Half Way Round with Pete

How to read this blog

2010-01-10T18:44:00.000-08:00

This blog is arranged chronologically, with the oldest post being at the bottom of the pages. To read this blog from the beginning, first click on "2009" which is located under "Blog Archive" in the left side panel. This will put all the posts on one page. You can the scroll to the bottom and start reading. I hope you enjoy reading about my "Half Way Around Australia" trip.

Wrap up and Some Statistics....

2009-05-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

Map Showing the Route

Click on the map to enlarge it. The green trace shows the route taken and the red dots are the overnight stays

Photos have now been added to all the posts.
Enjoy our journey with us!
Pete 23rd May 2009

Some Overall Impressions
This was a memorable adventure and Marcelo, Steve And Fish were great companions to share it with. After they had headed towards home from Rockhampton, and I continued north on my own, the character of the trip completely changed. I certainly felt alone as the boys headed west and I continued on the long stretch north towards Cairns. That feeling did not last, as I quickly found that there were always companions and new friends to share the adventure wherever I stopped. The Camp Kitchens were full of like-minded travelers, all wanting to share their stories and hear mine. I met so many wonderful folk and heard some great yarns.

Riding highlights were probably the mountain roads in northern NSW and southern QLD, and I would love to return and further explore those areas. The place where I felt the most at ease and “chilled” was at Glen Helen, west of Alice Springs. I spent two much needed peaceful and restful days there.

Being away from home and family for 51 days could have been difficult more difficult. However, coming home from Cairns for my APM presentation, and then having Chris fly to Darwin for a few days eased my homesickness.

Australia is a huge country, and it was a privilege to experience so much of it, all be it just on the sealed roads, and Honda was the perfect bike for the job, but I certainly miss the old fashioned and gutsy style of the big Yamaha. Sadly, it was not up the the job.

Given the opportunity I would readily undertake another such trip, and have identified areas where some cost savings could be made. Mainly with food and drink, and accommodation. I would not buy so many lunches and cold drinks, and on a number of occasions I couldn’t be bothered putting up the my tent, and grabbed a cabin. I might just have to start planning where I’ll go next……..

Trip Statistics
Days Away: 51
Distance Covered: 16,314 kilometers
Fuel Used: 794 litres
Most Expensive Fuel: $1.85 per litre at Barkly Homestead
Nights in my Tent: 34 - Other nights were in cabins and pubs, or with friends & relatives.
Cheapest Camp: $7.50 per night at Melrose
Most Expensive Camp: $31 per night at Alice Springs

Back Home

2009-05-04T03:51:00.000-07:00

Monday 4th May - Melrose to Home
4 Degrees at 7.00 am Nice and brisk as I packed up my tent and gear for the last time. It was quite hard to get away from the Ulysses mob, as they all wanted to chat, while I was keen to head for home. Most were interested in my great adventure, and were keen to discuss what camping equipment I had been using, and it’s suitability for long term, all weather camping. I eventually said my goodbyes at 8.30 and hit the road for the last leg home. This ride was is through such beautiful country and I enjoyed every bit of the ride. One fuel stop, and a coffee and toast at Clare. There were endless road works north of Gawler and the going became quite slow. I finally rode into the driveway at 12.40. Judy and the dog were there to greet me. It’s lovely to be home with family and friends. It has been such a pleasure to travel this great country and to have met such a diverse group of other travelers.

Tonight I share a meal with my family, sit in a comfy armchair and watch the news, sleep in my own bed, and use a toilet which is not 100 meters away from where I happen to be. Tomorrow I will sleep in, put on some different clothes, and visit my parents. These are all things that I have missed.

Sunday 3rd May - Coober Pedy to Melrose
Breakfast with the Blackwood mob and farewell to Chris at 8.30 am and I headed south as they prepared to head north. Chris and I seem to keep passing like ships in the night on this trip, and I won’t see her now until next Sunday when our going in different ways comes to an end and we are both home together again. The first 200kilometers south from Coober Pedy is quite flat and uninteresting, and probably the most boring road on the whole trip. Through Port Augusta and into the spectacular Horrocks Pass, on the way to Melrose. This is the most corners that I have seen all in one place since leaving Cairns so long ago, and the Honda tyres have a nasty flat patch across the middle from so much straight riding. Horrocks Pass was a good chance to stretch the Honda and explore it’s capabilities through the great 12 kilometers of twisties. I nearly went back down to do it again! Melrose Caravan Park was totally packed when I arrived, and there was a mass of motorcycles and caravans. Port Lincoln Ulysses Club were in town as were two other caravan clubs. I paid my $7.50 (cheap) was squeezed into a little spot, which after all was all that I needed, and was instantly adopted by the Port Lincoln Ulysses mob. We all headed to the pub for tea and I spent a most enjoyable last night, swapping stories with a bunch of like-minded and similar aged riders. It was a fitting way to spent the last night as my adventure draws to an end. A cold night loomed as there was chill in the air as we retired at around 10.00 (A very late night!!)

Saturday 2nd May - Yulara to Coober Pedy
I woke to a dingo snooping around my tent He had no fear of people and was not keen to be shooed away. He finished up grabbing an empty platic bag left outside another tent and disappeared over the sandhills. I left Yulara just on sun-up, and rode straight into the rising sun on a cold morning. It was a slow first two hours as I was worried about the limitied vision and the chance of kangaroos and cattle on the road. Despite those problems it was a beautiful sight with the sunrise on the rock to my right and the beautiful crisp colours of the morning on the landscape. I had a rest and hot chocky at Erldunda, and then had an easy run all the way to Coober Pedy. A photo opportunity at the SA/NT border as I was finally in m y home state was not to be missed. I finally got in about 4.00 and it all feels very much like I’m heading back home as I’ve now in areas that I know quite well for a few days. I pitched my tent in the Stuart Range Caravan Park and bought some supplies. Chris is heading north with the crew going to Fregon will be at Coober Pedy tonight. I anticipated that they would arrive at around 6.30, but at about 5.30 the two vehicles rolled up. It was great to see Chris again, and it was also lovely to see my friends from Blackwood, Chris number 2, June, Carolyn, Jeni, Grant and Jonathon. It was lively evening as we shared stories and made friends with the usual mob of backpackers, including a French fellow riding around Australia on a bicycle for the fourth time. He was doing it tough as he was riding mainly on the dirt backroads.

Friday 1st May – Yulara
I had a disturbed night with someone in a neighbouring tent coughing their heart out all night. Their tent was gone before sunrise, and I presume it may have been to seek medical aid, as the person sounded very bad indeed. I saddled up and paid the $25 required to get into the National Park (excessive) and spent the day snooping about Uluru, Kata Juta and the Cultural Centre. I was unable to do any walking as I had no suitable shoes, and my riding boots make my feet hurt if I spend too much time walking in them. Instead I sat and just soaked up the impressive surroundings. It’s no surprise that it holds such an important place in the culture of the traditional owners. In the evening a met a fellow Ulysses member who was also camping in the Yulara Campground.

Thursday 30th April – Alice Springs to Yulara
I left Alice Springs at 8.00 am with a full tank of fuel and stopped for breaks at Stuarts Well, Erldunda and Curtain Springs. The road from Erldunda passes through sandhill country with beautiful desert colours. The clours are amazing with red of the sand against the gold of the spinifex, all set against the bluest sky that you could imagine. This is truly beautiful country. I arrived at the Yulara Campground at 2.00pm, still with ¼ tank of fuel after 470km of trtavelling. The range of this bike is impressive. I was surprised to find the campground here was considerably cheaper than Alice Springs. (Alice was the most expensive unpowered site for the trip, and I paid $31 per night. A family who were staying there had to pay $6 per night extra for each of their two kids, both of who were under five.) I spent the afternoon lazing around the camp, buying some groceries and wandering about the camp area. The camp kitchen was basic, but had no toaster, microwave or kettle.

