Kiwi XplorOz

[ducatijim]

Well, we are in Brisbane, Julie and I have been here since midday Wednesday and Neil and Niki since midday Monday....and still we have NO bikes, they have been here a week now and customs are being a pack of bastards.
Have had to engage a clearing agent to assist us and 3 days later we are still waiting!
Have done every other thing that we need to and it looks like we will tread water at least all weekend now as we have had no movement from our agent today. Its beyond a joke.
Nice digs and beautiful weather do make up a little! 25` and sunny!
More info as it comes to hand guys, cheers now,
Jamie.

[NordieBoy]

Well, we are in Brisbane, Julie and I have been here since midday Wednesday and Neil and Niki since midday Monday....and still we have NO bikes, they have been here a week now and customs are being a pack of bastards.
Have had to engage a clearing agent to assist us and 3 days later we are still waiting!
Have done every other thing that we need to and it looks like we will tread water at least all weekend now as we have had no movement from our agent today. Its beyond a joke.
Nice digs and beautiful weather do make up a little! 25` and sunny!
More info as it comes to hand guys, cheers now,
Jamie.

Sounds like fun is to be had... eventually.

[Crisis management]

Enjoy the sunshine, it's been pissing down here, I drove past Reporoa today and noted your poodles hard at work rounding up them cows.......no, seriously it looked nice and green for a change!
Those Aussies definately don't want you two to enjoy your holiday do they, what was that advertising slogan "Where the bloody hell are you? Stuck in customs!"

Have a good weekend and sort it out on monday, eventually it will start and you will forget all the crappy bits.



at least until the next crappy bit!

[Bass]

Mrs Bass reporting.
Here is the link to the thread where I will post the boys coordinates as they come in.
We have chosen Advrider because you don't have to be a member to view the photos there and there are a few people who are interested in our travels but have no wish to join a forum site.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6942866#post6942866

[Highlander]

Good stuff Mrs Bass.

You guys ride safe and keep us posted when you can give updates.

Looking forward to hearing all about it.

[cooneyr]

So people can easily follow progress the map showing their nightly location is here - http://www.advroutes.org.nz/bass.html

Cheers R

[ducatijim]

Still not much progress; tomorrow is our big hope; have a 900 appointment with customs for Bass and 1000 for me with AQIS, if all goes well we should spend the arvo unpacking and starting the assembly.

Drove out west thru the D'Agular park up to Kilcoy for lunch...great lunch but boy are these fellas lucky to live here: wot a beautiful ride it would be! Saw just heaps of bikers out there doing it!

Cheers guys, Jamie.

[NiggleC]

Hi Jaimee
some of us would be interested when your ride is over if you could do a write up on what the proceedure was for getting the bikes across the "dutch".

Who you used as your local agent, who shipped the bike, insurance, what paper work was required when you landed in Aus. Basically the whole shebang.

Good luck on the trip.

cheers
Nigel

[ducatijim]

Got bikes out of bond at 3 this arvo, taken to our freinds wharehouse and most assy done by 6 this evening. Yay!!

It transpires that our bikes container wasn't unloaded untill last friday arvo so we have done well; we didn't realise that that was the cause of the delays! All our agents and systems have in fact worked very well as it transpires! Retraction of previous comments!!

We will most likely be inclined to share our knowledge of these processes with our freinds.

So....tomorrow we plan to start the finishing stages of the bike prep at 0730 and hope to be headed north about midday...aiming for Childers..............

Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Highlander]

Good on you mate. Watching these threads with much interest.

[Dave Milligan]

Hi Guys,

In reply to all of the above postings.

Dave Milligan is my name - My wife and I run a dedicated motorcycle shipping business called Get Routed. Until now (since 1997) we have only shipped Aussie bikes to NZ (Chch) and back for Aussies to have holidays in our beaut country. We ship around 300 bikes each Summer between November and May - the last Aussie shipment arrived back in Melbourne today and I've just finished unloading it - sore back and creaky knees. We also ship in and out of Sydney and Brisbane for the Aussies.

We are now at a stage where we will be offering Kiwis a service from Auckland & Chch to Brisbane and back from Melbourne in September. Please bear in mind we don't ship individual bikes in crates. We ship containers full of bikes and our service is designed for the holiday maker wanting a bike shipped there and back. Because we only ship full containers we must advertise dates well in advance - see the previous issue of Bike Rider magazine for a story and our advert.

The first shipment we are offering caters for people who want to come over for the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island and have a tour of the East Coast of Aussie at the same time. Bikes arrive in Brisbane and will be available on Monday 15 September and will be loaded for the return journey in Melbourne on Tuesday 14 October. That gives you a month in Aussie on your own bike.

Sorry to be so long winded about this, but I have seen so many individuals try to ship their own bikes and have problems. Our service includes Marine insurance and everything except the Carnet de Passages for the bike - you have to get that from the NZAA in Auckland. Basically you ride your bike to our depot in Auckland or Chch and disconnect the battery and we do the rest. You arrive at our Brisbane depot at 9am on 15 Sept, reconnect your battery and ride away. That easy.

YES, you could do it slightly cheaper, but you have to do all the work (and you will have to crate your bike because no freight forwarder will accept it without a crate) and put up with all the hassles and bullshit from shipping companies and agents and Customs & Quarantine, all of whom want as much money for that service as they can get from you. When you add it all up, even if you've got a mate in the industry, there won't be much difference between what we charge and what you can do it for.

