COFFEE RUN TO COROWA 26 05 2021
Three vehicles and their occupants braved the chilly 9° start from Hovel Tree Park this morning. Marlene and Roger in their immaculate 1956/57 Morris led the pack. Followed by Jan T in 1961 Miss Morrie and Bill in the dashing Humber Super Snipe was Tail End Charlie.
We departed at 9.35am travelling on the Hume Hwy, Old Barnawartha Road and Riverina Hwy to Rutherglen and then on to Corowa via C376 (Drummond St). Traffic was light, the weather was fine and the roads were in good order which was surprising after the heavy rain last night. All vehicles drove well, with no unscheduled stops required.
Arriving at Joyce and David's around 10.30am we were welcomed with big smiles, a sumptuous home made spread, great coffee and a very enthusiastic dog named Sally.
Whilst we didn't solve the problems of the world we gave it a darn good crack! Religion, politics, race, mortgages....we covered it all. Who knew the tabu topics could be such fun!!
After we had our fill of Joyce's delicious biscuits, slices and treats we headed to the Man Cave to check out David's current project. A black and red 4 door MM sedan complete with original plush red upholstery and freshly painted red hubcaps hiding in the boot!! Dave certainly restores to a very high standard and I was interested to learn he sews his own upholstery, visors and constructs glove box inserts as well as mechanical, body work and painting.
Around 1pm Bill and Jan T departed for Albury/Wodonga via Wahgunyah and Rutherglen. There was some misty rain on the way home but windscreen wipers were not needed until Old Barny Road.
Joyce, David, Maureen and Roger opted for a pub lunch in Corowa. I have no doubt the laughs continued well into the afternoon.
Sincere thanks to Joyce, David and Sal for your hospitality; it was a beaut morning.
Thanks also to Bill for hastily "volunteering " me to do the write up. : )
Cheers,
Jan Townsend and Miss Morrie.
RUN TO HOLBROOK 16 05 2021
It was a pity that only 5 cars turned up for our run to Holbrook today as though it was a frosty start, it was still a sunny day. We travelled up the Hume Highway to Holbrook and had our coffee at a delightful new café “The Ten Mile” named after the original name of the town. Following coffee it was just a short drive to the submarine and a visit to the information center which housed many parts if the inside of a submarine for us to inspect. There was a small theaterette in which a tiny Mrs Holbrook told the story of how her husband Lt. Norman Douglas Holbrook VC commanded a WW1 Submarine and won a Victoria Cross for himself and serious awards for the rest of his crew. The town of Germanton was renamed Holbrook in his honor and a decommissioned submarine was partially rescued from the scrapyard and the above waterlevel portion was reassembled in Holbrook. We had our lunch at the Riverina Hotel (the middle pub). This was a huge meal and I doubt if any of us had anything for tea when we got home. Next was a drive to Walla Walla to the Walla Wares café and shop where we inspected an interesting mixture of things from the old bakery oven to trinkets, paintings, doileys and allsorts of interesting things. From there it was split up and go our different directions to home , all with full stomachs.
Cheers,
Dave Pfeifer
AWMMCC. Webmaster
GREAT OCEAN ROAD TOUR. 19-26 04 2021
AWMMCC Autumn Tour of the Roadworks of South Western Victoria, which included the Great Ocean Road.
Day 1. Traveller was loaded with enough clothes and food for a fortnight, along with two dogs. Heather and I set off on Monday morning at 9:30, stopping in Chiltern to pick a newsletter up, then on to our meeting point, the Rest Stop on the Hume at North Wangaratta. Arriving first we were soon joined by Dave and Joyce along with Steve and Margie. Bill and Jan arrived a few minutes later. After a short "leg stretch" it was off to Euroa for our morning tea stop. Arriving at Euroa it was decided to make this lunch. Rolls and cakes were purchased from the Baker and we found a nice spot for lunch at the Seven Creeks Park. After lunch we headed off in convoy to our respective evening accommodation. During this part of the journey we encountered our first bit of “roadworks action”, one lane closed to replace Armco railing. It wasn’t long however before Bill pulled over with an engine “miss”, nothing obvious so we pressed on, another stop, another short run before we pulled off onto a side road for some serious investigation. I suggested a new condenser but in changing this Bill dropped the securing screw, eventually a replacement was found, and the Magnette was returned to full power.
I left the group soon after as Heather and I went to visit her sister and husband in Wallan, and then to our accommodation in Romsey. A lovely B&B which is pet friendly. The others travelled to Gisborne staying at the Gisborne Motel. I believe Bill and Jan went to a cantina, the others had fish & chips. We had roast lamb. Distance travelled 282 km.
