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sputnick60
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007
Posts: 3916
Location: In Molinya Orbit
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 Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 4:53 am Post subject: Aussie road trip |
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This week I commence a road trip starting from home in Sydney and head North to Brisbane. Starting out, I head inland over the Great Dividing Range and follow the minor roads passing Lithgow with Mudgee with a first night stopover At Coonabarabran which is close to the Siding Springs Astronomical Telescopes. I hope to do some night photography and get images of the milky way.
Once past Sydney I stopped off for a break at BlackHeath where I could put the car in a typical Blue Mountains setting.
This is typical scenery in the still pristine parts of the east coast hinterland.
Blackheath is on the western edge of the divide and where I've often flown Hang-gliders over the years. Today is a good light wind flying day but the Ghia is not suitable for carrying such a thing. So I thought I'd visit the Landing zone and say hello to a few flying buddies.
You can see the escarpment so typical of the Blue Mountains.
Nicholas
_________________
'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Last edited by sputnick60 on Tue Aug 22, 2017 5:44 am; edited 1 time in total |
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sputnick60
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007
Posts: 3916
Location: In Molinya Orbit
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 4:58 am Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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Of course the thing to avoid in the rural back block is travelling after dusk. This is the feeding time for Kangaroos and it is very common to see them on the side of the road like this...
Of course I know the risk and yet I dumbly ignored years of experience in the no longer pristine Ghia.
Dang  !!
Is anyone familiar with that saying when luck keeps gong bad, "you must have killed a Chinaman" ? Was it me or was it the Ghia that committed the mistake?
The car is running OK so I'm going to push on and restrict running to daylight hours and photos will be from the rear quarters so the scars are less obvious.
Nicholas
_________________
'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Last edited by sputnick60 on Fri Dec 15, 2017 7:19 am; edited 2 times in total |
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alansvwTwinCab
Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2005
Posts: 164
Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 5:36 am Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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| Nicholas, hate to see that happen.. sorry mate. Does that mean back to Chris for repairs after he completes mine? you nd I keep him in business |
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bhartwell59
Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2014
Posts: 791
Location: dallas, tx
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 5:49 am Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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Gosh, that sux... for all 3 of you. GL
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'74 Zambezi green Ghia vert, autostick, 101k
'87 Jeep Wrangler, 4.2, 330k |
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:29 am Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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| sputnick60 wrote: |
| Dang !! |
Ouch  Hope you're none the worse for wear. |
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Karly
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2002
Posts: 641
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:32 am Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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oh man.. I'll just look at the the earlier photos and try and forget the last one (like you I'm sure)
Hope the rest of your trip goes smoothly...at least you are okay and the battle scars can be fixed!
_________________
1960 Beetle ''Heidi" daily driver
1964 Karmann Ghia project |
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John Moxon 
Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 13952
Location: Southampton U.K.
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sputnick60
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007
Posts: 3916
Location: In Molinya Orbit
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:41 am Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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Thanks guys. I'm fine. The 'Roo isn't. I slammed the brakes pretty hard but didn't wipe off enough speed. A couple of positives.... the CSP disc brakes pulled up straight despite the four wheel lock up. .... the damage is on metal that was repaced during resto.... it still has one original head light bucket and the bumpers look straight..
I have a spare headlight set at home... just need the RHD lens from the UK
Nicholas
_________________
'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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williamM
Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2008
Posts: 4333
Location: southwest Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:35 am Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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 Owch- think a roo bar would have spoilt the lines of the car--Maybe a removable one.
Glad you didn't go spinning off into the night like a frisby though.
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some days I get up and just sit and think. Some days I just sit.
opinion untempered by fact is ignorance.
Don't step in any! |
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c21darrel
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009
Posts: 8211
Location: San Dimas
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Figment
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2016
Posts: 218
Location: Connecticut, USA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:33 am Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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You managed several excellent photos before the damage. That's no small thing.
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'71 Ghia coupe |
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kiwighia68
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013
Posts: 2874
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:39 am Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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Like the other Sambanista who have commented thus far, I would like to see how your road trip progresses from here with the forced revisions to your script.
It's just a car, a very special one indeed, but your life and safety are far more special.
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Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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kgj
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2013
Posts: 418
Location: Uk, Cornwall
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 2:15 pm Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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A road trip.... great! Oh. That was a shock.
Glad you are ok though.
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1958 coupe |
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Angus Dowrie
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Kangaroo Point, Australia
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:05 pm Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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| sputnick60 wrote: |
The car is running OK so I'm going to push on and restrict running to daylight hours and photos will be from the rear quarters so see the scars are less obvious.
Nicholas |
I'm just looking at far you've come and your recent track record. I think the spare wheel might make it to Brisbane, with the remainder of the car littered along the highway.......
I hope the remainder of the trip is a bit less eventful, I'd like to see your car without too many dents! As long as you are OK, it may hurt to look at the smack but it's only a car.
