home in just under 6000k's

[tomkn]

Well 2 weeks and just under 6000k's later and I am back in Perth. I plan to document for my own info and figure can't hurt to let you guy's see where I went. Unfortunately I did not take many photos as my reasons for doing the trip were more about the solitary time, distance and just being on a bike as well as challenging myself.
After flying to Brisbane from Perth catching a transfer to Brisbane transit center and than a bus out to Warwick I was picked up by the Capo's owner's and driven out to Killarney. After some lunch and all the formalities out of the way I left late in the afternoon and not knowing the bike did not go the twisty way back to Brisbane.
These guy's live in an awsome spot for bike riding. They get together with many riders for dirt bike treks of 20k or more and the twisties and hills / mountains within an hour or 2 ride is awesome.
Due to my not taking photo's I have plaidurised some from google earth but only ones that I personally saw as I travelled. All of Day1 are from google earth.
Day 1 100k's


First stopover

[tomkn]

Day 2 consisted of tooling up with new pants ans boots in Springwood in Brisbane then visiting a mate in Capalaba then down to Yatala to visit another bike shop on the Sunday
Unfortunately nothing in the way of photo's here. temp was about 26C cloud cover and gentle hills and sweepers for the first part. Rest was boring city riding. 200k's

[Precis]

[ScatmanJack]

[tomkn]

More Day2
The Temp was high 20's from memory and I was perspiring quite well but as I got to Yatala, I remembered the previous owners of the bike had said the Yatala pie shop was not to be missed. So I goes in an sus's the joint out. Refer back to the perspiration comment, what's the smart guy do? Hmmm I'll have a curry pie thanks, sitting outside eating it I'm thinking to myself "what? you weren't sweating enough?" and the Miss Maud curry pies are much better IMHO.
Second nights digs a stone throwfrom the pie shop. $149 most expensive of the trip ( but not the best ) courtesy google street view.

[tomkn]

Day 3

In the mornings I would look at the maps on my galaxy tab and pick a route I would follow. Trouble is I could never remember the towns I would go through. This resulted in a 42km backtrack so a 84 km detour. Ended going to Binna Burra which was a dead end. However it was a nice place to get lost. Felt like I was riding on top of the world at some points. Not a lot of good photos of the road on google earth but the 3d view is pretty amazing. I have just discovered if you zoom to about 2k eye level and make the screen scroll slowly the 3d effect is quite good. Also google maps street view has been up this road so you can see the road but it was much greener when I went there.
Snapshot from google earth showing part of the detour. The thin white line is the road I was on. This is only a short section of the road.

As can be seen on the map I got dumped on by wind and rain twice today. First one was short lived but a couple of cruiser riders had bailed into what may have been a public toilet. They were on the ramp behind the car in the photo (google streetview) under the verandah.
The sky ahead was full of a storm front just about on the town. Was quite windy when it hit.

Once through I dried out fairly quickly. I missed another turn off and ended up in Woodenbong, not far from where I started. Backtracked and headed south into "Bastard Storm" (see map) a coupla hours later which got me quite a bit wetter than the first. I was pretty much dried out by Grafton. Rain had been through sometime in the morning in the hills around the border crossing and the bike actually slipped sideways once about a foot on both wheels and the back let go on another corner and I did a 4 foot drift sideways as the front still had traction. A third incident happened so fast I don't remember exactly what the bike did I had slowed down for a weleave covered hair pin. I just remember my instictive reaction of stomping my right boot into the road, righting the bike and continuing on. I wasn't going fast just the roads were greasy in some shady spots that had not dried yet.

some google street view shots of the roads I travelled around the border. These views made me regret passing on the Go Pro HD in Yatala.

[OldMadBrit]

Those are some beautiful roads

[tomkn]

