Sorry missed your post Oggy, how was your trip?
I've already posted our trip up over on the VV forum, so if you've already read it apologies!
Our Nationals Trip
We set out from home early on Boxing Day – it was bucketing down and it wasn’t long before the Ute had a problem; before we even got to the meeting point in Nudgee! The blinker indicator light decided it would be good to flash even when the blinkers weren’t on. Whipped the bulb out and problem solved … the real problem behind this was the sealing of the wiper arms, they were leaking and water got under the blinker flash can. Not a big drama and I figured if that’s the biggest problem we have on the trip then it will be a good one! We soon cleared the Brisbane traffic which was light but a bit slow due to the weather, and by the time we got to Aratula the rain was clearing – this was to be the last of the rain until our last night on the road – we were blessed with some glorious fine days if not a little (or a lot!) hot.
The first of many “wee” breaks along the way and the first chance to grab a photo of our convoy … well the early Holden components anyway. That’s Willie and Donna’s green FX and 70’s Millard, and Daryl and Bea’s red Ute.
As the weather cleared up we enjoyed a leisurely cruise down the New England highway, stopping again at Tenterfield for some lunch. While we were here a lady came up and said she had an old van for sale … I have her contact details and will follow up on it soon, you never know aye.
Everywhere we stopped it seemed someone had a story to tell, wanted to take photos and so on; all in a days work when your out and about in the humpies as we all know but still some of the characters you meet along the way can be very entertaining. This fuel stop had a few people running around with cameras flashing so I figured I might as well join them, not a bad scene should be more of it.
After a long day we pulled into Tamworth for some R & R; we did about 600km in about 9 hours – not too bad for a convoy of humpies especially towing the vans. Trouble free day with a shorter 450 km day into Bathurst should see us arrive in time for lunch … we thought! No one could be bothered cooking so after a few refreshing ales we headed over to Hungry Jacks where as some might say “the burgers might be better at Hungry Jacks but they ain’t faster!!” Not mentioning any names but after some slow service we all ended up with a free coffee …. Err make that an upgrade to free ice creams!!!
The rigs at Tamworth:
Next day we set off bright and early but missed a turn so ended up doing a bit of a detour via Scone, no problems we’re on holiday so it’s all good. We made Merriwa for morning tea, found a lovely shady park and had a good break.
As we were leaving town, Willie and Donna’s FX spat its front uni – it was very thoughtful though it did it in town and Willie pulled over next to a nice shady tree … We had all the necessary tools and equipment to change over the uni, but unfortunately no one was carrying a spare – nothing for it but a mercy dash into Muswellbrook for a new one. I was kicking myself because I have a couple of spares in my shed which I actually contemplated throwing in the toolbox for the trip but decided as mine were nearly brand new it wasn’t necessary. Oh well, we had a good lunch while waiting for the parts run.
Don’t you hate it when you drop one of the cups off the rear uni and a needle falls out!
Wake up Willie!
We got back on the road after some kind locals allowed us to use their vice to put the uni in properly rather than bash it in, a very nice HK Ute they were driving too. After an unplanned stop for us to put some more fuel in from the jerry can we made Mudgee, then on to Bathurst in the mid afternoon, and set up camp next to Reddo.
Scrutineering, we made it!
The pilgrimage to Mt Panorama was one of the first items on the agenda:
The welcome BBQ in McPhilamy Park was well attended, and gave us our first glimpse of some of the cars in attendance; the standard of the cars was simply awesome!
Just to show it was in the show and shine!!
The show and shine has been pretty well covered by now so I won’t go through my couple of hundred photos here!
The film night was capped off with the appearance of Ray Eldershaw and Max Stahl, who entertained with their recollections of building racing grey motors and racing humpies:
The observation run was a nice drive out to Canowindra taking in Carcoar, both towns look like time ahs passed them by with their lovely old historic buildings. They make a perfect backdrop for the cars, especially if the “plastics” can be edited out of the picture! Some pics from the observation run:
All too soon, the nationals were all over, the presentation dinner was a big event in itself with the auctioning off of the placards and presentation of the awards; congratulations to all those that won or placed in their class.
So after the nationals, we went on to Dubbo to check out the zoo, and was it hot! The trip out to Dubbo was the only time in the whole trip I had to slow down slightly due to the car getting hot – it normally cruises no problems at 95 – 100 km/h but I had to back it off to more like 90 km/h to keep the temps in check. The hot temp of the day combined with a strong, hot headwind to make for sweltering conditions – it was park the van, and into the pool when we arrived at the caravan park!
If your contemplating going to Dubbo Zoo, its well worth while to cough up the extra $15 to do the morning tour, you get much more up close and personal with the animals:
We had a bit of fun with the carts … but what happens on tour stays on tour sometimes!
It was so hot, that at the end of the day when I got back in the Ute, the temp gauge was reading 50 degrees before I even started it!
From Dubbo we bid farewell to Willie and Donna, and Daryl and Bea, to head for Sydney for a couple of days visiting family. From there we wandered back to Brisbane via the Putty Rd, doing the roadside stop for lunch of our own making. Very relaxing way to travel, this is what a lunch stop should look like!
Our first stop was Lake St Clair, about a 20 km detour from the highway at Singleton, and what a lovely spot after a hot day on the road! Only issue was the powered sites offered no shade, so we just found a nice shady spot by the lake to while away the afternoon. The beer was cold, the lake refreshing, and the times were good!
Then, as the sun went down, we plugged in to the power and took in a great sunset; what a magnificent view!
Next stop Taree, a little earlier than planned as we had a slight “fridge mishap” when we forgot to put the lock back in the fridge from our lunch stop … Had a nice run through Stroud and Gloucester on the way doing the tourist thing. Had some lunch at the top of the hill overlooking Gloucester:
Always on the lookout for old vans and cars of course wherever we go, this one looks really good but is apparently “off limits” – it seems destined to end its days here …
Found a nice park to stop over in Taree though, it doesn’t get much more waterfront than this!
From Taree, we wandered on up to Red Rock, just north of Woolgoolga on the Northern NSW beaches, the site was a good size but not as spectacular as the previous two nights so far as a view from the van goes …
But it was only a few minutes walk to this!
After a few nights at Red Rock, reality finally set in so we made for home, it was a gloomy homecoming from the fires:
Not affecting us, and I hope everyone comes through the fires unscathed, that goes to all those around the country especially in Tasmania and Victoria – we have been largely unaware while on the road of the fires as we don’t have a TV or even a radio in the van …
So, hopefully if you have read this far its been interesting enough to keep you awake!
I know we had a great time, and now I can’t wait for the next nationals!!
Cheers
Doug
Neat set of lights you have there, do they have reflectors built in?
