First up, cheers to Snagga resting up under the awesome care of staff in RPH. Get well soon mate
Second, a big thank you to all of you who participated and shared the journey to the Ranges and back
Third, to the idea people... Keep the great ideas coming
Sure it rained... but there you go. It stopped soon enough. And then it was all good.
The tribe joined forces, so to speak, for a pie/coffee/anything warm at the Bindoon Backhaus.
Moving on to Mullewa, the weather looked to be clearing, thankfully. Wet enough to lay the dust, dry enough to be 'mudless'
A couple of oldies came along for the ride, both with significant modifications and for very different reasons.
The weather cleared and the hot rain suits started to come off.
We stopped at the Greenough River for a play. Of note, the HPM is more of a trail bike than a GSA. Don't ask how I know that
Jono beside the Greenough River...
Jono on the Greenough River...
Onto the great Murchison River, where more fun and camera clicking could be heard alongside the purring of BMW twins, old and new.
The R1200 LC making it look pretty easy.
Even the ol' R75s made it out here...
And a mixture of old and new receiving a welcome to the Murchison
On fueling up at the Murchison Settlement, a handful of your more softer-skinned-types laid up at the oasis, Murchison Settlement, on green grass, had hot showers and dunnies It's even said that an electric heater was used to dry the heavy dew off his tent
Of note, fuel at the Murchison Settlement requires a credit card. It is quite a complicated process if you have not done it before.
With so much moisture around, it was quite difficult to know where to park those smelly boots
Polo is quite a popular sport here. The locals come from far and wide to participate on the large, red grounds. The Murchison Settlement exists as a fuel stop and home for the Murchison Shire Council. These folks are responsible for maintaining roads in the region. Chatting to a friendly grader driver gave us a heads-up on the road conditions we were to expect further on. Luckily, all his information suggested a quick, comfortable journey to Gascoyne Junction
This is where the main group (A horny bunch) camped on Thursday evening, 42 kilometres north of the Murchison Settlement.
The horny bunch...
And not afraid of blowing his own horn, or indeed somebody elses
Bill, on the fly
Tom, weighting the pegs
94 km north of the Murchison Settlement, Western Australia
At the Mt Augustus - Dooley Downs turn-off, a photo / rest stop was called. There was one lonely wet cow pat on this vast section of road. Luckily said cow pat managed a rendezvous with one large motorcycle boot.
Numerous creek crossing, all mostly dry, are along the Mullewa-Carnarvon Road. The Yarra-Yarra Creek is typical. Slowing down is recommended at all water crossings.
It's already a prolific wildflower season along the Mullewa-Carnarvon Road. Look out for that sneaky GSA peeking through the bushes...
A pleasant location to do a few repairs...
About here, Bill noticed his rear German TUV approved mudguard about to fall off. A stop was called for to find tools, remove the offending item and stow it for future use? I left mine, broken off on the corrugations, out on the Great Central Track to Alice Springs back in 2010.
The Cobra-Dairy Creek Road to Mt Augustus intersection is a part of the Kingsford Smith Mail Run ( http://trailswa.com.au/trails/kingsford-smith-mail-run ).
It was just up the road from here that I rode up to a 4WD parked on the side of the track. A lithe, tall young lass was standing beside it brushing her hair???? Obviously I slowed to ensure her safety. All appeared to be OK. So I rode on. A short distance up the track, I stopped to check with my riding partners if I was perhaps, 'hallucinating'. Apparently not... The things you see in the great Ozzy Outback beggars belief...
Most non-Australians will not know what this is... This is an Australian cattle grid. It replaces a gate on roads. It prevents animals (cattle, sheep, horses) from crossing the fence boundary at the road. It should be approached at 90 degrees for obvious reasons
Action shot: How to cross an Australian cattle grid successfully...
Finally cruised into Gascoyne Junction, fuelled man and machine, then bee-lined to the Gascoyne Race Course to set up camp.
What followed was a night of pretty damn good pizza, several beers, much loud music, little sleep. I really do like the music of the Creedence Clearwater Revival band. As grumpy as I may have gotten, I was still toe-tapping in my tent until the wee hours.