In 2009 we doing a shipment which sees the bikes available in Brisbane on Wednesday 17 June 2009 and the bikes are being loaded in Brisbane for the return journey on Tuesday 25 August, 2009. That would give you over 2 months in Aussie. The shipment is already half full and the guys who have booked are doing a trip from Brisbane to Darwin, down to port Hedland to Perth and across the Nullabor to Adelaide and then up the middle to Alice Springs and then back to Brisbane. The Winter (dry season) is an ideal time for such a trip - it will be 20 degrees plus across the top and when they get down to Perth it will still be in the 20s.

Get in touch at dave@getrouted.com.au if you want more info.

Kind regards
Dave Milligan

[ducatijim]

Why don't you hijack my thread Dave and use it for a promotional plug? Go on, feel free!!!

:2thumbsup

[ducatijim]

Hi Guys,
When you add it all up, even if you've got a mate in the industry, there won't be much difference between what we charge and what you can do it for.
Kind regards
Dave Milligan

And I can state that this is not quite true, thou, it does I suppose depend on you own interpretation of "much". And, I had no help from inside the industry, you would have to be an Aussie to qualify for that!

On a MUCH more interesting note, and also ON thread.....we are underway now and tonight are in the wee metropolise of Gin Gin(...yeah, really!) Headed for Mackay in the morning, an easy day of 550km I think. Aiming for Cairns friday night to get supplies in and new tyres on both bikes as well as a service for Bass's. Then off to Cooktown for the last 'hurrah' with our wives and we go bush Sunday....al going well!

Cheers all, Jamie.

[Highlander]

Couple of gins would be in order tonight then :dodge:

[denill]

Because we only ship full containers we must advertise dates well in advance
Kind regards
Dave Milligan

Sorry to move away from the thread. But watch this guy.

We intended taking 4 bikes and registered our interest with him a couple of years ago. We had been advised that he only took full containers - and here's the rub.

Just a few months out from our time of departure we were raring to go and just counting down the days and he says that he had no other bikes booked. Great. So we may or may not be going?? More than likely not.

So we were obliged to make other arrangements. (Which BTW worked out perfectly.)

Rang Dave to pay him the courtesy of keeping him informed and copped an ill-mannered earfull! :Punk:

Good luck guys. You will have a ball. :2thumbsup :2thumbsup

[tri boy]

Aiming for Cairns friday night to get supplies in and new tyres on both bikes as well as a service for Bass's.

Cheers all, Jamie.

.......and a VB or two, while perving on the Swedish backpackers along the esplanade no doubt.:drool:
Bistards.

[young1]

Great to read that you are on your way, I am sooo envious! Ride safe and keep the updates coming.

[Dave Milligan]

Sorry to move away from the thread. But watch this guy.

We intended taking 4 bikes and registered our interest with him a couple of years ago. We had been advised that he only took full containers - and here's the rub.

Just a few months out from our time of departure we were raring to go and just counting down the days and he says that he had no other bikes booked. Great. So we may or may not be going?? More than likely not.

Yeah that happened. I had a bunch of other guys saying they would make bookings and they dicked me around for weeks then never went ahead with it. I sometimes wish clients would run my business to understand the stress we have to put up with from people who can make decisions or who don't read our Terms & Conditions, like the idiot who put food in his panniers several years ago - we got rapped over the knuckles severely by MAF.

Yeah, I know, I don't have to keep on running the business - I'm a Kiwi who had some bad luck in 1993 and at 60 can't afford to retire.

And at least I use my name when posting in forums. Don't hide behind pseudo names taking pot shots at people.


So we were obliged to make other arrangements. (Which BTW worked out perfectly.)
Glad your alternatives worked OK.


Rang Dave to pay him the courtesy of keeping him informed and copped an ill-mannered earfull! :Punk:
Yes I do get grumpy. Fair comment. I apologise for that.

We've been shipping Aussie bikes to Chch every Summer since 1997 and have 99% of the time done a damned good job. Being a good little (grumpy) Kiwi I wanted to extend the business to bring Kiwi bikes over here. I know the Kiwi bike scene is much smaller than in Aussie, but we''ve tried and will continue to ship bikes over.

Being underfunded and trying to run a small business as complicated as the shipping industry and considering it's only for motorcycles adds to that. I wonder why no one else wants to set up in competition to us, NOT. Other general freight forwarders will ship bikes, and some do a good job, but in general the industry has a bad name for shipping bikes and other delicate items and that, in part, is why we started Get Routed.

Kind regards
Dave Milligan

[ducatijim]

Been in Cairns since late thursday; my bike running like shit, hoped Wayne Leonard m/c would pull out some stops since we are getting 2x sets tyres + tubes+ 1 service!

Ahh....no actually, not really interested.

Tyres and tubes....well you see, I know that 17" would be a problem up in the land of 18/19" rears so I went to the length of phoning WL m/c from Brizzy on monday and asked if they had/would get what we needed-gave him sizes...."yeah, no worries mate".

Well, it is a worry, got there this morning and they hunted to find 1 set only and NO HD tubes...all sold out this week mate, been busy! I had offered to pay by CC over the phone from Brizzy to secure wot we needed..." no need mate".

It is 'sport' over here to mislead or fool a Kiwi. Watch them if you do anything like this, this is NOT the first instance of deliberate mis-information I have heard of!!

Scouted right round town and found a mismatched set for Neil and some HD tubes-in the wrong width but, ...am off now for our fittings!! Wish me luck, think I might need it!

Oh, the carbie? we stripped it in the motel carpark, cleaned and reassembled; sounds like an improvement?

[Crisis management]

Sounds like you're really enjoying this Jamie!
Pity about the difficulties but it looks like you've almost got them behind you now, keep going and enjoy the riding!

If it's any help, I've been at work all week and would give my eye teeth to swap places with you!

