billybunters - from a bmw z4 to a mx5 se

[Daffy]

[bruce]

So, you've abandoned it out in the bush with the bunnies.

[KevGoat]

So, you've abandoned it out in the bush with the bunnies.

Isn't that where most Fiats end up? ...

[billybunter]

if had got stuck I would probably have to pull it out with the SE and after that the car too

[billybunter]

lately ive been a bit busy preparing for my next trip into the unknown or the depths of outback QLD. a couple of days back i bought a new camera to kick off with. no real reason for that as I bought one 3 months ago and never used it but it gives me the urge to go forward in the quest of hunting the elusive wildflowers. so I now have everything ready to kick off.

my plans were to head on out to Charleville via Bourke and over to Roma and down through Lightning Ridge and back home. Last year I saw wildflower in profusion on the Bourke to Charleville section of the run so I really wanted a new wide angle camera lens combo to get into it.

so today I rang the Cunnamulla tourist info centre to find out how the wildflowers are coming along this season. the guy on the phone was laughing immediately. told me straight. no wildflowers about this year mate....too hot and no rain. temps have been up to 29C lately. you should have been here last year. best season in 20 years.

well I was there last year and that's why I was going back again

anyway to put it bluntly - no friggin flowers to explore my inner self. no tulips to tip toe through either plus I had bought the new camera too. this trip now would be just a total waste of time.

so I sat back on the lounge thinking about the situation and what to do about it. suddenly a bloody lightbulb went off in the brain box. pretty sure it was the brain box as the house runs full led's. about 20 years back I flew over to Perth to photograph wildflowers for a Sydney photo library.

back up and on the phone I spoke to the tourist info centre in Perth WA and they told me up north of the state - not much rain and wildflowers would be a bit scarce but down south and out west - most rain they have had for years and were expecting a bumper wildflower crop in the coming weeks.

so to sum up that rules the car run out west, but I now have another option as I don't feel like driving over either. getting late in the year and shortly I will have to start work again. but like always -there's an option. I might do a fly over and hire a car. might take the wife along for the ride too

gets better too. youngest daughter has just started work at Escape Holiday travel in Penrith NSW and the girl in question "Emma" is entitled to a pretty good discount on travel and so too are family members. how's that for chance.

I might put it too the test and do a fly over to the West with car hire too and check out the damage. if its acceptable I might explore this idea of photographing the wildflowers in their native habitat. it would be in and out of the place within a week. I have good work coming up and lured by the quick $$$$ so a week would be it.

either way I will be going somewhere and preferable not boot hill

[Okibi]

Give us some notice if/when you're coming over

[billybunter]

will do. rang a place called Hyden in WA today where I was told got good rainfall. plus it is suppose to be a top wildflower area close to wave rock. local said today they had not got much rain over the winter and at the moment wildflowers are scarce plus it's still pretty cold too.
so I will continue my research on this flower power matter

[billybunter]

if I am to head out west wildflower hunting -first off I need a better camera so I bought this sony a6000. I purchased it from Harvey norman with a standard kit lens 16-50mm but this is probably just sh*t kit stuff anyway. they make two more better equipped models.the more expensive a6300 and a6500.

the body on this camera is really pretty good and almost as good as a pro full size camera. in theory its only something to hang onto as it's the lenses job to do all the work. at the moment I think I will need 3 primes plus a zoom and a few filters - nd and polarizer

I've been researching these cameras and reviews for days and in the end I couldn't really see the value paying an extra $1000 for the more expensive models body alone especially when I have no loyalty and might piss it off after use anyway

it's not as if I am using it to make money off - those days are gone but never regretted it

so I took these couple of photos yesterday with standard lens. I could probably get away with just this camera body and lens package alone. but saying that if I am just out in the scrub wasting $$$ chasing stupid wildflowers - just like the SE I need more power in this case -better quality glass

[billybunter]

ref to speedo shot - yes I was over the 100 kph limit. I find it pretty hard to keep it on the 100 neat -much easier with a needle car. although if you look further to the right of the screen shot and the green light. I was on max fuel economy at 5 bars and a pleasant outside 12C temp

[Daffy]

ref to speedo shot - yes I was over the 100 kph limit. I find it pretty hard to keep it on the 100 neat -much easier with a needle car. although if you look further to the right of the screen shot and the green light. I was on max fuel economy at 5 bars and a pleasant outside 12C temp

Geez BB...... thats bloody cold for the 1st of January......... happy new year ol boy

[billybunter]

good observation daffy! I'd just done a computer re-set on the car and have to wait till the daughter adjusts the clock again that's why I was in the economy mode.
after the re-set i had to drive it about 100 klm before I can engage the sports mode again - ecu re-learning thing according to the abarth boys. most on the forum members are only young 'ums so I suppose they know far more about it than me

[Okibi]

Wave rock is in the middle of no where, there's bugger all the region is doing to capitalise on the traffic to wave rock which most locals only ever see once then tell you it's not worth the drive.

If it's your first time in W.A. probably better sacrificing some wild flower spotting for some nicer roads, nice wineries nicer landscape and heading to the south west.

[Daffy]

Wave rock is in the middle of no where, there's bugger all the region is doing to capitalise on the traffic to wave rock which most locals only ever see once then tell you it's not worth the drive.

If it's your first time in W.A. probably better sacrificing some wild flower spotting for some nicer roads, nice wineries nicer landscape and heading to the south west.

1+ for the south east . My wife and I lived in Leederville Perth for a year in 2002 and have been back a few times since- (had it not been for family matters I'd say we would still be living there now.... we loved living there and may return somewhere down the line ). We took about 5 days out to do the run south via Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River then onto Augusta (Cape Leeuwin- around 3-4 hours from Perth, so heaps of time to have a good look around if doing a leisurely drive) stunning scenery, world class food and wine at Margaret River. I think I just talked myself into another trip back soon

[Daffy]

Edit.... I ment the South WEST!!

[billybunter]

this bloke I know said to me a couple of days back- your not short on words -can you write me a car song I can put to music?

sh*t I thought ...i'm flat out writing at the best of times plus I am a bit mouthy but I will see what sort of crap I can come up with. well I never told him crap and never done it before either

so nothing lost and maybe even nothing gained so when I finish it I will put it up for slandering and abuse. just what I deserve too