PREAMBLE

Once apon a time – for that is how all stories should begin – there was a boy who fell in love with motorcycles. I blame my older cousin Shane for this shameless corruption of innocent youth, who when I was fourteen rode up the drive on our farm on a 1974 Ducati 750 SS. I remember it like yesterday, he was riding as slow as he could without falling over, engine just ticking over, trying not to get dust in the unfiltered carbies, and at the same time avoiding the cowpats. This was the time when the British bikes were in decline and everyone was riding Hondas and Kawasakis. An Italian bike around these parts was as exotic as King Solomon's temple. I hung around that thing all day, when he twisted the throttle and those Conti's roared like a wild thing I was hooked, I wanted this, motorcycles were my life.
this is not his but it's the one.

Been riding for around forty years now and unfortunately I never got the Ducati, no, my first bike was a Yamaha AG100 (for the farm), and a procession of mostly off-road bikes since then. But that was ok, I loved riding the dirt, and in the later years I loved taking the kids riding up in the scrub as well.

My mount these days is a K8 650 V-Strom and her name is Fat Suzy. The only regret I have is that I didn't discover these things years ago, it's just the perfect bike for me, if I ever manage to kill it I can't imagine replacing it with anything but another one. I've never been able to say that about any other bike I've owned. We've travelled a few kilometres together now and I thought I'd like to have one place to put a few ride reports rather than several little separate ones.

Just so you know, this is me and Fat Suzy.


This March I done a bit of a tour through the southern states, the plan, as much as there was one, was to stay off the highways as much as possible, have a look around and be back in three weeks. I wanted to find some back country roads down through the NSW ranges all the way to Bright for the Australian Vstrom get-together, visit some rellies in Melbourne, go across to the bottom of south Australia and up to have a look at the Flinders Ranges and make my way via Broken Hill and the Darling River to Bourke, then home through Moree and Goondiwindi. And all the while trying to avoid cities, I hate cities. Some of this worked out, some of it didn't.

Been home a few weeks now, starting to catch up a bit at work so I'm not so utterly knackered when I get home, and I probably need to get this report under way before I forget that I ever went. I'll write mostly in the present tense because that's how I wrote it in my journal each day, and I'll mostly try to keep it to 1 day per post.

Pete.

Day 1 next.

Sweet lookin Duck and Strom. Lookin forward to seeing more of the land downunder.

DAY 1 SUNDAY FROM HOME TO DORRIGO 410 KLMS



I dedicated yesterday (Saturday) to just loading all my stuff onto the pack mule, otherwise known as Fat Suzy, and doing a bit of a shop for last minute things I've forgotten. I'm never sure what to take on a trip like this so I've got this “Motorcycle Camping Checklist” I've downloaded off the internet, it covers most things but it's editable so no doubt it will develop into something more specific to me. Motorcycle Trip Checklist


I don't know where the hell I'm going to fit all this stuff laid out on the garage floor, hopefully the weather will turn cool and I can wear the bulky bits. Not today though, it's already hot.
Got away a bit before eight and it's a glorious motorcycle day. She's a bit heavy, I'll have to take it easy until I get used to the extra weight.



Went over Tamborine on my usual Sunday path to Canungra, 15 minutes into a three week trip, hmm, must be time to stop for a cuppa. Called into the Outpost Cafe for a short black, as is necessary on starting a motorcycle journey. Ok, lets try again. On the road proper this time.



Sandy Creek Road has become my new favorite when travelling south from Beaudesert. An extra 5 minutes but much more scenic.









Lions Road, and a couple of little water crossings on Gradys Creek road.







That little dirt road didn't last long and it was soon back on the tar. Sometimes when you are faced with a day on the slab you have to try a little harder to find something more interesting, so I turned off and found some gravel down through Collins Creek to take me into Kyogle for lunch, sandwichs and a thermos of tea from home, under a shady Jacarada tree in the churchyard.





I find it very weird taking pictures of myself, somehow it feels vain.



I discovered my organizational skills are crap. I had to open both panniers, the topbox and the tankbag to get my lunch together. I'll have to work on that. I also bought a bulk pack of 20 batteries for the camera from Coles for this trip, I figured, for twelve bucks, how bad could they be? Well, I'll tell you, very bad indeed. A new pair in Canungra, another pair in Kyogle. About ten photos per two batteries, not impressed, but then again, not overly surprised. You put a new set in and the low charge warning comes on immediately. (if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled – PG Wodehouse)

The Summerland Way south out of Kyogle is pretty dull, just a way of getting some distance behind you. Turned onto Pringles Way which runs alongside the Clarence River. A little longer but a more stimulating road to Grafton.

Under the rail bridge just out of Lawrence.



