We had originally planned on leaving on Friday but the weather turned nasty overnight with a howling gale and threatening storms. We hi-tailed it for home, but the conditions on the highway, towing a biggish van, were pretty terrible. We were only doing 90 most of the time and after taking an hour to cover 75k I called for a pit stop at a tiny place called Avenel. Took coffee and raisin toast, and suitably relaxed, rejoined the fray. Finally made it into Holbrook and called it quits for the day even though it was only 2pm.
The rain caught up to us as well, but by the looks of the news reports, we were better off than most of north east Victoria.
During a break from the rain we checked out the 'Last Post Bookshop' and bought a handful of well used tomes. Forsook the Riverina Hotel that evening for the RSL Club. Only noticeable difference is that the wine is about half price to that of the hotel!
Wandered off about 10am the next day and wandered into Canberra about 1:30 or so.
Well that's it for the moment, next planned departure is 27th May for another 1/2 'lap' up through the top-end
Brian & Judy
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Melbourne Cont. - Flower Show
We went to our second attraction for this visit to Melbourne, the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show held at the Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens.
Now you have to understand that we have a background of 24 years of Floriade, so we were expecting big things from this major event in this big city.
Inside the hall were lots of individual displays which appeared to either be from 'schools' or professional flower floggers. Some nice flowers though and some very imaginative displays, especially the tree made out of orchids - you had to look twice and then closely to see that it wasn't a actual tree with its leaves all aglow with autumn gold.
Outside we were looking for the show gardens but had to wade through street after street of shops first. When we did find them, all of about half a dozen, they were a bit ordinary.
Highlight of the day (and this shows how unimpressive the show was itself) was a huge Scotsman about ten foot tall and a huge dog that went about entertaining the crowd. The dog would lay down at his master's feet and when the crowd least expected it, the dog would let loose a stream of water all over some poor sod's leg. All part of the act as was the dog's antics when the bagpipes got some wind up their tubes.
Frankly, we were both a bit disappointed with the lack of actual flower and garden displays, they had a bunch (sorry) but I wouldn't say that it was much better than Floriade. What you came away with was an overwhelming sense of product from the zillion vendors and not much of an inspiration garden-wise.
Don't forget that the snaps are all available from the Melbourne panel on the right-------->
Snap of the day:
Now you have to understand that we have a background of 24 years of Floriade, so we were expecting big things from this major event in this big city.
Inside the hall were lots of individual displays which appeared to either be from 'schools' or professional flower floggers. Some nice flowers though and some very imaginative displays, especially the tree made out of orchids - you had to look twice and then closely to see that it wasn't a actual tree with its leaves all aglow with autumn gold.
Outside we were looking for the show gardens but had to wade through street after street of shops first. When we did find them, all of about half a dozen, they were a bit ordinary.
Highlight of the day (and this shows how unimpressive the show was itself) was a huge Scotsman about ten foot tall and a huge dog that went about entertaining the crowd. The dog would lay down at his master's feet and when the crowd least expected it, the dog would let loose a stream of water all over some poor sod's leg. All part of the act as was the dog's antics when the bagpipes got some wind up their tubes.
Frankly, we were both a bit disappointed with the lack of actual flower and garden displays, they had a bunch (sorry) but I wouldn't say that it was much better than Floriade. What you came away with was an overwhelming sense of product from the zillion vendors and not much of an inspiration garden-wise.
Don't forget that the snaps are all available from the Melbourne panel on the right-------->
Snap of the day:
Melbourne Cont. 'At Leisure'
Monday : Today was mother-of-the-bride dress buying day. Judy had sussed out the most likely place whch turned out to be a little shop in Waverley Road East Malvern. Fortunately they had one that was just right for the occasion and so that was one down and only the shoes and handbag to match to go.
Chadstone is just down the road from Malvern and boasts the 'largest shopping mall in the southern hemisphere'. Naturally we went straight there and went in through the 'Paris' end but sadly(?) nothing there for us. Not to mch further down the scale we found a Ferrari shop (Diana not Enzo) and he shoes and handbag were secured quick-smart.
While we were in the area, I wanted to have a quick look for my uncle's old house, in Ramona Avenue, Malvern . Found it easily with Tom's help and it looks just the same as it did last time I saw it, about 45 years ago. The trees have grown huge and the freeway seems a lot closer than it did then, but unmistakeably the same place - would have taken a snap except there was someone sitting in a car in the driveway.