Tomorrow, out to the Kennedy Ranges. This is what the journey was all about for me.
Kennedy Ranges / Gascoyne Races Run 2015 (updated again)
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Kennedy Ranges / Gascoyne Races Run 2015 (updated again)
Last edited by spacey1 on Mon 31 Aug, 2015 9:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Add more pix plus Tom's
Reason: Add more pix plus Tom's
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Re: Kennedy Ranges / Gascoyne Run 2015 (Photos - Updated)
No wallets were lost in the course of this expedition.
One lost it's way at the Gascoyne Cup horse races. Only to be discovered a couple of days later in Perth, wedged in between a pannier and a tool tube... covered in dust and dirt. Theories of gypsies and pick-pockets abound...
The other, upset with it's owner, decided to abscond whilst it's owner was laying in a soft sandy patch of track on the way to Honeycomb Gorge. However, the recalcitrant wallet was recovered the following day and returned to it's life of servitude.
The Gascoyne River on a different day, may have presented us with a different problem. Thankfully no submarines were required on this day.
Back in 1980, the flood waters were a little higher than most people expected. Notice the little roof verandah built on the roof to provide a more scenic outlook over high water levels.
The dirt road out to the Kennedy Ranges was in superb condition. The river crossings were all passable. Maybe a week earlier, it may have been a different story.
Bozo enjoyed a break and photo stop on the Lyons River crossing.
So, onto the Kennedy Ranges. This is the sight that unfolds...
Entrance road to Kennedy Ranges, Western Australia
Camping at the Kennedy Ranges, Western Australia
Tom and I rode off to Honeycomb Gorge while sleepy Bill has a long snooze... recovering from lack of sleep at the Gascoyne Cup race course.
If you've got any doubt why the mining giants wanted to mine this place, check out the cast iron rock. It's everywhere
Honeycomb Gorge, Kennedy Ranges, Western Australia
It would be a great place to hold geology lessons. The history of our Earth is revealed everywhere here. Fossils, oceans, sedimentary layers, folding earth crust, it's all here...
Unknown insect at Honeycomb Gorge, Kennedy Ranges, Western Australia
On a climb through the gorge, this formation was discovered... probably rock art from another time. I've shown it in colour and black and white.
More fossils in rock, signifying the under-ocean of the place, some 1600 million years ago.
More mineralisation in the local rock.
You wouldn't know it, but this section of rock is holding up the whole mountain
View out to the Gascoyne from the slopes of the Kennedy Ranges at Honeycomb Gorge, Western Australia
A short break on our climb up the Honeycomb Gorge.
On the way back to our tents, you better believe it, another photo stop... the Kennedy Ranges and wildflowers, Western Australia
I got up early and climbed into Draper Gorge for sunrise.
Wildflowers in early morning sunlight at Kennedy Ranges, Draper Gorge, Western Australia
Of note, there had been a lot of rain up in the region. Lucky for us that the river levels had subsided.
Floodway over the Lyons River coming back from the Kennedy Ranges
Floodway over the Gascoyne River coming back from the Kennedy Ranges. It could have been a different story
Crossing the mighty Gasocyne River... go Bill
And Tom in for a splash...
One lost it's way at the Gascoyne Cup horse races. Only to be discovered a couple of days later in Perth, wedged in between a pannier and a tool tube... covered in dust and dirt. Theories of gypsies and pick-pockets abound...
The other, upset with it's owner, decided to abscond whilst it's owner was laying in a soft sandy patch of track on the way to Honeycomb Gorge. However, the recalcitrant wallet was recovered the following day and returned to it's life of servitude.
The Gascoyne River on a different day, may have presented us with a different problem. Thankfully no submarines were required on this day.
Back in 1980, the flood waters were a little higher than most people expected. Notice the little roof verandah built on the roof to provide a more scenic outlook over high water levels.
The dirt road out to the Kennedy Ranges was in superb condition. The river crossings were all passable. Maybe a week earlier, it may have been a different story.
