One week to go and the riders and wives have a table booked at the Thirsty Wetta in Otorohanga as a last get together.Colin and son Liam are heading home from town with a trailer load of farm supplies wanting to get unloaded, have a quick scrub before heading into Otorohanga for the last supper with the other riders and wives.

All the planning is done, bikes organised, panniers packed, MP3s loaded. We all cant wait to get on the plane and head to the land of Oz.

As Colin and Liam travel home in the Ute another 4wd loses control on a bend and crosses the centre line sideways hitting the Ute front on. Nett result: Both vehicles written off. Liam has concussion and neck in a brace due to spine out of alignment ( a bit like a cars wheels if you hit the kerb too hard). Colin has a couple of broken bones in his neck and will be in a neck brace for 6 - 8 weeks.

Oz is off for Colin. While hugely disappointing they thank God that they both lived to tell the tale.