can't quite believe we have done it for a second time. We have been up against some very strong competition and crews that would normally leave us standing - I'm very proud indeed of what we have achieved.

The competition on these rallies is great fun and challenging but the greatest thing of all is meeting all the wonderful people that are part of this new family both competitors and the whole ERA team - our life is richer for knowing you all xxxxx

Day 21 - Reno to Eureka California 601kms

Waking a little shabby today after a fun evening with the Roberts!!!  We made the morning route march to the rally buffet breakfast - the Peppermill Casino hotel is so vast that by the time you find the ballroom where our breakfast was served you had definitely worked up a good appetite - unfortunately the buffet breakfast, like so many other mornings was a great disappointment and hardly worth the effort! but with another long day ahead of us we needed something in the tank to keep us going.

Today's MTC found everyone in a very buoyant mood, maybe due to a relaxing rest day or the excitement that the rally is almost over - only two more days on the road!

The Californian Red woods appeared fairly early on today and once off the main highway we were travelling on lovely twisting roads eventually taking us back onto, sand and gravel, and the first test section of the day! A little nearvous today as we don't want to mess up at this stage of the game.

With hardly a breath of wind today driving through the the trees on the dusty sand track to the start of the regularity was very tricky indeed, the dust kicked up from the dry sand track left a thick blanket behind the car travelling in front leaving less than a 30 meter line of sight! The test was all down hill and very slippery in areas,we did have a few exciting moments when Peter got the little car into the odd drift slide but managed to keep her out of trouble - we are 49 seconds in the lead, so really don't need to jeppodize our position at this stage.

We came in 4 seconds slow and in the circumstances were pleased with that - others made it a few seconds closer but they have everything to gain and we have everything to loose.

Welcome to California

After the test we continued on towards Eureka now back onto Tarmac and travelling through part of the Lassen National Forest and eventually the city of Red Bluff, the birthplace of Tom Hanks.

The afternoon brought us another two regularities on Tarmac and the last tests of the rally - all we needed to do was keep our cool and not make any mistakes, both of us feeling a little sick with anticipation.

Both tests went well although a little slower than our previous result but we were happy with that! All we need to do now is get back to San Francisco with out a problem and with out missing a timing point and the podium is ours!!!!

The last part of the day brought some amazing roads and views as we drove through the Californian Countryside and the South Fork Mountains - roads with sweeps and swoops as we made our way to the coast and The Red Lion Hotel in Eureka.

Arriving at the hotel crews came to congratulate us but we asked that they please leave it until we arrive safely in San Fran - plenty of people had suffered with car issues today, it had been a tough last test on cars and crews and as I've said before in my blog "it ain't over till it's over" we still have 500kms left to cover tomorrow - anything could happen!

Tonight was brilliant! The sweeps and mechanics had decided to hold a car park party out side the hotel after dinner and had invited everyone to join in, by about 8.30 the car park was alive with laughter and excited conversation - a fantastic atmosphere, well done boys xx

Day 20 - rest day in Reno!!!

Car washed, clothes washed now for a bit of R and R