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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Jdbiker on June 03, 2023, 08:32:21 AM

Title: Road conditions.
Post by: Jdbiker on June 03, 2023, 08:32:21 AM
Hi SA brethren  :hatwave, I have a ride planned to Blinman in September and just wanted to know the road conditions between Parchalina and Blinman. Google maps shows unsealed, just wondering if it would be suitable to the ST?
Cheers.
Jd.
Title: Re: Road conditions.
Post by: Bodø on June 03, 2023, 08:36:52 AM
It is unsealed.  I tried riding it on the Kwaka from Parachilna to Blinman in 2015, did the Cerebral Knievel, said "this road is sh**" and turned around after a few hundred metres.  My stigma to dirt has waned since then, but it was rough as guts on that day.  Mind you, that was almost eight years ago.
Title: Re: Road conditions.
Post by: Wild Rose on June 03, 2023, 11:52:02 AM
Wow! got your answer in 4 1/2 mins  :hatwave
How good is OzSTOC   :like
Title: Re: Road conditions.
Post by: Williamson on June 03, 2023, 02:34:14 PM
This one?

https://goo.gl/maps/nVKeo1idRm7LpE7EA

Google Streetview from 2010 shows it as gravel, and not too bad, but not too good, 'specially if you gotta ride it (and with a pillion?) for 30km plus.

I'd be looking at Plan B; Helen's Plan B would be to get off and walk, that means we don't ride it.
Title: Re: Road conditions.
Post by: Jdbiker on June 03, 2023, 03:32:01 PM
Thanks Bodo. Drove the Gorge road in 2016 and recall it was gravel, thought it might have changed, will stick to the Flinders Ranges rd 🤓..
Title: Re: Road conditions.
Post by: Jdbiker on June 03, 2023, 05:38:22 PM
This one?

https://goo.gl/maps/nVKeo1idRm7LpE7EA

Google Streetview from 2010 shows it as gravel, and not too bad, but not too good, 'specially if you gotta ride it (and with a pillion?) for 30km plus.

I'd be looking at Plan B; Helen's Plan B would be to get off and walk, that means we don't ride it.


Thanks Michael, that’s the one. Not keen on 35km+ of gravel even without a pillion if it can be avoided, bike will get too dirty😳
Title: Re: Road conditions.
Post by: ruSTynutz on June 04, 2023, 12:26:04 AM
Sue & I travelled that road last year after the Mannum NatRally, mind you it was in the car...
It wasn't too bad a surface considering all the rain we'd had but I still wouldn't be too keen to ride it on the ST, solo or 2 up.  :popcorn

It's a great run up to Blinman on the nice sealed road though and we can recommend the pub for a meal...  :thumbs
Title: Re: Road conditions.
Post by: StinkyPete on June 04, 2023, 06:44:58 AM
The road from Blinman to Hawker has got to be one of the best motorcycle roads in the country, and it puts you in the region for two other great rides.......   Horrocks Pass,   and Pitchi Ritchi Pass from Stirling North to Quorn.

Parachilna Gorge from Parachilna to Blinman is beautiful but best on 4 wheels, and it's certainly not an ST road.
Title: Re: Road conditions.
Post by: Bodø on June 04, 2023, 06:56:36 AM
The road from Blinman to Hawker has got to be one of the best motorcycle roads in the country, and it puts you in the region for two other great rides.......   Horrocks Pass,   and Pitchi Ritchi Pass from Stirling North to Quorn.

I've said in one of my ride reports before Stirling North to Quorn is one of my favorite rides.  I'd do it more often if it was closer to Adelaide.
Title: Re: Road conditions.
Post by: Williamson on June 04, 2023, 11:56:53 AM
The road from Blinman to Hawker has got to be one of the best motorcycle roads in the country, and it puts you in the region for two other great rides.......   Horrocks Pass,   and Pitchi Ritchi Pass from Stirling North to Quorn.

Parachilna Gorge from Parachilna to Blinman is beautiful but best on 4 wheels, and it's certainly not an ST road.

Horrocks Pass, a bit short, but Oh Yeah!   Horrock must've been a motorcyclist.

Pitchi Ritchi Pass, ditto.
Title: Re: Road conditions.
Post by: ruSTynutz on June 05, 2023, 12:40:58 PM
Hi SA brethren  :hatwave, I have a ride planned to Blinman in September and just wanted to know the road conditions between Parchalina and Blinman. Google maps shows unsealed, just wondering if it would be suitable to the ST?
Cheers.
Jd.

Thought I'd share a few photos... :grin

As you can see, the road from Blinman to Parachilna was "mostly" in pretty good condition at the time...
There were a couple of spots where recent flooding had torn up the road a bit, otherwise it was pretty good.

(https://i.ibb.co/r7D7cMc/Road-to-Parachilna-1.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/Kxdsqh8/Road-to-Parachilna-2.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/jRYjqT4/Blinman.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/19QB3Bw/Prairie-Hotel.jpg)
Title: Re: Road conditions.
Post by: Langers on June 05, 2023, 05:11:05 PM

Parachilna Gorge from Parachilna to Blinman is beautiful but best on 4 wheels, and it's certainly not an ST road.

I concur with the latter part of Pete's statement but not necessarily the first part. The V-Strom handles the road quite well and I prefer 2 wheels over 4 in this instance.
Title: Re: Road conditions.
Post by: Brock on June 05, 2023, 05:47:48 PM
Quote
Horrocks Pass, a bit short, but Oh Yeah!   Horrock must've been a motorcyclist.

Probably rode a horse, maybe even a camel..
Title: Re: Road conditions.
Post by: Williamson on June 05, 2023, 05:58:52 PM
Quote
Horrocks Pass, a bit short, but Oh Yeah!   Horrock must've been a motorcyclist.

Probably rode a horse, maybe even a camel.

 :thumbs

Perhaps just some insight.
Title: Re: Road conditions.
Post by: Jdbiker on June 05, 2023, 07:30:42 PM
Thanks for the pics Rusty  :like. Road looks in pretty good condition for dirt, but even so I’ll give it a miss since there is an alternative, wouldn’t be a very enjoyable ride on the ST, especially fully laden.