You will be good. I wounder if I can wait 2 years.Originally Posted by Stickchick
Forum whore
You will be good. I wounder if I can wait 2 years.
I'm not SMPL I'm just special
Well I'm going to the Gold Coast on the 7th Aug is there anything you want me to find out while I'm over there? Come back the 19th. I'd bring ya back Duty Free but your son has already got his order in and is taking up my quota hehehehe P/TYou will be good. I wounder if I can wait 2 years.
Valiant Man
Far out thats a good ride the 21 day 2 and a half grand for rental thats cool, gone to see what the Mrs thinks.
Hardcore Biker
looks mighty fine to me too!!!
i wouldnt want to be caught dead in the same grave as me.
Forum whore
And anothe one. This is also a great read and I like what I read.
We got some good ideas going on now.
I need to be back at work an hour ago so read this and think about it.
Gota love this stuff. Thanks Eddy.
Subject: Re: Bikes
Hi there Steve,Please allow me to introduce myself,Eddy Garner ,proprietor of Garner's Hire Bikes and www.aussiebiketours.com.au .What you are planning is a ride of a lifetime,whichever way you go.I am happy to help with motorcycles, suggested routes etc.and even a back-up Van with spares and a bike trailer.I have criss-crossed OZ most ways on various bikes doing Tours and pick-ups etc.and it's great to find others wishing to join the many long-distance riders.Distances are huge,but possible.Suggested for only three weeks would be from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road to Portland,Nelson,Mount Gambier and Adelaide.Then to Port Agusta,Coober Pedy to Erldunda,turning left to Ayers Rock.Then back to the Stuart Highway and North to Alice Springs,Barrow Creek,A visit to the Old Daly Waters pub a must.Then turn right at Three ways,and camp at Barkly Station/Homestead.Then across to the east,over the Atherton Tablelands to Cairns.If you then followed the East Coast down to Melbourne you will have ridden around 12,000 kilometres! If you can achieve this in 21 days,your average will be nearly 600 K. every day!This,however, leaves little time to check things out.If you include Three Ways to Darwin,then Kakadu(watch out for salties) and loop back to Three Ways add another week! I guess it depends on the size of the Group/enthusiasim/which bikes/routes etc. but three weeks vanishes quickly!I suggest at least one day off per week for R+R.e.g. The Great Barrier Reef is an absolute must-contact www.reefmagiccruises for an awesome snorkelling/scuba diving experience you will never forget in Cairns.The Ferry over to Magnetic Island out of Townsville is way cool too.And I must recommend Airlie Beach in the WhitSundays as superb.(We usually stay at Club Crocodile.)So much to see and do!Big Four Caravan Parks are all over,good deals to camp or rent cabins.Regards bikes,we can offer a selection of BMW ,F650 G/S, Suzuki DR650's,Bandit 600's,and Honda Hornet's for $225aud. per day(21 day minimum).BMW R1150G/S,Honda CBR600 and CBR1100,and Triumph Tiger @$250aud. per day (x 21 days).These rates are slightly higher than todays rates,but this Quote is for 2009.I figure @ $225 per day x 21=$4725aud.This includes unlimited kilometers,Collision Insurance and all taxes.Usual rental conditions and Surety Bonds apply-usually $2000 deposit refundable. We will also supply 2 x Oil filters and sufficient Oil for two Oil changes on each bike,plus spare Chain lube etc.After freighting many bikes from Melbourne to Lyttleton ( I race at the Sounds of Thunder each year),I find @ $1500-$1800 return is an average,plus with each bike requiring a major Service and Tyres etc upon return,and the inconvenience of Carnets etc.(the Tax Bond required for Import/Export),not to mention Wharf/Customs hassles, sometimes a Rental is far more convenient and better value.Not to mention that Hire Bikes can do anything it seems....Obviously if you stuff it up,your holiday is often ruined! Regards the Van/Trailer option,this includes tools,tiedowns, a two-bike trailer etc, and unlimited kilometres for $185 per day.A late-model Toyota Hiace long wheelbase is the vehicle.You may find something a little cheaper,but not with K's included.I do understand this is early stages of A GOOD IDEA (at the time),I also understand a challenge is the spice of Life!So,keep in touch.As an ex-pat,I have found this wide brown Land to be an awesome ride.Do not hesitate to contact me for further information or assistance.Best Regards, Eddy Garner.