Iain

[tri boy]

Thats really poor service from Wayne.
We, (the workshop and spares) prided ourselves on going the extra mile for the travelers.
I guess few, if any of the old crew work there now.
Give "Magic", (Wayne), a big get F**Ked from me.:nono:

[cooneyr]

Just updated the map (http://www.advroutes.org.nz/bass.html).

Cheers R

[OV Lander]

Tyres and tubes....well you see, I know that 17" would be a problem up in the land of 18/19" rears so I went to the length of phoning WL m/c from Brizzy on monday and asked if they had/would get what we needed-gave him sizes...."yeah, no worries mate".

Well, it is a worry, got there this morning and they hunted to find 1 set only and NO HD tubes...all sold out this week mate, been busy! I had offered to pay by CC over the phone from Brizzy to secure wot we needed..." no need mate".

It is 'sport' over here to mislead or fool a Kiwi. Watch them if you do anything like this, this is NOT the first instance of deliberate mis-information I have heard of!!



I feel for you mate!

3 yrs ago I was over doing a trip in WA, albeit in a big camper with my wife. Short story is we suffered a blow out in the middle of nowhere (passed a sign 100kms back stating "drought zone for 690kms"!). When we dropped the spare down found it had a 3 x 2 inch 'chunk' of rubber missing from the tread, and was down to the canvas. To top it all, there were no tools except a deformed wheel brace that could no longer grip a nut and the steel braids of the tyre had severed the lowest hose on the drinking water tank - Luckily a bloke from Napier with a boot load of tools (plumber!) stopped to lend a hand after an hour!

Took us 1650kms, and over 10 tyre shops to find two replacement tyres. Same story - rang ahead with the specs to ensure availability, but nothing then upon arrival.

Ruined a great holiday, but if you'd like to see my photo album of Aussie Tyre shops????

Lessons:
- Never trust 'em! (Tyre shops, hire vehicles, Aussies!)
- Never use Kea Campers (dis-interested, unhelpful and accepted no responsibility for an un-roadworthy vehicle)

[ducatijim]

Hi folks, made it to Darwin in 1 piece...just! Rolled in here 1200 yesterday....boy was it hot=35`!!
Town was crazy, its high tourist season here now and we had to finally settle for a donga about 8 k out at Winnelie as everything closer was booked.

I did a report of our progress in Weipa about 10 days ago...went to post it up and the local server went down....I was GUTTED, had been 40 mins single finger typing to get it done and lost it all!

I will try to convey a breif roundup:
Day 1 out of Cooktown we only did 85km...all bulldust/sand and creek crossings, including our first with a WARNING;ESTURINE CROCADILES INHABIT THESE WATERS....trepidation. Now...it doesn't get a second thought as we plunge in! Day 1 ended with a bush camp out nowhere.
Battlecamp road and Lakefield NP where apalling tracks; all corrugations, like 98% of the Cape as we were to find out, a lot of 30kph riding, now I know why I did not want a watercooled engine up here.
We did the southern section of the OTL track( old Over Land Telegraph track) northwards; got thru all the crossings Gunshot & Cockatoo included ( applause for selves!). Passed,going the other way, a comm. m/c tour, on the track....looked like FUN on an unladen DRZ400!!
Did the tip and camped out at the abandoned 'Sommerset' on the beach near the Jardines graves.
Did thr northern section of the OLT as we headded south= 3.5 hours for 32km, now thats adventure!! I drowned the DR in 1 crossing it was Soooo deep; just electrically fortunatly. The Southern bypass road was a big shithole once we came off the OLT, the first hour = 28km, the second = 31km, with still 80k to run to Bramwell to stay the nite, and it is 4-30. Fortunatly the road inproved graetly and I put on 'pace' to get off the road before dark(6), as my headlite is covered by a bag...just made it!
Limped into Weipa to a buggered battery; too much vibration and shock; had dropped her heavily that morning. $175 later and thats fixed; miracle up here. Then find a buggered rear axle bearing...found 1 of those too. Then a broken spoke;my spares were wrong size so a good local welder was able to TIG a new knob on its end for me...saved!
Neils bike...no probs.
My 'day off' was hardly that, all repairs, but did get a mine tour in in the arvo.

Next day heading south still, I get a puncture, Neil is ahead and goes on 50km before missing me...he has the electric pump.
I am unable to unseat both beads and struggle in 40` sun to replace tube thru the small gap afforded to me...bugger my first attempt so have to unseat again and remove and patch it now....finally get going again, meet Neil coming back about 10 min down the road. My repair fails and have to 'hopscotch' between pumping and ride a bit, into Coen. No tubes there but better vulcanising compound than I have and by second go have a good tube!
Stay the nite here, yay........................
Failed again the next day, in the middle of nowhere;Palmerville road near Chillagoe, again fix in the 42` heat amoungst the scrub...this time I take Neils only remaining spare tube. Fixed.
Again forced to bush camp near Mulgrave station on Palmerville road, in a clearing made for the water tanker of a nearby Road Plant, to turn in...6 by now and nowhere else in sight...Neil says we will be gone before these guys start. Yeah right! 6-15 the tanker rumbles in, lights ablaze...'ow ya going mate'...with a wee chuckle! Took nearly an hour to shake our new best mate, Russell, off, so he could go to work and we could ride on!! Funny start.

The people we meet out back are the best in the world I tell you, salt of the earth everyone, don't enjoy camping in places like Darwin...so impersonal, no comrarradrie.
Got out to Karumba, on up to Borroloola and then the apalling track to Roper Bar;360km of pure corrugations, took HOURS.
Been on the seal a couple of days now...its a real novilty cruising legally at 130kph...had a HP car go the other way and give a friendly wave when my GPS showed 128kph!! Neat!

