Re: Re: Bob's Jacket
 

Methinks I would be safer leaving this one without comment... :D

:sheep:

Ford V8
 

Good Day mates

Some other great stuff. Could just drive around with Max's Ford V8 Beauty. Wow, that sound. That's like an opera from Beethoven! That's ripper.

... so, this thime the slouch should be ok, isn't it?

@Salesman Bob

My smile is even bigger than driving the Chev C15A ;-) Nothing can beat a real V8!

V8
 

Great shots, Chris

The only sound better than a sidevalve V8 is one in a FGT without the muffler.;)

Isn't V8 Tomato Juice? :sheep: :p

V8 Smile
 

Hi Chris
I wasn't game to let you drive a Ford on your first Blitz drive, that's why I chose the inferior, underpowered Chev. However now you have graduated to a real Blitz. Well done.
Bob

Re: V8 Smile
 

Bob, that Chev was really good to drive! And I enjoyed it a lot. It was my first CMP, so I'll always remember my first tour with you.

Driving School
 

... mates, it gets even better. Yesterday I drove quite a bit of Max's collection.

Feeding the sheep with a Holden 4WD:

Ford V8
 

Driving the Ford V8:

Bren Gun Carrier
 

My first tank drive: Bren Gun Carrier, brilliant, but hard work. Only the first and third gears are working. The bloke beside me is Max's brother John.

Jeep driving
 

Give it a go in a Ford GPW. Drove it for about half an hour, had some fun with the 4WD on. But as it had must to come. Max is always a little bit short of fuel. So, I got stuck in nowhere, walked 20 min back and the Roadside Assistance (Max & John) picked me up.

Parking
 

... that's parking we do in Switzerland. There was no mm between the bumper and the fence ;-)

(The truck went down itself, the brake wasn't so good and the first gear wasn't right in. So, my fault!)

Harley WLA
 

... picture taken this morning. Could have a ride on John's Harley-Davidson WLA, manufactured in 1942, bought 11 years ago. Fantastic V2-sound.

Gear lever is mounted on the left hand side of the fuel tank. Clutch is left food, rear-brake with right food, ride-hande throttle, left-hand: advance and retard in the distributor.

Hatbadge
 

Max just showed me this hatbadge. It's in silver. Does anybody know the story behind it?

back side

Max's fathers badges
 

The 2 dark brass ones are from the collar of the jackets. The other small one is one that was given to Charlie's mother with the collar badge of his unit.

Bren Gun Carrier Movie
 

... when John & Max took the BGC out, I took this video of my first ride in it. Sorry for the bad quality, but it gives you a good impression.

Attention: Size is 32 Megabyte, you need the Apple Quicktime-Player and a broadband-connection. Runs about 4 min. Right-click on it and "save as'

Just enjoy it and the V8-Sound.

Download me

Victory Parade in Canberra
 

We just arrived one hour ago from our testdrive on the Victory-Parade in Canberra. Tomorrow is the "real" show. Around 100'000 visitors are expected, but today only about 5 - 10'000 where there.

I head the honour to drive "Tickets", Max's Chev C15. What an excellent drive down to Canberra (ca. 60 km). We were a small convoy of 3 CMP's, a Studebaker and 2 Jeeps. Max was the Convoy-Leader in the Study.

On the parade went about 20 - 25 vehicles. Hopefully there will be more tomorrow.

On static displays were e.g. 3 Halftracks, some Studebakers, Matilda Tank, some Bren Gun Carriers, White Scout Car, M8 Greyhound, M3 Stuart Tank, some Dodges WC and not to mention the beloved CMP's.

... dressed-up for the event. Hopefully all the girls will reckon it tomorrow. Have to get some pics with female soldiers ;-)

... Max and Robert prefer to have a pic with soldiers. Well, that's up to them. I'll get one with some nice chicks :salute:

Max and Robert are the sons of diggers from WW2 (2/2 Inf Bat, 6th Div). They served in the Desert and Kokoda, New Guniea. Aitape Wewak

sheep sheering
 

... and this is the way Max treated the young mate from Switzerland. He sure knows how to get the best out of his staff! :smoker:

VP Day in Canberra
 

... read my report on the VP Day in Canberra here

http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/at...=&postid=35266

next travel plans
 

Good day mates

I've organised over the last couple days my travel plans. Will fly on Saturday to Brisbane, then Monday evening to Darwin, where I'll stay a couple of nights until I'll book a guided tour to see Kakadu, Litchfield, Bungle Bungles etc.

Looking forward to some warmer weather. Although here in Yass was around 18 degrees, was sitting in the sun and enjoying myself.

cu
Chris

Keith's pic
 

... Keith spotted a handsome bloke at the Saturdays VP-Day. The red jacket is everywhere!

http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/at...=&postid=35409

Arrived in Brisbane
 

Morning mates

Arrived yesterday afternoon after a short flight from Canberra in Brisbane. Will fly on Monday further on to Darwin.

Just enjoying the free Internet in the State Library. Will visit afterwards the German WW1 in the Museum here. It's an original A7V, called Mephisto .

I enjoyed my 2,5 staying with the Hedges family very much. It was an excellent experience, which I'll miss. Never thought that I would go on a sheep farm in Aussie and had so much fun. Thanx Max & Cathy!

cu
Chris

That red jacket, it is a prohibited import into NZ.

Better leave it here for someone more deserving, like me.

I hope you enjoyed your trip. and I bet it turned out better than you expected.

We may be a rough sometimes uncouth lot, but when we take you on board, you become one of us.

Have a safe trip as you move onwards.

If you thought Max had a lot of sheep, wait till you get to New Zealand.

Always enjoyed your post, made even more enjoyable by your excellent photos.

Regards

Col Tigwell

Re: Hatbadge
 

Isn't this a fairly 'common" hat badge?

There is one exactly the same on the slouch hat which Max sent up from Yass to Canada.

Re: Re: Hatbadge
 

Common in certain parts of Ontario such as Owen Sound, I hear, but extinct in Tronnah.

Tour around Kakadu & Litchfield
 

Good day mates

Arrived on Tuesday morning in Darwin. Did from Wed - Fr a tour around Kakadu & Litchfield NP. Awsome swimming in the waterfalls. Fortunately no crocs around;-)

Attached is a pic of our group. Were 16, more than 50 % were German speaking (like me). We had an excellent tourguide called Matt. I could practise my Swiss German with another Swiss Jillaroo.

Hired today a mountainbike and drove around Darwin. Visited the Aviation Heritage Centre (even had a restored Chev C60L, B52-Bomber, one of 2 outside the US) and the East Point Military Museum (just outside).

Will go tomorrow on a 8 day tour from Darwin to Broome. We'll sleep always under the stars in Swags, max. 2 nights with showers etc. Experience the real outback!