DQB ride not all the way

[bill9117]

Anyone interested in riding with the guys going to the DQB with Steve, leaving Sat with the main group and travelling with them till Monday then breaking away and returning to Perth by Wed.
Probably get to Mt Augustus and maybe Karaijini and then leaving the main group to return to Perth via the shortest route. Could be flexible to get back by Thursday but plan to return by Wed if possible.
I have to be back in Perth for Friday due to work bookings .
Let me know who maybe is interested in accompanying me with the shortened trip. I will be riding my GSA.
Steve is planning to return on the following Sunday.
Bill

[bill9117]

Well it certainly was "DQB not all the way."I Came back today with Chris having got to the first overnighter just shy of Murchison station .
Steve indicated that he was going to leave From Gingers roadhouse at 8 sharp Sat morning. This meant leaving home by 6.30.
Arriving at Gingers there seemed to be an incredible number of bikes with more arriving by the minute. Turns out quite a few people came to see us off which was rather keen with rain and more storm clouds building up.
15 starters ( mainly club guys and some of Shane's mates who have Australian rally cred) and a few others tagging along for the start left Gingers following an address to the troops by Steve.
We went tar to Moora with black angry looking clouds steadily looking like lots of rain was being dropped to the North where we were now heading. Just out of Moora Steve found our first dirt road which wasn't so much dirt but more like mud.I along with everyone else as they started sliding around were somewhat concerned that the recent rain was going to make the dirt a bit interesting to say the least. Well after numerous heart stoppers clenched teeth and thinking this isn't fun and a heavy downpour to top it off, this section started to dry out and settle down as we progressed West I think. Steves trusty GPS seemed to take us to all points of the compass making it impossible to know where we were. At one stage it took us thru a farmers paddock up a sandy track until it was over-ruled and Steve did a about turn and lead the troops back past the farmers house and back to the next dirt road down a bit from this one . Meanwhile the farmer and his daughters who witnessed the procession going past initially were probably now hiding hoping this marauding bunch of rough angry bikers would leave them in peace and go away.
So the group followed Steve along dirt road after dirt road until we came out of the bush just north of Carnamah where we all had a fuel stop for the last leg to Mullewa. This didn't go completely smoothly with half of the group arriving in Mullewa before the group that was ahead of this group. It turned out this group missed the points-man that was supposed to direct to the next cross road so the group that arrived early had a shorter distance to cover than the leading group. Anyway everyone was accounted for and with another fuel stop and a pie off we went again to just shy of the Murchison station roadhouse. This road was terrible with severe corrugations loose gravel bull dust and thick dust. The leading group were riding this road at 100+ ks saying this ironed out the corrugations, I found 80 ks was manageable on the big pig but felt like it was trying to destroy the shock absorbers along with a very flighty front wheel which required the odd handful of throttle to get out of those " s#** t...I'm losing it" situations .
At 4.30 we finally arrived at the campsite which was a clearing in the scrub at the side of the road , I did a quick check on my dentition to determine how many fillings had been dislodged by the corrugations. The campsite was a good one as everyone could distance themselves from Jamie and other night time chainsaws and spread themselves around. There was plenty of wood so a raging campfire was lit and the group had camaraderie until everyone was ready to crash at 8ish.
The group was up and at em today (Sun) at sunrise ready for another day in the dirt for the next leg to Mt Augustus. Chris R decided that he had to be back in Perth so I made a decision because if I went all the way to Mt Augustus I would be riding back on 1000+ ks of this rather ordinary road by myself which I wasn't very comfortable with(as everyone else was going for the full 9 days and I had to be back for work on Thursday ) So I decided to give Mt Augustus a miss and pair up with Chris for the trip home.
Apart from Chris having a minor off in some soft sand after leaving the campsite and myself having to avoid a skippy playing chicken with me while I was bearing down on it at a great rate of knots and not wanting to swerve or brake hard on the loose gravel,we had a great trip back back along the tooth filling loosening dirt to Mullewa and then tar back to Perth.
I must give Steve all credit for his efforts and great organisation with the couple of days I did. I am sure the rest of the trip will be just as good and the guys should have a memorable fulfilling trip. Thanks Steve great planning and implemention.

[bill9117]

Some photos will be posted when I recover

[Swampy]

Sounds like an eventfull couple of days Bill and to THINK I was seriously considering doing the initial days ride as far as Mullewa

Very glad I abstained mate as I may well have dislodged what few teeth I have remaining on the first day out

Pleased to hear you erred on the side of caution and travelled back with Chris and got home safe.

Looking forward to seeing your photo's mate after your "Old" bones have re - knit and you have had a dose of the refreshing "Singing Syrup".

Swampy

[bill9117]

Too sore and tired for singing syrup must be getting old

[Davey_sprockeT]

Bill,
Glad you & Chris R made it back safely.

[bill9117]

link to some happy snaps of the trip go to

https://picasaweb.google.com/bill9117/R ... P2SpfXrmQE

[jls]

Alas it was a splendid 4days riding through some spectacular country side with agreat bunch of fellows unfortunately ,I think it was a blown drive shaft seal and a loss of oil that got me , about 200 km south of Paraburdoo A big thanks to the guys for the help not to mention the 50 km tow to Ashburton downs station where I was put up for the night and driven into Paraburdoo at 6 am and then home by plane
All the boys were in good health as of yesterday lunchtime and having a ball
Jamie

[bill9117]

Sorry to hear this Jamie at least you are ok what's been happening during the rest of the ride after I left you. A ride report is required.

[Swampy]

Good to know you are home safe Jamie, Country people are great eh?

Obviously you took the GS......................Might have less of a problem with your blasted chain on the Susuki after all

Glad you enjoyed your trip.

Cheers Swampy

[bill9117]

Sorry to hear this Jamie at least you are ok what's been happening during the rest of the ride after I left you. A ride report is required.

Well Jamie lets have the ride report

[spacey1]

Great to hear you are safe Jamie...

Flew home, now that's the easy way out. Ride report essential now that you have all that spare time on your hands.

Bill, nice photos. If you would like to embed them from Picasa, use the "Img" button in the edit fields whilst editing the story. Copy the embed image link from Picasa, making sure you have selected 800px as the image size.

I'll create an image to show you. It's not difficult.

Click the 'Img' box above. The img code appears.

Paste the Picasa link between the tags per example



Preview, that's it...

[bill9117]

I must be a bit thick Nev but can't get the Imj Imj with the link in between to work. It just comes up blank I have carefully tried doing what you have instructed but no luck