TRAVELS WITH BOB

TRIP ONE - October 1997


On the left is the "Red Rocket" I rented from Hertz at the airport. It's a Ford Falcon, built in Australia, with a DOHC Straight-Six with "Computer Torque Control". I don't know about the torque control, as it would spin the tires every time I "matted" it, no matter what gear it was in ! It sure hauled ass though, saved me from some close calls more than once, and would pass everything on the highway.

The center photo was not really taken at the motel swimming pool, despite what you may have heard about all the "Crocs" downunder. It was taken at a widlife reserve near Sydney, and as you can see it's only a "small" one. (Only about 10 feet long, but the guide said it was just a young one and still growing). I don't think I want to meet him when he gets older.

The right photo was taken near Gundegai, which is just south of Wagga Wagga, and about as far from civilization as you can get without falling off the planet. Of course, the service goons at Hertz had stripped the wheel lugs and for the balance of the trip, only had 4 nuts holding the spare on.


This series of three pictures shows you coming into Broken Hill, being welcomed to Broken Hill, and leaving Broken Hill. Believe me, there's not very much to see there, unless you're into old abandoned mines and deserts. Thank goodness it was only early spring, the temperature on the day I passed through was nearly 35 C. (95 F.) For someone from Canada, it's hard to imagine living through the summer there. Highlight of my ten-minute stop in town was nearly setting the petrol station on fire, by pumping a few litres of gas on the ground. Boy, those 240V pumps really run fast down there !


From one extreme to another is pictured in this row. On the left is Riverina, a small town on the Murray River in South Australia. Beautiful place, very lush and green, but only because of its proximity to the largest river in Australia. Go 10 miles out of town and you're back in the wastelands.

The centre shot is the entrance sign to South Australia. Apparently, when the Formula One Grand Prix pulled out of Adelaide a few years ago, the Dunlop sign was left over, so they decided to move it up north to the border. Believe me, you can't miss it. You can see it for miles.

On the right is a piece of "prime" outback real estate, (very) charitably described in the brochures as "needing some TLC". Thirty seconds with a bulldozer would be more like it, in my opinion. If you look at the fullsize version of the photo, you can see a sheep in the "back yard" (looking through the front door). Oh yeah, it's really a bargain: 100 acres and the
"house" for less than $10,000. Any takers ?



TRIP TWO (June 1998) coming soon ... stay tuned