Stayn here till Sunday, got tyres and services to do tomorrow, a day ride thru Litchfield NP saturday then out to Kakadu sunday before going again westward.

I will logon again before we move from here, Cheers, Jamie.

[tri boy]

:clap:...............:corn:

[Crisis management]

Awesome guys, character building stuff indeed but you sound like you're begining to enjoy it. :niceone:

You know, one of the great things to come out of this is that from now on I won't have to fix punctures as you two will be so good you won't need my help........

[NordieBoy]

Good stuff :D

You're even getting an Aussie accent.

[offrd]

Awesome! but :pinch: about the flats!

[TLDV8]

Stayn here till Sunday, got tyres and services to do tomorrow, a day ride thru Litchfield NP saturday then out to Kakadu sunday before going again westward.

I will logon again before we move from here, Cheers, Jamie.

Well done... :niceone:

If you didn't know already (depending where you posted from,the city perhaps) there is a book store/internet cafe around the corner from Winnellie in Cato Street.
Being the Dry season now (cold) things are starting to go brown and the burn off's have started.You have probably noticed the cold nights with temps still in the 30's in the day time.The Wet season is the the same day temps but up to 90% humidity :laugh:
If you are going through to Jabiru (You can't go much further in to Arnhem Land as it is Aboriginal land,permit only) it is worth stopping at Ubirr (Left turn just before Jabiru) to see the rock paintings.

http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu/visitor-information/images/maps/kakadu.gif

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/Darwin/tt.jpg>

There is also Fog Dam and the look out not long after you hit the 130 kmh zone when you turn onto the Arnhem Highway.

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/Darwin/Fog1jpg.jpg>

[ducatijim]

Yesterday was the best, just laxed out and recharged! Did some shopping(for beers) and cleaned most everything, this morning Neils bike went in for a service and new tyres and I had tyres fitted too, am off soon to see if we can organise permits for Arnhem land.

The NT is much more catching to the eye than FNQ, lots of curves and small escarpments everywhere, very interesting to ride thru. FNQ is just FLAT and straight and you never get high enough to see anywhere!

Got on the piss last nite, went into town on the bus; did the Irish pub, then on to a good curry followed by a visit to the strip joint.......only got to the second dancer before the manager threw me out!! Bum :stupid:.

Taxied home with that imfamy hanging over our heads!! There was a small 'possum in the leanto of our donga...very friendly...could touch him even. Turns out the previous long term residents of our donga fed him over 4 months!!

Tomorrow we will do an 'unladen' day trip out to Litchfield NP and just do some blasting on the gravel!.....just hope it stays fine?:niceone:

We meet a fellow rider here last evening who we camped with last at Bramwell Jtn on our way north and his south...amazing to see him again this far west! I'm off to get some barra and prawns to throw on the barbie tonite and all have a good chin wag! Hey, TLDV8, why don't you swing round and join us for an ale? We are in No13, RHS just thu the gate!

Cheers team, Jamie

[ducatijim]

Oh well, last nite in civilisation tonite. Everything cleaned/checked/repacked this arvo ready for an early getaway in the morning.

I did get a permit from the NLC to transit Arnhem land out to Nhulunbuy( Gove peninsular), however the 'top' road; thru Oenpelli-Maningrida-Ramingining is still closed and we would have to transit the central Arnhem road (720km) both ways, and need to backtrack nearly to Mataranka to do it...so...thats off.

So, in the morning we will head out thru Kakadu nat park to the Arnhem land border at Cahills xing; for a photo shoot of us doing the xing; 400mm of water over the causeway apparantly and a couple of good sized 'lurkers' waiting in the upstream slack water! Shall camp out that ways before heading down to Katherine and turning west...Buntine hiway down to Halls creek and on to the Wolfe creek metiorite crater. Then back north to Wyndham and the start of the Gibb river road...............and 2 weeks later....Broome! Will spend some time there I'm sure, on Sunset beach watching the scenery; being a 'clothes optional' beach there are bound to be some fine looking scandinavian backpacking lasses trying to look like Ozzi sheilas, ALL over!!

Oh yes...the Barra and Prawn feed was superb!! ( 2 small slabs barra= $27...ouch!).

Will update in Broome folks, cheers now....Jamie.

[tri boy]

Cool report Jamie.
Broome is a pretty laid back town, and time the beach trip, low tide on a clear night. (big tide if possible)
It's not called "stairway to heaven" for nuthin.
Jump onto a Camel ride on a sunny afternoon, and perv from a height.
Try a meal of west Aus mudcrab if you get a chance. Bets crayfish hands down.
I'm jealous as hell.:pinch:

[OV Lander]

Jim,

Can you let us know how you get on for fuel on the Gibb River Road? Have been looking at it and it looks like it might be a bit far between drinks for the bike, esp. given that one of the 3 fuel stops on the 670Km tar seal free route is rumoured to be diesel only.

Is this info correct? Did you manage to complete the road?

[Bass]

I'm sure Jamie would love to answer your questions, but I seem to have misplaced him somehow. Very careless of me I know, but I last saw him this afternoon about 50 km west of Uluru (Ayres Rock) and I haven't been able to find him since. I am sure he is just fine - I just don't know where he is. I will keep you posted when I can get on the net.

[OV Lander]

Dare we ask?

Have you found him yet?

[tri boy]

Mrs Bass posted something about it on Adv rider.
Basically, Jamie was ahead of Bass I think, and stopped for the night a bit further on.
Main thing is they are both safe.:Punk:

[ducatijim]

Jim,

Can you let us know how you get on for fuel on the Gibb River Road? Have been looking at it and it looks like it might be a bit far between drinks for the bike, esp. given that one of the 3 fuel stops on the 670Km tar seal free route is rumoured to be diesel only.