Twelfth Report

2009-04-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 29th April - Alice Springs
This is the 47th day since I left home, which now seems so long ago. So far I have journeyed just over 14,000 km, and I am very conscious that my great adventure will be soon drawing to a close. Today was a day to catch up on some much needed jobs. I did some washing, cleaned the bike, bought some groceries and spent several hours exploring the Alice Springs Desert Park. This is an amazing place, which was set up about 13 years ago. It has woodland, sandhill and desert river habitats, and exhibits plants and animals from those regions. I'm keen to resume my travelling again, and tomorow head for Yalara for a couple of nights. Other travellers tell me that costs for accomodation and food are quite high, and that the park entry fee is now $25 for each person, rather than about $36 for a car as it was a couple of years ago. I'm now timing my run south so that I will meet Chris at Coober Pedy on Saturday night, as she heads north with the group from the Church going to Fregon for a few days. While I have not been alone on this trip, I have certainly missed having my family around me and look forward to seeing Chris again.

Tuesday 28th April - Alice Springs
I decided to ride back to Aileron which is 130 km north of Alice Springs. On the ride south I missed seeing the 8-9 meter high statue of an aboriginal man on the hillside overlooking the roadhouse. 260 km is quite a diversion for a photograph!! The statue was a very spectacular sight, with the man holding a spear and looking like a sentinal watching over the land. The roadhouse costs were pure exploitation and it cost me $11 for a drink and a bannana. Fuel was $1.80 per litre, just five cents short of Barkly Roadhouse. In the afternoon I visited the grave of Harold Bell Lasseter, who claimed to have found a massive gold reef in the desert beyond the Peterman Ranges. He died in about 1931 while apparently trying to find it again. There is now modern evidence that he may have been a fraud and that the reef does not exist. Analysis of the gold samples that he claimed came from "his" reef came from Kalgoorlie in WA. I like the story of the "Lost Gold of Lassiter" much better.

Monday 27th April - Alice Springs
I lef the bike at the Honda dealer for a service at 7.45 and picked it up again at 11.00. In the meantime I wandered about the Alice Springs CBD. The dealer found that the top box (a storage box on the back) had been poorly installed and one bolt had come completely undone, with the nut getting lodged somewhere around the engine. They found the nut and have fixed the problem. Cairns to Alice Springs via Darwin with the box only just being held in place and a full load could have turned out badly. I rode out to Ross River where I met Pete and Marg R. and their daughter Josie for lunch. The cook was gone for the day, the kitchen closed and no cooked food available. The manager said that the Vietnam Veterans Bike Club had been out ther ethe day before and cleaned his out of food and grog. We managed to get him to round up some pies and cold drinks, so we didn't starve. The East Mac Ranges are spectacular, with lots to see, so long as you have a 4WD. Back at camp in the evening I met Jim and his wife Sid. Jim has retired from being the winemaker at Wirra Wirra near McLaren Vale.

Eleventh Report

2009-04-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

Sunday 26th April - Glen Helen to Alice Springs
I left the most peaceful Glen Helen at 8.30 and was farewelled by some of the staff, including the amazing Gary Morrison who plays live music there for five nights of the week. I must have made an impression. I had a slow easy ride to Alice Springs through the beautiful West Mac Ranges, which are so remeniscent of the Flinders Ranges. Ancient and beautiful. I rode around Alice Springs to get my bearings again, which didn't take long, visited Anzac Hill, and booked into the MacDonnell Ranges Caravan Park for three nights. There are many bikes in town as the Vietnam Veteran Motorcycle Club in in town for their AGM and for Anzac Day. Once I was settled, I rang Margaret and Peter R. from Blackwood who are staying in town with their daughter Josie and her family. We went to the local Drag Strip where there was a street meeting. Josie and Dan are officials at the Club. it was an interesting afternoon, and this type of meeting gives the locals a chance to try out their cars under controlled conditions. There was even a bloke on a quad bike who managed to get about 80mph out of it on the 1/4 mile track. I spent the evening sharing a bottle of red with some folk from Melbourne who have been on tour for several months and have told the kids that they might be home by October.

Saturday 25th April - Glen Helen
A cold night and the first since I left home that I have needed my sleeping bag. I woke at sunrise and took a couple of photos of the gorge in the early desert light, and layed back down for a couple of minutes. I woke again at 9.00 am. At 11.00 there was a very small Anzac Service held out the front of the old homestead. There were no more than 15 of us there, with most being staff. The resident muso played "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" and the old Redgum song "He was only 19". A poem was read, the Last Post was played on the guitar, a minute of silence was observed, and the flag was raised. The wreath laid by the manager was made up of a foam vegetable box adorned with a mass of wildflowers. It was so appropriate. We all then sang the National Anthem. It was a very simple, moving, and reverent service. There were tears all round. After lunch I went for a spin out to Tylers Pass, and the lookout which overlooks Gosse Bluff, a meteorite impact crater. This is a new section of sealed road which goes for another 44 km west from Glen Helen. Nice road with plenty of corners!!! I spent the afternoon sitting alone by the 100 million year old Finke River which runs below the ancient cliffs and through the Glen Helen Gorge. I needed this easy restful day after some long miles and some emotional highs and lows. The words came flooding to me "He leads me beside still waters and restores my soul...." It is exactly how I felt, and I was relieved that I had found a place and time to chill out. I spent the evening listning to the live music, and sharing wine and stories with other travellers.

Friday 24th April - Tennant Creek to Glen Helen
There was a disaster in the caravan park overnight. I'd been chatting to a lady the previous evening who was complaining that the fridge in nher caravan was not working. The manufacturer had suggested that they try it on gas. At 2.00am thre fridge blew up and set fire to the caravan. All escaped harm, but the van was severely damaged by fire and water. I left the scene of the disaster at 8.00 and headed south, stopping at Wycliffe Wells for breakfast. This is said to be the UFO capital of Australia. Hmmmmm. Very odd people at Wycliffe Wells, and I'm not surprised that they are seeing UFOs. They probably see a whole lot of other stuff too. I stocked up of groceries at Alice Springs, and rode the 135 km out to Glen Helen. I felt quite emotional as I rode in. It's such a beautiful spot, and I had a sense of coming home, as Chris and I have spent some time here chilling out after a difficult run to Alice Springs with the caravan a couple of years ago. This was the first day for about four weeks that I've had a day below 35 degrees. It peaked at 26 by 10.00 am and cooled down as the day progressed. This is a very peaceful spot and I'm glad to be here.

Thursday 23rd April - Edith Falls to Tennant Creek
I left Edith Falls quite early and watched the country change from lush to desert. Today was somewhat uninspiring, and I was just laying down lots of miles. The Outback Caravan Park at Tennant Creek is quite good. In the everning there was a bush tucker and bush poetry presentation by "Jimmy", a real character who appeared on Australian Story a little while ago. Jimmy was bought up by his aboriginal mother in the bush, is quite illiterate, and was very knowledgeable and entertaining.

