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We left Tathra on the southern New South Wales coast and drove an almost perfect GR road to a small seaside port of Bermagui . 40 km along the cliffs with every twist and turn and ups and downs , heaven ! We continued north to Sydney which we drove round on freeways which the brilliant designers have failed to add one single fuel stop without having to leave the road, as we approach wd one interchange the guy ( or gal) I front ran over an object that then landed in our path and was unavoidable and clay led under the car with thank heaven no mischief. I have now run over three thing on free ways , a truck wheel that feel out of its cradle at night this object possibly a cone and in my STI I had a truck throw a tread of a rear tire that spiralled into the air hitting the front spoiler and
rear wing and making me duck ! . Luckily we refuelled in Nowra with the cheapest of the trip at 220 for 98 Ron .
One of the things I have learnt in life is that just when all is dinky die something drops on you from left field , well last evening and all morning today the good Lord or climate change , some would say . dropped a rain bomb on Sydney and NSW , actually due to the El Niño or Indian Ocean dipole they say! . You will probably have seen the massive floods it has caused to some unfortunate folk. We drove from Sydney to Newcastle in the dark in monsoonal rain a three lane freeway that has high inclines and some tight turns and a 110 kph speed limit. On one of the worst weather days for driving I have ever had , we were reduced to as low as 60kph due to flooding of the road and rivers of water at the bottom of inclines and in the usual places made hard to see in darkness. As usual we were passed by the invincible Utes Hilux Navaras Amaroks doing 120 presumably using night vision glasses . A Range Rover blasted past and it was fun to watch the huge twitch as he hit standing water ! Luckily modern cars are bullet proof and suspension design and geometry means they track straight if you don’t interfere! We made it to Newcastle the busiest port in Aus found some digs and had a good feed and retired to get up early for the last 800km run to home in Brisbane.
This morning we got up early checked the weather and set off on the home run to travel the first 400km in the previous nights downpour. Much easier in daylight and on the best road in Aus , excellent surface and easy driving but once again highly reduced speed as flooded road and minimal visibility. I have to admit to a strong sense of self preservation as St Peter would probably ask you what the hell you were doing at the gate ! The Dunlops once again excellent although now with 20k of wear . They don’t like standing water and nor do I but the little rocket does a minor twitch and chugs along, at one point giving me the same sensation it did in soft sand looking for traction on a completely flooded section. Only saw 3 cars in the centre reservation today and think the previous nights victims probably over the edge without trace! I found today that following the dry line behind a few huge trucks was useful in-spite of the clouds of spray.
In true Aus style the speed road goes through a town at the halfway mark Port Macquarie where we had a bite of lunch and walk. The poor residents have to endure 24 hour trucks passing through but it is a good place to stop, maybe a truck bypass as in a lot of Aus
Towns would help but it is surrounded by beautiful hills so there are no doubt engineering problems.The latter half of the journey was uneventful and kind of odd to be returning home after 6 weeks 3 days and 19707.3 km . 14 days of which we stayed in different places for more than one night . On those days we did up to 300k sightseeing and having fun.
Due to my lack of skills the photos popped up in the middle!
1 My grass gazetted road in Clare valley over the hill from Barossa wine area .
2 Lakes Entrance Victoria a delightful place on our southern coast
3 After a 10 km drive on a Cornish type road this was Cape Otway lighthouse ! Closed and walk in bush jump over the cliff and get a partial view! Met two couples who had walked for an hour for the same views . Could not offer them a lift to their car parks as not quite enough room !
4 Bermagui harbour NSW
5 Bay a beautiful Tathra. Pub brews own beer excellent.
6 Newcastle harbour early morning before setting off.
7 Mallacoota on the eastern bend of the south coast of Aus . Only road in a GR excellent 14 or so km drive ! Actually a piece of heaven to tune in drip out sort of place !
8 910 Ricardo point , I don’t know if he knows . Nice dirt roads!
