Day 21 - heading to Victoria

Today we left the Adelaide Hills. Our first stop at Birdwood was only a few Km's down the road from Gumeracha. The National Motor Museum at Birdwood proved impressive and interesting. The main focus seemed to be vehicles that have been important in Australia's development or history, or were manufactured or assembled in Australia. Surprisingly, a large number of different types and brands of vehicles were manufactured here over the last 100 years. Geoff, however, didn't expect to find any Alfa Romeos on display. There was one surprise. The vehicle that Diane is admiring was built in Australia (sort of) and is an Alfa (sort of). 

On to some nostalgia. Geoff is standing in front of a stylish Holden Special FC station wagon. This was the same type of car owned by Geoff's grandparents in the late 50's / early 60's. Geoff's parents borrowed this car to take the family (only 3 kids at this stage - no Lyn as yet) on a holiday to the Gold Coast sometime in the early 60's. still fondly remembered in 2013

Geoff's own motoring career began as a learner driver in 1967 or 68. The first car he drove was a HR Holden similar to the one in the left of the photo below.

The fun really began when he was allowed to drive his father's Holden Brougham, similar to the white car on the right. This late 60's model boasted a 5 litre V8 and two speed auto. It could really move and easily did 100 mph (yes, that's miles per hour) on a straight stretch between Canberra and Cooma during a family holidays trip to the snow in 1968. It was so smooth and quiet Mum didn't notice.

From the Adelaide hills its a long drive to Melbourne. Today we reached Murray Bridge for lunch and arrived in Horsham where we are spending the night. Tomorrow Melbourne.