----- Original Message -----
Hardcore Biker
afte a quick read of both, i prefer the 1st one that steve posted to be honest!
but thats only me and im happy to go along with others....
i wouldnt want to be caught dead in the same grave as me.
Never, never give in.
This may be of some help.
A couple of years ago I organised a trip for 4 bikes (8 people) Brisbane to Cairns (inland) and back pretty much on the Bruce. Travelled July/August and the weather was fantastic.
Shipped the bikes with Conroys out of napier and back into Napier. Email garyc@conroy.co.nz and the price was not too bad. Around $1,250 per bike and that was clearing them thru customs and quarantine. Picked them up from their depot in Caboolture.
But - Got a quote about 12 mths ago and it was around $2,000 per bike??
Suggest you ask r.meade@sdv.com for a price.
Planning your route. Try
http://www.racq.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/...r_ENA_HTML.htm
It's magic.
Have sorted a route for March 2008. Brisbane to Bright, Victoria on back (sealed) roads. Bring on March!
Forum whore
Thanks for that. That's great. 2 grand is ok. How many K's do you recon we would need between fuel stops? I might have to modify the gas tank on the Gixxer if I take it.This may be of some help.
Have sorted a route for March 2008. Brisbane to Bright, Victoria on back (sealed) roads. Bring on March!
Roll on March.........
Hardcore Biker
thats another problem, fuel tank range!
the tank range on the bandit is very low but it would be a more comfortable bike to take, i get through about 3/4s of a tank on one of our saturday afternoon rides.
but the blade has a big tank range but is not as comfortable on longer rides (over 3-4 hours).
hmm another bike in the garage?
i wouldnt want to be caught dead in the same grave as me.
Never, never give in.
The Trip Planner link I gave will show Gas Stations. Depending where you go - they can be a long way apart...........
Gixxer you're local I'm @ ph844 7715
Cheers
Bill
FWIW - We have friends doing a ride now. This is this mornings update:
Hi Folks
Port Augusta was old territory for from back in 2003 and as we dropped through the mountain range down into the city we noticed our first real change of temperature. We were staying only a short distance away from the motel we previously stayed in and straight away noticed a significant influx of aborigine.
Their unkemptness and the noticeable security at motels, shops and like gives you an air of insecurity and Police notices in your room warning of the need to protect valuables doesn't help.
Our motel was great but of course their resturant was shut, so we walked off to the nearest motel where we wined and dined the early evening away and were in bed by 8 pm.
Port Augusta to Coober Pedy was somewhat nostelgic particularly when a couple of group on the last occasion ran out of petrol. We left with a few drops of rain and worked our way through 570kms into improving weather all the way. At one of the road stops which was the last before Coober Pedy I decided to get a cannister and take a further 3 litre of petrol. The main influence for this action was a fairly steady head wind which I knew could definately affect our petrol consumption of the remaining 253 kms. As it turned out it would have been touch and go. We put the 3 litres in with about 100kms to go and didn't waste any time over this distance while previously we had stuck at around 115 kph. When I filled the tank at Coop Ped I put in 17 litres which inluding the three additional I put in meant that I would have been over an ordinarly tank full by one litre.
Cooper Pedy is reknown for a lot of its buildings being underground. We stayed at the Budget Motel which provided verygood security for the bike. Lorraine stayed in the adjoining hotel and replenished the coffers by $500 in winning five numbers on the keno while I went walkabout. This was very short lived after going outside the pub and observing about 15 abo's who were clearly drunk accosting people going down the street and begging for money. One spotted me filming and abused me no end when I decided to return to the comfort of the bar.
We had a great meal and as seems to be the case on these type of trips you start catching up with people you have meet in other towns who are doing similar trips to ourselves but not on bikes and this does seems to generate quite a bit of interest.
Today when we left CB it was a beaut day destined to be a high of 27. Still had the leathers and Long Johns on and watched the temp guage climb to over 90F.
By the time we entered the North Territory we were starting to feel uncomfortable and on reaching Kalgura 72 km short of Erldunda we peeled all the excess gear of and had a real summers ride. I think this is what we can expect from here on in.
For those of you who have been to this area before you will no doubt remember the flies that clearly remembered how they could pester us from our last visit. This is where Lorraine purchased fly nets and knowing that we were returning here this time cleverly left them at home.
I'm running out of time and money on this machine at Erldunda where we stay the night and head to Alice springs tomorrow - only 220 kms. so without checking what Ive said I'll risk sending it without editing.
Never, never give in.
