Upper Middle Petrol Head:

Two distinct schools of thought exist at UMPH House.  The first holds that loud is good, louder is better and that exhaust and induction are at their best when combined to produce some form of raucous automotive rock concert.  School of Thought Number One also has it that there's hardly a single bit of a car that isn't somehow enhanced by being bigger or smaller, wider, squatter, stiffer, of greater wattage, lower profile, or otherwise different to that which was intended by said vehicle's original manufacturer. Mrs UMPH does not belong to that school of thought.  Not for her the throaty growl of a Weber or two ; no snarling or popping exhaust note when she lifts her elegantly clad foot from the accelerator.  Strangely, Mrs UMPH doesn't want to test her tyres' limits of cornering adhesion and seems perfectly happy with her compliant, plush even, suspension. No, Mrs UMPH has a grown-up's car: a Peugeot 206 CC and anything that she might be missing out on is p...

Cygnet is an easy 45 minute drive from Hobart and, unfortunate kitchen fires aside, usually boasts two great cafe / restaurants:  the currently slightly char-grilled Red Velvet Lounge and, just a bit further down the main street, the Lotus Eater.  It's normally an either / or choice but with the former out of action for now, Mrs UMPH and I happily headed off for a late lunch at the latter. Adding to the allure of today's outing is the fact that Cygnet is accessed via some really fun roads, especially if one returns to Hobart via Kettering by the Woodbridge Hill route.  In fact, that way's so good that it's a Targa Wrest Point competitive stage! Having decided on the Fiat, we headed down to the Lotus Eater, via Huonville, arriving just as Cygnet's twice-monthly market (1st and 3rd Sunday of each month) was winding up.  Not a particularly exciting drive today but scenic none the less.  Timing is everything; too many utes and trailers can take the gloss of what...

Here's the basic plan:   1.  Choose chariot of the day - 1975 Galant Hardtop, 1980 Fiat X1/9 or Mrs UMPH's 2004 Peugeot 206 CC; 2.  Invite like-minded car friends to join us on a country jaunt and for lunch (more about their cars later); 3.  Select destination and dining venue; 4.  Formulate satisfying route; 5.  Drive said route, arriving in time for lunch; 6.  Eat, drink, chat ... ; 7.  Drive home, possibly stopping for a photo-opp or two;  8.  Write hopefully entertaining account of the day's activities ... U M P H ( uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au ).