RTG AlMex Daily Dispatch - FINAL - Flipbook - Page 21
27 August to
26 September 2023
Day 11 Osoyoos to Leavenworth (317km)
Mike and Lorna Harrison, 1959 Volvo PV544
If you get your paperwork in order and check all the
numbers match up with the official’s system, then
crossing the USA border is a pretty simple affair.
Today the rally was through the gates and rolling
down the road within an hour. within another
twenty kilometres the crews set off on the first
regularity up and through the okanogan forest.
lunch soon followed, at the lone point Cellars Time
Control. This was another vineyard with an impressive
view over the valley and an equally impressive buffet.
The Ardenvoir passage Control funnelled the cars into
the next regularity, called Chumstick, which rose into the
mountains along another narrow gravel track with some
thought provoking drops alongside.
leavenworth and the night halt followed shortly
afterwards, where we met with Stephen partridge and
Corgi le Grouw who had opted out of bringing their ford
Galaxie through the wilderness of the Yukon. nestling in
the Cascade Mountains, and perhaps with a nod to our
upcoming Carrera Bavaria, this is the most German of
all American towns. As well as all manner of Teutonic
paraphernalia scattered throughout the village, the enzian
Inn offers a daily Alpenhorn serenade giving those working
on their cars something to hum along to.
nick Sleep was working on repairs to his radiator fan,
whilst Andrew McAlpine was on the lookout for an errant
tappet. naturally there was the usual post-gravel adjustments
to make to headlamps and trim. Bill Shields and Alex
Schoenauer’s Chevrolet had a long-standing appointment
with a new clutch and the crew whisked the big white beast
away to a local garage. dust had permeated everything over
the course of today and it’s a safe bet that on the next rest day
the local valeting companies will do a roaring trade.
After a short, but very satisfying day, dinner was served
in the nearby Viscontis restaurant, an Italian establishment
with shades of the Tirol.
photos: Marcus rowe - gerardbrown.co.uk
This passed without incident for most crews, save for
Stephen Hardwick and Ashley Bennett’s datsun which
needed pulling from a ditch by Andy Inskip and Charlie
neale. fortunately, the only thing that was hurt was their
pride. Quickly dusting themselves down they joined the
rest of us at the Time Control at detro’s western Store in
the Town of riverside.
After light snacks and cold drinks it was off for the
second hot and dusty regularity along Corkscrew road.
This was another long gravel section climbing into an open,
mountainous landscape featuring dry grasslands and
immense vistas. dust devils whipped up along the 30km
section through fields littered with geological erratics. The
best view, however, was the sight of fred Gallagher at the
final Timing point, resplendent in a stars and stripes shirt.
7 September 2023
Keith and Norah Ashworth, 1927 Bentley 4½ Le Mans
www.rallytheglobe.com