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Well well - that was a mission and a half!

Left Dad's @ about 10am Friday. Drove about 800 kms to Coolangatta. Hung with Ash on his DELUXE 25 acre block of rainforest.
Left there Monday morning-ish - drove all day to somewhere near Charleville in central southern Queensland.
Next day did some more harsh driving to Cloncurry.
Wednesday did something stupid like 1100 kms to way up past Three-ways and camped at Daly Waters. (Did this so I'd have an easy one yesterday, only about 600 kms or so)

Mr Brown did splendidly - he did blow an exhaust manifold gasket, but soldiered on all the way from QLD with no problems.

More stats and fuel consumption figures and crap to come later...

Meanwhile, read the third comment here

D

Dad's Place

Yes - I'm up on the Central coast already.
I got the shits and left Melbourne early - badly timed but almost a full day earlier than expected.
Why bad timing? Coz I left Melbs at about 1pm and by the time I hit Canberra I was nearly falling asleep - 650 kms later.

Mr Brown is doing fine, although this leg I only managed about 15 litres per hunge as opposed to the 11.8 I got from Adelaide to Melbourne or the 12.5 I was getting around town. I think the differences are: hills, aircon and top speed. Specifically I have a suspicion that 110-120 kph is a lot worse than 90-100.

I also looked at a map and realised I still have more than 4000 kms to go to get home! Ouch. At about $160 per 1000 it's an expensive trip.

It is a very good thing I am converting this beast.

Apologies to Bobby C - I piked on visiting him at Batemans Bay. Also apologies to Treek - I completely bypassed Sydney on the newly constructed M7 - didn't get anywhere near my least favorite city.
I'm just going to go for broke - maybe stay here till the weekend and then leave for QLD early Saturday or possibly Friday. Dad reckons I won't do it in a day, and I'm inclined to believe him, especially if I am to be conscientious re fuel consumption.

I do want to try and catch Ash-man for Saturday night - so I may leave here Friday arvo as some kind of compromise...

Tomorrow I'm doing an oil change and fitting a new voicebox (stereo) to Mr Brown.
Call it a refresher bonding experience with Dad if you like.

Thanks Benny for the supply of stock and advice.

Dave

...and he shall be called Mr Brown

I'm back - ended up flying to Adelaide at the last minute.
The arsehole in Tassie completely lied to me about the level of rust available...luckily one of my Hobart spies was able to check it out for me.

So I found another one on Monday night, flew to Adelaide on Tuesday arvo, bought and registered the car on Wednesday, then drove it back (750kms) today (Thursday).

Finally...

So now the question is when do I leave Melbourne.
I think it'll be Wednesday at the latest - I'll probably end up skipping Gippsland (sorry Mich and Russ), Echuca (sorry Aaron), Batemans Bay (Bob and Damo).

I think I'll just go for broke up the Hume, get to Sydney late Weds.

Then will go to see Dad on Thurs and hopefully be in QLD to see Davo and Ash-man some time on Saturday.

As usual, this is highly likely to change.

Dave and Mr Brown

Travels

I'm in Melbourne.
I hitched down from Darwin to Adelaide (4.5 days - not bad!)
I came across to Melbs with Greenus aftre a week in the 'laide.

Staying at Bennyspoon's, about to go to Tassie to purchase a 1980 MQ Patrol 3.3 (SD33T) LWB wagon 4WD.

Will be driving back via the east coast.

xx

D