I set out on Saturday 19th September to attempt my first SS1600 as a memorial ride, in memory of my mate Steve "Chippy" Chippendale who lost his battle with cancer a couple of months ago. Steve loved his bike, and kept riding right up to a few weeks before losing the fight.
I started out from home at 5am, and headed into Shell Daly St for the start of my ride. It was a balmy 23 degrees, beautiful morning for a ride. So after refuelling, and getting my official start docket at 5.20am, I hit the road.
First stop was the rail bridge just south of Adelaide River, for a sunrise pic...
Then on to Katherine for fuel and a coffee.
I made the mistake of wanting a photo in front of the sign at Mataranka. Pulled off the road, riding towards the sign through a little bit of dust, I had a sudden sinking feeling.....
Over she went for a little nap. Now, I can pick her up from a firm surface, but when sinking ankle deep in soft sand, it was impossible. Luckily a lovely gentleman saw me struggling and stopped to give me a hand to pick her up and push her out of the soft stuff. This little incident put me off stopping for any more photos....
Quick fuel stop at Dunmarra, then on to Renner Springs. Riding into a headwind, I dropped my speed to around 120, was getting buffeted around a bit, and the fuel consumption was 't the best. I didn't need fuel at Renner, so just bought myself a Boost.
Stopped a bit longer at Renner than I had planned, started chatting to a guy riding a Harley who I had met the day before in Darwin. He was on his way from Darwin to Canberra, had overnighted in Mataranka Friday night and was aiming for Camooweal Saturday (I managed to almost completely hide his bike in the photo I took at Renner.....)
I now had a tail wind, and found it took a bit of concentration not to exceed the 130 limit. Much more comfortable riding. Stopped at Elliot and Mataranka for fuel, then on to Katherine. Decided to top up there rather than have to refuel at Adelaide River. Rode on into the sunset, and it finally started to cool down a bit. It had been up to 38 degrees in the middle of the day. Although I wasn't feeling tired at all, my bad back was making it's presence well and truly felt by now. I continued on to Adelaide River, only having to overtake a few cars. I am totally in love with my new lights, it was very comfortable cruising at 120 in the dark. It also helped that I had seen no wildlife, and very little in the way of roadkill between Darwin and Katherine on the way down. By the time I got to Adelaide River, my back was really screaming at me, so I stopped for about half an hour to stretch and walk around a bit.
Back on the road just after 9pm, I was on the last stretch. I got into Darwin city just before 10pm, then got my finish docket just around the corner from home at 10.13pm. My first SS1600 finished in just under 16 hours.