The saga is not quite over so bear with me if you will , my wife suggested driving eighty
Miles for coffee this morning!
As at the Oscars some thanks !
Toyota for making the Rocket
Sue saying let’s do it after my initial burst
Of enthusiasm met reality!
The great people of Australia and this fantastic country , God ( Allah Buddha or whoever ) for creating it .
More to come re costs etc . Reality bites !
One of the things I have learnt in life is that just when all is dinky die something drops on you from left field , well last evening and all morning today the good Lord or climate change , some would say . dropped a rain bomb on Sydney and NSW , actually due to the El Niño or Indian Ocean dipole they say! . You will probably have seen the massive floods it has caused to some unfortunate folk. We drove from Sydney to Newcastle in the dark in monsoonal rain a three lane freeway that has high inclines and some tight turns and a 110 kph speed limit. On one of the worst weather days for driving I have ever had , we were reduced to as low as 60kph due to flooding of the road and rivers of water at the bottom of inclines and in the usual places made hard to see in darkness. As usual we were passed by the invincible Utes Hilux Navaras Amaroks doing 120 presumably using night vision glasses . A Range Rover blasted past and it was fun to watch the huge twitch as he hit standing water ! Luckily modern cars are bullet proof and suspension design and geometry means they track straight if you don’t interfere! We made it to Newcastle the busiest port in Aus found some digs and had a good feed and retired to get up early for the last 800km run to home in Brisbane.
This morning we got up early checked the weather and set off on the home run to travel the first 400km in the previous nights downpour. Much easier in daylight and on the best road in Aus , excellent surface and easy driving but once again highly reduced speed as flooded road and minimal visibility. I have to admit to a strong sense of self preservation as St Peter would probably ask you what the hell you were doing at the gate ! The Dunlops once again excellent although now with 20k of wear . They don’t like standing water and nor do I but the little rocket does a minor twitch and chugs along, at one point giving me the same sensation it did in soft sand looking for traction on a completely flooded section. Only saw 3 cars in the centre reservation today and think the previous nights victims probably over the edge without trace! I found today that following the dry line behind a few huge trucks was useful in-spite of the clouds of spray.
In true Aus style the speed road goes through a town at the halfway mark Port Macquarie where we had a bite of lunch and walk. The poor residents have to endure 24 hour trucks passing through but it is a good place to stop, maybe a truck bypass as in a lot of Aus
Towns would help but it is surrounded by beautiful hills so there are no doubt engineering problems.The latter half of the journey was uneventful and kind of odd to be returning home after 6 weeks 3 days and 19707.3 km . 14 days of which we stayed in different places for more than one night . On those days we did up to 300k sightseeing and having fun.
Due to my lack of skills the photos popped up in the middle!
1 My grass gazetted road in Clare valley over the hill from Barossa wine area .
2 Lakes Entrance Victoria a delightful place on our southern coast
3 After a 10 km drive on a Cornish type road this was Cape Otway lighthouse ! Closed and walk in bush jump over the cliff and get a partial view! Met two couples who had walked for an hour for the same views . Could not offer them a lift to their car parks as not quite enough room !
4 Bermagui harbour NSW
5 Bay a beautiful Tathra. Pub brews own beer excellent.
6 Newcastle harbour early morning before setting off.
7 Mallacoota on the eastern bend of the south coast of Aus . Only road in a GR excellent 14 or so km drive ! Actually a piece of heaven to tune in drip out sort of place !
8 910 Ricardo point , I don’t know if he knows . Nice dirt roads!
The saga is not quite over so bear with me if you will , my wife suggested driving eighty
Miles for coffee this morning!
As at the Oscars some thanks !
Toyota for making the Rocket
Sue saying let’s do it after my initial burst
Of enthusiasm met reality!
The great people of Australia and this fantastic country , God ( Allah Buddha or whoever ) for creating it .
More to come re costs etc . Reality bites !