Tuesday : We decided that we really had to catch the vehicular ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliff, which are the two towns on the opposite sides of the mouth to Port Phillip Bay. Wow, it's two hours or so down to Sorrento, but a really pretty place. We decided to have lunch up in the town itself and catch the 3 o'clock ferry. Judy had the fish and chips, brought to the table neatly wrapped in a bag made of newspaper held together with a clothes peg! (see snaps) The ride across is pleasant, but you could see how the waves and swell could blow up anytime. Came straight back through Geelong in about an hour and a half, roads starting to get real busy as Melbourne empties out for the day.
The cafe, Just Fine Food, also boasted 'famous vanilla slices', which is a challenge. Judy declared after dinner that the slice in question really wasn't that good (i noticed it all got eaten though) and certainly not up to her benchmark, which is still the one found at the Beechworth Bakery, even the outlet in Echuca, if your going that way.
Snap d'jour:
Chadstone is just down the road from Malvern and boasts the 'largest shopping mall in the southern hemisphere'. Naturally we went straight there and went in through the 'Paris' end but sadly(?) nothing there for us. Not to mch further down the scale we found a Ferrari shop (Diana not Enzo) and he shoes and handbag were secured quick-smart.
While we were in the area, I wanted to have a quick look for my uncle's old house, in Ramona Avenue, Malvern . Found it easily with Tom's help and it looks just the same as it did last time I saw it, about 45 years ago. The trees have grown huge and the freeway seems a lot closer than it did then, but unmistakeably the same place - would have taken a snap except there was someone sitting in a car in the driveway.
Tuesday : We decided that we really had to catch the vehicular ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliff, which are the two towns on the opposite sides of the mouth to Port Phillip Bay. Wow, it's two hours or so down to Sorrento, but a really pretty place. We decided to have lunch up in the town itself and catch the 3 o'clock ferry. Judy had the fish and chips, brought to the table neatly wrapped in a bag made of newspaper held together with a clothes peg! (see snaps) The ride across is pleasant, but you could see how the waves and swell could blow up anytime. Came straight back through Geelong in about an hour and a half, roads starting to get real busy as Melbourne empties out for the day.
The cafe, Just Fine Food, also boasted 'famous vanilla slices', which is a challenge. Judy declared after dinner that the slice in question really wasn't that good (i noticed it all got eaten though) and certainly not up to her benchmark, which is still the one found at the Beechworth Bakery, even the outlet in Echuca, if your going that way.
Snap d'jour:
Monday, March 18, 2013
Melbourne Cont. F1 Sunday
Sunday - the big day.
Raining and raining and raining. Stayed at the van and watched Q2 and Q1 on Teev, finally the sun struggled through so we took ourselves to the big shops again and bought a small FM radio, and some lunch.
Caught the tram back down town and ensconced ourselves in our seat in the stand by 3:30. The RAAF Roulettes provided their aerobatic show in the bright red and white Pilatus PC9s, followed a little later by a QANTAS A380 doing some really low and slow flyovers.
The 'ancients', led by Alan Jones, son of the one of the original racing driver from 1953, Stan Jones, did a parade lap in cars from the era. They went the 'wrong way' as that's the way it was done in 1953.
Finally, the ubiquitous bimbos march out carrying a grid place flag each and take their positions. Then the first wave of mechanics roll out trolleys loaded with sets of tyres. The Toro Rosso in front of us had no fewer than three complete sets of tyres waiting on the grid. More mechanics, tool chests, engine starting guns, jacks and wheel nut rattle guns appear. Finally the cars are allowed out of pit-lane and do a single circuit, coming to rest at the back of the grid, where they are then pushed all the way up and into place. The National Anthem is sung. The grid starts to clear, led by the bimbos, leaving mostly just the mechanics who all shrink back to the safety walls. The cars blast off on their warm-up lap. The mechanics then run en-mass and choke the single exit. They have one minute and twenty seconds to clear the grid. Vettel appears, weaving back and forth, warming tyres and wasting time getting to his spot while everyone else closed in behind him. There they were, all settled into positions on the grid - and then they were gone - i must have blinked as i nearly missed it. The rest of the race is history as they say.
Took us two hours to get back to Coburg today having had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
Dont forget to see all the snaps from the little box on the right----->
Daily snaps to prove it's all true:
Raining and raining and raining. Stayed at the van and watched Q2 and Q1 on Teev, finally the sun struggled through so we took ourselves to the big shops again and bought a small FM radio, and some lunch.
