Lots of wind after a pub meal? It's a shame the wind keeps on keeping on. Like you I think Peter,borough is a nice little town and I agree with you about the museum. I love looking up local little things like that in country towns. I hope Henry has recovered from his minor surgery. I'm sure there is an interesting story there. Hope you keep riding safe.
Hi you lovely people Hi
Missing you, we need strong people here!
What a wonderful journey, hope you can sleep with the trains!
its gret to hear from you, sorry I have not commented for a while but lifes ,, you know -YES BUSY!!!
Alot has been happening , we have had a fair bit of Sorry business.
I am finally retiring, last day on the 26th july Yippie!
Hope to have time for a catch up on your return.
Enjoy your journey.
Thoughts are with you in the wind!
Sharralyn
What the heck happened t Henry Got two blogs in one day today. In the space of those Henry went from a crook battery to needing a front wheel and chain. Did I miss something? Hope all is ok. I know what you mean about the straights, but its good you didn't get the Nullabor. It's even straighter and more boring. The little towns, with quaint sports clubs and good cheap food are always the gems in a trip like yours. We are about to head to Cooktown and drop the van to head for the cape. Our travelling group has dwindled from 12 to 4, but we may pick up a few. A possible cyclone is threatening, lets hope it changes direction before we have to change or abandon plans.
Isn't it strange Batteries always seem to know the most inconvenient times to give up the ghost. Although I suppose there are no convenient times. Having said that it would be better in the driveway at home rather than in a small town half a country from home. The ride from Port Augusta up through the Flinders to Peterborough is special. I hope you enjoy it if you go that way. It's even better coming the other way.
Still enjoying your blogs - certainly a journey for you both. Just back from NZ, and if you are complaining about straight roads you should ride the South Island (in summer). Plenty of sweeping bends, beauiful scenery and no traffic. In fact they only build one lane bridges because of the lack of traffic.
Who' a galah? Streaky Bay to Kimba, about 240klm if I remember correctly. A very sedate pace for two such intrepid travellers. My memories of the K town of the big galah suggests that one night might just about be enough there. I think I have a "selfie" of me and the galah taken opposite the funny little servo. We are still in Cairns about to dump the safety of our caravans and head for the cape, despite threats of a late season cyclone forming in the coral sea. Keep travelling safe.
Wait for the sunset I stayed at the caravan park you described and found it ok but a bit old and dated in the hard accommodation. It was mostly inhabited by fishermen at the time. It's a shame it was only a day trip to Ceduna because the best attraction are the great sunset photo ops over the long jetty while sitting in the waterfront pub and sampling the local seafood. Great mussels and prawns. Our AGM is run and done for another year and we are on our way north to Cairns. A lunch time tour and tasting at the Bundaberg Rum factory certainly hasn't sped our trip ip at all. On telling the rest of the South Coast crew some of your stories they all had stories about bikes just falling over willy nilly, so I wouldn't worry too much about your incidents to date.
The importance of a beer fridge I agree with you about the dirt roads. Discretion is the better part of valour. I'd like to know how the guy with the tent transports his beer fridge. But they are very important. The AGM in Maryborough is nearly over and all of the south coast guys and girls have had a great time. We are off to Cairns soon. Where are you guys now and where to next?
Da da da da......da da da da......da da da da.....daaaaaaa (Jaws theme music) Streaky Bay is a nice little town and the pub serves a nice beer. I also met a group of Swedish cyclists halfway across the Nullabor. They were the fittest young buggers I've ever met. You're ability to use tent pegs decreases as you head further west. Hope you have good ones. We finally made the Maryborough AGM after a few 12 volt problems that cost a day and $600. Everybody here says g'day. I have tried to recap some of your trip and stories to them. That generated a lot of stories about bikes willy hilly falling over. Very funny night.
A cupmofbtea a hex and a good lie down. You two are starting to sound like real angry bikers. Sounds like the poor little moron didn't know what him him (or who). I know what you mean about the little towns on maps that you think you've missed. It was explained to be by a wise old cartographer that many maps show localities and people mistake them for towns. Having said that you would think you would even notice a sign for a locality if one were there.
It sound like the wind is playing merry hell with the bike. But maybe Henry just went over to show solidarity for Heidi's earlier feint. Good that there is no damage. We are on day four of our trip to Maryborough and it's been a calamity so far. All the rest are already there. Unfortunately we are still in Burleigh Heads about four hours south waiting for a very expensive battery to be fitted to the caravan so that we can free camp while away for three odd months. Oh we'll these things are sent to try you. How long have you guys got to go and where to next?
