OzSTOC
OzSTOC Ride Reports, Pictures & Videos => RIDE REPORTS => Topic started by: Biggles on July 05, 2018, 11:29:53 AM
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You might recall this time last year I introduced a mate to the "thousand miles in a day" challenge to Cairns. He and I needed to be in Mt Isa last Friday, and decided to replicate the effort, albeit about 100 kays further. At the stroke of midnight Wednesday we met up in Aspley for our departure. We knew it would be chilly west of here, and were suitably ensconced in multiple layers with Little Hotties on the toes.
(http://www.imghostr.net/images/2018/06/29/fb2a360f2f4cd674af6f9bbf37b73047.jpg)
We were going great guns until we caught up with a house at Dinmore. It was moving quite well- near the speed limit, but we were grateful to see it take the Fernvale exit off the Warrego Highway. We couldn't believe it when forward progress was again arrested at Haigslea by another wide load, this time some sort of girders, again with an uncompromising Police escort. Fortunately the highway opened up to four lanes after a while and we could resume our accustomed pace.
It got down to 5 degrees around Toowoomba, but rose to an acceptable 11 degrees for the rest of the night. A refuel and Maccas Muffin in Roma fortified us for the long day ahead. Travelling with another rider makes stopping for photos less practical, but this enforced stop gave me a chance to get the camera out. There have been a few of these pix in recent times, but this is the first I've seen with a countdown. Those are minutes, and there are ten of them!
(http://www.imghostr.net/images/2018/06/29/6fc8acdc2ebd6831b83721866fcd944b.jpg)
I've never been this far west and was astonished to see the 747 right there next to the highway, so a stop was mandated.
(http://www.imghostr.net/images/2018/06/29/a03aae46fb1c43bfe369d95f54b6cfa0.jpg)
We had comms via our Senas, and I insisted we get this shot, so distinctive was the geology here.
(http://www.imghostr.net/images/2018/06/29/d236df4e53730f3c415348ef02c4db4a.jpg)
Sundown saw the need to put the layers back on and have a snack.
(http://www.imghostr.net/images/2018/06/29/15c767481ce8b357a3d526da773f46e8.jpg)
The obligatory sunset shot didn't disappoint. They're wide horizons with great red skies.
(http://www.imghostr.net/images/2018/06/29/c9d6f3a3473692ad4ca74168c0e3cc48.jpg)
I was experimenting with a "Roo Reverser" (a car reversing horn) and was pleased to observe most of the little roos bounding away from me. The stretch from Cloncurry to Isa had me most worried and the concern turned out to be justified. Although we didn't see many roos there, three big ones bounded across my bow in formation. Whether the "reversing horn" modified their behaviour is a moot point, but I did need to throw out the anchors. My mate's wry comment was, "I bet that woke you up!" He wasn't far wrong, because although we'd grabbed a powernap at Ilfracombe, I was feeling pretty seedy by then. It was only about 20 kays to Mt Isa, and I was quite happy to head for bed.
(http://www.imghostr.net/images/2018/06/29/aa1aeb990c80597088eaecc6ac41308f.jpg)
Distance: 1837km Google, 1880km ODO
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Goodonya Biggles. That's a great effort indeed. :clap :clap
After Mackay I'm keen to get back into some Long Distance riding, to test both myself and my new ride, and have a couple of ideas taking shape.
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:Like:
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Go for it, Pete!
With 500 kays range and all the comforts, the Beemer LDRs should be a pleasure. :thumbs
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Go for it, Pete!
With 500 kays range and all the comforts, the Beemer LDRs should be a pleasure. :thumbs
The bike will be OK, particularly with a new RDL seat on the way, but the body has a some joint stiffness issues after chemo which might be a problem, so I'm doing lots of walking and gym to keep strong and flexible. I want to have a crack at a SS1600 to Alice Springs soon after we get home from Mackay, and then a Centreline 36 from Darwin in the next 12 mts.
See you in Mackay :beer
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:blk13 :dred11
great Ride Report Biggles.. great pics too. well done. :thumb
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Awesome RR Biggles.
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Safe travelling fellas
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Great report
Cheers
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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The bike will be OK, particularly with a new RDL seat on the way, but the body has a some joint stiffness issues after chemo which might be a problem, so I'm doing lots of walking and gym to keep strong and flexible.
