Today started off with a start. A cold one at that. After a complimentary breakfast, it was off to meet the VW club of WA at 0800. They were meeting at Karrinyup shopping centre for their cruise to the Historic race meet at Barbagallo Raceway. I was unable to attend the cruise with them, as I had a 447 mile (715km) drive ahead of me to Norseman.
Anyway, I had been corresponding with Jamie Barrett, the President of the VW Club of WA, for some months about my Bug Off drive to Perth, and he and the club agreed to meet with me.
With VW's of all descriptions gathered in the carpark of the shopping centre and the exchanging of stories between VW owners, Jamie organised a collection for donations, and to my surprise, $205 was raised. A BIG THANKS goes out to the club members of VW Club of WA.
After farewelling my newfound fellow Veedubbers, it was on to Norseman. This is a town in WA that is the junction when travelling west along the Nullabor, that will take you north to Kalgoorlie or south to Esperance. After my run across the Nullabor, I turned left and went to Esperance, Perth, and did the loop back down to Norseman, before I travel east along the Nullabor for the east side of the island.
The drive today was uneventful, but long, as I got into Norseman just before sunset.
I had been offered a 50% discount on my accommodation, for which I was grateful. To my surprise when I checked in, I was told no charge, as they heard about my drive on Radio West in Esperance. The front desk clerk, also donated $50. A BIG THANKS to Norseman Great Western Motor Inn for their support.
To add to my surprises in Norseman, whilst I was waiting for my dinner in the Norseman Miners and Workers Club, one bloke came up and donated some money, as he saw the Bug parked outside. Another one recognised me from the Ten news that was on earlier, and he told another bloke who came up and gave a few dollars. All in all, they gave $15. It's not the amount of money, but the fact that they came up to me, an out-of-towner and unknown to them, and put money on the table to help with cancer research. I found this very humbling, and they were over the moon when I presented each of them a Bug Off Cancer T-shirt. The smiles on their faces said it all, and that made my day complete.
1. Classics of the aviation and automotive worlds meet.
2. Entering the 5 Star town of Southern Cross
3. Lake Cowan, on both sides of the road, without a drop of water. About 5km north of Norseman
That's great of the WA guys and Gals to meet up with you. It is things like this that makes all the hard work worth it and always nice meeting other VW enthusiast.
Not that I have anything to do with Norms trip, but it makes me feel good what the WA VW club did and the donation. hats off to you all 👍👍
Norm, you are definitely seeing some great places which is just a bonus.
Drive careful, Kev
I thought rebuilding a VW would be cheap - Shit I was wrong, just don't let the wife know !!!!
It was great to meet up with the WA VeeDub guys and girls. Albeit it was for about an hour, but still worth the effort.
Chris (Amazeer),
Keep building the Oval. I intend to keep doing these fundraising trips as long as I and the Bug can hold out. So far, so good. I've only had to top up about 1/2 a litre of oil on the return trip to Cocklebiddy. That's after 3,685 miles (5,896km). Not bad for the ol' girl.
Greg,
I'll call you tomorrow and arrange a time with you. I'll be meeting up with some of the VW Canberra guys on Sunday morning, before heading back to Sydney. Hope I'm not imposing on you on your birthday.
After leaving Norseman on Monday morning, it was a quick trip down to Salmon Gums, about 95km south of Norseman, then back to Norseman and the Eastbound run for Cocklebiddy.
1. The "Big" roundabout in Norseman
2. Lined up on the Royal Flying Doctor Service emergency runway on the Eyre Highway
3. Ready for the 90 mile straight run. Did this Eastbound run in 85 minutes. Shaved 3 minutes of the Westbound run!!!
Yesterday, it was a 484 mile (774km) run from Cocklebiddy to Ceduna. A long run, but an uneventful one. It was a cool 2 degrees in Cocklebiddy, and I left just before sunrise in the fog. I was in fog for about 40 miles, before it cleared and was clear skies all the way to Ceduna.
1. Sunrise on the Nullarbor about 38 miles east of Cocklebiddy
2. The informative roundabout in Ceduna
3. The day ending in Ceduna as it started on the Nullarbor. Just brilliantly!!
Today, another great start to the day in Ceduna, but it was a cool 3 degrees, but worth being up for the sunrise. Today's run was a short one at only 297 miles (475km). Another uneventful day, and actually arriving in Port Augusta with a few hours to spare, and actually unwind and relax and have lunch by the water.
Rest up tonight for the biggish run to Wentworth tomorrow.
65standard wrote:I've only had to top up about 1/2 a litre of oil on the return trip to Cocklebiddy. That's after 3,685 miles (5,896km). Not bad for the ol' girl.
I know of plenty Polo gtis that would be well over 3 litres by now.
Dont worry Greg, I've made a donation.