Caught the tram back down town and ensconced ourselves in our seat in the stand by 3:30. The RAAF Roulettes provided their aerobatic show in the bright red and white Pilatus PC9s, followed a little later by a QANTAS A380 doing some really low and slow flyovers.
The 'ancients', led by Alan Jones, son of the one of the original racing driver from 1953, Stan Jones, did a parade lap in cars from the era. They went the 'wrong way' as that's the way it was done in 1953.
Finally, the ubiquitous bimbos march out carrying a grid place flag each and take their positions. Then the first wave of mechanics roll out trolleys loaded with sets of tyres. The Toro Rosso in front of us had no fewer than three complete sets of tyres waiting on the grid. More mechanics, tool chests, engine starting guns, jacks and wheel nut rattle guns appear. Finally the cars are allowed out of pit-lane and do a single circuit, coming to rest at the back of the grid, where they are then pushed all the way up and into place. The National Anthem is sung. The grid starts to clear, led by the bimbos, leaving mostly just the mechanics who all shrink back to the safety walls. The cars blast off on their warm-up lap. The mechanics then run en-mass and choke the single exit. They have one minute and twenty seconds to clear the grid. Vettel appears, weaving back and forth, warming tyres and wasting time getting to his spot while everyone else closed in behind him. There they were, all settled into positions on the grid - and then they were gone - i must have blinked as i nearly missed it. The rest of the race is history as they say.
Took us two hours to get back to Coburg today having had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
Dont forget to see all the snaps from the little box on the right----->
Daily snaps to prove it's all true:
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Melbourne F1 Cont. Saturday
Today. What a day. It's raining. Qualifying isnt on till 5pm so why rush out there to sit in the open for hours?
Went to the medium sized shops instead and drank coffee. Had some lunch. Took the tram back down town and went looking for a mother-of-the-bride-dress for a while. Still raining only worse.
We were kinda prepared for the wet so took our seats after drying them off a bit and putting down the plastic cushions to lift us up out of the pants-puddle. Five came and went. It rained and rained. Ten minute delay - twenty minutes. At five-three-o they came roaring out and Q3 had started. It was on for rookies and vets alike. Button swapped to inters just as the sun popped out and he set them on their ear. A few others did likewise and ended up on the top of the table led by Kiki. The rest stayed in the sheds and stayed dry and warm. Then it rained and rained and Q2 set for 6pm became ten -ast and then half past and we took a hike toward the tram stop.
I have to take off me hat to Melbourne and the organisers - half a million (well maybe a few thousand or so) people, all wet and cold and annoyed headed for the tram stop at the same time. We didn't queue, we just ambled up onto the platform and onto a tram and away off up into the city where once again we waited less than a minute for the good old 112 to show up and take us home.
Pizza and wine sounded as good as the warm shower and so it was. We had missed nothing as the Q2 and Q1 sessions were postponed till Sunday 11 am. Good luck with that.
A snap? One is all you're going to get:
Went to the medium sized shops instead and drank coffee. Had some lunch. Took the tram back down town and went looking for a mother-of-the-bride-dress for a while. Still raining only worse.
We were kinda prepared for the wet so took our seats after drying them off a bit and putting down the plastic cushions to lift us up out of the pants-puddle. Five came and went. It rained and rained. Ten minute delay - twenty minutes. At five-three-o they came roaring out and Q3 had started. It was on for rookies and vets alike. Button swapped to inters just as the sun popped out and he set them on their ear. A few others did likewise and ended up on the top of the table led by Kiki. The rest stayed in the sheds and stayed dry and warm. Then it rained and rained and Q2 set for 6pm became ten -ast and then half past and we took a hike toward the tram stop.
I have to take off me hat to Melbourne and the organisers - half a million (well maybe a few thousand or so) people, all wet and cold and annoyed headed for the tram stop at the same time. We didn't queue, we just ambled up onto the platform and onto a tram and away off up into the city where once again we waited less than a minute for the good old 112 to show up and take us home.
Pizza and wine sounded as good as the warm shower and so it was. We had missed nothing as the Q2 and Q1 sessions were postponed till Sunday 11 am. Good luck with that.
A snap? One is all you're going to get:
Friday, March 15, 2013
Melbourne cont. Friday
Quiet day to day. Took the old rattler down to the city and another across to Albert Park, Gate 1.
