2025 Alvis National Rally - Canberra

 As we had previously arranged to overnight in Albury with a number of other Victorian attendees, we decided to stick with that plan even though now traveling in a VW T-Roc, compliments of RACV and Hertz,we could probably have done the trip in one day.  First stop, Gundagai for a tea break. After the break we visited the lookout on Mt Parnassus. This is an interesting spot as the lookout is perched in the middle of the bowl like valley which makes the whole thing look line one of those cake tins with a hole in the middle (apparently a ring or Bundt pan). We had plenty of time so we detoured off the Hume Highway (M1) and traveled via Wagga Wagga using the A25 and A41. This eventually lead us back on to the M1 but provided a bit of variety.   After an excellent dinner at the Hovell Tree Inn, continuing the Hume and Hovell theme, (our lodging for the night), we again hit the road, arriving home about 1:30PM.   Roadside scenery, it is very dry out here at the moment Not ...

 A treat  today, Heather offered us Effie, the Front Wheel Drive (FWD) to drive. A 1928 Fixed Head Coupe (built by Martin & King, Australia), it is quite cozy (read small) inside and with quite heavy steering it can be quite a challenge, especially at parking speeds. It is quite lively on the road and it required your constant attention but in the corners it is amazing and goes wherever you point it, you just have to be careful to point it in the right direction as the steering is very direct and requires a delicate touch, especially at speed.  I found the gear change a delight to use and very forgiving for a "crash" box, unlike some 12/50's I have tried.   First stop today was Cooma Cottage, after a quite scenic drive along the Murrumbidgee River. Cooma Cottage is one of the oldest rural buildings in the Yass Valley, built in 1833 it subsequently became the home of Hamilton Hume, of Hume and Hovel explorer fame. Hume lived in the cottage for 30 years. Next ...

The plan for today is to drive around Lake Burley Griffin and see the shore from a different perspective to the boat cruise. This started of well until we encountered a rather convoluted series of roads that took us in front of the High Court along the lake fore shore. Our first attempt resulted in us doing a U-turn and returning to the car park to study the map, yes the supposed foot path was actually a road, so we made a second attempt, at which point a group of school students decided that it was their right to wonder all over the place and we wouldn't dare run over them (which of course we wouldn't), eventually we negotiated the various bollards, speed humps and various other obstructions to negotiate the route, and we where quite relieved when Julia, appeared in our rear vision mirror in his TD21, providing some assurance we had gone the right way. First stop, Government House, and being the first to arrive, and in an unrecognisable   hire car, we where presented with some...