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 The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
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 posted on June 13th, 2003 at 12:40 AM |
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VW Wandering - Bronze & Boys L'W-end
Howdy all. Welcome to all the new members. I haven't been around much although I have been checking and reading the goss, haven't been able
to post much there isn't that much going on in Dubbo unless your a police constable or an escapee. Generally I've been keeping my head down
doing the white board shuffle and setting and marking mid year exams so I don't get idle.
Thought it was time I got out of town for a look around and although we didn't get as far as Aubury we did have a little look around about 1/2
and hour south of Dubbo.
Friday night we put in the fuel tank, finished off spraying around some fish oil and threw some paint around the steering assembly area, put the seats
in and the luxeries like window winders, seat belts and camping gear.
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[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
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Minister of Volkswagenism
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| posted on June 13th, 2003 at 12:49 AM |
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First stop (Above) was the Wellington Caves. Not a bad stop if you not a Geomorphologist and have heaps of money. Unfortunately there are a lot of
people that fit that and so they crammed about 90 of us into the cathedral caven pictured. 1/2 of that 90 thought it would be a good Idea to bring
some song books along and make heaps of noise. So much for a quiet weekend.
With my Physical Geography training being in Geomorphology I was pretty critical of the quality of the caves. They are severly damaged and heaps over
priced for what you see and learn. But hey - what would I know, the kids liked it! Thats the main thing I guess.
No my boys haven't grown that quick. Chandler, my eldest (5) is to the Left in the green and white. The taller one it Ryan his school friend. My
youngest Jaxon was in Newcastle assisting him mum with photo shoots.
[Edited on 12-6-2003 by The_Bronze.]
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[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
Custom Title Time!
Minister of Volkswagenism
Posts: 1922
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| posted on June 13th, 2003 at 01:02 AM |
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The Pub.
When I was a young fella staying in pubs was great fun. Fireplaces, nice publicans, frendly locals, warm showers and extra soft home soft pillows. So
much has changed. It was too cold for the boys in a tent so we opted to stay at the pub - personally we would have been more confortable camping in
the tent.
How come pubs can afford 12 poker machines but no TV? How come 20 rooms can use one Gents shower when the drain dosent drain? When did beers become
$2.30 and dinners became $20+?
Anyhow - it was a challenge but we got through it. Next time we'll stick to the tent.
Next morning was the mandatory stop for Maccas pancakes on the way and then we were out at Burrendong Dam. 3 1/2 times the capacity of Sydney Harbour
when full (1,660,000 megalitres) but at 9% it's in a pretty sad state. It was down to 1% two months ago but its going down again.
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[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
Custom Title Time!
Minister of Volkswagenism
Posts: 1922
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| posted on June 13th, 2003 at 01:09 AM |
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Of course the boys were onto a good thing when they said there must be a playgym around here some where so we went exploring. I found a few bush
tracks to blast along and throw up some dust. Even cam across one with a bit of mud. Well actually there wasn't any mud - it was water sitting in
a hole but it didn't take much to get some mud happening. Window wipers have only been working to get the dew off lately so wiping mud off the
windscreen was a nice change.
Note the navigator "Diesel" the ridgeback pup. Under his guidance we eventually came across a playgym.
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[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
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| posted on June 13th, 2003 at 01:12 AM |
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We went for a walk down to the waterline. It was 300 meters down a track and about 40 meters lower than the 100% level. Took heaps of photos but this
one was good not only cause it got the kids but shows a drill hole from the blasting drills. Note it above Chandler shoulder.
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[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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KruizinKombi
A.k.a.: Col
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| posted on June 13th, 2003 at 01:25 AM |
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Bronze, it looks like you had a great weekend, out exploring while I was stuck at Scout Leader training. 
It wasn't all bad though, we got to make catapults to hurl water-bombs at each other!!! :thumb:thumb:thumb
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Kruizin Kol
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The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
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| posted on June 13th, 2003 at 01:25 AM |
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After exploring Burrendong and its surrounds and enjoying a picnic we set off to wind our way up Mount Arthur. Here I collected some Middle Devonian
igneous and sedimentary for my classroom to go with the quartz, slate and andesite from Burrendong. Here we found some magnificient camp sites over
looking the town of Wellington 4k's to the East.
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[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
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Minister of Volkswagenism
Posts: 1922
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| posted on June 13th, 2003 at 01:33 AM |
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Tired and worn out from eating junk, short cold showers and sleeping on slab beds harder than a Howard "Sorry" we were buggerd. It was only
a coupleof days but it was fun. We'd been to every playgym in the Wellington Valley, collected every type of rock for kids not to be interested
in and got some ideas of where to camp next time.
The boys had a great time and I was just happy to get out of town. Would have like to have gotten as far as Aubury but alas it was not to be
unfortunately.
I know it's not that VW related but hey - there not just there to look at and talk about. The Dog-O-War's no trailer queen but at least its
living its purpose. Besides that - If I have to keep my post count going I might as well bore you with trivial Geography crap with NSW's best
used Baja.
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[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
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Minister of Volkswagenism
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| posted on June 13th, 2003 at 01:41 AM |
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Ahh - Colin, They joys of scouting.
