Thirstiest Parts of the Hume

[Citroënbender]

Not as in beer or companionship, but fuel efficiency.

It always feels to me like the stretch from Sydney to past Gundagai (say around Kyeamba Gap), chews the most fuel. Whereas from there to Melbourne feels much less hilly and therefore much easier on the fuel.

Has anyone here noted it more scientifically?

My longer term goal with this question, is to compile some ready reckoners for fuel burn when towing a car float.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Not as in beer or companionship, but fuel efficiency.

It always feels to me like the stretch from Sydney to past Gundagai (say around Kyeamba Gap), chews the most fuel. Whereas from there to Melbourne feels much less hilly and therefore much easier on the fuel.

Has anyone here noted it more scientifically?

My longer term goal with this question, is to compile some ready reckoners for fuel burn when towing a car float.

I seemed to use 0.5L/100km less fuel going up to Sydney, than coming back down to Melbourne.

Scariest part of the trip is coming across ACT drivers on the Hume, they're the only drivers worse than Victorians on our roads nationally, for a tiny population of 400,000 people they punch above their weight for worst drivers

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Not as in beer or companionship, but fuel efficiency.

It always feels to me like the stretch from Sydney to past Gundagai (say around Kyeamba Gap), chews the most fuel. Whereas from there to Melbourne feels much less hilly and therefore much easier on the fuel.

Has anyone here noted it more scientifically?

My longer term goal with this question, is to compile some ready reckoners for fuel burn when towing a car float.

Pretty Sally climb. Sutton Forest climb.

I notice these climbs in the little Traders depending on load.

[Franco Cozzo]

Whats the relevance of 'Pretty Sally' as everything in Wallan is 'Pretty Sally' this, Pretty Sally that, its obviously a reference to some historic figure along that corridor between Melbourne and Sydney.

The first official name for the hill was Big Hill, but in the early days the hill became known as Pretty Sally Hill. The official name today is Pretty Sally for the Trig Station at the top of the hill. As recorded in J A Maherʼs The Tale of a Century – Kilmore 1837-1937, John Taylor in the Seymour Telegraph of 3 November 1909 recounted what it was like to ride the mail cart from Melbourne in the early days and referred to Pretty Sally Hill. Then on page 105 Maher states :-

Whilst along the stock route, some distance westward from the present Highway, the lady herself, “Pretty Sally,” openly defiant of the law, supplied a “spot” of drink in exchange for coin of the realm.

The following is an extract from J W Payneʼs Pretty Sallyʼs Hill – A history of Wallan, Wandong & Bylands published in 1981 :-

In the Australian tradition of remembering best those who refuse to conform to the strictures of the law, Pretty Sally is remembered for operating an illegal shanty and eating house on the western side of Big Hill. The person in question was not the handsome slender young lady the name evokes, but a formidable woman of 114 kilograms, ʻas ugly as you would meet on a dayʼs marchʼ by one account.

****ing lol

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Whats the relevance of 'Pretty Sally' as everything in Wallan is 'Pretty Sally' this, Pretty Sally that, its obviously a reference to some historic figure along that corridor between Melbourne and Sydney.

Lets just say Pretty Sally was a lass that ran a certain house atop of the hill back in the day servicing all the travellers being tied from their long journeys.

[Citroënbender]

Re Sutton Forest, the section of M31 from Picton Rd to Derrick VC Rest Area always feels a particularly solid grind - a subset of my nominated upper leg.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Lets just say Pretty Sally was a lass that ran a certain house atop of the hill back in the day servicing all the travellers being tied from their long journeys.

Formidable indeed.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Re Sutton Forest, the section of M31 from Picton Rd to Derrick VC Rest Area always feels a particularly solid grind - a subset of my nominated upper leg.

Remember it well, on one occasion where the gearboxes rear seal went bang and blew apart my parking brake assembly, limped to Moss Vale.

Also Mantons gap and the biggy at Mt Mundoneen near Gunning.

[Itsme]

Never noticed any difference on the Hume highway with fuel efficiency & fills, however if you are talking Nullabor crossing then definitely big difference.

[Tonz]

if you look at a map of Aus then Sydney to Melbourne is downhill all the way whats the problem?
Only concern I see is one cant go much more downhill once you hit Victoria....thats about as low as you can go

[Fatbob103]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I seemed to use 0.5L/100km less fuel going up to Sydney, than coming back down to Melbourne.

Scariest part of the trip is coming across ACT drivers on the Hume, they're the only drivers worse than Victorians on our roads nationally, for a tiny population of 400,000 people they punch above their weight for worst drivers

100% correct. I've always been the same.
Worked out why the time I rode the Harley from Sydney to Melbourne. Riding down it was constant headwind Riding back a week later the wind was behind me.

[mad2]

Originally Posted by Tonz

if you look at a map of Aus then Sydney to Melbourne is downhill all the way whats the problem?
Only concern I see is one cant go much more downhill once you hit Victoria....thats about as low as you can go

visit the Taswegians......

[Citroënbender]

Wind is a pretty good point. I’ve often encountered both the worst weather and strongest winds around the Southern Highlands.

Originally Posted by Fatbob103

100% correct. I've always been the same.
Worked out why the time I rode the Harley from Sydney to Melbourne. Riding down it was constant headwind Riding back a week later the wind was behind me.

[Tonz]

Originally Posted by Fatbob103

100% correct. I've always been the same.
Worked out why the time I rode the Harley from Sydney to Melbourne. Riding down it was constant headwind Riding back a week later the wind was behind me.

thats all the hot air from Vic pollies

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Fatbob103

100% correct. I've always been the same.
Worked out why the time I rode the Harley from Sydney to Melbourne. Riding down it was constant headwind Riding back a week later the wind was behind me.

That would depend heavily on the time of year.

Victoria rarely gets southerly any further north than the GDRange beyond Killmore.
Once into NSW around the border the winds are usually N to NW. The occasional SW change will push you along but is rare in anything but bad weather.

On most occasions the winds are light N to NE approaching the Capital country and tending NE from the Southern Highlands back to $ydney.

Driving it regularly in a small truck or the motorhome (sometimes even parts on a bike) you tend to be well aware of wind direction, combine this with all the more climbs heading north and it can really slow the progress.

Usually Westerly crosswinds are bad around Gunning at the next crossing of the range, hence the wind farms.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Tonz

thats all the hot air from Vic pollies

That could be true except physically the only way hot air travels into Victoria is when it blows down from the north. x 2.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

That could be true except physically the only way hot air travels into Victoria is when it blows down from the north. x 2.

And across with a change from SA.