OzSTOC
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: West Aussie Glen on November 17, 2015, 01:46:03 AM
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When I first visited John in hospital I realised that it would be some time before he would be up to riding his bike again. I then started to look at the cheapest options to get the Trophy back to Perth where it could be stored out of the weather. Gavo kindly offered to store it in his shed and I was looking at how I could get to Derby and ride the Trophy back to Perth.
Sadly when John left us it meant I was then having this discussion with Lionel. Initially we looked at Lionel meeting me in Derby and riding back to Perth together. Unfortunately nothing could be put in place until some legal and insurance matters could be sorted. By the time this was done Lionel no longer had the time to get to Derby and the bike needed to be moved from Derby and disposal arranged.
On looking at the ride from Derby to Perth I realised it was just a fraction over 2400 kms. On Friday the 31st Oct Lionel rang to say it was approved for me to go to Derby, collect John’s belongings and ride the Trophy back to Perth. Monday 2nd Nov I flew to Derby and checked in to the Derby Lodge. I spoke to the receptionist who had booked John in sadly hearing that he had been planning a trip to the Horizontal Water Fall which was on his bucket list.
After checking in and picking up the bike key the next question was how was the bike? Insert the key and turn it on, the instrument panel lights up with all the warning lights working, find neutral and press the starter but nothing happens. Check the kill switch, press the starter again, still nothing. Oh dear well just maybe I need the clutch in, pull in the clutch press the starter and the engine fires up, a little rough but soon settles down. My left hand is now black and a little rubbery from the hand grip that had deteriorated after over two months in the sun.
I took some photos and recorded the speedo reading, 94,253 kms. The significance of which didn’t strike me until I found out that the Trophy was a November 2013 delivery. John had averaged 4,488 kms per month.
(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l535/West_Aussie_Glen/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03131.jpg) (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/West_Aussie_Glen/media/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03131.jpg.html)
After wrapping the handgrips in plastic followed by insulation tape it was time to go for a ride. First stop, the service station to add some air to the tyres and then head out of Derby to get to the open speed limit and get a feel for the bike, all seemed good. Next was to sort out how I could pack all Johns belongings onto the bike. The sausage bag I had used to carry my jacket and a couple of items solved the problem and was secured above the pillion seat with some elastic straps.
At 5.05 on the Tuesday morning in good light I set off south towards Roebuck Plains Roadhouse. Leaving Derby I took it a little easy before setting the cruise control at 120 which gave a reading of 112 on the GPS. The temperature was already 27 degrees so I decided that was a good pace for me and the bike. After a few slow downs for cattle I arrived at Roebuck Plains for the standard bacon and egg toasted sandwich for breakfast and fuel before heading to Sandfire. Almost immediately after leaving I saw a small wallaby disappear in the bushes with another soon after leaving skid marks in the dirt as it turned back into the bush rather than challenge the Trophy.
Fuel and a drink at Sandfire and another drink and a quick photo at Pardoo Roadhouse had me well on the way to Port Hedland.
(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l535/West_Aussie_Glen/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03148%202.jpg) (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/West_Aussie_Glen/media/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03148%202.jpg.html)
Coming south past Port Hedland the main road passes between Port Hedland and Sth Hedland without a service station in sight which had me back tracking a few kilometres into Sth Hedland for lunch and fuel.
Even with the ambient temperature rising to 40 the Trophy temperature remained constant and my goal of a 1,200 km day to Capricorn was looking achievable.
Just after Hedland I took the inland road to Newman passing more road trains then I could count. Riding through the East Munjina Gorge the afternoon sun was behind me highlighting the fabulous reds in the rock formations and some lovely greens in the vegetation.
(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l535/West_Aussie_Glen/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03150%202.jpg) (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/West_Aussie_Glen/media/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03150%202.jpg.html)
Not 100% sure about the Trophy’s fuel range I felt fairly confident to push on pass the Auski road house to Capricorn 455 kms from Sth Hedland. I missed the fuel light actually lighting up but the fancy display on the Trophy said about 150 kms remaining so we cruised in to Capricorn with the display saying still 100 kms left. This was to be the longest stretch and most picturesque of the trip. I arrived at Capricorn a little after 6 having ridden 1,225 kms.
Dinner saw me eating opposite a Flying Doctor Service Pilot who was relocating to Derby with his GTR 1400 in his trailer. He had been offered two houses in Derby and had chosen the one with the biggest door so the GTR could be taken inside.
Wednesday morning I was back on the road at 5.15 with sleeping at home that night in my sights.
Shortly after leaving Capricorn I had to slow for an eagle to leave some road kill. It joined its mate in a nearby tree so I thought time for a photo. I stopped the bike and walked back towards the tree only to see the eagles head off across the country side but I did get a photo of an amazing patch of spinifex in front of a tree and another of the bike with the road disappearing into the horizon.
(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l535/West_Aussie_Glen/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03152%202.jpg) (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/West_Aussie_Glen/media/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03152%202.jpg.html)
(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l535/West_Aussie_Glen/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03153%202.jpg) (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/West_Aussie_Glen/media/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03153%202.jpg.html)
Having taken it a little easy in the early part of the morning I was just thinking about having not seen any roos when some movement caught my eye of to the right in some clear ground. A reasonable size roo was travelling parallel to the road some distance off but as I slowed it did a left turn and cross the road just in front of me. That was the only roo I saw on the whole trip but had several close encounters with birds of various sizes. One white cocky went into hover mode almost flying backwards as I passed it, think I could have reached out and patted it on its head. I saw a couple of goannas, a few goats and lots of cattle.