Is this info correct? Did you manage to complete the road?


Oh yes, we did complete it. Only after dropping my bike in the Pentecost river x-ing!

120m across and 5-600 deep with football sized slippery rox on bottom!

Everything wet. Canoe sax are NOT immersion proof. Pasport doesn't look much like me now! Zumo called it quits too! DO NOT buy a Garmin Zumo GPS...they are a 'psuedo' adventurers piece of k(sh)it !! At least the camera/sat fone/ and my PAPER dairy were all recoverable, whew!

Unleaded is available at Drysdale river station, about 1/2 wayz along the Gibb and a damn fine place to stop. I reccomend it.

[ducatijim]

Hi folks, am in Brisbane now, we have been here since Wednesday arvo and have washed the bikes as best we can, the red stains are right into all plastic parts and well caked onto spokes etc. Got them re-crated yesterday arvo and dropped to the freighters this morning, now for a couple of daze R & R !!

Neil and I met up again the next arvo from our seperation in Alice, we both had business at the bike shop so it was a no-brainer really! Too hard to describe how we got mis-laid, lets just say Uluru and the Olgas are a rabbit warren like area with roads and lots of cars/buses/campas and 1 wrong choice of direction, by me, and there was no getting back togeather again there!

I did not find time/location to update in Broome, sorry...its a fantastic place, really laid back and beautiful weather. A bit too 'touristy' and 1/2 full of foreign backpackers takes a little away from it but still a very nice place.

We scrapped the WA 'coastal' route, everyone said it was a grind, so we went thru the Pilbara and what a great choice that was...Fan-bloody-tastic,,,,we did not spend nearly enough time there for sure. Did however get a drinks and evening meal each, courtsey of a mate of Neils wife, at the BHP compound for singles in Newman....1600 people in a complete micro city of dongas!! Great food they get....but the wages....blow ur mind it would wot a person can earn there!!!

From here and right across the deserts we were bombarded with south easterly winds and cold temperatures, 2-12/18ish was normal everyday until we dropped off the plateau down to Brisbane....Brrrrr. I bought a new fullface helmet, a trackpant and a fleece top in Alice to try and improve the comfort, we each had been wearing all our clothes each day until then!!

I will try and come back each day for a while if I can, and answer questions and fill in details, but just let me sum up;

It was an ADVENTURE, not always fun, sometimes very tedious,the highs were often not what or where you expect, the lows likewise. Above all else, I must say the folk we met out there, to a 1, were the making of this trip. Everyone a gem, taken the right way we were never short of company/help/advice, and most of all....they KNEW what they were talking about. Oh yes, the respect given for our style of travel was moving, most could not even imagine these places via motorbike.

Do it again with the benefit of hindsight? Yes, I would.

[tri boy]

Borders are closed by proxy of Herr Helen.
Looks like you two are stuck there.:bleh:

[ducatijim]

Jim,

Can you let us know how you get on for fuel on the Gibb River Road? Have been looking at it and it looks like it might be a bit far between drinks for the bike, esp. given that one of the 3 fuel stops on the 670Km tar seal free route is rumoured to be diesel only.

Is this info correct? Did you manage to complete the road?


I forgot, ULP is also at MT Barnett roadhouse.

There is really no fuel/distance issues on the GRR even with a reasonable sized tank.

[ducatijim]

Borders are closed by proxy of Herr Helen.
Looks like you two are stuck there.:bleh:

M8, I am planning to spend a good portion of my retirement over here rideing my motorcycle, so Helen can go whistle dixie:niceone:

The news of the sad loss of Zukin has tempered my post adventure high. It no longer seems appropriate to be gushing over my good fortune at a time like this. Sorry.

So long now, jamie

[ducatijim]

Julie & I flew out of Brisbane @ 9 yesterday(thursday) morning, after a long day we made it back to Reporoa @ 7 last nite, whew....

Its kinda nice to be back on the farm today, even thou its a grey and miserable day here: it is soooo nice to be able to see the horizon and have everything in between GREEN ! The vista anywhere in Oz is so very differant.

The Bass's made it home yesterday too.

Now I am down to the hard work of planning the NEXT 1: being the southern states from Brisbane to Perth in the L8 summer,2 up, lay over the bike in Perth until L8 winter, then resume northwards to take Julie to visit Broome,Darwin and Alice( plus another trek across the deserts just to show her(and get a chance next time to STAY in the Birdsville Hotel)).

I don't think the BMW F800gs will be the bike for the job however!( now I know wot the 'job' entails!!)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:Oops:

[NordieBoy]

So which bike would be the one for the job?

[Crisis management]

Welcome back guys, looking forward to catching up and trying to sort the lies from the truth......


Iain

[ducatijim]

So which bike would be the one for the job?

2-up with baggage...I mean, luggage? Well, the jury is still WAY out on that 1 M8!:doh:

[Bass]

So which bike would be the one for the job?

A diesel Landcruiser is by far the most popular - bit hard to get up on the centrestand though.

[Bass]

Welcome back guys, looking forward to catching up and trying to sort the lies from the truth......


Iain

We owe you a feed mate. Will be in touch when the photos have been sorted.

[cooneyr]

The web page with the complete track is now up. Sorry been a bit busy lately so not had a chance to do this. I'm not it is completely correct but it seems to be about right.

You guys when some awesome places! Following your trip and looking at the Panoramio photos has really inspired me. Keen to see some pictures when you get the time.

Cheers R

[NordieBoy]

2-up with baggage...I mean, luggage? Well, the jury is still WAY out on that 1 M8!:doh:

If I had a bit more mechanical ability I'd think of starting with a 2nd hand TransAlp and slapping on an XR600 front end and doing whatever they do to the back to give it more dirt-ability.

