Bozo Across Australia

Plan, Organize and Report your Rides
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Bozo
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Bozo Across Australia

Post by Bozo »

Just arrived in Melbourne after crossing the Nullarbor on the 1200 GSA.

One of the wettest crossings and the most challenging rides I have had.

The whole time I was in South Australia the state was covered by low cloud and persistent rain. Not a drama if you stick to the bitumen.

Quite a few public holidays that also impacted.

The journey was:
Dalwallinu
Paynes Find
Mount Magnet
Sandstone
Leinster (and the closed pub at Agnew)
Kalgoorlie
Norseman
Eucla
Streaky Bay
Hawker
Leigh Creek
Arkaroola
Blinman
Clare
Barossa Valley
Hahndorf
Meadow
Victor Harbour
Port Ferris
Normanton
Kangaroo Island
Wellington
Kingston
Robe
Mount Gambier
Nelson
Portland
Cobden
Colac
Melbourne

Some brilliant motorcycling roads and some very average clay roads.

Saw 1,000 kangaroos and 100 emus in a two hour patch on dirt roads with up to 20 hopping alongside me. The large male emus would simply stand in the middle of the road as this clay covered object slithered towards them. Arrived at Arkaroola after dark (not recommended) after taking over three hours to cover 125 km. Was soaking wet with the waterproof pockets of the Rallye 3 jacket holding water. Two tankslappers, off the road twice and out of control every few kms.

Did not drop the bike but went very close on many occasions. I was told in Leigh Creek that the first bit of the road was the worst and that if I did not get through that day I would not get through the next day.

Took a different route back involving 150 km of dirt to Blinman. Big tank slapper when I broke though a thin layer of grit onto white sticky clay. Fours hours later I hit the bitumen and was very happy to hear the sound of the front Heidenau buzzing away on a smooth hard surface. Trip included 1 km of paddling and slipping the clutch through white clay.

Will post photos in a few days.

The mud encrusted bike attracted a lot of attention. At its worst it was solid from the front rim to the foot pegs.

Bozo
Swampy
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Re: Bozo Across Australia

Post by Swampy »

The mud encrusted bike attracted a lot of attention. At its worst it was solid from the front rim to the foot pegs.

Bozo[/quote]

Maybe a job for SWAMPY eh Bozo? :lol:

Stay Safe

Swampy
"I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains.
Of rugged mountain ranges, of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons, I love her jeweled sea.
Her beauty and her terror, the wide brown land for me."
Robbo
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Re: Bozo Across Australia

Post by Robbo »

Bozo,
That sounded like an ordeal, then I see you posted in classified. I expected to see your 1200 up for sale and you were flying home :lol:
BillB
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Re: Bozo Across Australia

Post by BillB »

A Bozo mud photo following his epic trip. Fuel range must have suffered with all the extra mud weight.
Image
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Last edited by BillB on Thu 27 Apr, 2017 7:53 am, edited 2 times in total.
R1150 RT, R1200 GSA 2009, K1200 LT, C650GT 2016, 2018 R1200 RT DR 650 2012
2020 R1250 GSA RALLYE
Bozo
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Re: Bozo Across Australia

Post by Bozo »

Robbo
I should have quit mud riding when I dropped the 1200 GS in front of you years ago.

The bike is not for sale but I might be more conservative in my aspirations to cover 800 kms on a wet day through roo infested national parks and finish off with 120 kms of unsealed road.

Bozo
Bozo
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Re: Bozo Across Australia

Post by Bozo »

Swampy

If it rains on the way back like it did on the way here, the bike should be clean by the time I get to Perth.

Bozo
Digger
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Re: Bozo Across Australia

Post by Digger »

Every GS/GSA should look like that...
You don't have to have a long neck...to be a goose

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(Mongrel Dog Productions)
BillB
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Re: Bozo Across Australia

Post by BillB »

Bozo sent me this photo for opening.
Sorry Swampster :x

Image
Image
Last edited by BillB on Wed 26 Apr, 2017 7:44 pm, edited 4 times in total.
R1150 RT, R1200 GSA 2009, K1200 LT, C650GT 2016, 2018 R1200 RT DR 650 2012
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Robbo
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Re: Bozo Across Australia

Post by Robbo »

Bozo wrote:Robbo
I should have quit mud riding when I dropped the 1200 GS in front of you years ago.
I remember it well, and the sheer panick I felt when I was sliding towards you. :lol:


Robbo.
jls
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Re: Bozo Across Australia

Post by jls »

Chris welcome to the dirt fraternity :mrgreen:
some times who just have to do it :shock:
Bozo
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Re: Bozo Across Australia

Post by Bozo »

Jamie

I have ridden many thousands of kms on dirt, including travelling to Mount Augustus, the Meeka Sandstone Road, Gascoyne Junction to Mullewa and roads through the Flinders Ranges. I much prefer to have a plume of dust behind me than a shiny rut in front of me.

Travelling through the northern Goldfields on dirt roads after heavy rain was not a lot of fun. Adrenalin is overrated for us senior citizens.

Bozo
Kots
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Re: Bozo Across Australia

Post by Kots »

Bozo

You are a legend!
spacey1
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Re: Bozo Across Australia

Post by spacey1 »

A legend is borne...

'Bozo, son of Digger' 8)
Himalayas Royal Enfield Tour 2017; Camp Cook-Off Winner 2017; Kennedy Ranges; Three Oceans Tour Australia; Hyden-Norseman Breakaways; R1200 series final drive repair; Mt Augustus; Bimbijy Station; Around Oz
spacey1
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Re: Bozo Across Australia

Post by spacey1 »

That glory shot :shock:

Image

The grass in the background doesn't look like it has caught up to the rain yet :P
Himalayas Royal Enfield Tour 2017; Camp Cook-Off Winner 2017; Kennedy Ranges; Three Oceans Tour Australia; Hyden-Norseman Breakaways; R1200 series final drive repair; Mt Augustus; Bimbijy Station; Around Oz
Swampy
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Re: Bozo Across Australia

Post by Swampy »

No need to apologise Bill I think it's hilarious.............Just wish the business was mine!! :lol:

Swampy

BillB wrote:Bozo sent me this photo for opening.
Sorry Swampster :x

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"I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains.
Of rugged mountain ranges, of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons, I love her jeweled sea.
Her beauty and her terror, the wide brown land for me."
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