Next fuel stop was Meekatharra where I often stopped for petrol on numerous car trips to Perth (and one bike trip on a GPZ250 Kawasaki) when I lived in Newman in the eighties. It has not improved with time.
Between Meekatharra and Mt Magnet is a small town called Cue, which like Mt Magnet has a rich gold mining history. Though unlike Mt Magnet, Cue has some amazing buildings so another photo stop but all taken while still on the Trophy.
(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l535/West_Aussie_Glen/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03155.jpg) (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/West_Aussie_Glen/media/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03155.jpg.html)
(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l535/West_Aussie_Glen/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03156%202.jpg) (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/West_Aussie_Glen/media/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03156%202.jpg.html)
(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l535/West_Aussie_Glen/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03159.jpg) (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/West_Aussie_Glen/media/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03159.jpg.html)
A surprising number of wild flowers had me stopping for another quick photo or two.
(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l535/West_Aussie_Glen/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03163.jpg) (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/West_Aussie_Glen/media/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03163.jpg.html)
Fuel and lunch (if you call it that) at Mt Magnet and a drink stop at Paynes Find had me heading for Wubin, the last fuel stop before hitting Perth.
Having only had one car pass me the day before and none this day I was following my usual routine of standing up for a count of ten every 20kms and lots of waving arms around both to keep cool and flex the muscles. The Trophy was very stable allowing me often to hold both arms up in the air sort of choppa style which gave lots of cooling air down my sleeves. On checking my mirrors I noticed a car had caught me but was sitting a little behind, after passing another road train I backed off a little to let the car go past.
About 30 kms north of Wubin cropping starts and you feel you are heading towards civilisation.
At Wubin I pulled into the service station next to the car that had passed me. The driver congratulated me on my riding as he had been watching my antics for some distance.
Rather than following the Great Northern Highway all the way in to Perth I turned off just south of Pithara to take the back roads through Wongan Hills and Goomalling which bought me out onto the Great Eastern Highway near Northam for the final 100 kms home.
I took two exits later what I would normally do from the Roe Highway, topped the Trophy up with fuel at my local BP, rang Theresa for her to meet me in the driveway for a final photo and arrived home about 6.30 having ridden 1,201 kms. My second 1,200 km day in a row, for what I thought was a fitting end of a trip John had started.
(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l535/West_Aussie_Glen/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03170%202.jpg) (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/West_Aussie_Glen/media/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03170%202.jpg.html)
The Trophy is now resting amongst some new friends waiting on word from the ACT Public Trustee re its future.
(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l535/West_Aussie_Glen/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03191%202.jpg) (http://s1122.photobucket.com/user/West_Aussie_Glen/media/Derby%20to%20Willetton/DSC03191%202.jpg.html)
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Thanks WAG. That is one of the most poignant ride reports that I've ever read, and I felt quite emotional as your story unfolded.
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Glen, thank you i really appreciate you posting this, really enjoyed the read, like Pete i had so many pangs of emotion reading it.
Thank you again mate really appreciate your efforts and time to make this happen
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+ to the above.
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Thanks Glen for doing what you did and for your write-up.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Thanks Glen for that write up I am glad that you had a safe journey home.
Cheers, Winston66
:hatwave :runyay ++ :thumbsup :thumbsup
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Thanks Glen. Like the others, it was an emotional but pleasurable read.
Thanks for sharing.
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As above. Thank you :-++
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Many thanks WAG ++ ++ ++
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Good write up - Thanks Glen :thumb
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Thanks Glen, both for the write up, and for collecting John's bike :Blow
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Nice write up Glen.
You would have went passed the BP truck stop (opposite airport) a few km before Port Hedland. https://goo.gl/maps/HkHMw66r2rP2 and with the new highway bypass route you would have also missed the Coles Express on original Great Northern Highway route.
When riding from South Hedland to Newman (440 km) it would always mean a fuel stop at Auski for me when going back to Adelaide.
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Excellent all round. Thankyou for writing this significant retrieval story- it is important for all of us.
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Nice write up Glen.
You would have went passed the BP truck stop (opposite airport) a few km before Port Hedland. https://goo.gl/maps/HkHMw66r2rP2 and with the new highway bypass route you would have also missed the Coles Express on original Great Northern Highway route.
When riding from South Hedland to Newman (440 km) it would always mean a fuel stop at Auski for me when going back to Adelaide.
Alan my plan was to stop at the BP opposite the Airport but the only entrance I saw said trucks only. I ended up at the Caltex which wasn't very far of the main road but no signs???
Thought about fuel at Auski but from earlier top ups figured I would get to at least Newman.
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Great report Glen, Thanks for photos as gives life to trip and gives us some idea how vast the place is. Rest in peace JOHN. Denis Diane Gibson.
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Thought about fuel at Auski but from earlier top ups figured I would get to at least Newman.
If I didn't have the trailer in tow I would have made that distance as well. I did going the reverse trip but it's mostly all downhill that way plus I had spare fuel with me then and didn't need it until I got back there.
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Nice write up Glen.
The Oz SToc team have done well.
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Well done all round Glen the recovery and the write up....thank you
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Some say times like these builds character......Id say in this case it exposed the good character of our members in undertaking such a task.......thanks goes to West Auusie Glen
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The logistics of the recovery are remarkable... I sit here with a lump in my throat, and a tear or two as I type, as I realise never again will I follow John on the Trophy through the twisties, as I did on the Forrest RTE.
TY for the writeup, Glen
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Good onya Glen. A labour of love - great pics too. Many thanks.
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I'm sure we all wished you hadn't had to undertake this journey however you did us all a favour by doing so.
Really appreciated and well written up.
Many Thanks,
A.
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Good onya Glen ++