1988 Nissan A31 Cefiro

Pretty much, they're very thin on the ground. I'm not sure whether I particularly like one grille over the other, just something a bit different. It looked a bit odd to me at first when I swapped them over, but after getting used to the chrome one I prefer it as looking a bit nicer/classier in a way.

One pleasant Sunday afternoon my girlfriend Sally and I went for a bit of a hills run up to Hahndorf in my Cefiro, to go to the Beerenberg Strawberry Farm.

You can see more details about it on their website here: www.beerenberg.com.au/

Going for a bit of a southern route, we first went up through Windy Point, and stopped for a few photos. There aren't many ways of taking a photo next to your car which don't make you look like a bit of a tool, but here's one Sally took of me with the Ceffy anyway.



There's quite a nice view from the carpark.

Trundling down the main street of Hahndorf, a beautiful white 1950s Jaguar caught my eye, parked on the side of the road all by itself. I considered stopping for photos but as it was getting close to 5pm, getting to the Beerenberg Farm store before it closed was more of a priority.






After getting to the shop and picking up some jams, we jumped back in the car and headed back through the main street towards the freeway. While I was planning to get back to the Jaguar for a few photos, a startlingly orange Audi TTS stopped me in my tracks, so I pulled up to get a couple of shots.

All photos taken with a Nikon D90 and Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G lens.

As soon as I plonked myself down into the driver's seat, a sizeable white vehicle loomed into view, an American model Ford F250 pickup. I quickly raised the camera back up to my eye and fired off a few shots. It looks kind of funny, as it completely dwarfs the Hyundai station wagon and Ford Fiesta hatch alongside.






By this point it had been quite a while since we'd passed the old white Jag on the way into town, so I was hoping it was still there as I started the car and headed back toward the freeway. After passing through the busy section of little shops and restaurants, I was relieved to see the Jag still parked in the same spot on the side of the road. After Sally handed me the D90 again, I looked in the side mirror to check for traffic before opening the door, and saw a nice old Mercedes trundling along with headlights ablaze, which was worth a quick snap. I'm not a Mercedes expert, but I think it's a W108.

Another effort-free carwash was in order after some of the driving around, while Sally and I bought a few things at the shops.

It was good fun for about 30 seconds, until I made the discovery that the duck pond was not the best place for propeller driven watercraft. It got caught up in some reeds and refused to budge, despite mashing the controls in every direction in a vain effort to free it. Short of venturing into waist deep water that would probably give you typhoid, the only option was to wait for the gentle and very, very slow current to carry it to the other side of the pond.

I was particularly clever in choosing a large and open body of water for the maiden voyage.






So we sat down and talked for a while, and I took photos every now and then as the ship inched its way across, looking a little out of place amongst the bird life.




After waiting nearly an hour, it was finally close enough for Sally to fish it out of the water with a stick.




So that's why it wasn't moving...




After removing the aquatic vegetation wrapped around the propellers, we rinsed it off with fresh water so as not to stink out the car.

'm sure I've mentioned this in previous posts, but after months of being trapped in hospital and home too sick and weak to sit up, simply having the freedom to go for a quick blat in the hills with Sally was awesome. At the same time last year, I wasn't sure if it would be something I could even do again.

With the jejunostomy stoma site located just where the lap part of the seatbelt rests, it can make driving a bit uncomfortable sometimes. But due to the Bride bucket seat, with plenty of side support, I don't really move at all while taking corners in the hills. Driving a normal car would certainly make things more painful. The tube wound site is more sensitive on some days than others. Sometimes I won't really notice it much, but on bad days I can't really walk very far without it hurting, and sneezing really hurts, as you involuntary tense those muscles.

Just as the sun was bathing the windings roads and trees in nice golden light, I pulled over on a side road to take some photos. I think this was off Gorge Road, but I'm not quite sure.













The rays of sunlight made for some nice back-lighting.

After having some fun on the cliff-lined Gorge Road twisties, we stopped in at the Cudlee Creek restaurant so Sally could have something to eat. Food is so irrelevant to me by now I don't usually think about it that much, it's something other people do.




Gorge Road is a very popular bit of tarmac for motorbikes. They probably account for half the restaurant's business, and there are plenty of bike posters and old pictures plastered all over the walls.








In case riders missed the road too much while they were eating, there was a Manx TT Superbike arcade game in one of the corners.




If you don't know what the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy race is, it's probably best described as one of the most suicidally dangerous motorbike events in the world.

Held on the small island in the UK since 1907, and taking place on closed public roads, fast riders can *average* speeds of over 200km/h on the 60 kilometre circuit. The current outright lap record is held by John McGuinness, who averaged a speed of 211 km/h on his Honda CBR1000RR in 2009.


A staggering number of deaths have occurred since the event began in the very early 1900s. Between 1907 and 2009, 237 riders lost their lives on the course while competing or practicing. The incredibly high speeds, combined with a road course lined with trees, rock walls and buildings, leave little room for error.

You can read more about it on wikipedia here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Man_TT


There was a sinister looking poor quality wobbly children's play pony on the other side of the room.





After Sally had finished, we went back out to the car.






The temperature had dropped a bit since we went in, but being Gorge Road, having the windows open to maximise the induction and exhaust noise between cliff walls is always worth cold ears. For me anyway; I'm not sure Sally gets as much enjoyment out of it as I do.

Coming up in Post #25; browsing parts and rims at Japanese Import Spares.

Stepping inside, my eye drifted over to the smorgasbord of rims stacked all over the side of the warehouse, enough to make any genuine J rim aficionado a little weak at the knees.










Moving to the right, there were loads of various performance parts lining the walls and shelves of the shop area.