Wednesday 22nd April - Darwin to Edith Falls
I said goodbye to Greg and Deb and Charlotte, and rode out at 8.30. I feel like my adventure is ending as I am now most certainly heading towards home. I rode the loop through Kakadu via Jabiru and back to the highway at Pine Creek. A lot of the highlights in Kakadu are off the main road on dirts 4WD tracks and many are stil closed after the wet. I decided not to stay at Cooinda, but to press on to Edith Falls just north of Katherine. I rode through fires for most of the day, which appeared to be controlled but unattended fires, clearing undergrowth. Edith Falls is a real find, about 20 km off the highway and on the northern end of the Katherine Gorge area. There is a large rock pool about 150m in diameter, which is fed from a waterfall. The pool is safe for swimming and only the freshwater crocs live in it!!! The camp ground is well grassed and there is a small kiosk selling takeaway food and some supplies. This is a "must see" for visitors heading up this way.

Tenth Report

2009-04-21T00:35:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 21st April - Darwin
This is my last day in Darwin, and it's been beaut staying with Debbie, Greg and their delightful daughter Charlotte. I went to Berrimah to catch up with work colleagues Andy T. and Gino today. They have a well integrated laboratory complex with all disciplines working in the same area. After a cuppa and a gool chinwag, I rode to Lee Point which looks to be the most northerly sealed road on mainland Australia. On this trip I have now taken my bike to the highest, most easterly and most northerly sealed roads on mainland Australia. Shopping in the afternoon for some groceries, and a "Nanna Nap", completed a lazy day. I headed out to tea at the Trailer Sailer Club for tea with Andy and Gino, and watched the sunset across the bay. Tomorrow the adventure continues, as I begin the final phase of the journey and I begin to head south towards home. The mileage (kilometerage?) is building, and I've booked the bike into a dealer at Alice Springs for next Monday for it's 6,000 service. Stay Tuned, but I may not be able to do another update to the Blog unitl I get to Alice Springs.

Monday 20th April - Darwin
It's lovely to be here with Chris, and we spent the day playing tourist around the city of Darwin. IN the morning we visited the Oil Storage Tunnels, hewn into solid rock under the city during WWII, and designed to hold ships fuel oil in a facility protected against bombing. The tunnels are quite extensive and now house a collection of photographs of Darwin taken during the war. The tunnels were never used to store fuel oil, but for a time after the war were used to store aviation fuel. We left the Oil Storage Tunnels and evnetually found our way to the Museum and Art Gallery where there was an impressive display on Cyclone Tracy which almost wiped Darwin off the map in 1974. I remember Christmas Day 1974 when we woke to hear reports that Darwin had been destroyed. Most sobering was a small darkened room where an audio recording of the cyclone was played at full volume. It would have been a terrifying experience for those who were bunkered down in the most secure places that they could find the ride it out. The display also showed pictures of the destruction and how the building code has changed in response to the destruction of 1974. We had lunch at the Museum Cafe and then went to the East Point Military Museum, another must see for anyone visiting Darwin. We watched film of the Japanese bombings during WWII, and wandered through impressive displays of military equipment. A walk to Casuarina Beach and Thai for tea capped off another special day. At 1.30am my alarm went off, and I took Chris to the airport, as her time in Darwin came to an end. I have missed having family to share this adventure with me, and it was sad to see Chris head for home.

Ninth Report

2009-04-19T01:26:00.000-07:00

Sunday 19th April - Darwin
Chris had her first ride on the Honda this morning, as we headed south for Litchfield National Park. The weather was overcast, and the temperature in the mid thirty's, so conditions were reasonable pleasant. We came across a fatal accident on the Stuart Highway just south of Accacia. Traffic was diverted onot a side track for about one kilometre as police and emergency services dealt with the aftermath. It was quite sobering. We turned off the highway and stopped at Batchelor for fuel and something to eat. There were a couple of local Ulysses club members there, and we chatted for a while. You find old blokes on bikes everywhere!!. The road into Lithfield was great and my first real chance to try the bike on a decent series of corners. I did have to be a bit restrained with Chris on the back. We visited the beautiful Florence Falls, and then went back to Buley Rockhole where there were many families gathered and swimming in the system of refreshing rockpools. We had no bathers with us, and decided that swimming in our undies amid the familys and small kids was probably not on. We headed back inot Darwin via one of the caravan parks on the edge of Litchfield which served great food, and had a snack and a much needed cool drink. There is much to explore in Litchfield and we will be back some time in the future.

Saturday 18th April - Katherine to Darwin
I left Katherine at 8.30 am on my own. Peter was heading home to Kunnanurra with his Moto Guzzi, so we parted ways. It was an easy 300 km run to Darwin, and I had mu only encounter with a roo so far. It was hardly a danger as it hopped across the road about 100m in front of me. With luck, that will be a close as I get. Chris had flown up to Darwin to meet me, and we met at a shopping centre. Deb and Greg were there also, and they have kindly put us up for a few days. We all headed for the Darwin Wharf for an evening meal and sat on the water's edge eating local Barra and salad, and sharing a bottle of wine. Excess chips were thrown to the schools of huge moonfish that live around the wharf. It was a lovely night.

Friday 17th April -Threeways to Katherine
I had planned to leave the Treeways Roadhouse quite early and was up before the sun. That plan fell to bits when I met Peter, a drilling contractor from Kunnanurra who was returning home from Brisbane vis the Barkley Highway with a Moto Guzzi. He collects them and had found a limited edition bike at a good price. We chatted over breakfast in the roadhouse and decided to ride together for the day. As we headed north the vegetation was changing from desert to tropical, which was nice to see after the sparse vegetation that I had been seeing across western Queensland. Peter's pace as a little faster than I was happy with, and I would often lag behind, only to find him waiting for me somewhere down the road. At Katherine we called into the local Tourist Information Centre seeking accomodation. Alan at the Info Centre was a fellow Ulysses member and directed us to a caravan park where we took a standard cabin to share to costs. Pete and I sat outside and chatted over a couple of beers for some time, and then decided to toddle off to the park kiosk to get some take-away for tea. The kitchen was shut and we had to settle for a couple of pies that looked like they had been sitting in the heater for 48 hours, and washed them down with a couple more drinks and come good conversation. It was fitting end to a great day. I am enjoying every kilometer of this trip and am meeting some great folk.

Thursday 16th April - Cloncurry to Threeways
This was the day and the road that I had been apprehensive about before I stared this adventure. I have read some horror stories of this road, described as narrow and potholed, with crumbling edges and alive with dangerous road trains. Nothing could have been further from the truth. The road was in good condition and quite wide. There was plenty of room for passing road trains, and no danger posed with those travelling in the opposite direction. Cloncurry to Mt Isa was through spectacular hilly country. I stopped for lunch and a toilet break at Commoweal, and was shocked to see something moving amongst my deposit. Was it something I had done??? Turned out to be an unfortunate green tree frog, a resident of the toilet bowl. I'd be finding a better home. Most of the damaged portions have been repaired, including at the Rankine River where the road had washed away both sides of the huge bridge. This was a long hot day on quite uninspiring and flat country, and I rolled into Threeways at 4.30pm havin covered nearly 800km. The fuel range of the Honda is an impressive 500 kilometes or more, and fuel availablitly was not an issue on this lonely stretch. I was quite tired and instead of putting up the tent, decided to grab a cheap accomodation unit and sleep in a bed again.

Wednesday 15th April - Charters Towers to Cloncurry
Four inches of rain overnight! I'm gland I was in a bed and not in the tent. I spent a great night with Ann and David, and had a lazy breakfast before heading off. The day was an easy run and I finished up in a pretty ordinary cabin in a run down park.