Bozo enjoyed a break and photo stop on the Lyons River crossing.
So, onto the Kennedy Ranges. This is the sight that unfolds...
Entrance road to Kennedy Ranges, Western Australia
Camping at the Kennedy Ranges, Western Australia
Tom and I rode off to Honeycomb Gorge while sleepy Bill has a long snooze... recovering from lack of sleep at the Gascoyne Cup race course.
If you've got any doubt why the mining giants wanted to mine this place, check out the cast iron rock. It's everywhere
Honeycomb Gorge, Kennedy Ranges, Western Australia
It would be a great place to hold geology lessons. The history of our Earth is revealed everywhere here. Fossils, oceans, sedimentary layers, folding earth crust, it's all here...
Unknown insect at Honeycomb Gorge, Kennedy Ranges, Western Australia
On a climb through the gorge, this formation was discovered... probably rock art from another time. I've shown it in colour and black and white.
More fossils in rock, signifying the under-ocean of the place, some 1600 million years ago.
More mineralisation in the local rock.
You wouldn't know it, but this section of rock is holding up the whole mountain
View out to the Gascoyne from the slopes of the Kennedy Ranges at Honeycomb Gorge, Western Australia
A short break on our climb up the Honeycomb Gorge.
On the way back to our tents, you better believe it, another photo stop... the Kennedy Ranges and wildflowers, Western Australia
I got up early and climbed into Draper Gorge for sunrise.
Wildflowers in early morning sunlight at Kennedy Ranges, Draper Gorge, Western Australia
Of note, there had been a lot of rain up in the region. Lucky for us that the river levels had subsided.
Floodway over the Lyons River coming back from the Kennedy Ranges
Floodway over the Gascoyne River coming back from the Kennedy Ranges. It could have been a different story
Crossing the mighty Gasocyne River... go Bill
And Tom in for a splash...
Last edited by spacey1 on Mon 31 Aug, 2015 10:00 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Add more pix plus Tom's
Reason: Add more pix plus Tom's
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Re: Kennedy Ranges / Gascoyne Tour 2015 (Photos)
Great photos Nev, looking forward to the next install ent
R1150 RT, R1200 GSA 2009, K1200 LT, C650GT 2016, 2018 R1200 RT DR 650 2012
2020 R1250 GSA RALLYE
2020 R1250 GSA RALLYE
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Re: Kennedy Ranges / Gascoyne Tour 2015 (Photos)
Nev
Excellent photos...just like being there.
Bozo
Excellent photos...just like being there.
Bozo
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Re: Kennedy Ranges / Gascoyne Races Run 2015 (Tom's pix adde
Evening all,
Added Tom's pix to the Kennedy Ranges / Gascoyne Races Run 2015 ride report.
More to come if time allows
Added Tom's pix to the Kennedy Ranges / Gascoyne Races Run 2015 ride report.
More to come if time allows
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
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Re: Kennedy Ranges / Gascoyne Races Run 2015 (update again)
The Return Journey
This is where our party of near 20 riders split up. Different time frames and work commitments...
Tom, Bill and myself took the easiest option, not necessarily the shortest and made for Carnarvon, then straight down the coast to Perth via Northhampton.
I had a McFarkle experience on the way to Carnarvon, in that I had to stop because my eyes were streaming from an unknown cause and I was unable to see...
Probably a pollen cloud from the proliferation of wildflowers abound. After rinsing my eyes with clean water, all seemed OK, so on we went.
Fuelled up at Gascoyne Junction, then on to Carnarvon, the Space Station that is...
At the Shark Bay Lookout, south of Carnarvon. Another worthy photo stop and...
Gnomesville is being rebuilt
No, not those guys...
The Gnomes...
Cruising on...
Leaving the North-West and the 26th Parallel
Making good time, 400 kilometres in four and a half hours with two photo stops, we called it quits in Northhampton. Checking around town, accommodation was expensive. It was advised to check out the convent which we did. To our surprise, the quarters were clean and comfortable with secure parking for the bikes. A little squeezy getting them into the back of the convent, but that also adds a layer of difficulty to any enterprising thief.