Day 2. The day dawned a bit overcast, rain predicted. We met the group at Gisborne and headed for Geelong. Started out sunny. we passed through Bullengarook (where my Grandfather had a farm), the Lerderderg Gorge on our right was noteworthy and after an hour’s driving we stopped at Bacchus Marsh for coffee. On to Geelong, not the greatest drive as it was soon misting rain, it was roadworks pretty much all the way until the outskirts of Geelong. Finding our way to a Eastern Beach we stopped for lunch in a little rotunda. Would have been nice in nice weather. Bill and Jan went to visit a friend in hospital, the rest of us got on our way to Torquay. Us to a B&B, the rest to a Motel.
That night we gathered together for nibbles, drinks and Pizza. Distance travelled 142 km.
Day 3. Ten o’clock start for our drive along the Great Ocean Road, we went down to a headland to walk the dogs and watch all the locals in their jogging and walking attire before joining the group. It was decided we would travel at our own pace, stopping when we wanted. Stopped a few times to take in the scenery on the ocean side, the houses on the landward side were pretty impressive too. Obviously this stretch of the coast is not inhabited by starving artists and surf bums. Million dollar mansions with huge windows to take in the views are now the norm. Lorne for morning tea, a lot of shops were closed, don’t know if it was because the season was over, or the inability to get enough staff. I read later that rents along the GOR are very expensive and hard to find, therefore its difficult for businesses to get staff, even hospitals are unable to get doctors because of the rental crisis. I couldn’t count how many lots of roadworks we encountered, it seems after every second bend there were lights and/ or flagmen. Some shoring up after rock falls, some clearing vegetation and some just patching the road. I guess the tourist season was over, kids back at school etc., so time to do maintenance before the really bad weather. We were booked into a cabin at Marengo Caravan Park, the others stayed at a motel in Apollo Bay which Not a long drive distance wise but I think we were all quite tired. Distance travelled 95 km.
Day 4. Nine thirty start for a run down to Port Campbell and return. Another blustery rainy day travelling inland through the Otways Nation Park. Typical rainforest and Heather and I both thought it was like travelling through the Dandenongs in Victoria. There were roadworks at Lavers Hill, I got a bit confused by all the cones and bunting, I think they were building a roundabout but who knows? Downhill from here to the coast where we catch glimpses of the Apostles. The Car park is on the landward side of the road and a walkway takes you down to viewing platforms for some great views. The Visitors centre and café was closed but at least the toilets were open. There was a busload of Asian tourists there too, I don’t understand this, I thought we were closed to overseas visitors. Onward to Port Campbell, a pretty little town with a lovely park at the head of the harbour. Pity it was so windy and heavy showers. A quick drive around the town followed. I bought some fuel but at $1.59.9 for E10 I didn’t buy much. Distance travelled 200 km.
Day 5. Steve and Margie left very early, Dave and Joyce left not long after to visit Ballarat where he lived as a boy. Bill & Jan, Heather & I left about 9:30 stopping at Forrest for coffee, supposedly a 38 km drive which took well over an hour because of roadworks. This time they were putting an extra rail at the bottom of the Armco I’m guessing to stop motorcyclists going under it. From here we followed Google Maps which took us on a very interesting tour of back roads (many unpaved), turning a 130km drive into a 2.5 hour epic. We lunched at a nice Café in Ballarat and were feeling very pleased until we returned to find our cars adorned with parking tickets. We hadn’t noticed the paid parking signs. There was a mix up at Bendigo with my accommodation that night and by the time we had settled in it was too late to join the Bill, Jan, Dave and Joyce for dinner. Distance travelled 300 km approx.
Day 6. Home stretch, Steve and Margie left very early, Dave and Joyce took the shortest route home. I wanted to travel through Shepparton and a little place (Marungi) where I spent some time as a child. Coffee at Elmore and a poke through the Op Shop before travelling on to Shepparton. Here we parted company with Bill & Jan travelling through Katamatite and on to home arriving about two o’clock. This bit of the journey was very disappointing roadworks wise. Only two flagmen stopping traffic on a back road, no sign of any workmen or work needing done. Maybe they were just practicing. I was spotted in Katamatite on my way home and Bill was sighted near Benalla on the Hume. Distance travelled 150 km.
Bill was the only one who experienced car trouble but this was only on the first day, my traveller coughed occasionally but apart from that there were no serious mechanical issues. A most enjoyable six days, thanks to Bill for all the work he did in planning.
Cheers,
Chris Coates,
Secretary.