Tuesday 14th April - Cairns to Charters Towers
I dropped the bike at Cairns Honda at 7.45 for it's 1,000km service, and it was ready by 9.30. Away a last!!! Cairns is lovely, but I've been so keen to get going again. The 350km run to Townsville a snap on the new bike. It's comfortable, and has an impressive fuel range. While in Townsville I rang my cousin Ann who lives in Charters Towers. Ann and her husband David were in Townsville building a vegetable garden for their daughters who live there. I spent the arvo in Townsville and left at 4.30 for the 130km run to Charters Towers. I was worried about kangaroos, but saw none. Shortly after crossing the Burdekin River Bridge (It's hard to believe that it went under water in the recent floods) I struck very heavy rain, right on dusk. It only lasted a couple of minuted and I was pleased to be past it. We spent a lovley evening, catching up on family gossip. Ann and I have not seen each other for over 30 years, so there was lot to chat about, and photos to be exchanged.

Monday 13th April - Cairns
Rain. Rain. Rain. I watched the Easter Campes packing up in the heavy rain and they did not appear to be having fun. I did some washing, repaired by torn Draggin Jeans and had coffee in the afternoon with Vernon. It was a lazy last day in Cairns and I'm keen to get going again oince the bike has been serviced.

Sunday 12th April - Cairns
Rain. My bee stung eye was so swollen that my right eye was almost closed when I woke up. It was a squeeze to get my helmet on my now odd shaped head. The kids in the park look at me like I'm the elephant man. I went for a ride and DROPPED THE NEW BIKE DOING A "U" TURN. Not Happy Jan!!!! I know EXACTLY what I did wrong. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. Fortunately damage is limited to a scrape on a sacrificial bump strip and a little ding in the right muffler. I am very angry with my self, because it was a total lapse of concentration and a total lack of skill. Today I rode all through the Atherton Tablelands, which is a very beautiful area, with some magnificent bike roads. The lookouts had great views, and I could see 30 meters into the fog as the weather was crap, and matched my mood after dropping the bike. On return to Cairns I went to the Hospital to get my fat bee stung face checked out. After a two hour wait iI was reassured that it would settle, was not life threatning, and was given some medication to reduce the impressive swelling.

Saturday 11th April - Cairns
Rain, Rain, Rain. I rode to Atherton, Mareeba and through the surrounding areas, putting some miles on the bike before its first service on Tuesday morning. There is lots to see and do on the Atherton Tablelands. Near Atherton I copped bee sting near the corner of my right eye. I had just opened my visor for some fresh air. I immediately took an antihistamine and I react impressively to bee stings, and expect that my face will swell quite a bit over the next day or so. I was caught in a huge downpour just as I started down teh steep and winding Rex Range Road. It was a treacherous ride and I was glad to get to the bottom. I've been spending my evenings with a lovely Dutch couple wha have been touring Asia, NZ and Australia for seven months.

Eighth Report

2009-04-09T20:56:00.000-07:00

Friday 10th April - Cairns
Rain, Rain and More Rain. However it stopped from about 10.30 until about 4.00, which is said to be the usual tropical pattern. To get some miles on the new bike I rode it south down the highway (and in the rain) to Bramston Beach and back. This bike just eats up the distance and is very, very comfortable. The electrically (yes) adjustable windscreen makes a huge difference, and at full height I hardly need to wear wet weather gear. I stopped at Bramston and watched bloke catch nothing in a cast net. I chatted with him for a while and he said that crocs are regularly seen in the waterway in which he was wading. I left him to his fishing and wished him good luck with the crocs. I was back at camp by lunch time and spent a lazy afternoon arranging how to carry my luggage, and then doing very little. The forecast is for more rain, but no-one seems to think that it will cause road closures.

Thursday 9th April - Back in Cairns and a NEW BIKE
Rain, Rain and more Rain. With some assitance from Vernon, I picked up the Yamaha from Hanks Engineering at 8.30am, and went straight around to the Honda dealer. It was pouring with rain, and not the way that I would have liked to have my last ride on the bike that has served me well (up until the other day!) for over 60,000km. I was at the Honda dealer for a couple of hours, sorting out the relevant paperwork, and then stripping bits from the Yamaha. I had to remove the tank to be able to take out the wiring looms for the Autocom communication system and the GPS mounts and wiring. It was hot work in a shed at the back of the delaer's workshop. On my return to Adelaide, they will be fitted to the new bike. The fuel tank on the new bike was filled for me at a local servo, and I rode out the door at about 11.00am and headed straight up the Captain Cook Highway to Port Douglas for a try out. While heavier than the Yamaha XJR1300, the Honda ST1300 seems lighter as the weight is much lower. It's powered by a V4 engine mounted lenghways along the frame and has a shaft final drive. It is a dedicated touring bike and is designed to carry two people in comfort with all the trimmings. Luggage carrying is via two large 35 litre panniers and a top box big enough to hold two full face helmets. It will be more than adequate for the remainder of the trip, and is designed to carry the amount of load that I am carrying without compromising the structure of the bike. I have booked it in for the initial 1,000 km service on Tuesday morning, so I have several days to run up the required kilometers, which I will do easily. I did some grocery shopping at Port Douglas and returned to camp at Cairns. I then spent some time sorting out my stuff, and posted a whole bundle of gear home that I don't need or can't use, including the GPS, CB radio and wiring looms which I can 't yet fit to the new bike, and the old canvas panniers. I have also heard that Fish and Steve have arrived home safely after their long run home from Longreach. Their journey has ended and my adventure not continues, after it had almost ended, so far from home.

Wednesday 8th April - Adelaide & Return to Cairns - A BIG DECISION IS MADE
After a couple of sleepless nights and lots of discussions and some reservations, I have decided to sell the now not so trusty steed, and replace it with a Honda ST1300, which would allow me to continue the journey, rather than racing 3,500km straight home with almost no luggage, and on a bike with a repaired frame. I got a quote from the Honda dealer before returning home to Adelaide, who was prepared to trade the Yamaha after the frame had been repaired by Hanks Engineering. Hank's work is well known in Cairns. It was a good deal on a low mileage demo bike, and I must admit that getting a good price for the Yamaha with a welded up frame would have been difficult back home. I spent the morning in Adelaide running around making friends with the bank manager again. Chris farwelled me at the airport at 1200 and I arrived back in Cairns at 6.00pm. It was raining cats and dogs. Back at the caravan park, all of my stuff was dry, thank goodness, and the tent had not leaked. I chatted the evening away with some more Dutch backpackers, and had an early night. Lots has been happening and I've been very tired and apprehensive.

Tuesday 7th April - Adelaide
It was great to be home with Chris and the kids again. The presentaion of my APM, awarded as part of the 2009 Australia Day Honours was a short and very formal affair at Government House. There were OAM's, APM's, various high military honours and a series of bravery awards. I was truly humbled to be part of such a gathering, and it was very special to have Chris, Judy and Andy there with me. After the presentation there was morning tea with the Governor, and a tour of the home. SA's Governmetn House is a truly beautiful old home, set in spacious gardens, right in the heart of Adelaide. We had the opportunity to stand in the doorway through which Bouke and Wills departed on their expedition north. The afternoon was spent at a Memorial Service for a very special person who had recently passed away, who I would love to have known better. Ian's extrordinary life has left a lasting legacy. A wonderful family BBQ completed a special day, and one that has produced some lifetime memories.

