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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

A Special Experience - thanks to Tex & Bundy Charity Fundraisers

I was very lucky to be able to have a few photos taken of myself and one half of this legendary fundraising duo when I was in Sydney recently. Okay - so this half is a four-legged furbaby (a Stumpy-tailed Blue Heeler) named Bundy.... here are some photos from said experience!

Website:        Tex & Bundy Charity Fundraisers Website
Facebook:     Tex & Bundy Charity Fundraisers on Facebook

The lovely Miss Bundy herself

Myself and Bundy on Tex's Moto Guzzi Stelvio NTX



My favourite pic of all!

And another!
Thanks to Tex for allowing me to do this!

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Uniden iGo CAM 320 - Overview of Drive Video Recorders




The Uniden iGo CAM 320 is a basic entry level DVR that is ideal if you're new to owning a DVR. It does miss out on a lot of the features of the higher end iGO's, such as GPS and speed display in the end video, but what it lacks at this end, it makes up for in quality. I purchased mine from Autobarn Dubbo at the recent Orana Caravan, Camping, 4WD, Fish and Boat Show for $50 - RRP is $90.

How a DVR works:
It works on a similar format to a digital handycam (camcorder) but instead of holding it yourself, you use a special mount that is included in the kit when you purchase your DVR. You attach your DVR to this mount, then it attaches to your windscreen using a suction cup. The iGo CAM 320 is powered by a battery that gives you 25 minutes record time before it depletes or can be powered by a power cable that hooks to the unit via your cigarette lighter. I have a specially set-up 12V/120W power outlet in my car that I use to power it - makes it easier with a smoker in the car!

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ Z71

A follow up post on a previous post (Chevrolet Silverado LTZ 2500HD - now available in Dubbo!)

The Silverado in the top post has been sold but Western Plains Automotive now have two Z71's in stock as demos.

2014 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ Z71 - Black

Interior of the Z71 - ergonomics are spot on

Z71 tub decal

Silver 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ Z71

Custom instrument panel with metric speedometer and odometer
Durmax 6.6 litre V8 Turbo Diesel

Since this truck was built in the USA and is post 2010, the requirement for emissions control for EPA2010 is SCR. This is the filler port for the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF, aka AdBlue in Australia)
All the contact details for importer and dealer are in the earlier post - feel free to read back over that post for their contact details and location

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Scania R164G V8 580 AUS666


A little video I did of Vince Bloink's Scania R164G tilt-tray

Friday, August 1, 2014

Chevrolet Silverado LTZ 2500HD - now available in Dubbo!

That's right - you have read the title of this post correctly!

Performax International, Australia's leading converter of American cars and trucks, has sold Western Plains Automotive of Dubbo, NSW a very nice Mocha Steel Metallic 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ. For $139990 plus dealer charges, you can drive this home right now!

For further info or to inspect this awesome truck, phone Western Plains Automotive in Dubbo on 68844577, Performax International in Gympie, Queensland on 07 54827833 or Freecall 1800 737367 or visit them at any of the below addresses:
Western Plains Automotive:
Yard: 59-75 Victoria Street Dubbo, NSW 2830
Facebook: WPA Facebook

Performax International:
Yard: Corner of Bruce Highway and Hall Road, Gympie, QLD 4570


Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ - 3/4 LHS view

Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ - rear view

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Support Local Business - Keep Money Local, Support Other Local Businesses and Employ Local People

Today, I am here to talk about supporting local businesses....I'm not referring to the big end of town, the likes of Caltex, Woolworths, Coles, BP, Shell and United - I'm referring to the little end of town. The Mum and Dad businesses who keep their money local, support other local businesses and employ local people.

One such Mum and Dad business I support is Dubbo-based coach operator, Langley's Coaches. Phil and Fiona Langley provide exceptional customer service, focus on the needs of the customer and create tours to suit the customer demand. Their base service is extended coach touring with a selection of day trips and overnight concert trips thrown in throughout the year. Langley's Coaches is a wonderful supporter of local businesses in Dubbo - they also employ an amazing array of drivers and coach captains all sourced from the local area. From a customer point of view, dealing with Langley's is a breeze - one phone call or email sets the ball rolling - extended coach touring or day trips can be paid for over the months leading up to the trip or can be paid in full at time of booking.

One of Langley's tidy double deck coaches - one of three Denning Landseer Deckers

One of their tidy single deck high-deck coaches - 2007 Scania K470EB 6x2*4
To book on any of the amazing trips that Langley's holds throughout the year, there are three easy ways to get in touch with them:

Phone: 68828977 (02 68828977 outside NSW)
Drop into their office: 5 Depot Road, West Dubbo 2830
For info on the company or any trips, check out Langley's Coaches Website
Check them out on Facebook as well: Langley's Coaches on Facebook

Saturday, June 21, 2014

A Special Experience - Dolphin Marine Magic

Jiling, the latest addition to the Dolphin Marine Magic dolphin family
Back in March, I was very fortunate to visit Dolphin Marine Magic in Coffs Harbour on a repeat trip. It was during this time that I got this photo..... this photo is of Jiling, their gorgeous male Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) calf. He was five months old at the time this photo was taken - he is such an inquisitive dolphin who loves posing!

