I took a ride on the ferry!

[Blake]

So yesterday I went on a little drive and decided to get some pics to share with you guys. I’ve heard the drive down to Wisemans Ferry was good so what better opportunity to check it out?

I wasn’t sure about the weather, it had been a bit dodgy this week, so I checked the BOM and the radar looked good so I decided to head out.

The route looked good and the radar said the weather would be good, so I was all set.

I went down to the local servo before I left to do all the normal pre-race checks, fluid levels, tyre pressures, etc…



The sky above didn’t look as promising as the radar but I was feeling confident that the weather would be better down south.



I had a quick spurt on the freeway to get to my starting point, but still the skies were looking grey. Seemed I was driving into a storm. I was also getting acquainted with taking photos while driving, something I’ve never done before… As you’ll see the results aren’t bad, I was expecting much worse (especially from this camera which always seems to produce extremely grainy and blurry shots).



So now I’ve reached my starting point. The rain has stopped and the roads are dry. The scenery is quite beautiful – we’ve had a lot of rain lately and the trees and grass are looking very healthy and green.

Being on roads like this reminds me of the racetracks of old which were surrounded with nothing but grass and trees.



Slippery road? Tight bends? I’m looking forward to this!



I continue on and the weather starts to get a bit worse, but the road is still good with some nice curves. They weren’t quite as tight as advertised above but I knew there was better to come after the ferry trip.



The road is still beautiful, but now I’m stuck behind traffic. On the bright side this is probably my best photo from the day. I love the blur on the road, it looks really nice IMO.



Now the weather is turning to crap and I’m still stuck behind traffic. He likes to migrate to the middle of the road on straight sections so I can’t overtake…



I’m not one to use wipers often, but the weather is getting even worse and I’m still stuck behind this guy and he’s kicking up quite a bit of spray! We passed some brave cyclists taking on this weather, though… Must have been freezing!



Finally, I reach the ferry terminal… but I have to wait for a while.



Finally we get on the ferry. It’s my first ferry trip when I’ve driven a car, and I must say it feels rather odd for me… I’m moving, and I’m in my car, but the handbrake is on. The weather isn’t getting any better either.



Finally into Wisemans Ferry and my first view of the town, not that I can see much…



Past the town now and from this point on I was going rather too quickly to take photos, but the roads were really fast with some very tight turns and the weather never got any better. I had a couple of moments; I hadn’t planned pushing the corners so hard in the wet but the excitement got the better of me I guess.

Still, I kept it on the black stuff and had a ball. It was a really awesome drive and I plan on doing it again sometime, only in the dry. Now onto the ferry before the last leg…



There were still some really good turns after the ferry trip on the way back. I got to push them a lot harder this time because I was more comfortable with the car in this weather (it’s the first time I’ve pushed it at all in the wet) and I wasn’t stuck behind a 4WD.

My biggest moment of the day however came about 400m from my house on a corner I take every day. It’s a 90 degree right hand which goes downhill very steeply, and I had a really massive oversteer moment when the front tyres were biting and the rears had no weight on them. Without even thinking I corrected it perfectly, but it’s still kinda scary to think how the most familiar road of them all caught me out the most.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the pictures; I very much enjoyed the drive. 👍

 

[Loon]

Pretty cool man, would have been a lot better if it wasn't raining though. I'd like to see something like this but with a whole group of y'all going on a trip, Or at least one more person so they can take the pictures.

 

[Blake]

I'd like to see something like this but with a whole group of y'all going on a trip, Or at least one more person so they can take the pictures.

Yeah, I’d like to take a passenger to act as photographer next time. I wasn’t entirely comfortable taking those photos; it is reasonably dangerous… You have the camera in-front of your face and you can’t see anything for about 5 seconds. Not to mention the fact that you have to turn it on and off for each photo, etc.

Also it’s be über cool to get some good shots of the twisty stuff, and some action shots of the wheelman.

 

[Loon]

Yeah, I’d like to take a passenger to act as photographer next time. I wasn’t entirely comfortable taking those photos; it is reasonably dangerous… You have the camera in-front of your face and you can’t see anything for about 5 seconds. Not to mention the fact that you have to turn it on and off for each photo, etc.

Also it’s be über cool to get some good shots of the twisty stuff, and some action shots of the wheelman.

Exactly.👍 Plus if your camera has the ability to record video you could get some cool footage.

 

[Jay]

Oh come on Blake, wheres the water-on-brakes pictures?

Looks like you had fun, I actually enjoy wet weather through twisties more rather than dry.

 

[Blake]

Oh come on Blake, wheres the water-on-brakes pictures?