Seventh Report

2009-04-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

Monday 6th April - Cairns (and flying home to Adelaide)
I fly out for home at about midday today, so that I can attend the presentation of my award at Government House on Tuesday. I have a busy morning chasing up repairs to the bike. The good news is that Hank Enginnering can repair the bike, and it will be finihsed when I return to Cairns in a couple of days. The bad news is that I will only be able to carry a minimum of luggage, or risk the same thing happening again. The adventure is at a turning point and I must consider quitting and returning home by the quickest route (with hardly any luggage) or finding a way to continue. I have several options available to me, and I need to discuss them with family. I left all my stuff at Cairns and flew home via Melbourne, arriving back home at about 7.00 pm. It was lovely to be home again.

Sunday 5th April - DISASTER DAY!!
The day started well, and I decided to ride to the Daintree. The Captain Cook Highway heading north from Cairns rivals the Great Ocean Road. It is simply beautiful, with the road winding around the coast where the rainforest meets the ocean. I stopped at Rex Lookout for a photo opportunity and to watch hang gliders just a few meters overhead, swirling back and forth on the uplifts. I continued on to the Daintree River. On my return to Cairns I stopped for fuel and noticed that the whole back of the bike behind the seat had dropped about 50mm. The ducktail and all my luggage mounts were just flopping up and down. I rode slowly back to camp, and pulled the back of the bike to bits. The frame had completely snapped just behind the shock absorber mounts, and everything was held in place with only the plastic mudguard. The back half of the seat, the tail lights, and all of my luggage carrying frames were in danger of falling off. Clearly it was caused by overloading, which just broke the frame, wich was never designed to support the loads that I was carrying. I can no longer carry any luggage and the back half of the bike threatens to fall off!

A couple of Dutch guys ran me up to some shops to get some washers that I needed for temp strengthenign repair, and I bought them some Coopers Pale Ale, which we then shared together. I rang Laurie Miller from the local Ulysses Branch, who directred me to Hank Enginnering, a local bike builder and welder who may be able to assist. This setback will probably bring the trip to an end, and I have limited options for getting the bike and my stuff home. Even with the frame fixed, I can't carry much luggage. I'll know more tomorrow after I've spoken to Hank Engineering. It was truly lucky that this happened at Cairns, where there is good support and an engineer who can help. If this had happened in some isolated part of the outback, the problem whould have been far more difficult to deal with.

On a brighter note, I spent the evening with three girls from Israel who were touring Australia. They are friends who had just finshed their two year stint in the Army. All citizens of Israel spent time in the Army. They invited me to have tea with them, and we shared a traditional meal, the name of which was totally unpronouncable. It was disapointing to hear that in two months, I was the first Aussie that they had spent time with, as all of the backpackers they were mixing with were visitors.

Fish and Steve rang. We exchanged disaster stories. Steve had a near miss with a kangaroo, which he missed by about one meter while travelling at around 100 km/h. In the middle of the day is dashed across the road from the scrub!!

Saturday 4th April - Townsville to Cairns
I left Townsviille at first light (6.00am) as I wanteed to get to Cairns andd have the bike serviced before the shops shut at 1200. This was a beautiful ride for most of the way with mounains to the left and right, and the roads lined with bannana palms and sugar cane. The scenery was just fantastic. As has become usual, the weather was in the 30's humid. I made good time, and had my first stop at Tully after about 200km in the saddle. When passing through Innisfail I came across Steve Hunt Yamaha, who were happy to do a oil change on teh spot for me. The pressurre was then righ off to get to Cairns early. On arrival I rode around town a bit and then booked in at the Big4 park which is fantastic. Once I was set up I rang Vernon L. who picked me up and took me for a tour of the town and the surrrounding areas. It was a great afternoon, followed by a a meal in the everning. It was great to catch up, and was a lovely day.

Friday 3rd April - Rockhampton to Townsville
Today we parted company after travelling together for 2o days. After hugs, farewells and best wishes for safe travel, Steve and Fish headed west for Longreach and I headed north for Tonwsville. A new phase of the great adventure has begun, and I have mixed feelings as we've had so much fun and shared so much together in those three weeks. I was surprised a how few towns were along this route, and it was a long day and I travelled 790 km, the furtherest I have riden in one hit. Just after lunch I was getting tired, so I stopped at a nice grassed roadsice rest, took off my boots, and had a snooze for fifteen nimutes. It made a big difference and I continued quite refreshed. It was a hot ride and I rode into Townsville at about 5.30 and found the local Big 4 caravan park and grabbed a cabin for the night, and I wanted to get an early start the next morning. It was a chance to catch up on some laundry again. A big day, and my first alone.

Thursday 2nd April - Rest day in Rockhampton
This is our last day of riding together, and we decided to head to Yeppoon for lunch at a pub. I updated the blog at the park internet cafe, and we wandered over the road to the Kawasaki dealer to see if Fish could get a second hand switch block to replace the one that burnt out. No luck. Yeppoon was lovely, and we explored the lookouts and has a beaut lunch at the Keppel Bay Sailing Club, overlooking the bay with Great Keppel Island in the distance. We watched a large school of fish move across the bay, up onto the beach and across the road. It was not a school of fish, but a cloud shadow (Steve, you idiot!!) We rode back to Rocky via Emu Park, exploring the marinas along the way.

The memorial to Capt Cook is stunning, as it sits on a point overlooking the bay. It incorporates wind chimes and is quite evocative. We spent a lovely evening chatting with a Dutch couple who had just got engaged, and with Alan who was doing a residential at the local Uni. There are so many travellers, with so many stories.

Sixth Report

2009-04-01T17:07:00.000-07:00

Where's the Photographs? I hear you asking
Unfortunately I've not been able to post any photos on the blogg. The facilities just don't seem to be at the Internet Kiosks to grab photos from my SD card. When the trip's over and I'm back home, I'll add photos to the blogg, so that folk who I don't see personally with be able to see some of the places and people. Sorry to all those who have been waiting. (The photos are here now)

Wednesday 1st April - Bundaberg to Rockhampton
We had a bacon and egg breakfast at Rod and Maureen Hall's place at Bagara, and it was wonderful. Rod thentook us for a tour of the area, wich is about 15km from Bundaberg and on the coast. It's a beautiful beachside community and a very pretty place, which is well worth a viusit. The local lookout has vistas over the entire area, with canefields spreading in all directions. Our ride today took along the Bruce Highways to Rockhampton, and was somewhat uninspiring. The weather was in the 30's and quite humid, so riding conditions were uncomfortable, and we had many stops to top up fluids. The Big 4 Caravan Park in Rocky is quite expensive and has cost us $88 for two night's camping. Combined with the poor camp kitchen facilities, it's a bit of a dud! We made th most of it with a BBQ and salad dinner, and some nice wine, with good conversation with other campers. There are crowds of rowdy Rainbow Lorikeets in the trees and tame possums trying to pinch our food. Very entertaining.

Tuesday 31st March - Noosa to Bundaberg
A day of Highway riding, heading from Noosa, Gympie, Maryborough and Bundaberg. The roads have been quite busy with trucks and holiday makers, and the CB radios continue to be a blessing in coordinating passing moves, both to get vehicles to pass us and to pass vehicles. We arrived late in the afternoon, and booked into the local Big 4 right next to the airfield. On arrival we had a shower and headed out to the Bundaberg Rum distillary to get some photos. Teddy was quite pleased to meet his big white cousin, and have some photos taken with him. Rod Hall was a CSI in the 1980's and we headed out to his place at Bagara for tea. We had a beautiful home cooked curry, and spent a lovely night both passing on some some gossip and getting some back! We've been invited back for breakfast.