The Clarence River, those of you who've read my road reports before will know this river is one of my favorite places. The floods in January must have been full on, theres debris still hanging from every fence and tree. All the houses through here are raised on stumps but basically it's all one great flood plain – it must be very scary indeed when the Clarence comes knocking on your door.





It's hot, damn hot. Didn't feel the need to stop in Grafton, or take any photos, altough there is a pretty interesting bridge across the river in the middle of town. Vehicles on the top level, trains underneath.


picture from Wikipedia

On to Nymboida where I stopped for a refreshing drink (soda water) at the pub/museum just south of the town. Good spot, the beer garden looks down over the Nymboida River. They have accomodation here, might be a good spot for an overnighter one day.

The heat is making for an uncomfortable ride, theres no cool breeze to be had on the bike to escape it, it's like standing in front of a fan heater. At home, and I'm not that far from there, this sort of heat in the afternoon means only one thing – thunderstorms, and as I left the pub I could hear the distant rumble in the hills.



The road from here starts to climb the ranges and it's a nice ride, twisty and mostly in good condition although some of the corners were starting to break up. Storms all around me now but I'm not getting rained on yet. My aim was to get to a campground in the Nymboi-Binderay NP called Platypus Flat. I turned off the highway at Tyringham and a few big fat drops started to fall. Now this is the point when normal folk stop and pull on the wet gear, but not Pete, no sir, I'm a glass half full sort of guy. I'm sure it's easing up already.


Here be gypsies.







Deeper into the forest we went, “these tracks will be real slippery if it starts raining properly” methinks. Still no wet gear on, it finally got to the point where I was wet anyway, I managed to get to the campground and then the skies opened. I was still contemplating camping but it just wouldn't let up, bucketing down for over an hour, the place was awash. I didn't like the idea of being stuck here this early in the trip if the roads should be cut so I decided to pull the pin and get a pub room in Dorrigo.







“What's wrong with you?, I'm quite cosy here”.

I let the tyres down to help with traction in the slippery conditions and gingerly I set out. Goodbye Platypus Flat. But a gorgeous spot, another one to remember for a later date.



I crept along, wasn't too bad, traction was ok. Less than 5 k's later it was bone dry, not a puddle, dusty even! Here's me soaked to the skin, all the camping gear wet, and riding along in full sunshine... laughing my stupid head off.

Went to the pub in Dorrigo and booked a room for $30 which included a continental breakfast.
Now... do I just have bad luck or do all old pub rooms smell like stale urine? There was no way I could sleep there with that stink and the old trampoline beds they had. Back downstairs and got a refund and went out to the caravan park. $35 for a small patch of turf, expensive for what you get but at least I'll sleep. I pitched my tent and settled down to make some phonecalls and cook a bit of dinner. Storms are still rattling around. I may have a late start tomorrow while I try and dry a few things.

Bike Burqa



Here is the map

http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?hl...9,5.817261&z=8





Cheers,
Pete.

Enjoying the ride Pete. Looks like some beautiful country. Never saw a car/ train bridge before. $30. doesn't get you much of a room here either.

very good RR so far, enjoyed by both me and mrs, looking forward to the rest of it...

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Finally a bike like Strom i could have as a concubine and my wife doesnt object!

Enjoying the story and photos, Pete.

BTW, nice pipe you have there! I like the way you managed to get that in by photo #2 ha haa.

Had a good laugh at those cheap batteries. Noted not to bother buying any myself.

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Steve C
Gold Coast Riders (Rides & events SE QLD, plus stuff about camping etc)
Gravel Riders Club Old farts off-road
Yer ears & yer teef They're the only ones yer got

Great read. Fat Suzy is quite the lady, packed and ready to roll. The Caravan looks like a bus conversion a very strange vehicle. A fine sampling in the pics of the types of the roads that V--Stroms do well on.

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K4 DL650

[quote=happypuppy;668516]Great read. Fat Suzy is quite the lady, packed and ready to roll.... QUOTE]


Yeah, I like to think her character is represented by the little token shown in my avatar. A fading Sophia Loren perhaps. She's middle aged and overweight, but the noises eminating from her rear end are hardly ladylike!!

Pete.

Fantastic ride report so far Pete , eagerly await further instalments.

Cheers, Wanderlost.

P.S. I probably HAVE pissed the bed in a Dorrigo pub sometime............

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I wee in public.

Well, you told me about nowhere. Well it sounds like someplace I'd like to go.

Love the RR, love the pics Pete!

Am really enjoying it, and looking forward to each new installment!

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DL + Snooky
Member of the McGraths Hill Mob
09 DL1000
Farkles, Yes it has a few accessories fitted now.
Travel by bike, travel light