Day 3 continued
In Grafton I was considering stopping for the night but for some reason any motels I saw did not appeal to me and the approaching storm that I had just passed through also was also on my mind. For whatever reason I kept moving slowly through the town and out the other side towards Armidale. Just as I was debating turning around as it was getting late and armidale was a way off, a Harley pulls out of a side street and comes up behind me. As I am still debating the stopping issue he passes and waves and takes off up the road. As he dissapears I think fuggit and open the capo up and take off up Armidale road ( not the road I thought I was on on the map once again). I never spot the Harley again but as I have committed to going on I am travelling reasonably quick to try and get somewhere before it is too late. I have no idea where I am I just know the road takes me to Armidale. Now in QLD my mate "Curly" who does a lot of touring (FJ1200r hard cases etc) told me of a place called Nymboida which was supposed to be nice and they have rooms there. He also mentioned it is the pub (coach station) that Russel Crowe owns. So I am barreling up this secondary road with darkness encroaching into the hills and beggining to get this feeling that I am going to have to slow down significantly and find a nice little spot to stop due to the distance from Grafton to Armidale being about 200 k and this road has twisties in abundance. As I come around a sweeper over a rise I see the sign "Nymboida" and I think thats it stopping if they have a room. I slow down and spy the pub off to the right so pull in to the car park where the Harley is sitting and a few other vehicles. The rider of the Hog is standing on the porch with a beer in his hand. I go and say G'day and he mentions the fact he passed me in Grafton. A guy standing there with him goes out and looks over the Capo and say's "That's one awesome bit of machinery" then wanders off. Andrew the Hog owner mentions during our discussion on the bike and it's rough road capability that "yeah buying the Harley was the worst thing he could have done for these roads." He turns out to be a station / ranch owner that runs cattle at least as when we were eating we were discussing various things and the fact that his dad has cancer led to him mentioning the fact that he can buy all these chemicals/ drugs for whatever to pump into his beef and they are supposed to be safe to eat 2 weeks later. So I know he runs cattle.
This was without doubt the best place by far I stayed at for the trip and the cheapest except for a $40 room in a pub later. the setting was idealic and the people were so open and friendly that you felt at home from the start. There was no holding back of their personality that you see in the cities all the time, no hint of suspicion of you and this relaxes you straight up. I experienced this in the country areas a few times on the trip and I found it refreshing ( it makes you realise how tiring the personality mine field of the city can be). The facilities were awesome from my point of view, I have some video on my phone and galaxy tab which I will get on here if I can. The construction was timber as much as possible and it has that warm and comforting feeling which had me wondering on it's effect on me as I lay in one of the double beds listening to the river running below my rear verandah. At the risk of wierding you out I came to the conclusion that its because it is natural ie of the earth as we are there just seemed to be some affinity with the wood that you don't get from plastic/ concrete and to a lesser extent some metals.
I was sorely tempted to stay here a while but the big run east to west was always in the back of my mind. Shoulda stayed an extra day though.
Anyway Day 3 dig's
http://www.coachingstation.com/photogallery

[tomkn]

Day 4
Nearly decided to stay another day here it was so peaceful and pleasant, but the deadline of the 26th and the Nullabor crossing were in the back of my mind so I decided to bugger off. Loaded up the Capo, had a yarn to the gardener who mentioned that this was one of the first spells where the rain had stopped in a few weeks. Got some info about the nearest fuel and wandered off.

Andrew the Harley rider mentioned that a lot of bikes usually came this way due to the twisty bits just up the road (see inset on map of the start of this day's travel).
A different perspective on some of the mornings ride.

The weather was pleasant and there was some traffic and road works. There was also a highway patrol car booking someone going the other way but the same cop car went pass traveling in my diirection when I was fueling up at Ebor and he turned and chased / booked another car closer to Armidale. He was apparently patroling up and down this particular road. No backtracking today , only 2 towns to remember.
Servo at Ebor, this image may be 2 yrs old but it aint changed, except don't remember seeing a roller parked there when I went through.

Day4 stop over.

[BigSteve]

A good read Tom..more please

[tomkn]

Day 5
Have been trying to think of a suitable title for Day 5. Pear Day, the day it went pear shaped or Schools in, today you get some lessons. Ground Hog Day, definitely not, this shit aint ever happened to me before.
So.. Day5 Schools in. aka you really should give a shit about where ya goin not just the general direction. ( and also navigon software and google maps don't differentiate between sealed and unsealed roads. more fine products from "Bastards Inc")
I had worded up Dave Forsyth (FORZA) that I was coming and wanted the bike given a good going over as well as new chain and sprockets. Told him I was in Tamworth and he suggested I head east and go out to Gloucester and then to singleton and putty road. This would have been a great ride but I did not quite make it.
The ride to Nundle was pleasant with sweepers a dam to look at. I also came across my first indication that the software was not telling me all about the roads I was planning to ride on. I encountered a flock of sheep being driven down this section of dirt road.

The ride from here into Nundle was mostly dirt but easy and uneventful.
Now trying to get out of Nundle to where I wanted to be.... nearly made it on the third try.
TBC

[Parx400]

What is the bar set up your running?