Monday 30th March - Gold Coast to Noosa
We woke to a wet, overcast morning and headed straight up the fereeway and onto the Logan Tollway to get around Brisbane, and headed to Esk, where we had the thickest fruit toast that I have ever seen. We stopped at the Glasshouse mountains for lunch at the lookout. The mountains are the remenants of the core of volcanoes and are steep rock outcrops, which are very spectacular. On to Australia Zoo for a photo opportunity, but we didn't feel inlcined to go inside. Another stop at the Sunshine Coast verison of the Ettamoggah Pub, where we met some fellows touring on Harleys. They offered to lead us into Noosa, an offer which we accepted. So began a 30 km chargge to keep up. These guys rode fast..... Camping fees at Noosa were outrageous ($75 for a night). We elected to get a unit for $120, which was the best acxcomodation we have had yet. Total luxury. We cooked up a magnificent pasta meal and watched the Blues Brothers.

Sunday 29th March - Rest Day at the Gold Coast
A lazy day. I went for a ride down south, and Steve and Fish visited a military museum where Steve was chasing some collectables he is after. They went for a 5km walk in the afternoon and I had a lazy arvo at our accomodation. We had Fish's risotto for tea. In the evening we watched "Wild Hogs", and laughed ourselves silly, as we could see ourselves in may of the situations. We are expecting a wet ride tomorrow.

Saturday 28th March - Peak Crossing to Gold Coast
We said our farewells to Colin and did a backtrack through Beaudesert and Nerang to Southport. While refueling at Beaudesert we found an auto electrician, who had a look at Fish's bike. He found that the fire problem traced back to a poor soldered connection on the main fuse board, and fixed it on the spot. It cost us half an hour, an chat, a cup of coffee for him and $20. A nice guy and a good deal all round. With rain threatning, we grabbed a unit at Southport and negotiated a good deal for two nights. In the evenining Steve and Fish cooked up a meal for Steve's brother-in-law, and I went and visited cousin Jane and her family for the evening. It was a wonderful night, and was so nice to catch up with family that we so rarely. I haven't seen them for nine years. I'm glad I had taken some family photos with me for "show and tell".

Fifth Report

2009-03-27T22:40:00.001-07:00

Friday 27th March - Byron Bay to Peak Crossing
Through the tropical mountains again in the Gold Coast Hinterland, heading for my Unlce's farm at Peak Crossing. Another stunning ride and the trip just keeps getting better. Crossed the border into QLD and set our clocks back 20 years. The roads were small backroads winding through rainforest. We stopped for a walk and an explore at Natural Bridge where a waterfall spills into a glowworm infested cave. It was quite beautiful. We arrived at Peak Crossing at about 12.30. It was a trip down memory lane for me being at the farm again. Steve and his son Michael called in and I haven't seen Steve for about 40 years. We spent the night at the farm and took Colin to the Peak Pub for tea, cut his lawns and fixed his Smoke alarm. It was a great night and he is a great character. I saw a side of him that I have never seen before. He is really an 81 year old rascal, and is still working the farm. All continues to go well for us, and best wishes to all who are following our adventure.

Thursday 26th March - Casino to Byron Bay

This was a real short run to Byron Bay, and we arived just before lunch. The lighthouse marks the most easterly point of the mainland, and we took a number of photos there. The town is very trendy, and we had to walk around for half an hour just to find someone fully dressed or over fifty! We camped in among a bunch of young revellers, and the cops turned up at about 1.00 am top sort out those who were climbibng trees and making a racket. I'm clearly too old for all that stuff, as we were in bed by 9.30. We heard that Marcelo arrived safely home today, after two long days.

Wednesday 25th March - Armidale to Casino
We left Armidale in fog, but it soon cleared, and the temperature quickly rose. Once again great roads and magnificent scenery. We stopped at the huge and spectacular Wollombi Falls and again at Ebor Falls, which are bioth on what is known as Waterfall Way. After Gafton we knew that we were in the tropics. Vegatation became lush and the humidity picked up. It fanttastic to see so much greenery again. At Casino we stopped overnight in a park established on an old airfield, where they run speed trials on the old runway. There's a bike meeting there next weekend. I'm sorry to report that Teddy who is accompanying us played up on the night that we were at Casino and got quite smashed. We have pictorial evidence of this shamefull episode, and I've had stern word with him. Steve has has some drama at home, but as I type this on Saturday, all has been resolved. He hasn't been in the spirit of the trip over the last couple of days, but is back with us now.

Fourth Report

2009-03-24T00:36:00.000-07:00

Some Personal Achievements

Marcelo
Longest showers, most wee stops, and never to be allowed to lead again. He shot up to well above the speed limit and could not be caught. Good luck on your long solo ride home mate. We will miss you and our muttimeter (read on!)

Fish
Fish is our shield against all that goes wrrong, because it all happpens to him.. Dropped his bike in a car park on the way to Omeo, had his CB fall onn the road at 110 km/h, broke his tent pole, n got chased by the cops at Woolongong.. He has spilled a glass of red on Marcelo, and today set fire to his bike.. While he is around, we are safe. Fish has excelled himself even further. while sitting around having breakfast at Rockhampton, a Noisy Miner (bird) flew out of a tree, circled over Fish, crapped on his head, and flew back into the tree. We tried to explain that it means good luck, but he's not convinced!

Steve
Our own "Captain Slow". Dropped his bike in a car park at Keith, and has had two goes at gettingit to run well. All is OK now. Steve also got attacked by a Kookaburra near Sale. It came out of a tree when were doing 100km/h, hit his helmet, and went back to his tree. Who knows what it would have done to him it it had got him into the tree!!

Pete
Snores like you would not believe, and keeps forgetting to lock his top box, threatening to spread his most valuables all along the highway. I needed to stop to change a battery in my com-set and having unloaded every piece of luggage on teh side of the road, couldn't find one. I knew I had them. After 10 frustrating minutes, I gave up, and Fish found the spare in my first bag that he looked in. (He insisted that I inlcude that piece of trivia)

Tuesday 24th March - Singleton to Armidale (Mild Disaster Day)
After a early night and an early morning we headed off. As we were stopping for breakfast, Fish got a bit excited as smoke poured from his left side switch block, as the headlight circut burned out. Steve got him going again and we decided to head for Armidale, the biggest town likely to have the necessary parts to make permenant repairs.. A good look during a long lunch sttoop failed tto find the problem. We have arrived at Armiidale at about 6.00 after a most beautiful ride for 180 km along a vallley stretching from Maitland to Armidale and known at Buckets Way and Thunderbolts Way. Steve and Fish are trying to fix the bike as I update the blogg, do the shopping and get tea going. Despite the problems, its been a fantastiic day and we remain in high spirits.. Fish's bike is mobile, but the headlight doesn'tt work, and there is a deep and well concealed electriical problem.

Monday 23rd March - Woolongong to Singleton
All we wanted to do was bypass Sydney, but the road around was utterly stunnng. Found a beautiful lookout in the Blue Mounttains National Park overlooking the Nepan River, and then set off on the Putty Road, one of the best M/Cycle roads in NSW. It lived up to its reputation and was a great 180 km ride. Half way we stopped at a beaut little Tea Room where we had carrot cake and tea.. Very civilliize. Pizza for tea at Singleton, an the weather continues to be good to us,, with clear skies and 30 degrees.