I miss scouting and have just applied (2 months ago) to become an Joey's (little cubs) leader. They probably heard about me bombing my old Rover
crew with Glicerine and Kondies (whatever) Crystals bombs - Purple smoke every where. - The leaders wern't impressed. Was scrubbing tents for
hours after that stunt.
One of us has to move closer to each other Colin. Hey - It's nearly 2 am. Go to bed!
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[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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jenz58
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| posted on June 13th, 2003 at 08:13 AM |
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Looks like a great weekend
The boys look weary from too much of a good time in the last pic. They'll have stories to tell
So what was the sound like in the Cathedral Cave, good?
Caves are very cool places, luv m |
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KruizinKombi
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| posted on June 13th, 2003 at 08:22 AM |
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Bronze, you'll be pleased to know that one of our Scouts brought along his lapidiary collection last night to present to the troop. If I had of
known what he was planning I would have taken mine along also!
We're also going caving this weekend down at Buchan, as well as abseiling and top-rope climbing. Hopefully I may get some good photos of inside
some caves! :thumb
Kruizin Kol
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The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
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| posted on June 13th, 2003 at 05:42 PM |
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Replies
Jen - The little men were very tired. Fell asleep on the lounge soon as dark fell which is 5.10 here. Absolutely buggered. Could have also had a lot
to do with their 5.15 wake up that morning. I managed to get back to sleep and wake up at 6.30.
I like caves too but these ones were made out to be pretty special when in reality they are fairly trashed and not well managed. As they stand they
have a limited life. 50,000 visitors a year into such a small cavity is not only dangerious but won't preserve to site too long. Even so the
small town of Wellington relies on the attraction to bring the dollars in and get people to stop. That is does - but I for one wont stop again for
their sheer beauty because its being spoilt for the elusive dollar. Just my humble opinion.
Hmmm - I'm not a choir enthusiast. I have industrial deafness and loud noises are frustrating and uncomfortable. I enjoy peaceful places like
being on the net at 2am. I enjoyed the song "I still call Australia home" cause I could sing along but the others were fairly rough. I
figured that if you were any good as a choir you shouldn't need the words. Of course everone was peering over shoulders and the like to ensure
they didn't stuff up. Personally I though it sounded better in the carpark than in the cave.
Colin - Caving is a passion of mine also. One of my many interests and now living so close to a limestone anticline it wont be a hard passion to get
to. I once was an avid adseil fan until by buddy on belay got distracted on day and I took a fall of 4 1/2 meters swinging back into the rock face.
Scared the hell out of me and I'm a little uncomfortable with it now.
Photographing in caves is good fun. Conventional SLR cameras are better because you can leave the shutter open and flash fill the area of interest.
With digital cameras its not so easy but you have the luxery of adjusting the brightness and contrast when you return. When you take the photo more
than likely only the closest feature will be lit or the whole pic will be black. This will go when you adjust it in your editor before saving. Try to
wear white or light colours if photographing people in caves so the colour of their clothing dosent distort white features in the cave. Probably
noticable from my rough shots at Wellington.
If you live near or are traveling past Rockhampton, just North is the settlement of 'The Caves'. Here is Olsens Caverns which is the best
managed caves I have ever seen. Truly a magnificient example of sustainable resource management.
Colin - you might be happy to know tht even though their isn't any Geocaching going on here there is strong interest. How have you gone with
that? Any Caches in your area?
[Edited on 13-6-2003 by The_Bronze.]
[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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KruizinKombi
A.k.a.: Col
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| posted on June 15th, 2003 at 06:28 PM |
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No mate, I haven't had the opportunity to go chasing any more caches lately, just that one at Walhalla that seems to have disappeared.
We had a great time Rock-climbing on Saturday, and started to do some abseiling but the wind picked up so much that it was hard to stand up on level
ground, so we had to call it a day before I got to do a jump. Unfortunately I was waiting to get to the bottom to take some photos, so I didn't
end up getting any. I guess there's always next time. The rock-climbing was great fun though, but my knees are rather battered after the
experience.
The caving today was also excellent. The cave we explored was probably only about 250 metres long (if that), but it had lots of interesting nooks and
crannies to check out along the way, with lots of interesting detours and rock-climbs to do as well. You're right about the photography thing of
course, but I took a few snaps just for the kids to remember it by. I've found that they are really interested to see photo slideshows of
previous events we've run, and new Scouts or those that couldn't attend are always especially keen to see them. :thumb
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Kruizin Kol
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pyr0
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| posted on June 15th, 2003 at 06:45 PM |
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looks like heaps of fun guys love all the pics too :P |
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The_Bronze.
A.k.a.: Bronze
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Minister of Volkswagenism
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| posted on June 21st, 2003 at 12:56 PM |
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Hmmmmmmmmmm - What will I do this weekend?
(1) - Catch up on two weeks of posts.
(2) - Glue sound deadening into the Dog-O-War.
(3) - Watch the 4WD and Camping Expo here.
(4) - Go to the drags at Wellington.
(5) - Prepare for next week.
(6) - Go and find some mud since its raining.
(7) - Do more research on WWII for my students.
(8) - Take the boys to the skate park in the rain.
A life of choices - none of them involving TV.
[size=4]Bronze.[/size]
Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.
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