Sp33dY.com Bendigo, Victoria.

Afternoon Drive in the Countryside.

Had some time off work the other week by myself, the weather was awesome, and I refused to stay inside, so i went for a drive. The map below is a rough guide to where i went, backtracking and using side roads and the Old-Calder Hwy when possible.

I’d cleaned the Suzuki the night before.

Heading towards Melbourne on the Calder Hwy, Mt.Macedon on the horizon (where I was headed).

Took a detour via Malmsbury Bakery for some lunch.

Walked around the Malmsbury botanical gardens. Below is a large railway bridge thats relatively hidden by the gardens from the main road (old-calder-hwy).

Drove to Woodend and took a left turn up some gravel roads into the middle of the Pine Plantation Forests.

Found a bridge that crosses the Calder Highway between Macedon + Woodend turnoffs. I’d always wondered how you get to it, now I know

Back onto the sealed roads, and to Mount.Macedon.

Huuuuge houses and properties line the steep road to the entrance to the national park.

A few kms up the road, and a short trek on foot I arrived at the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross - the plaque read “To The Glory Of God In Memory of Australia’s Sons. 1914-1918. Death Cannot Rob Them of Their Glory, Nor Time Efface The Memory Of Their Gallant Deeds”.

On a clear day, you can see Melbourne City + Port Phillip Bay. Was a bit coudy and hazy but you could just make them out.

Almost a km above sea level.

Drove down the other side of Mt.Macedon and headed towards Lancefield. The roads and scenery between Lancefield and Tooborac are quite stunning, with green rolling hills and rocks scatterd from ancient volcano’s. Well worth a detour if you’re ever in that part of Victoria.

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Baaa baaaaaaaah.

JDMST SEPTEMBER EOMM

I organised this months end of month meet which exceeded all expectations. It was easily the largest EOMM JDMST [Melbourne] has seen, let’s hope this is the start of many more! More pics at the jump : http://forum.jdmstyletuning.com/showthread.php?t=19211

Marong Federation Picnic Show’N'Shine

Attending the Marong Federation Picnic (a classic, historic & veteran show’n’shine) has become a yearly ‘must attend’ date on our calendar. With rain bucketing the down the day before, the likelyness of a large event this year was looking slim. We arrived at about 10am with no more than about 200 cars lined up, but by the time we left at around midday there would of been around 500 odd cars with more still coming through the gates. Considering this event isnt very well publicised (no signs from the main road at all, and nothing in local papers!), it still turns out to be a great show each year with a strong following from various clubs.

I tried to get a photo of every Japanese car there, and it’s pretty easy to see what the favourite model of the day was.

Sydney - Day 4 + 5

Woke up and walked out to our balcony to see a mushroom cloud of smoke pluming from somewhere — apparently it was a factory fire in Silverwater.

We had a few hours to kill so we went exploring.
I succeeded in confusing the TomTom again … Unpaved roads ? LOLz.

My good mate Kelv picked us up in his wrx… so fresh, so clean.

We visted and met some Ozecho friends that ive chatted to for years. I finally got to see Andrew’s turbo echo up close and personal. VERY Unique car, and top bloke to boot!

That evening we caught up with some of Vica’s friends at PJ Gallaghers Pub in Parra. We retired earlyish in preparation for the drive home the next day.

We still slept in till 7:30am, and left Sydney at around 8:30am on the dot.
Whilst departing, we saw Melvin and Brenno in Melv’s S15 — what were the odds of that happening in a place as big as Sydney? We’d met them both at the JDMST meet, and also had dinner with them at Hogs Breath the night before.

Approx 3.5 hours from home, we stopped for a hard earned thirst @ Ettamogah Pub just north of Albury. I reckon i downed my Draught in about 5 seconds.

Ended up getting home around 8pm after stopping via Shepparton for Cold Rock Ice Cream + Coles Supermarket. Next time we head to Sydney we’ll most certainly fly, stay in the city, and do the tourist thing.

Sydney - Day 3

Slept in, and caught the River Cat up Parramatta River to the Harbour.

On the way to Circular Quay, there’s lots to look at. Sydney CBD.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Opera House

Floating into Circular Quay, with the Railway Station in the background.

Boarded a ferry (Friendship) which took us to Taronga Zoo.

Saw some lizards.

Giraffes.

A wallaby thing, it was very tame. (Walk through enclosure)

Saw an elephant throwing toys around with his trunk.

The main attraction at the moment is the baaaaaaaaaby elephant.

He was little.

The Seal show was quite impressive — be sure to get a seat 30 mins before it starts!

I had no idea seals could jump so high.

After spending all afternoon at the zoo, we caught the Cable Car back down the hill to the ferry.

Arrived back at Circular Quay and boarded a train to get back to Parra’.

Double Decker trains are cool … they’re called TANGARA’s.. Fact!

Sydney public transport FAIL … trainworks on a saturday at 5:30pm!!!

Bus was direct to Parra along the motorway, which made for a quick trip.

We went to dinner with some people at Parramatta Hogs Breath.
For some reason, no pictures were taken! Doh.

I’d asked the locals where to see pink cars with shiny wheels, “GEORGE ST” they advised.

11:30pm, we headed down the pot hole infested Parramatta Rd to George St.
WOW, George st reminded me of what Chapel St was like 10 years ago.
Strangely enough, cops were booking people for sitting in Bus Lanes.
Cars with Hydro’s, Blowers out Bonnets, 22″ Chrome Wheels werent looked twice at!

A young lady was driving this R35 GT-R! Phwaaah!

Eazy E from Compton represent! Awesome.

Sydneys most commonly modified car HAS to be the WRX.
We followed this clean STi back along Parra’ Rd to our appartment.

Went to bed sometime around 2 or 3 am … was too tired to check what time it was.

Day 4 Soon.