Looks like you had fun, I actually enjoy wet weather through twisties more rather than dry.

At least the water on my brakes wasn’t put there by me.

And yeah, the wet weather was exciting and it does give a new edge to vehicle dynamics. My old car just used to plough in the wet, so having something that was closer to a neutral balance was nice.

I do enjoy the feeling that you get when you corner quickly in the dry, though. Total confidence and nice sideways force.

 

[Joey D]

That route looks like it took you through some awesome driving roads. Shame about the weather but looks like you had fun never-the-less.

Also what is the P on the back of you car near the number plate?

 

[Casio]

Also what is the P on the back of you car near the number plate?

It shows you're still on a 'Probationary licence'. The exact rules differ from state to state, but for example in mine you have to display the plates for the first 3 years of getting your licence, you're restricted on what cars you can drive, BAC of 0.00, passenger restrictions, etc.

I personally don't wear the plates because I think they look lame.

In Australia the rules vary from state to state, a new driver holds a Learner licence/permit this has a minimum age of 16 and 17 or 18 for P plates. Holders of a provisional/probationary licence may be restricted compared to fully licensed drivers in speed, blood alcohol limits, limits on the type and power of their car's engine (i.e, no more than 6 cylinders, no forced induction), and number of demerit points that can be deducted. In all states, newly licenced drivers are required by law to display P-plates for varying lengths of time. The P is usually a red letter on a white background or a white letter on a red background (Victoria only). In New South Wales there are two classes of provisional licence and so P-plates are red on white for the first year after passing the Learner test and then after taking a computerised test are green on white for two years. Victoria is introducing the same scheme, but standard P-Plates are white P or red, then white P on green.

 

[Kylehnat]

^That's not a ferry. THIS is a ferry:

Cool story 👍. Looks like your wipers got a much-needed workout .

 

[Azuremen]

^That's not a ferry. THIS is a ferry:

Cool story 👍. Looks like your wipers got a much-needed workout .

Was wondering when our real ferrys were going to come up.

Still, looks like a fun drive. And you get some awesome sidways action in the rain if you learn to work that foot brake right, even in an FF. Rallyist driving for the win.

BTW, what do you drive?

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

BTW, what do you drive?

Looks like a Mazda 323

 

[YSSMAN]

Awesome photos/story!

I have to admit, even with the crappy rainy weather, I'd take that any day over what we're having here. Oh, and I have yet to be on a ferry, but we've got a good one that goes across Lake Michigan several times a day:

I have yet to go on it, but I may give it a shot if I end up going to Road America this summer...

 

[Joey D]

Just for the record that ferry is badass, I've been on it a couple times when I've gone to Milwaukee.

 

[ferrari_chris]

Looks like you had fun Blake. 👍

Glad your crappy brakes held out for ya. Might have been different in the dry though...

 

[Blake]

That route looks like it took you through some awesome driving roads. Shame about the weather but looks like you had fun never-the-less.

Yeah, they were quite good. It was the first time I’d gone down that way so it was really very fun to drive on some new stuff.

Also what is the P on the back of you car near the number plate?

It means I’m on my Provisional 2 license, which basically means I’m not allowed to go faster that 100kph (whoops) and I’m not allowed to drive with any alcohol in my blood.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Look, you guys don't know ferries. This is a ferry:

Took that from Hull - Zeebrugge and back last year.

Blake you should really use your wipers in the rain! And if a slower car moves into the middle of the road when you're trying to pass, horn them.

What other installed controls are you not using on your car? Figured out what the big pole thing sticking up from the floor does yet? Are you "not one to use" lights often? heh heh!

Driving in Australia is a blast, anyway. Massive roads, mentalist approach to speed limits, drive-in off licenses. It's all good.

 

[Danoff]

I took a ride on the ferry!

Just don't let Diablo know.

 

[sn00pie]

Look, you guys don't know ferries. This is a ferry:

Correct. I've been on one of those to Dover once in my youth (even before they had the hoovercrafts I believe). One observation about those ferries versus the hoovercraft is there's less puking on the ferry.

So there.

 

[ceiling_fan]

There's lots of fairies in San Francisco, haven't ridden one though.







edit: didn't see Danoff already jumped on that one.

 

[Blake]

Blake you should really use your wipers in the rain!

Har har.

Eh, when it forms droplets so nicely there’s no point. I only use them when the water actually impedes vision.

As for everything else I’ll give you the evil eye and take it in the manner you intended.

 

[Eagle]

I'll sign up for the next run and get some shots of Blake in action. Probably help the weight distribution a bit anyway.

And yes, he drives a 323 Astina.