Bozo Across Australia
Posted: Wed 26 Apr, 2017 8:04 am
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
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