A long day? Gee. You sound like the last few days may not have been the best of the trip so far. Glad Elliston was nice, the episode with the key would really annoy me too. Some people have no idea how to create and cost business. I probably would have told them what I thought of their park (and their special key). Try to play nicely together, it's all better after a cool drink and a relax. We are on the first night of our 15 weeks away and on the way to the AGM in Maryborough. Coopernook Hotel. Nice meal, cold drinks and free camping......all good. Hope the coming days improve for you. Enjoy the trip of a lifetime.
A bit of suspense I bet it's nice to be on the move again. Sounds like a night in a motel was a welcome change from Bruce. I'm glad Heidi avoided the embarrassment of returning to the scene of the crime (not to mention Eoin). I've always found it strange to be navigating major towns and traffic when on that kind of trip. It's supposed to be all about small towns and the bush. The twist of the da de dah at the end adds a bit of suspense. Can't wait for the next episode.
Intrepid Travellers Well that part of the world certainly sounds desolate. When we rode to WA for the AGM we found the same from Port Augusta on. The landscape, weather and roads all seem to understand the Nullabor is coming. I am impressed with your willingness to explore, even in less than ideall weather conditions, you certainly qualify as intrepid travellers. We are 8 days from leaving for this years AGM. Alas this trip is my payback to Nel for all my solo bike trips to all points of Australia, so we must go in the caravan. But in true Ulysses style I have bought a cruiser push bike to carry on the back of the caravan. Best I could do. Stay safe.
Yorke Peninsula As a local I'm so pleased you enjoyed your visit to us over the busy Easter period - it's a bit crazy here then! Yorke Peninsula is always dry this time of year - dryer than most this year I guess since we didn't have any decent summer rain (we usually get one good summer rain of around 25mm). I work at Yorke Peninsula Visitor Information Centre at Minlaton, so if ever you're back and we can do something to help you, please don't hesitate to contact us! :)
All Clear Now Glad the weather has cleared up for you. It certainly lifts the spirits when on tour. Hope you enjoy the new town. I'm sure you'll make plenty of new discoveries as you have in all your other stops. Thanks for the details of your travelling companions. It's all clear to me now. Love the blog.
How embarrassing. God the weather really isn't working for you at the moment is it. The cruise sounds great. Hope the poor guy didn't damage his eyes. How embarrassing.
Geoffrey? I get Heidi, you know German BMW. And I remember Henry Hyosung. My wife's Hyosung is Hector. But who the hell is Geoffrey? You are right, friendly gent on a Harley is an oxymoron.
Geoffrey? I get Heidi, you know German BMW. And I remember Henry Hyosung. My wife's Hyosung is Hector. But who the hell is Geoffrey? You are right, friendly gent on a Harley is an oxymoron.
Oh Noooooooo!!!! Although the damage is minor I always find it annoying when the bike gets damaged. Mine is Vanessa Voyager. All the more frustrating when you can't blow off steam by blaming someone else cause its your fault. As a fellow heavy bike owner I know that passers by can be invaluable. Good though that the damage was mostly cosmetic. The wind seems to be your enemy both riding and parked at the moment. I hope Gail picked up some comfort food at the bakery (yet another). We are flat out with preparations for our trip to the Maryborough AGM.
Who wasn't happy? Can't figure out if Eoin wasn't happy or the cross German shepherd wasn't happy. I guess one could lead to the other. Can't wait for the fishing story. Did one get away? Hope the weather gets a little more mellow for you soon. Seems all you've had so far is extremes of temperature, wind and rain.
Wouldn't miss it Your trip blog is a highlight of my day. I love to get perspectives on places from others. It makes planning my trips easier. Like you I hate riding in the wind. Cross wind is the worst. Well done on staying upright, especially Gail. The smaller bikes are even harder work in those conditions.
Tour Guide I feel like I'm there with you. Sounds like you had a good tour guide or someone read up on the history of the railway. It's a shame the weather seems to have turned on you. The only place you mentioned that I've seen is Goolwa. Struck as a nice little town. Your are a pair of lucky ducks experiencing all these new places and exciting bike roads. Keep enjoying, but you may want to skip past a bakery here and there.
Eoin rides 'Heidi' a BMW R1100 RT towing an Elite camper trailer named 'Bruce'
Gail rides 'Henry' a GT650S Hyosung.
We both love traveling around this wonderful country of ours.
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Mike Leonard
non-member comment
Lots of wind after a pub meal?
It's a shame the wind keeps on keeping on. Like you I think Peter,borough is a nice little town and I agree with you about the museum. I love looking up local little things like that in country towns. I hope Henry has recovered from his minor surgery. I'm sure there is an interesting story there. Hope you keep riding safe.