[Bass]

It would still have to cope with this

[offrd]

Did you not install the option, Hamilton jet unit and floats.

:doh:

[Bass]

Or this......... and the croc is life size of the biggest one ever shot.

[offrd]

OMFG! thats some SERIOUS :shit::

[Bass]

Did you not install the option, Hamilton jet unit and floats.

:doh:

Well no actually - we figured that since we got across the Tasman without them, they must be for pussies only.
I have to admit that keeping her on full noise all the way to Brisbane was hard on the wrists though and we were grateful for calm weather.

[cooneyr]

It would still have to cope with this

I'm guessing that is where the bike was drowned?


......... and the croc is life size of the biggest one ever shot.

Bloody hell - that is huge! I knew they got big but I didn't realise that got that big.

Cheers R

[Bass]

I'm guessing that is where the bike was drowned?
Actually no. That was taken on the northern part of the telegraph track. The electrics got a bit damp and we had to push her out. She soon dried out and fired up again though. No water in the motor or other electronics that time




Bloody hell - that is huge! I knew they got big but I didn't realise that got that big.

Cheers R
Here's a bit more info for you - the attached plaque. Note that it was shot by a woman - deadlier than the male.
I like the use of the word "captured" - captured by a 308 round between the eyes I reckon.
I think that they continue to grow for their entire lives and so this one must have been a ripe old age.
He must have had a healthy diet.
Perhaps he ate only greenies.

[Bass]

One other thing gentlemen (and other interested parties) - some assistance if you will.
As you may have guessed, I have had a quick run through my photos. I have also made arrangements to get a copy of them to Jamie and get his back in return so that we both have a complete set.
I then plan to write a report on this trip.
As much as is possible, I want that report to be in collaboration with Jamie because firstly, in every way that matters, this was HIS trip. He did all the hard yards as I will explain in the report. Secondly, he does not have access to broadband and so, dealing with photos is not an internet option for him.
The report will probably be posted on Advrider in the first instance, because there are interested parties who are not members here and over there, you don't have to be a member to see the photos.
I am sorry gents, but I have to say that I am not planning to do this for you lot. I am at a stage in my life where my mental hard drive appears to be full and so I have to delete a few files to store any new ones. What this means is that if I don't write this report and back it up with lot of photos, I will forget much more about it than I want to.
It may sound arrogant, but in completing this trip, I believe that I have accomplished something memorable for one of my advancing years and very limited riding abilities. Consequently, I want to remember as much as I can.
Therefore, the report is for me; not for you. However I am only to happy to share it, if that may give you some pleasure.
Now I only want to write it once as considerable time and effort will be involved. I am only semi-literate as far as computers are concerned and so I would appreciate some advice as to the platform I should use to write it. What I am seeking is a way that:-
1. Allows me to embed photos
2. Permits it to be copied to this forum (or others) without rewriting
3. Incorporates a spellcheck
4. Is reasonably easy to drive.
5. Allows printing ready for binding
For example, if I write it in Word, can I copy it to this forum by e.g. making it a jpg file and attaching it???
Help please!

[Bass]

Edit : - Somehow I managed to duplicate my last post. See what I mean by semi-literate

[Grub]

For example, if I write it in Word, can I copy it to this forum by e.g. making it a jpg file and attaching it???
Help please!

I haven't tried this, but we can make "attachments" to our posts and maybe to our "album", I don't know if that can include a .doc file.

I would definately do it in MS Word as you can add the photos, resize and crop them. Then just upload the .doc file. Ask Mental Trousers if it can be done. If it can't, post it on the website and just provide the link in a post from here.

[tri boy]

Hi Neil,
I use photobucket for images over at adv rider, (I'm picking smugmug is better though, as Baldy has interests in it).
Clint n Rosie knock up really good ride reports there, so maybe PM them.
Marks is really good at posting reports also.
Welcome back you guys.:sunny:

[cooneyr]

I'd agree - defiantly write it in word and use the insert function to put pictures in it. With more than a couple of pictures it will very rapidly get bigger than the 2mb limit for attachments here and you cant attach word docs to to advrider. I'm more than happy to host the file on my web site though and you could just put links on advrider and kiwibiker to it.

Cheers R

[Bass]

I'd agree - defiantly write it in word and use the insert function to put pictures in it. With more than a couple of pictures it will very rapidly get bigger than the 2mb limit for attachments here and you cant attach word docs to to advrider. I'm more than happy to host the file on my web site though and you could just put links on advrider and kiwibiker to it.

Cheers R

Thanks for the offer mate. I don't want to write a report that is just for a forum site. It would very quickly disappear as it became old news. I want to print it and bind it so that I have something to remind me I, once upon a time, did something worthwhile.
I figured that it was likely I would need to get it hosted on another site.
It's important to me but has very little value for anyone else.

[offrd]

Thanks for the offer mate. I don't want to write a report that is just for a forum site. It would very quickly disappear as it became old news. I want to print it and bind it so that I have something to remind me I, once upon a time, did something worthwhile.
I figured that it was likely I would need to get it hosted on another site.
It's important to me but has very little value for anyone else.

I guess whack it all up on a word processor and take it to a copyshop and get it printed on photo type paper and bound, Would be pretty cool!

Now i have to do something worthwhile someday.......:bash:

[cooneyr]

Thanks for the offer mate. I don't want to write a report that is just for a forum site. It would very quickly disappear as it became old news. I want to print it and bind it so that I have something to remind me I, once upon a time, did something worthwhile.
I figured that it was likely I would need to get it hosted on another site.
It's important to me but has very little value for anyone else.