Trouble with having a supersize garage is that you get to accumulate 3 cars spaces worth of shit in just 5 years. Over the past week or two Ive been making room. I've been inventing storage solutions for athletics gear and push bikes and fishing rods, dumped a lot of rubbish, turned the cubby house into a garden/paint shed... when I get rid of the dead tv's computers and other electronics I'll start rebuilding the front beam spindle to spindle. If I put Bad Camberg trip on hold I'll be with you on the 2020 cancer ride. Hopefully.
Today, like just about every other morning started off gorgeously in Port Augusta, albeit a crisp 3 degrees, but worth getting up for.
Today's run went from Port Augusta through Snowtown and then trekked up through Clare Valley to the Sturt Highway and then on to the SA/Victoria border and on to Wentworth. All in all, a 396 mile (634km) run for the day. Another uneventful day, but a great day indeed.
1. Sunrise over Flinders Ranges
2. Approaching SA/Victoria border at the Big Dunlop Tyre
again, beautiful photos. I see you are back into VIC, you're nearly bloody home and I bet looking forward to a rest. To me, it seems like it has gone quickly but I bet your bum isn't thinking the same way 😂😂😂
Well done and will probably see you at the next Club Vee-Dub meeting on Thursday.
Kev 👍
I thought rebuilding a VW would be cheap - Shit I was wrong, just don't let the wife know !!!!
again, beautiful photos. I see you are back into VIC, you're nearly bloody home and I bet looking forward to a rest. To me, it seems like it has gone quickly but I bet your bum isn't thinking the same way 😂😂😂
Kev,
It seems so long ago that I took off on that wet, foggy, miserable Saturday morning. Yes, I'm nearly home, and I was just starting to unwind. I might turn left when I get into Sydney, and start over!!
Anyway, here's some updates for today after doing 312 miles (499km) from Wentworth to Narrandera.
It is with sadness that I write today. My wife's Uncle past away this morning from cancer, he was only in his mid to late 50's. Way to young!
So this makes me appreciate it even more what you are doing Norm and I hope to meet up with you tomorrow. If for some reason I can't, as mentioned I will see you at the vee dub meeting Thursday night.
Regards, Kev
I thought rebuilding a VW would be cheap - Shit I was wrong, just don't let the wife know !!!!
A few of us went down to Sutton's Forest to met up with Norm on his return trip. He had already met up with the Canberra club veedub guys and gals and then met us at McDonalds.
This is a small video of the escort crew and Norm.
You really had to push it to keep up with me. Lucky I wasn't flooring it! 😁 Great video.
Today was the last day of Bug Off Cancer! drive 2013. The day started out overcast in Canberra this morning. I met up with Club VW Canberra at about 9:50, and as more VW's rolled up, the rain started to come down. 7 VW's turned up (including those new water-cooled types), and we had a convoy from Russell car park (near the American-Australian War Memorial) to Old Parliament House. After taking some photos in the wet, it was off on another convoy, this time to Goulburn. This was Club VW Canberra's way of escorting me part of the way home.
We pulled up in Goulburn, with many perplexed onlookers wondering what was going on with so many VW's in town, and had lunch at The Paragon. Great food, and in great company. Thanks very much for the lunch guys and gals!
A BIG THANKS goes out to Club VW Canberra and their members for raising $130 for the fundraising.
After lunch, it was off to Sutton Forest McDonald's to meet up with some members from Club VeeDub Sydney. A BIG THANKS goes out to Steve, Rudi, Joe, Martin and Camo that drove down from Sydney to Sutton Forest to escort me back to Sydney. That's what us VeeDubbers do.
In short, this year's drive covered a distance of 5,644 miles (9,030km) over 16 days. The 40 horses behind me didn't miss a beat, and only had to top up 1/2 a litre of oil for the trip. No other issues, apart from the left hand brake cable snapping on me on the way to Dino's Pizza night before my drive, and losing the magnet on the left rear quarter panel with all the sponsors stickers on it between Cobar and Broken Hill on day 2. I didn't realise this until I got to Broken Hill, and I wasn't about to go searching 450km of Barrier Highway for it either.
1. Snuck in an early photo this morning in front of Parliament House
The date is set, the venue selected and the entertainment ready. Bug Off Cancer! Trivia night 2013 is GO!!
Keep the night of Friday 27 September free for an evening of entertaining brain twisting trivia. Your host for the evening will be the very funny Trudi Ross. Kick off will be 7:00pm
As in the past, our Trivia Night will be held at St George Rowers (1 Levey St, Wolli Creek) in the Captain's Room.
A donation of $20 will get you an evening of entertainment and a raffle will get you in the draw for some great prizes on offer, including 2 nights accommodation for 2 people.
For those of you interested, after much editing and putting together this year's Bug Off Cancer! video here is this year's Bug Eye view of this great country of ours in aid of raising funds for cancer research.
