My ride – Geelong to Brisbane and back to visit my 2 kids and 3 grandsons.
I had a few suggestions from the board about which way to travel, so here is a summary of my ride.
Left Geelong Wednesday 17 October, Melbourne then up the Hume, turned off at Coolac and made it to Cowra the first day.
Camped next to a Granny who had ridden her Goldwing with a sidecar containing her 2 grandkids plus towing a substantial camper trailer on the back from somewhere near the QLD border. A pretty decent effort I thought.
I was told there was a Goldwing convention there that coming weekend.
Next morning off to Bathurst. Been watching “Bathurst” on telly for years, but never made it there. 3 laps of the track in the normal race direction then 2 the opposite way to get a different perspective. Good fun.
Set the Tom Tom destination to the Quickest route to the Bylong Valley Way. It certainly took me on some interesting backroads. Ones that you would probably never travel on if you just followed a map and main roads.
Travelled the full length of the Bylong Way and ended up at the Golden Highway about 20k’s west of Denman.
Looked where I was and decided to head for Tamworth for the night. Again, set the Tom Tom for the quickest destination.
I didn’t write it down but I think I went along Willow Tree road and Merriwa Rd. Anyway, wherever it was there were 2 sections of quite rough gravel road for about a total (guessing) of 30 k’s. Finally onto the New England Highway and camped in Tamworth for the night. The locals were not chatty so no gossip that night.
Checking the bike that night found the back tyre only had about 10 pounds in it and it looked pretty cooked. I think the gravel road had something to do with that.
Pumped it up to 50 lbs and decided if it held overnight it was good enough to make it to Brisbane.
Next day, tyre still up so Brisbane is the aim today. Off to Armidale, down through Dorrigo (nice) to Coffs Harbour. Tom Tom is then telling me there is a quicker way than up the Coast Highway, so I turn off the dual lane traffic choked highway and turn inland. Grafton, Casino, Kyogle, Summerland Way turn right onto the Mt Lindsay Highway, Baudesert and then head to Brisbane.
Reached my daughters house in Brighton about 6 pm.
From my house to Brighton the Tom Tom had showed the shortest distance was 1780kms. My way was 2500kms.
Into Tyres for Bikes for a new rear tyre. Fitted and balanced $250. Impressive service and cheaper price than in Vic. It was worth the ride just to get a new tyre.
While I was in Brisbane I did a tour up to Noosa and around – 300 and something k’s
Another 200 odd k’s with my Son in law up around Mt Mee and surrounding countryside.
On Sunday the 28th , another 300 and something k’s with the QLD Ozstoc boys on their Ride to Eat.
Monday 29th headed for home down the Pacific highway through the Gold Coast, stopping at Nambucca heads for the night.
Next day continue down the Pacific Highway , turning off just after Bulahdelah (before Newcastle) when the Tom Tom told me this was the quickest way to Singleton. More quaint backroads then into Singleton.
Petrol, then down the Putty Road (Nice ride) into the outskirts of Sydney , onto the M7 (thinking I will get caught in peak hour) straight across Sydney – no holdups, onto the Hume and pulled up in Goulburn for the night.
Next day, down the Hume and home at my place about 5pm that night – Wed 31 Oct.
All up 5400 kms. A very enjoyable ride and I can thoroughly recommend using your GPS to take you the long way around when you have the time. You will see places you would never go to otherwise.
The St was a dream to ride. Could have kept going to Perth.