Third Report

2009-03-22T02:59:00.000-07:00

Sunday 22nd March - Batemans Bay to Woolongong
We woke to a fine day and rode the highway straight o Woolongong, arriving at around 1200 midday. The traffic started to get heavy despite being Sunday and 150km from Sydney. Marcelo left us today to head on to Sydney and home. We were sad to see him go and wish him well for his solo return trip home. Our Caravan Park is overpriced and pretty basic. Caught up on some laundry and then went to a local pub fro a couple of drinks before heading to my friends place for a beautiful evening meal and good conversation. The everning is threatningn rain, with thunder and lightning. We hope the night passes without a storm.

Saturday 21st March - Jindabyne to Batemans Bay
We left Jindabyne at around 0900 and headed across the plateau to Cooma and then down the mountains to Bemboka. These roads wer stunning, and much like the Ottway ranges, as they wound down the mountain and throuhg spectacular forrests. We followed the coast north through fishing towns and rode into Batemans Bay mid afternoon. The park is right on the waters edge. Being Marcelos last night, we had fish and chips on a restarount on the water, at what is said to be the best fish and chip shop in Australia. We spent the night chatting with friends we met at Jindabyne, and who gave us some tips for a route through the ranges north of Sydney. Nice folk, who originally came from Walcha, NSW and who ride bikes, so they have some idea of the type of roads we are keen to ride.

Friday 20th March - Jindabyne

This was down as a rest day. In the morning we did some laundry, and shopping. I copied my photos to CD and posted them home, so photos are on the way! We rode to the top of Charlotte Pass, which is the highest paved road isn Oz, where we admired the view and boiled the billy for a cuppa. The road and the scenery were stunning. We had a slack afternoon, chatting with campers and fishermen. Tea was cooked my Marcelo, and we had spagetti bog, made with 2 minute noodles and tinned sauce. It was surprisingly good, and followed by apple pie and cream. We are looking after ourselves quite well. Steve has replaced the plugs on his bike, and reset the computer, and it's now going like a doctored cat. Tomorrow we hit the road again.......

Second Report

2009-03-18T23:46:00.000-07:00

Thursday 19th March - Mt Beauty to Jindabyne
Another stunning ride, but this time across the Snowy Mountains. This trip just keeps on getting better. Massive mountains, ferny gullies and esxciting twisting roads. We needed to stop at Albury so Steve could get some advice on a miss that his bike has developed. He has got some new plugs and instruction on how to reset the computer, and that will be his job for tomorrow. We have a rest day tomorrow so we have bookin in for two nights. Again we are near the water on sites overlooking Lake Jindabyne. It's been a glorious day with bright sun and mild riding conditions. We have jsut come back from buying our groceries, and tea tonight it spagetthi bog, and apple pie and cream, all washed down with a white wine. We won't be going hungry yet.

Wednesday 18th March - Bairnsdale to Mt Beauty
WOW, WOW, WOW. God who made the mountains has got together with the folk who build roads and both have consulted with motorcyclists in the construction details of todays ride. Today was STUNNING. 197 km of twisting, winding roads with the most stunning of mountain scenery. Drag out your maps and have a look! We took it quite steady and had lots of photo stops, and met with another motorcyclist doing the run was well. The last 3o km leg from Bright to Mt Beauty was across the Tawonga Gap, and we gave it a bit of stick through there, as the road was just crying out to be ridden with "vigour". Our camp at Mt Beauty was on the banks of a river, with the tents just ten feet from the water, and we were serenaded all night by the gurgling stream. We shared out dinner and drinks with Greg from Coffs Harbour, was was exploring the area as well. He thought his $8 share for drinks, meal and entertainment (us) was good value. We were all very tired and in bed by 9.30, a very respectable time for old men.

First Report

2009-03-17T15:02:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 17th March - Wonthaggi to Bairnsdale.
We had rain overnigh and had a wet pack in the morning. We rode the Cape Paterson road, described at the Little Ocean Road, and then just laid down miles to Bairnsdale. The weather just got better all day, and it was our first fine day of riding. Fish lost his CB radio at 110 km/h when it jumped out of its cradle, but it survived the 100m slide down the road and still works OK. The radios have been great, as we can chat, the lead rider can warn of hazards, and Tail End Charlie can warn of overtaking vehicles. We arrived at Bairnsdale early, and did some washing and shopping. We have the shopping down to a fine art and can now get meat vegies and some wine,a nd breakfast for about $8.00 per head. A quiet night and early to bed and the old boys were all a bit tired.

Monday 16th March - Apollo Bay to Wonthaggi
More rain..... Despite the weather the GOR is a spectacular ride. At Torquay, Fish and Marcello had a "coming together" and bike Fish's pannier and tore Morcello's pannier bag. Temporary repairs got them going again and it was not serious. The weather finally cleared int eh afternoon. We caught the ferry across the mouth of the bay to bypass Melbourne and pressed on the Wonthaggi for our first night camping. Another entertaining night in the camp kitchen with three young Italian bike riders here on holiday. The just about worshiped us as old experienced riders, and gave us a "T" shirt for their club, all written in Italian and which we suspect is very rude!

Sunday 15th March - Mt Gambier to Apollo Bay
Drizzle and huge side winds all day, and that was the good bits! Steve had never been along the Great Ocean Road, so se stopped at the essential tourist spots at Loch Ard Gorge and the 11 Apostles. Masses of tourists, and helicopters buzzing around like blowies on roadkill. The scenery is spectacular, but the fun went out of it through the Ottway Ranges when we struck torrential rain, so heavy we almost had to pull over. It continued until Apollo Bay, and again camping was out of the question. We got two rooms at the pub (basic is an understatement) and had expensive food in the bar and some expensive wine, but spent an entertaining evening on the balcony overlooking the bay. The staff locked our bikes in the Drive Through Bottle Shop for us, so they were dry and secure.

Saturday 14th March - Adelaide to Mt Gambier

Were sent off my family and friends at 8.00 am and headed down freeway for Keith, were we stopped for morning tea. From there we turned south and had lunch at Naracoorte. Up until this point the weather had been fine, but it soon started raining and we had heavy rain all the way to Mt Gambier. Camping was out of the question, so we hired a cabin at the caravan park. We cooked at BBQ tea in the camp kitchen and spent the evening with a big mob celebrating an 80th birthday. Despite the weather the day went well, and we had no leaks in our wet weather gear and no breakdowns.

We're Almost Off....

2009-03-08T18:31:00.000-07:00

This is my last post before we go. The planning and anticipation is over, and it's almost time for action as Fish, Steve, Marcelo and myself count down the last few days before we head off on the great adventure. There is a small chance that an issue at work could delay my departure, and I’m hopeful it will be resolved. At 8.00 am on Saturday 14th March we ride off, with Mt Gambier being the first leg of our trip. Unfortunately the weather forecast is for showers, so we may have a wet start to the trip.

The showers in Victoria have helped control the devastating fires, and part of our journey will be through affected areas. I expect it to be an unsettling experience, as we pass through areas where people have lost everything, including family members, while we enjoy a holiday. The floods in Queensland have subsided to a point where all roads that we are hoping to take are open with caution. Tropical Cyclone Hamish, which developed a few days ago, does not seem to have closed roads yet, and is still off shore and weakening. We will monitor conditions carefully as we get closer to the affected areas, and avoid them if wind and rain make conditions dangerous.

Here's a couple of photos of my Yamaha XJR1300 fully loaded and ready to go.

I have a little Teddy Bear who has always traveled with me, and he sits on top of the headlight and behind the windscreen where he gets a good view of the road ahead.

I ask that you remember not only us in your prayers, but also our wives and families at home who will be worrying about our welfare.