Even more reason to type it up in MS word. That way you can get it printed and we can make a pdf version that is on the web.

It's not too hard to insert images into a word document but it would be a good idea to resize them to about 500 pixels wide. This is because even if you resize the picture in MSword to fit on the page, it is still the original size in terms of the file size so the file size of your document can get very large.

Cheers R

[Bass]

It's not too hard to insert images into a word document but it would be a good idea to resize them to about 500 pixels wide. This is because even if you resize the picture in MSword to fit on the page, it is still the original size in terms of the file size so the file size of your document can get very large.

Cheers R

Thanks for that - will do

[clint640]

Yep, Ryan's onto it, write it up in word, crop, resize & paste in the good pics that you want to go in the text. (keep all those resized pics in a seperate folder) Then get it printed on decent paper with a good printer.

Once you've done all that it's fairly easy to put a report up on advrider for all to see too.

The way I do a big report on advrider is to write it up in word & put notes in the text with the name of whatever photo I want to put in at that position (so you'd save a version of your original report without the pics, just their filenames)

Then upload all your resized pics to photobucket/smugmug/etc.

Then paste your text into a new post, slotting in the pic URL's as you go - have both advrider & your photo host open in seperate windows so you can flick between them. Job done!:msn-wink:

It's a good idea to just do a section at a time rather than one huge post, you won't lose too much if you have a crash mid post then, & putting a big report up in installments can make comment & conversation about the different parts of the trip much more coherent.

:corn::corn::corn:

Cheers
Clint

[Bass]

Yep, Ryan's onto it, write it up in word, crop, resize & paste in the good pics that you want to go in the text. (keep all those resized pics in a seperate folder) Then get it printed on decent paper with a good printer.

Once you've done all that it's fairly easy to put a report up on advrider for all to see too.

The way I do a big report on advrider is to write it up in word & put notes in the text with the name of whatever photo I want to put in at that position (so you'd save a version of your original report without the pics, just their filenames)

Then upload all your resized pics to photobucket/smugmug/etc.

Then paste your text into a new post, slotting in the pic URL's as you go - have both advrider & your photo host open in seperate windows so you can flick between them. Job done!:msn-wink:

It's a good idea to just do a section at a time rather than one huge post, you won't lose too much if you have a crash mid post then, & putting a big report up in installments can make comment & conversation about the different parts of the trip much more coherent.

:corn::corn::corn:

Cheers
Clint

Magic - Thanks to you too

[ducatijim]

Yep, Ryan's onto it, write it up in word, crop, resize & paste in the good pics that you want to go in the text. (keep all those resized pics in a seperate folder) Then get it printed on decent paper with a good printer.

Once you've done all that it's fairly easy to put a report up on advrider for all to see too.

The way I do a big report on advrider is to write it up in word & put notes in the text with the name of whatever photo I want to put in at that position (so you'd save a version of your original report without the pics, just their filenames)

Then upload all your resized pics to photobucket/smugmug/etc.

Then paste your text into a new post, slotting in the pic URL's as you go - have both advrider & your photo host open in seperate windows so you can flick between them. Job done!:msn-wink:

It's a good idea to just do a section at a time rather than one huge post, you won't lose too much if you have a crash mid post then, & putting a big report up in installments can make comment & conversation about the different parts of the trip much more coherent.

:corn::corn::corn:

Cheers
Clint

Glad ur doin this Neil! Lord help me when we go to Europe as I don't understand a single word of wot u just wrote Clint!!!!:doh:

Life is calm in my simple world:stupid:

[Bass]

Glad ur doin this Neil! Lord help me when we go to Europe as I don't understand a single word of wot u just wrote Clint!!!!:doh:

Life is calm in my simple world:stupid:

It's actually not that complicated and if you had MS Word or broadband, it would be second nature to you by now. However you don't have either and so if we are to collaborate on this one, I have to think a bit laterally. In effect, I can't send you either the text or the photos in their original form, but I think we can get around it without too much trouble.

I plan to send you a memory stick with my photos anyway, which you will return loaded with yours. That way we both have all the photos.
If, when I write this thing, I send you the text in a format that you can read (e.g. PDF) and just include the photo file names in the appropriate places, you can look up the the photos that I plan to use and see where I plan to use them.

Does that make sense, or am I just confusing things more?

[offrd]

You dont open the memory stick to get the photos out Jamie :crazy:

:scooter:

[ducatijim]

You dont open the memory stick to get the photos out Jamie :crazy:

:scooter:


I could tell you where I would like to 'stick' the memory stick: along with my Zumo........but my dear Mum brought me up better than that.:Oops:

[Bass]

Bit of good news people - I have been playing around with Jamie's GPS for a few days, off and on, as I figured that it must have some form of a trip log in there somewhere. I just wasn't sure how extensive it was or how to get at it.
I think the problem has been that the addition of a triplog to the Zumo is a relatively new feature and the interface program supplied does not support it.
In any case, I found it and by extracting it in a roundabout way, managed to persuade the interface software to read it. At first glance, it looks like it is complete up to the point where we drowned the GPS and turned it off (except for brief tasks) because we couldn't charge it any more.
I will do my best to get it to Cooneyr in a form that he can use and add to his map of our travels, so that you lot can see where we went, right down to the pit stops for a slash. At least that will be true for about the first 2/3 of the trip. However, that is the part of the trip where we were most on obscure tracks. After that, we tended to the more major ones which should be easier for Ryan to plot by hand, should he choose to, and so if we can only have a chunk of the log, then we have the more useful chunk.
It's nice to have a win occasionally, eh bro?