I'm convinced exercise and attitude are the key factors in making a good recovery from most issues.
Speaking of medical matters, I had a cataract removed from my right eye on Monday. On Tuesday morning I was amazed at how bright the blues are in our house, and how dull the white things are when viewed through my yet-to-be-fixed left eye. Today I was allowed to take Ruby2sday out for a run and even the poorly illuminated digital panel looked great. :runyay
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Great RR Biggles. And great news about your cataract surgery. ++
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Goodonya Biggles. That's a great effort indeed. :clap :clap
After Mackay I'm keen to get back into some Long Distance riding, to test both myself and my new ride, and have a couple of ideas taking shape.
Sounds good - Glendambo was a good tryout and you seemed ok after.
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Good ride for you by the sound of it.
10 years ago I wouldn't have thought twice about doing 1000km a day ride (on my own) but now I prefer to take it a little slower; the border ride every couple of years gives me enough of a challenge now.
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Awesome RR mate, thanks for sharing and congrats on the operation :thumbsup
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Certificate in today's mail:
(http://www.imghostr.net/images/2018/07/27/071634f7c3c92e16cfc975f62ac0c9d7.jpg)
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:Like: :Like: :Like:
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Well done Biggles :hatwave
:beer
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Well done :beer
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Nice one Sir Biggles. Worthy of a knighthood.
Just wondering... does the 24 hours have to be midnight to midnight? I’m just pondering whether it would be possible to reduce the roo risk by leaving and arriving a few hours earlier. I don’t have any experience with outback Roos yet but I’m assuming that the dusk hours are their most active ?
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Nice one Sir Biggles. Worthy of a knighthood.
Just wondering... does the 24 hours have to be midnight to midnight? I’m just pondering whether it would be possible to reduce the roo risk by leaving and arriving a few hours earlier. I don’t have any experience with outback Roos yet but I’m assuming that the dusk hours are their most active ?
For IBA it can be any 24hr period not necessarily midnight to midnight...as for roos...faster at dusk going to feed...slower at dawn as fed and heavy...lots and lots of other factors come into it...lots of LD riders slow down to 70-80 during nightime runs and have lots of extra lights
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Nice one Sir Biggles. Worthy of a knighthood.
Just wondering... does the 24 hours have to be midnight to midnight? I’m just pondering whether it would be possible to reduce the roo risk by leaving and arriving a few hours earlier. I don’t have any experience with outback Roos yet but I’m assuming that the dusk hours are their most active ?
Thanks Steve. It's all in the planning- in this case, maximise the night time in a "roo-safe" area, i.e. the Lockyer Valley and Darling Downs, then a long day in potential roo country with as short a stint as possible in a known roo patch. Also taking into account riding away from the sun as much as possible, and north or south during the time the sun is low in the sky. Then factor in a civilised time to arrive at your destination, unless it's home, when you're mostly welcome at any hour. Plot it all out on a spreadsheet and test the times and for me it's often midnight, although I prefer 2:00 to 4:00AM because I can get a proper sleep rather than the forced few hours before midnight that are seldom refreshing.
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Good effort there Mr Big.
.... factor in a civilised time to arrive at your destination, unless it's home, when you're mostly welcome at any hour.....
I'll keep that in mind, but I don't know where you live.
Unless I'm mistaken, the ST13 in one of the pics in this thread from AusTouring, looks very familiar. Did you have a little adventure over last weekend Bill?
http://austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?p=73974#post73974 (http://austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?p=73974#post73974)
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Good effort there Mr Big.
.... factor in a civilised time to arrive at your destination, unless it's home, when you're mostly welcome at any hour.....
I'll keep that in mind, but I don't know where you live.
Unless I'm mistaken, the ST13 in one of the pics in this thread from AusTouring, looks very familiar. Did you have a little adventure over last weekend Bill?
[url]http://austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?p=73974#post73974[/url] ([url]http://austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?p=73974#post73974[/url])
It lacks a couple of key stickers below the windscreen. I think that might be Knave's. I was up at another RideFest at Hervey Bay.
As for the welcome home, I think I'll keep the address secret for now. :p