Watch this space as the adventure now unfolds.......
Pete "Keeping the shiny side up"

Two and a Half Weeks to Departure

2009-02-23T03:14:00.000-08:00

There’s little left to do, other than some last minute small purchases, and couple of phone calls to folk that I plan on visiting at various places. I slept on my nice thin self inflating air mattress the other night, and found that my bones need more support than one inch of foam can provide. I’ve decided that I need to take a thicker one instead, and put up with the extra bulk. I need to be comfortable if I’m going to spend over seven weeks sleeping on the ground, and still be fit enough to ride each day.

I had a full practice pack last weekend, and everything fitted into the panniers and on the bike with a bit of room to spare. Very pleasing. Fish is going to take a run to Victor Harbor and back with his full traveling load, jut to check space and comfort. He’ll have no worries, as the Kawasaki GTR 1000 is a proven “Mile Muncher” and a very capable touring bike. The other boys are confident that they have the load issues sorted.

Steve had a scare last week, and has just had his gall bladder removed. He is recovering well and will be fully fit by departure date. Things could have gone very badly if he had suffered a gall bladder attack while we were on the road.

On lighter note, things we need to avoid……..

Sickness while traveling on a motorcycle can be very much worse than if you are traveling in a car. If anyone needs to vomit, it's probably better if the helmet comes off first.

Animals straying onto the road can be a problem, but up until now I was more worried about hitting a ‘roo than a rabbit! Hitting one of these would be like running into a wombat. It looks like this guy has just caught the easter bunny, and those big feet just crack me up.

The floods in QLD won’t be a problem after all. I always thought that only fully optioned dirt bikes, ridden by Charlie and Ewan, could get through a deep water crossing. Clearly our road bikes will be OK if the flood waters don’t subside, as this rider on a full sports bike has demonstrated.

Stay Tuned.....
Pete

Our Final Planning Meeting

2009-02-08T03:08:00.000-08:00

Just four and a half weeks to departure day. Last night the four of us, and our families gathered for a BBQ. This was the last time that we will all get together before we leave. We had a magnificent meal, and sat outside on a beautiful mild evening until well after midnight, sipping some fine wines, and pouring over maps, proposed itineraries and kit lists, and checking out Marcelo’s Honda 900 Hornet, and the accessories he has added for the trip. We are confident that all is in place, but I do need to do a "practice" pack of all my gear. My kids want me to pack all my stuff, ride around the block, set up my tent and camp on the back lawn and cook some breakfast as a trial run. I'm not sure I need to go to that extent.

The fires currently raging in Victoria are terrible. There have been many, many deaths, and massive property losses. We heard that the whole town of Marysville has been burnt to the ground. Chris and I have stayed there a couple of times, and it was a beautiful, quite little town, with so much character. It was one place that Fish and I had discussed visiting, just to have a look at Bruno’s Sculpture Garden, which was a magical place. Have a look at Bruno’s evocative, and beautiful work at http://www.brunosart.com/tour.htm Sadly, it's now all gone…..

On the other hand, I’m watching the Queensland floods closely. The Bruce Highway north of Townsville is still cut, as is the road to Mt Isa. It’s nearly two months before I’ll be in the area, so I’m confident that the rain will stop and waters will subside.

I was thrilled to be the recipient of an Australia Day Honor, and have booked a flight home from Cairns so that I can attend the presentation ceremony at Government House. I'll fly straight back to Cairns to resume my adventure after the presentation. If the road to Cairns are still closed when I get to Townsville, I won’t be able to get home for the ceremony, and I'll be one unhappy traveller.

Here's two pieces of good advice that I've received……..

1. Lay out all the stuff you plan on taking, then put half of it back in the wardrobe and double the amount of cash you think you will need.

2. Pray for fine weather, but be well prepared for rain

And finally, a Riders' Prayer
I pray that I’ll have the foresight to know where I'm going,
The hindsight to appreciate where I’ve been,
The insight to savour the good and the bad as part of the adventure,
And that is will only be rubber that hits the road.

Stay tuned.......

The Proposed Route

2009-01-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

Our route and itinerary has been quite loosely planned with no firm dates, other than when we leave and when we come home. The map shows the proposed route, with a couple of options in the Snowy Mountains and northern New South Wales. I’ve ridden some of the Snowy Mountains before, and it very spectacular, but the Great Alpine Road from Lakes Entrance to Mt Beauty via Omeo will be new territory. The zig-zag route back and forth across the Great Divide has been suggested to me by a mate who once lived and worked in Sydney. I'm told it is some of the best riding in Australia. I’m expecting Marcelo to head home from Sydney. Fish and Steve will stay with me up as far as Rockhampton, when we will part company. They are planning on heading west to Longreach and then home. I’ll be travelling on my own from Rockhampton. I’m actually quite looking forward to being on my own, and anticipate meeting lots of fellow travellers who I may not have spoken to it I was still in a group.

There are some potential problems to be dealt with. Flooding closed the Barkley Highway from Townsville to Tennant Creek a couple of weeks ago and it’s still closed in a number of places. The whole road actually got washed away west of the border at a major river crossing, and that has only opened a few days ago. I’ll be there towards the end of the wet season, so hopefully I’ll get through OK. If there’s another tropical cyclone, I may have to rethink going to Darwin, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Cairns currently has an epidemic of Dengue Fever, with over 200 cases reported. This is a fever which is spread by mozzies and can be quite debilitating and even fatal on rare occasions. There have also been a number of reported cases in and around Townsville. Other than not going to those areas, the only way to protect myself is to cover up, and wear plenty of mozzie repellent.

Stay tuned as departure day gets closer and final preparations are made…………

A Great Aventure is Planned

2009-01-25T18:35:00.000-08:00

Almost two years ago I started planning a two month trip, exploring east and central Australia by motorcycle. I've done a number of trips to Tassie and throughout Victoria, but this is to be a much longer journey and is to be the realization of a long held dream. The planning started two years ago, simply to ensure that I and my fellow adventurers (Fish, Marcelo and Steve) could get our leave from work to coincide. There is now just six and a half weeks to go before our planned departure on Saturday 14th March. That time will fly by very quickly, but my plans and preparation are well advanced.

I've listed my bike details below and the details of my luggage and equipment for the technically minded:

Bike : 2002 Yamaha XJR1300, accessorized with an Andrew Moorehouse custom touring seat, windscreen, and Oxford heated grips for the cold bits. I have an Autocom communication kit, which gives me "in-helmet" instructions from my GPS and which can interface with an ipod for music on the long hauls.
Luggage: Andy Strapz "Expedition Pannierz", which are waterproof and dustproof canvas roll top panniers, fixed to the bike on custom made frames. These panniers are suplemented with a lockable custom made aluminium top box which doubles as a rack for my other luggage. My sleeping bag, Black Wolfe "Dragon Fly" two man tent, and Thermarest self inflating sleeping mat are all to be carried in roll top waterproof gear sacks, which will be secured on the back of the bike.
Navigation: Garmin Quest GPS and Hema State HandyMaps
Communication: I'll be using my mobile phone as well as a Uniden UHF CB radio which is hard mounted to the bike, and is powered from the bike. The CB radio interfaces with the speakers and microphone in my helmet, and will give me bike to bike communications with the other riders while we are travelling. I'll also be able to chat with the Grey Nomads and get the gossip.
Riding Gear: Drider SummitPro Jacket, Draggin Jeans, DriRider Touring boots, summer and winter gloves, and a Shoei helmet with built in Autocom communication set, will be my daily riding kit, and keep me protected and comfortable.

I'll post a map soon, showing my intended route, so stay tuned for updates as my departure date gets closer..........