[Bass]

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=340074&page=5

First episode of the ride report over here

[Bass]

Next episode same place

[Bass]

Just a note for anyone contemplating taking a bike to Oz - our bikes are back in NZ now. I cleared them through customs yesterday and MAF today. Customs declined to inspect both here and in Australia meaning that we have taken our bikes to Oz and back and customs has never seen them, either here or there.
MAF inspected here however and AQIS (MAF equivalent) over there. Those inspections were not as rigorous as I expected. In saying that however, we put a bit of effort into getting everything clean and I guess it was obvious that we had. Coming back, we did what we could, but you can't get rid of the red dirt stain on everything after 2 months and 18,000 km in the outback, without some serious and agressive cleaning equipment.
We just used a coin in the slot car wash/water blaster etc.
The inspector still said they were well cleaned.

[Bass]

Next dose posted - same place again

[Bass]

Same again

I think this tale is going to take a while to tell.
There's still 6 weeks to go

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=340074&page=7

[tri boy]

It's a good read Neil, don't compress the tale because it's long. That would spoil it.
Keep em coming.:yes:

[Bass]

I don't want to Brent, but it's using big blocks of time.

[Bass]

A little problem that the more computer literate out there can help me with please.

I am doing a ride report slowly over on ADV as most of those reading these pages already know. I am finding that the photos I am posting are coming up quite small and I guess that this is due to their being high resolution and a limited file size for the forum. This is especially true of the ones taken by my wife as she has a top quality camera that cranks out a file size of about 5 megs for each photo.
I note that many of the other photos I see are much larger than mine but sometimes a much smaller file size.
The use of high res was deliberate as it allows me to read background signs, information placards, etc, etc and the problem I have now is an unforeseen side effect.
I am using my wife's laptop to do this report and it has 2 photo handling packages on it, 1 by HP and the other has the Kodak brand. I can't find a means on either of them to reduce the resolution of a photo.
That's not to say that they won't do it, but possibly that I am as thick as 2 short planks and just can't find it.

So 2 questions: -
1. Is there anyone out there who knows anything about HP Imagezone or a weird little Kodak package who can point me at "how to reduce the resolution" or
2. Am I just going to have to go out and buy something like photoshop

[NordieBoy]

2. Am I just going to have to go out and buy something like photoshop

Look at the Image Resize Powertoy.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Right click - resize image.
It makes a smaller copy of the image to the setting you select.

[Bass]

Look at the Image Resize Powertoy.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Right click - resize image.
It makes a smaller copy of the image to the setting you select.

I haven't been in and had a look at this and maybe I should, but resizing images is not my problem - I can do that just fine
Actually, I am not certain quite what my problem is exactly (I'm sure a few in here would love to tell me) but I suspect that it's resolution.
I am assuming that for a given file size, a low res pic will result in a larger image (pixels wide x pixels high) than a high res pic.
For example, Jamie recently posted a pic that had a file size of only 64k or thereabouts and the image it produced was about 640 pixels x 400 pixels (very approximately). Compared with that, I have been posting images of a file size between about 120 k and the max allowed of 146.5 k and have to take them down to about 450 pixels x 300 pixels to keep the file size acceptable. That means that he got a much bigger image than I did, but only posted half the the information.
In my ignorance, the only difference I can think of that might do this is the resolution used when taking the pic.

Hence my questions.

Feel free to sort me out if I've got this screwed up.

[offrd]

The powertoy resize program will allow you to open a 5meg photo and resize it down to 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768 or 240x320. It reduces the picture both in size on the screen and the file size.
Then you can muck around with it in whatever way to change the pixle X pixle size to fit it how you want it as you had been doing.

Its only a small program so down load it and have a play i sugest, if you dont like it, delete it or just forget its there!

[NordieBoy]

I am assuming that for a given file size, a low res pic will result in a larger image (pixels wide x pixels high) than a high res pic.
For example, Jamie recently posted a pic that had a file size of only 64k or thereabouts and the image it produced was about 640 pixels x 400 pixels (very approximately). Compared with that, I have been posting images of a file size between about 120 k and the max allowed of 146.5 k and have to take them down to about 450 pixels x 300 pixels to keep the file size acceptable. That means that he got a much bigger image than I did, but only posted half the the information.
In my ignorance, the only difference I can think of that might do this is the resolution used when taking the pic.

Sounds like the software you're using is saving the image at to high a quality setting (lowest compression).
Try at about 85% (if there's an option).

[Bass]

Sounds like the software you're using is saving the image at to high a quality setting (lowest compression).
Try at about 85% (if there's an option).
That's my problem. If there's an option, I can't find it. However Duncan says that the powertoy program you mention can alter the pixel spacing which should do what I want.
I'll have a play and see what happens.
Thanks guys

[Bass]

Next batch up

[Bass]

I think I'm winning with the size resolution thing, thanks guys.
Next batch up.

[Bass]

Same again.

[Bass]

Another batch up

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=340074&page=5

[Bass]

And again.
I'm away for the weekend, so it will be the last lot for a few days.
Slowly getting there though - only about 3 weeks of travelling to go.

[Bass]

Same again

[Bass]

Same again.
Getting close to the end now - only a few days of travelling left

[Bass]

Finished at last!
My wife has been asking me if I am ever coming home from Oz. Maybe I can get out on my bike and have a life again now.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=340074&page=38

[ducatijim]

Well done that man. Effort well spent!

I actually felt like I was there with you following your thread!

I 'spose I too have to get a 'life' back now its over...sniff, sniff........

[Cary]

Great trip & write up guys, well done.

One day..........(I hope)

[cooneyr]

Great trip & write up guys, well done.

Agreed!!!!!!


One day..........(I hope)

Don't we all!!!!!

Cheers R

[Wannabike]

Fantastic write up, well done for all the hard work. Very inspiring.