While the local pub's accommodation was too expensive for us, their food was top class. $10 a pint (city prices) was a bit of a surprise though...
The following morning, another difference in time frames and family commitments caused another splintering of the already small group. I bolted early and cruised down the Indian Ocean Drive for Perth. Home by 1.00pm.
The wildflowers are in full bloom almost everywhere. The northern end of the Indian Ocean Drive was gold with blooms.
Another great ride with a great bunch of people from the BMW Motorcycle Club of Western Australia.
Can't wait for the next one..........................
This is where our party of near 20 riders split up. Different time frames and work commitments...
Tom, Bill and myself took the easiest option, not necessarily the shortest and made for Carnarvon, then straight down the coast to Perth via Northhampton.
I had a McFarkle experience on the way to Carnarvon, in that I had to stop because my eyes were streaming from an unknown cause and I was unable to see...
Probably a pollen cloud from the proliferation of wildflowers abound. After rinsing my eyes with clean water, all seemed OK, so on we went.
Fuelled up at Gascoyne Junction, then on to Carnarvon, the Space Station that is...
At the Shark Bay Lookout, south of Carnarvon. Another worthy photo stop and...
Gnomesville is being rebuilt
No, not those guys...
The Gnomes...
Cruising on...
Leaving the North-West and the 26th Parallel
Making good time, 400 kilometres in four and a half hours with two photo stops, we called it quits in Northhampton. Checking around town, accommodation was expensive. It was advised to check out the convent which we did. To our surprise, the quarters were clean and comfortable with secure parking for the bikes. A little squeezy getting them into the back of the convent, but that also adds a layer of difficulty to any enterprising thief.
While the local pub's accommodation was too expensive for us, their food was top class. $10 a pint (city prices) was a bit of a surprise though...
The following morning, another difference in time frames and family commitments caused another splintering of the already small group. I bolted early and cruised down the Indian Ocean Drive for Perth. Home by 1.00pm.
The wildflowers are in full bloom almost everywhere. The northern end of the Indian Ocean Drive was gold with blooms.
Another great ride with a great bunch of people from the BMW Motorcycle Club of Western Australia.
Can't wait for the next one..........................
Last edited by spacey1 on Mon 31 Aug, 2015 9:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Add more pix plus Tom's
Reason: Add more pix plus Tom's
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
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Re: Kennedy Ranges / Gascoyne Races Run 2015 (updated again)
Looks like the Ag Dept, at this time, cannot identify the spotted grasshopper from the Kennedy Ranges...
According to the MyPestGuide app,
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Very good photo. There are hundreds of locust and grass hopper (Orthoptera) species in Australia, many of them are still unknown to science"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waiting to see what happens when the scientist gets back from leave.
Hmmm... 'Orthoptera spaceyillus', got a certain ring to it
I'm ok with 'Ah, Grasshopper'
https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/plant-biose ... tguide-app
According to the MyPestGuide app,
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Very good photo. There are hundreds of locust and grass hopper (Orthoptera) species in Australia, many of them are still unknown to science"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waiting to see what happens when the scientist gets back from leave.
Hmmm... 'Orthoptera spaceyillus', got a certain ring to it
I'm ok with 'Ah, Grasshopper'
https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/plant-biose ... tguide-app
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
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Re: Kennedy Ranges / Gascoyne Races Run 2015 (updated again)
Just got a reply from MyPest Guide Reporter regarding my grasshopper sighting in the Kennedy Ranges.
The key take away would be, 'Don't eat it, it's toxic!'.Thanks for your grasshopper report.
Your lovely photo is of the native grasshopper, Blistered Pyrgomorph, Monistria pustulifera (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae).
It is an endemic grasshopper to the drier areas of Australia.
Less than 10% of populations are mid to long-winged, others are short-winged (essentially flightless).
Primarily found on heavy clay soils along watercourses of depressed areas.
It prefers a wide range of generally toxic plants and often defoliates and kills them.
Kind regards, MyPestGuide team
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