[tomkn]

I have emailed the PO for details. All I know is that they are pro taper as he did not like the "flimsy" originals. The hand guards I do not know either but he custom fitted them.

[tomkn]

The first attempt to leave Nundle was along my original intended route. But as can be seen on the 2nd map the road was closed and dirt but I figured hey got nobby tyres lets have a go.
Had to back track into Nundle again.


Second attempt to be somewhere else. This was the plan


This is what was ( purple) and what shoulda been (green)


Well, after the road closed sign I went back to the middle of Nundle again and turned down the road that was sign posted Nowendoc as this was on the road to Gloucester. So off I go down the bitumen road zipping along on my big road conquering beast. go up through some steep twisties and a hairpin and I think "these would be good going down the other way" ( hexed meself there I think).
I spy a left turn to Hanging rock and see it turns to dirt abut 50m down the road. Uh pass, I'll follow the bitumen, it's gotta be going somewhere more important ( first mistake). A few K's down the road the bitumen ends. I should have stopped dragged out the Galaxy Tab and fired up the GPS but I had the bit between my teeth and the dirt road looked good and smooth so continued on. ( second mistake ). So now I'm on a dirt road heading into the hills and there are some serious drop offs right beside the road so I'm taking it easy. A way into it I come up to thr top of a rise up fairly high and go around what turns out to be a hairpin on dirt. I am doing about 20Kph but the road drops of steeply so I am on and off the back break to get the ass end out and point the bike in the right direction and just as I achieve this and a good application of power would see me off I focus on the drop about 5 feet away towards which I am still sliding and grab a hand full of front brake and lay the bike down and bail.

So now I'm thinking I aint seen no one in ages and well I'm gonna find out if I can lift this thing. Got it up with little trouble, it rolled on the hard case. No signs of escaping fluids so I fired her up and went on.
Came upon some cows and slowly passed them while they were giving me the evil eye and went on some more. A large house and some buildings show up on a small hill and after crossing a creek and seeing a 4WD vehicles only past this point sign I decide to go up and talk to someone.
The setting is real nice green rolling hills, nice grounds, kids toys, cars and trucks parked not far away, jacket hanging over the verandah rail. It's about lunch time so I go to the front door ,knock, no answer, I shout out , no answer. I have not seen or heard anything that would indicate that there are actually people in this place. I walk back to the Capo thinking that I'm either in someones sights or they are all in the house peering through a gap at the alien in the yard. Couldn't hear any dueeling banjo's echoing off the hills though, it certainly was quiet enough.
Nooooww I drag out the G Tab and fire up the GPS and Navigon. Take a look at where the road goes and decide "back to Nundle" so I retrace me steps. Cows still glare at me as I pass by and I eyball the turn I should have taken but I say to myself had enough of dirt today. The off in the dirt did my confidence some serious damage and I found myself shouting at myself in a couple of corners on the way back to the bitumen "get off the bloody brake" and "ride the fucking corner" The gibbering monkey in me was wanting to grab the brake at the stuppidest times. Back on the bitumen I felt the monkey get back in it's cage and I took off for Nundle. The twisties were good on the way back. 66k round trip to nowhere.

[tomkn]

Ok that's it back to the known bitumen via the dirt section I came in on. It was a nice climb up through the twisty bits and then should be an easy ride to the next petrol stop through rolling hills.

As I approach the corner in the map I slow slightly and begin the turn and I feel my shoulder armor hitting the road and I am sliding down the road thinking WTF? I use my momentum to bounce up to my feet and take stock of the situation. I seem ok but I am scared to look at the bike noone is around. I take some photos for insurance incase they want them and then un load the bike and stand it up on the center stand. No fluids leaking, no marks on the frame or any metal work. The hard case and the handlebars have kept most of the bike off the ground. There is no oil in the site tube and the bike won't turn over. A few minutes later a local named Wayne shows up and stops to help out. I end up pulling the tank up and removing a plug from each head and we turn the bike over by hand from the back wheel. It turns easily enough so I put it back together, repairing the plug lead whose end tore off in the removal process. Hit the start button and she fires up and the oil begins to reappear in the site tube. Engine sounds normal so I mount up and thank the guys ( another 2 showed up and stayed until the bike was good to go) and head back to Tamworth. Should have continued on to Gloucester but I was a little sore so went 55k back to the hotel. 210 km and I am back where I started