Goldfields anniversary tour

[wightman]

So, on the Friday morning, Chris R., Digger, Carl, Shane, Dren, Jeff, Kots and Phil belted up the 222kms to Sandstone via Youanme mine (still closed and all fenced off). Me on the K100Lt Adventure and the girls made it to Sandstone by midday and met up with the lads. After a meet up and a picnic at London Bridge, we headed east into the unknown. There were a few thundershowers around and the Agnew hotel had a torrent of water flowing in front of it. No owner, no beers and more importantly, no skimpies, so we headed for Leinster. Fortunately Dren chatted up a little old lady, who gave us a fully furnished house to lay our weary bodies down!
Saturday morning saw Shane, Dren, Chris and Digger head off towards Wiluna, after having spun Digger's Dr front tyre round by 120 degrees to try and reduce the wear over about a third of the tread.........maybe we start a new thread on the technical section on this topic............

John, Phil, Isabella, Leony, Carl, Kots and Jeff set off for Kookynie via Leonora. We visited the Hoover museum and the abandoned Gwalia mine (Dec 1963) which has recently reopened. Kookynie was magic, with most of us camping on the lawn at the back of the hotel. Sunday saw us head off for Menzies and then Lake Ballard. some folks made it up to the top of the funny choc sundae island in the middle of the lake. Then we headed off for Rowles Lagoon and camped there. Jeff and Kots carried on riding all the way to Coolgardie. The only incidents were Phil losing some petrol via a poorly connected fuel hose, Kots snapped the bolt holding his fuel and water onto the back carrier and John's K series panniers burst off after a 80km/h dry creek crossing. Monday saw the lads all heading for the Breakaways via Victoria rock road which had some corrugations. On Tuesday we headed for home, via Wave rock. A bloody good trip with good company and a good crack. The magazine will host a kaleidoscope of pictures

john

[Digger]

A small group returned to Perth today (Wednesday) after sussing out a possible location east of Carnigie for Desert Raid 2017. Overall, the whole ride was a great success with varying road and track conditions; and even more varying weather conditions.


This was to be a possible overnight stay for the whole group....the old Agnew Hotel. It has been abandoned since the last ride and wasn't suitable. It rained heavily prior to our arrival...apparent by the stream flowing past the driveway entrance.



This sign appears at the junction adjacent to Carnegie Homestead. We travelled a further 180 km east on the Gunbarrel Highway before returning to Carnegie for fuel prior to returning back to Perth. The road was in good shape and was easily doable even on a big bike (1200). I was on my DR650 after my R1200 was written off a few weeks ago from an electrical fire.


While returning to Perth we bypassed Wiluna and short cutted to Leonora. The road near Melrose Station was flooded so we tried to side track it left of shot.

[Digger]

My Suzuki was able to bypass the floodway but still struggled. The bigger, heavier bikes had no chance. My wheel track shows how soft the conditions were.


It took three of us to get the bike back on solid ground.



Topping up with fuel on the final assault back to Perth. Carrying packaged fuel allowed us the flexibility to bypass regional towns and take more interesting tracks and roads on the return journey.


The Goldfields is always a great place to explore with suitable campsites in abundance although it can get cold. The temperature got down to 1.5 degrees Celsius on the final morning. The site chosen for Desert Raid is suitable for big bikes (1200's and sidecars (if you approach from the west (Wiluna)). There are more difficult approaches from other directions for those who are a little more adventurous.

[Bozo]

Digger

Great photos...seems you have a thing about mud and water.

Bozo

[_Wilks]

Don't forget fire Bozo. Not sure who does the best fire, Digger or Robin M.

My photos.

And I have to say, the HP2 is absolutely perfect for riding our network of bush dirt roads. I've got 30 litres of fuel permanently on board (23 litre tank and 7 litre under seat tank) which gives a safe 500km range, nearly 550km if I'm gentle on the throttle. Like I kept saying to Dren & Steve - its like having a V8 in a Cortina. It's a keeper for me. If you see a good one for sale, buy it - you won't regret it.

Profoundly Disturbed calmly and efficiently executing a front tyre puncture repair.


From the top of Mt William Lambert on the Gunbarrel. It's the only real hill in 150km.


Parking space is at a premium on the Gunbarrel.


At the next muddy floodway after this one, I rode through the water no problemo. In hindsight I should done the same at this one.


Because trying to ride around led to this. (BTW - is this dirty enough for you Phil? )

[Hugh.Jars]

I can still see clean bits on it.

I was following some guy on an old street bike when he hit a small washout on the road
When the back bounced up then landed it was as tho he had pressed a button on the dash
Coz both plastic panniers disconnected at the same time , launch into the air then landed like a cluster bomb exploding into sparkling bit of tools note book shoes frilly undies everywhere.
John was there surely you saw that john didnt you?
I think the horse that rings the door bell and the night of the pyromaniac restored any loss of dignity.....John
What do you say

[BillB]

Great photos guys. Sorry I missed the ride looks like a great trip.