Found our seat and were immediately disappointed with the lack of any real view. The problem is that from where we are you can't see any of the lead up or going away track and the bit in front of us is obscured by a huge steel mesh fence. Worse than that the cars are tending to drift over to our side of the track so that they are almost totally hidden. Second huge disappointment is that the hand held TVs we had in Monza are no longer available due to F1 Management and FanVision not coming to terms. Surely there must be some consideration given to the fans who contribute huge amounts of cash to keep these mandarins in the comforts they have become used to. I for one will have to rethink another F1 attendance, you get a better view and can at least hear the commentary on your tv at home. Even the big screen opposite our stand is short of expectations, it's actually quite small and seems to be on some time delay - what you see has already happened and gone.
Boo Hiss F1.
Took the Canon and Roman's 400 mm lens but from where we are they are of no use whatever.
Bought a $20 ear phone radio - fell apart before we got back to the stand. Fortunately i found the pieces on the grass and i was at least able to hear some commentary.
Not really a happy camper i must say.
Found our seat and were immediately disappointed with the lack of any real view. The problem is that from where we are you can't see any of the lead up or going away track and the bit in front of us is obscured by a huge steel mesh fence. Worse than that the cars are tending to drift over to our side of the track so that they are almost totally hidden. Second huge disappointment is that the hand held TVs we had in Monza are no longer available due to F1 Management and FanVision not coming to terms. Surely there must be some consideration given to the fans who contribute huge amounts of cash to keep these mandarins in the comforts they have become used to. I for one will have to rethink another F1 attendance, you get a better view and can at least hear the commentary on your tv at home. Even the big screen opposite our stand is short of expectations, it's actually quite small and seems to be on some time delay - what you see has already happened and gone.
Boo Hiss F1.
Took the Canon and Roman's 400 mm lens but from where we are they are of no use whatever.
Bought a $20 ear phone radio - fell apart before we got back to the stand. Fortunately i found the pieces on the grass and i was at least able to hear some commentary.
Not really a happy camper i must say.
Melbourne cont. Thursday
Main task today was to get the F1 tickets from a hotel on St Kilda Road near the track. Went down about 10 and lucked into a 2 hour meter out the front, right next to Gate 8. Of course we couldn't help but 'just have a look' and before we know it, I've been back to the meter 3 times and fed a small King's ransom into it and its 4:30.
Had a really pleasant day wandering about looking at all the support cars such as Sports cars, historic etc in their pits. The Red Arrows paid a visit doing all kinds of aerobatic tricks and keeping the swelling crowd amused.
Highlight of the day was a pit-walk for those with tickets (us!) and we got to wander down the V8 pit lane and then shuffle down past the F1 pits. The crowd was pretty full on but a great little experience.
Here's your snap:
Had a really pleasant day wandering about looking at all the support cars such as Sports cars, historic etc in their pits. The Red Arrows paid a visit doing all kinds of aerobatic tricks and keeping the swelling crowd amused.
Highlight of the day was a pit-walk for those with tickets (us!) and we got to wander down the V8 pit lane and then shuffle down past the F1 pits. The crowd was pretty full on but a great little experience.
Here's your snap:
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Melbourne cont.
We decided after consulting all the tram and bus and train guides, that the best thing for s to do this afternoon would be to drive clear across town and out to St Kilda for a cup of coffee. Great plan. Thank heavens for Tom and his mate Tom. It's great, just tell it where you want to go and follow blindly. Worked a treat, even considering it was peak several hours, we got there with no dramas and only one missed turn - you know : turn left, charge over 4 packed lanes and turn right!
Had a lovely stroll around St Kilda's coffee strip and finally succumbed to the fabulous looking cakes and pastries in every other window.
Tomx2 brough us home a completely different way and in half the time
Might have a go at the trams tomorrow
Had a lovely stroll around St Kilda's coffee strip and finally succumbed to the fabulous looking cakes and pastries in every other window.
Tomx2 brough us home a completely different way and in half the time
Might have a go at the trams tomorrow
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Melbourne Trip March 2013
Well finally we get to take ourselves and the trusty rig out on the road once again. It's been too long. Funny how you get back from a trip and swear to go out again at least once a month, even just to the coast, but how it never happens and before you know it, 6 months have slipped by.
Anyhow, we left home about 2 and made an uneventful
run down to Holbrook to our favourite van park. Had dinner at the Riverina
Hotel. Gotten a bit expensive though, probably due to all the workers living in
town while they build a bypass – you’d need a by-pass if you ate there too
often!
Great to get away again and blow the cobwebs of the van, and our caravanning skills.
We'll tackle the Melbourne leg tomorrow.
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