Angus
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1963 Australian Delivery RHD Coupe
Build thread;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=610414 |
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kiwighia68
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013
Posts: 2874
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 12:40 am Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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| Angus Dowrie wrote: |
| sputnick60 wrote: |
The car is running OK so I'm going to push on and restrict running to daylight hours and photos will be from the rear quarters so see the scars are less obvious.
Nicholas |
I'm just looking at far you've come and your recent track record. I think the spare wheel might make it to Brisbane, with the remainder of the car littered along the highway.......
I hope the remainder of the trip is a bit less eventful, I'd like to see your car without too many dents! As long as you are OK, it may hurt to look at the smack but it's only a car.
Angus |
I'm taking the philosophical view of this: First, Nicholas came out of it without injuries. Second, we've brought our cars back from far worse condition, and if you want a reminder, just read Nicholas' entropy thread from the beginning. Resilience, I think, is what defines Ghia restorers. Enterprise in the face of adversity. Third, our Ghia stories would be dull if fate didn't intervene every now and then. This road trip just got a lot more interesting. I can't wait for the next instalment.
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Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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John Moxon
Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 13952
Location: Southampton U.K.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 1:03 am Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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| kiwighia68 wrote: |
| Angus Dowrie wrote: |
| sputnick60 wrote: |
The car is running OK so I'm going to push on and restrict running to daylight hours and photos will be from the rear quarters so see the scars are less obvious.
Nicholas |
I'm just looking at far you've come and your recent track record. I think the spare wheel might make it to Brisbane, with the remainder of the car littered along the highway.......
I hope the remainder of the trip is a bit less eventful, I'd like to see your car without too many dents! As long as you are OK, it may hurt to look at the smack but it's only a car.
Angus |
I'm taking the philosophical view of this: First, Nicholas came out of it without injuries. Second, we've brought our cars back from far worse condition, and if you want a reminder, just read Nicholas' entropy thread from the beginning. Resilience, I think, is what defines Ghia restorers. Enterprise in the face of adversity. Third, our Ghia stories would be dull if fate didn't intervene every now and then. This road trip just got a lot more interesting. I can't wait for the next instalment. |
Maybe it needs a "Pierre DeVilliers" element, like pick-up a colourful hitch-hiker. 
_________________
John.
Judson Supercharger Information on The Samba
My 1958 Shorrock Supercharged Karmann Ghia
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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sputnick60
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007
Posts: 3916
Location: In Molinya Orbit
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 2:21 am Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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| John Moxon wrote: |
| Maybe it needs a "Pierre DeVilliers" element, like pick-up a colourful hitch-hiker. |
Oh how I wish.... I'm not gifted with the use of English like my Kiwi bother. I was always better at maths and engineering, that and persistence...
and on that point of persistence... I drove back to the scene this morning. But why? you ask. At the Hotel some on-line research showed the type of nose badge I want on the car is unobtainium and that prompted the return.I fossicked about for about 20 minutes using a search pattern which rewarded me with the find.
Those dots in the background are the Roo and further back, the Ghia parked where the tyre marks start. So it seems there was enough time to slow down from 100kph and minimise the damage.
Near Gunedah the first wheat has been sown in a few places, so we see deep green tips growing and makes quite a contrast to the post winter brown. Blue and Green should never be seen without a colour in between... so that's Brown or Black.. choose wisely.
So now facing limited photogenic angles on the Ghia I thought to try the long telephoto lens and see what 200mm will do. I might be stuck with that "it looks good at 50 paces" thing for a while but I think I can make this work.
Or I can hide it behind the long grass or clump of tree and put a green cow pasture and wooded hills behind it.
See! Even having your nose smashed in doesn't prevent having a good time. If I'm careful the bad start will be an insurance thing in the past. Soon.
By now I've made it to Warialda, a town I haven't visited for 30 years. I once finished, at the airstrip here, a long cross country flight in my hang glider. Best beer and hamburger I ever had. Being hungry and thirsty might have enhanced in memory given my weariness that day.
Tomorrow I have to make it to Brisbane in time for dinner with my Twin sister so we can celebrate our Birthday!
.. or do I get diverted by John's charming hitchhiker?
Nicholas
_________________
'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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sputnick60
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007
Posts: 3916
Location: In Molinya Orbit
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Evil_Fiz
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2011
Posts: 1045
Location: Jacksonville, FL
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 8:47 am Post subject: Re: Aussie road trip |
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| sputnick60 wrote: |
The night sky is big down here in the southern hemisphere.
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My condolences on the Ghia. If they rebuilt Steve Austin back in the 70s I'm sure your Ghia will be back in shape soon enough.
I just sent a copy of your night sky photo to photographer friend because coincidentally, three nights ago, he sent me a picture he took of the Milky Way while being eaten alive by mosquito in the Florida Everglades. He thinks a road/ocean trip is in order when I finish my Ghia 
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It's not just about what's interesting. It's also about what's helpful, and it's helpful even if it helps just one other guy working on a Ghia.
kiwighia68
See my build on TheSamba at:
The K_R_A_K_E_N_N : a 70 Ghia Convertible reinterpreted |
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c21darrel
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009
Posts: 8211
Location: San Dimas
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