Further, you will of course need a Carnet. Forms for these are from the AA Auckland. (Local AA branch knew absolutely nothing about them. Sent me to Customs?)
Can be downloaded @ http://www.aa.co.nz/motoring/tips/tr...formation.aspx
Email was: FTyrrell@nzaa.co.nz for the forms.
Mad nagging bitch!
I would so love to do this!
Timing could be an issue for us though (as will $$$, but thats another story...)
July /Aug 2009 is when Zac is due back from Belgium....(cost of that trip $15k)....will have to get a second job or one that pays more than the piddling salary I currently get.
Diarrhoea is hereditary - it runs in your jeans
If my nose was running money, I'd blow it all on you...
Forum whore
F*ck I want to go now. I am thinking, I might not be able to wait 2 years. Might have to do the trip next year and another in 2 years
Thanks for this
Never, never give in.
OK, You asked for it. Heres another from our friends.
Subject: Tamworth - Warren - Cobar
Hi Everyone
Your probably heartily sick of me mentioning the weather as we again head into another cloudless sunny day. Every morning to date we have woken to a clear and if you were to simply walk around in it all day you would class it as pleasant day. All is not what it seems however, and for us it hasn't been all beer and skittles.
The ride from Port Macqurie was short in distance but long in duration. We headed in the direction of Walcha which we were soon to discover took us over a mountain range which was extremely winding with continuous corners designated at 25 and 35kph. It was very slow and as there had been a frost that morning one had to be continually on guard negotiating the corners that hadn't dried out.
The trees on either side of the road meant that we were driving in the shade and the chill factor was unbelievable and we were very cold by the time we reached Tamworth. It was probably round 4 deg Celsius
Tamworth was pretty uneventful and after booking into the motel we headed off to town in a taxi, had a quick look around, bought some groceries and did a microwave tea over a bottle of wine back in the motel. Accommodation good and reasonably priced at $85.
The following day we were much better equipped to beat the cold air, but despite the fact that I was wearing a singlet, T shirt, two long sleeve T shirts, a marino wool jersey, leather jacket, long johns and my wet weather trousers as a windbreak we still got cold.
The trip to Warren was about 370 km's and a straight forward run on long straight roads. When we reached Warren we booked into the motel and jumped under the bed covers to get warm and put the heating on high. Accommodation was very reasonable at $95. That evening we walked to the local service club still with multiple layers of clothing on, only to walk into a heat wave on entering the club and immediately had to shed some.
The service club which services a town of 2400 population was large, in good order and after we gave the pokies a thrashing they served a remarkably good cheap meal.
During the meal we met a couple of retired kiwis who now have Aust citizenship and we were amazed at the number of concessions they get including a $100 week from the NZ government to top up their super payments from the Aust Govt. Free car registration which is worth around $600 a vehicle and very cheap travel. It was during our discussion with them that we learned that NSW was experiencing the coldest spell in 21 years and all the locals are bemoaning how cold it is. We noticed that it had been snowing in Melbourne that morning.
We also learned that Wicannia which was to be our stop today was not a very desirable place to stay, apparently due to the high aboriginal content which was also associated with drunkenness, violence and theft. Having taken this initially with a grain of salt as I had already rung ahead and made a motel booking, we were soon to give this further consideration when our motel receptionist, the local garage attendant and another local all advised against staying there and some even recommended that we didn't stop for petrol. Since arriving in Cobar this advice has been reinforced by others we've met.
Our rethink on this issue resulted in us changing our plans and after cancelling our booking in Wilcannia we opted to travel the shorter distance of 220 km today
which saw us arrive in Cobar by 1pm and book into the motel we booked the previous night.
Having been so happy with my Ipaq device I was shattered to find that we have had no coverage for two days as Vodafone doesn't service this area, so this e-mail is being typed courteousy of the internet services supplied free of charge in the Cobar public library. Apparently we won't get Vodafone services again until we reach Broken Hill and then it is apparently quite strong around the coastal areas. So much for believing what these Telephone companies tell you.
Todays trip was pretty uneventful and we enjoyed the ride with a look round the shops in a couple of small towns. We have experienced very little traffic travelling in either direction over the past couple of days and the speed limit has generally been 110kmp with us setting the cruise control on 115kmh which has made for pretty easy riding. Only the odd dead roo on the road, but Lorraine has seen plenty in the paddocks. Several large numbers of cattle crazing on the side of the road and one sign suggested that we be on the lookout for deer. (now that's a sign that I've not seen before. Today for the first time we also spied goats on the side of the road.