Monday, March 24, 2014

Bella and Jet - Dolphin Marine Magic

Readers of this blog may remember a blog entry I did back in 2012 after my first visit to Dolphin Marine Magic in Coffs Harbour (http://tiny.cc/kfr7cx).... this is a follow-up to this entry after my latest visit.

Jet - one of the dolphins you may interact with at Dolphin Marine Magic
I had an opportunity to meet Jet, pictured above, up close during my latest in-water interaction at Dolphin Marine Magic. He is such a cheeky little fella and he knows it! During the interaction, we got to pat Jet on the back and the belly - he enjoys his pats so much he allows his whole body to relax... this in turn relaxes his peduncle (the part of his back from behind his dorsal fin down to his tail flukes) which then causes his tail flukes to relax and drop.... this made for some laughs! The more we laughed, the more Jet would do it!

Bella - Jet's big sister and the first dolphin I ever interacted with at Dolphin Marine Magic
I was extremely surprised when I got to spend time with Bella (pictured above) in the main pool. Bella was the first dolphin I ever got to interact with on my first visit to Dolphin Marine Magic back in 2012 - what an amazing experience to be able to reacquaint with her in the main pool.... and to say that means a lot to me as she never forgot me! I was the first person she came up to with a ball to play with....

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Coffs Harbour Trip - Day by Day Review

Here is a day to day review of my recent trip to Coffs Harbour with some photos thrown in... enjoy!

Day 1 - 10/3/14:
Transiting day - left Dubbo at 6:30am, arrived in Sydney at 7:40am. Left Sydney at 11:40 arriving in Coffs at 12:45. Checked into accommodation and went to do some things.

Day 2 - 11/3/14 - Dolphin Marine Magic (day one of three):
Went to Dolphin Marine Magic - got to meet Jiling, their 5 month old male Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin calf. He is so cheeky - every time he can sense someone with a camera near the viewing windows of the pool, he will swim down to say hello. I also got to reacquaint myself with an old friend named Bella, a 8 year old female Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin.... she was her ever cheeky self as usual! 


Jiling, Dolphin Marine Magic's newest dolphin calf

Bella - her presence in the main pool allowed me to reacuaint myself with her... and she remembered me!



Day 3 - 12/3/14 AM - Precision Helicopters (TIF):
Did not go too well as I had major nerves - still can't say I did not have a go! Started with a 20 minute flight pre-brief then into the air....
Day 3 - 12/3/14 PM - Trivia Night at the Park Beach Bowling Club:
What a hoot! Did a Trivia Night at the PBBC - met an amazing local family who welcomed me onto their team! We came 2nd last but what a night it was - now I want to join my local clubs for their trivia nights!

Day 4 and 5 - 13/3/14 and 14/3/14 - Dolphin Marine Magic (14/3/14 - Interaction Day):
What an awesome way to spend two days on the trot - I got to spend an amazing 20 minutes with Jet, who you see me with in photo 3 and floating around in photo 4. He's such a funny and cheeky little dolphin - when he gets patted during the in-water interactions, he relaxes to the point where his penduncle relaxes and his tail flukes drop.... that made for some serious laughs! The more we laughed, the more he did it!



Jet and I during my in-water interaction

Jet after said in-water interaction


Day 6 - 15/3/14:
Free day - took off to The Clog Barn and took a look at Holland Downunder (a miniature Dutch village with all the buildings made by hand from resin and glue). Had a few minutes to buy a few things from the gift shop (lollies) then back to the hotel. Had a fair wait till that night then I went out and saw a friend of mine who I had wanted to see for a while - what an experience meeting Vanessa was!

Holland Downunder - miniature Dutch Village at The Clog Barn



Day 7 - 16/3/14:
Free day - had a day to myself and relaxed. Went to the hotel's big St. Patrick's Day party after the F1 GP - what an experience my first St. Paddy's Day party was - Guinness and green everywhere! Live music played by an amazing band from Queensland called The Bostocks....

Day 8 - 17/3/14:
Last day of the trip - heading home is always the saddest part of any holiday out of town!

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Precision Helicopters Helicopter Joyflight - TCMF 2014


On Saturday, I was fortunate to be able to do a helicopter joyflight - thanks to Precision Helicopters, I am able to present to you this video I did.... it's 12 minutes long as that was how long the flight was....