Tomorrow we will get on the road by 8 for our longest ride to date of around 430 km's which will get us to Broken Hill where we will stay for a couple of nights. Hopefully it will get warmer as we travel west - I note that the temp in Darwin today is 30 deg.
Its now half past four, so we off to find a service club and some tea.
Thanks to those sending the odd bit of Kiwi news.
Cheers for now
Never, never give in.
And another.
Will send them on as we get them in the future. Just hope it doesn't bore yas.
Subject: Broken Hill
The 470km ride from Cobar to Broken Hill
commenced shortly after 8 am in a frosty, foggy and sub zero morning. The
bike outside temp guage dragged itself slowly up to just below 60 F by
lunch time. Again very little traffic on the road and we couldn't help
compare the length of straight road with some of the deserts we've crossed
in America which are just as far as the eye can see and when you arrive at
that point its repeated time and time again.
Needless to say the conditions were ideal for a quicker pace and the kms
ticked fairly quickly by at 135 kmp. Always mindful of the possiblity of
roos being on the road it was rather surprising to come across herds of
goats grazing on the sides of the road. They were pretty used to vehicles
and we only had to slow once for one old girl who just ambled off the road
as we came by.
Had a couple of stops at Road Houses on the way, neither were shown on our
map.
The first was a very small roadhouse
called Enndale and run by the sole aged male (older than us) who had been
there for twelve years and was looking to sell. It was very clean and we
were very grateful for the ability to buy a Mrs Mac pie, a cup of coffee and
fill up the bike. The old geezer didn't say much and the chances are he'll
still be there in another doz years as the place is pretty desolate and
hasn't got much going for it.
The second road house was a short distance from Wilcannia so we stopped for
lunch, topped up the tank with the view of avoiding a stop at the only town
that just no one we came across had a good word to say about. On reaching
the outskirts we stopped under the town sign, took a picture and Lorraine
cranked up the video. What a let down. The town pretty well comprised of
a service station, a large building on the corner of the only intersection
with the main road and a few shops could be seen further down the side
street. It certainly was very uninspiring with the only major building
amply covered with grafitti and there were half a dozen aboriginies going
about their business in the side street. Certainly no threat and we would
have been quite comfortable stopping for petrol had we chosen to.
The 202 kms from Wilcannia to BH were quickly overhauled and the terrain
changed from plains to a long hill range which showed plenty of evidence of
mining as you entered the township of BH.
We arrived about 2 pm and navigated straight to the motel using the GPS -
what a time saver. I found I had telephone coverage again and found a
message from Rob and Bev Oswald to say they had arrived in Aust, retrieved
their bike which they had flown over to Brisbane and would be heading off
on Monday to meet with us in Tennant on the 27th.
Having sussed out the locals in the service club last evening we were back
on the bike this morning in what was a much warmer day and travelled the 25
km out to Silverton which was the original mining town before the main mine
was opened in BH. Really worth the ride to see the old buildings scattered
about and it is a place where lots of films have been made including Mad
Max, (replica of car outside the pub) A town like Alice to name just a
couple. The town is not totally desserted and has about 60 occupants who
survive on tourism. An early brunch here and then we travelled out further
to Mundi Mundi to a viewing point overlooking the vast plains and then out
further to the end of the tar seal to see a dam built around 1935. This
little trip took us out into unfenced territory and we soon came across
groups of emus. These are really unpredicatable animals who don't like
Harley's and just panic and run in any direction that takes their fancy.
Wild horses roaming the plains were also paniced by the Harley noise but
were some distance away and no threat. A great liesurely ride sitting on 75
kph all the way out and back to BH.
While we are not into architecture one can't help notice the contrasting
buildings reflecting the very different styles built through the
generations. A very interesting place and much bigger than what we
anticipated.
Didn't get a chance to do a mine tour - maybe next time. Tomorrow sees us
back on the road for four days on the trot starting with a 420km ride
tomorrow
Have just got back from another great roast at a different service club.
These meals are fantastic and generally under $15 a head. Watched on the
biggest screen I've ever seen the AB's trounce the Wallabies. The club was
fairly packed and there was probably only myself and one other person
watching the game. Clearly not ruby country, so didn't do any barracking.
Overall BH has been are very interesting place to visit and one that you
would want to include on your itinerary if planning a trip this way.
So until we find another free moment, its bye for now.
Cheers
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