OzSTOC
OzSTOC Ride Reports, Pictures & Videos => RIDE REPORTS => Topic started by: Bodø on August 07, 2024, 08:48:13 AM
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Given the events of monday this will no doubt be the hardest ride report I have written. R.I.P Stroppy. You were the first interstate Ozstocer I met and you'll be sorely missed. I had the pleasure of seeing you in four states, although Western Australia was only from the air.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/06/02ee78e6b6d1cd4e28c8819f42fcdcc7.jpg)
Day one
My original plan was to depart on saturday but the roster clerk gave me a 1430 finish on the friday so I left a day earlier. It's not the first time I have headed interstate after work but this direction was a first. This motorcycle cop pointed his hairdryer at me and pulled it down once he knew I wasn't speeding.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/5f1695a01cfc5ea2ce6f32201d3fefef.jpg)
I refuelled at the Tin Man Roadhouse before making my way to the nearby caravan park where I had booked a cabin for the night.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/79a3b5b9729a5f0c76edee1f5591907f.jpg)
I felt a bit nippy riding up there and it wasn't until I was undressing that I realized I left my bomber jacket at home. Having done many a border run I knew I would have to do something about that the next day.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/fd7eb1fc325e6128bae2505ab5385df3.jpg)
Day two
I departed Napperby in the dark and it was still dark when I arrived in Kimba, and dare I say it, one layer of clothing down it was a bit chilly too. This is my first visit to Kimba since the big galah was repainted. I'd only seen photos from the front and I thought compared to the original it looked ghastly, but this time saw the feathers on the back and though this actually looks pretty good. I'd also made a point to stop here on the way back in daylight hours.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/b5527f9eec0af1aed91a8695ec190c8c.jpg)
It would appear the Kyancutta general store has closed its doors since I last came here. That said, I rarely went in there.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/875cdfa4571bf1905838d3a56d786d6c.jpg)
Streaky Bay aside, all these locations were on my itinery so I had a lot of riding to do.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/ca9dd9c50bd66c5501d3e93b1dd83138.jpg)
Having done this stretch many times before I wasn't intending to make a lot of stops on day two, but Pildappa Rock was a first for me. This is one reason why the Versys was chosen over the Goldwing for this trip. I figured dirt would be involved here and knew it would for Lake Macdonnell.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/7e687a8e805586d5063ee0b1c5ff3171.jpg)
My first impression of Pildappa Rock was that photo above and though is that it? It didn't look all that big until I put the drone up and had a look from the air.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/4b447503d2ba7ab0fe64bcd779bf06bf.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/0fbd5fc932024447e7ef6dca79b91863.jpg)
It was the wee hours of the morning when I rode through Port Augusta so knew Ceduna was my last realistic chance of buying a layer of clothing before heading across the Nullabor. They didn't have orange so I had to settle for yellow. Either way, for this trip it would always be under the raincoat so any color would have been fine, provided it kept me warm.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/cf35bce5aa783f4e7087ce3fd97c063a.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/b87a5a2a3e4b7e7110057df3ad336ef1.jpg)
I spotted my first motorcycle on the trip when refuelling at Ceduna and ironically it was an ST. We had a bit of a chat. He told me his name and that he had ridden over from Freo. As he hadn't heard of Ozstoc I gave him a card and invited him to the club.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/912ab543e9486a31c9a123b23b292e8c.jpg)
I put the drone up for its second flight of the day at Lake Macdonnell. My Barossa cap which resided in the top box was put over the number plate to obscure it from my video footage. I did the same at Pildappa Rock, but here forgot to take it off and rode off with it there. It probably fell off within metres of this spot, but I didn't realise this until I got to to my accommodation at Penong. Consequently day three would see me buying another item of clothing to replace it.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/80e781d069ac67b37c722b9dd7485209.jpg)
After unloading the bike there and setting up the computer to copy helmet cam files from its memory card to a usb hard drive I went for a walk to the highway to get some lunch. Walking through the back I saw the windmill park from the other side for the first time.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/a85a88f7ebb42dc17243b16e52bab98e.jpg)
And again from another angle when I put the drone up an hour or two later.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/043c34c271645fa0777e16b60fd67c18.jpg)
For some reason GPS Logger didn't record any points between Stirling North and Ceduna (where I restarted it) so it shows me as travelling as the crow flies between those two points. I'd get the correct Eyre Highway curve on the way back though.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/07/ecfed40400261a990dc1906ef6d97f83.jpg)
Day two done and dusted. I shan't cover the whole trip in one post. I'll cover the rest of the trip in the following days.
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Nice report, looking forward to Ch 2
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Thanks Bodo :thumb
Good read and photos
Thanks for sharing :thumbsup
:beer
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Nice report, looking forward to Ch 2
Cheers. I'm about to start on it now. It was great to meet you in Perth too.
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Day three
The wheelbarrow was loaded up (at Penong) for another day of adventure. I hadn't planned on making many stops other than to refuel before the SA/WA border as I have done that portion several times before.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/2c037b1269c7a33d470c1ade5d76179e.jpg)
On the way to the 2019 Border Run it dropped to minus six degrees at Yalata. This time it only dropped to minus five. I'm glad I bought that jacket at Ceduna. Grip warmers aren't that effective in these temperatures.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/075551340aad59e30a801539bb1ea8c0.jpg)
I'd noticed that Yalata has rebuilt their roadhouse after the original one closed in 2006, and was demolished some time between my Border Runs of 2017 and 2019. There is fuel available 24 hours per day which would have been handy to know before I whizzed past at 110 km/h. I found out the hard way that the Nullabor Roadhouse isn't a 24/7 roadhouse, arriving there an hour and a bit before opening time.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/ed66558dcc1da5a95b22bd883de06ac0.jpg)
With all that time to kill I walked around and took a lot of photos. They've spelled Norseman wrong on this sign. I'd visit all the places to the west with the exception of Kalgoorlie.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/c2c59b50b1c7d067305d6444b4d59776.jpg)
Waiting around was actually colder than riding and I stuck my hands under a hot shower to try and defrost them. All it did was burn the skin but very little internally. It was no way as effective as a Japanese ashiyu. I could have done with one of those.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/0b1af2eef209b3492ffdb7c33ab978bc.jpg)
An hour on and sunrise was approaching.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/12e6d77685885abe7e6a94bd81b52eab.jpg)
I had planned to buy a replacement cap here for the Barossa one I lost at Penong the previous day but after freezing here for what felt like an eternity decided to look at Border Village instead. This reminded me of the cap that JD has (his is the Northern Territory equivalent) so it was an easy decision.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/9385370baddb31f075c3612a22e6d22c.jpg)
Western Australia here I come. This border sign and the Western Australian quarantine station is actually in South Australia.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/4b15a44967bfc131af83c55f7914970f.jpg)
This is the actual border and I am just on the WA side for this one. I'd put the drone up here in WA and land it in SA on the return a few days later.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/ed81198f801e5769894480ab7a1bcc63.jpg)
The drone came out here on the road to the old Eucla Telegraph station. Its proximity to the Eucla National Park restricted how far I could actually fly, but looking at the beach from above beat walking there in bike gear,
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/1f880ff0d405b99245ce826d21d733d1.jpg)
I'd pass a few grids betwen Eucla and Cocklebiddy, but this one on the Eucla/Mundrabilla border was the only one I stopped at. I was under the impression these were built to stop animals migrating but with no fencing here I walked 360 degrees around it without hinderance.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/39b281ae71b0dc252e9b0ca41b58e305.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/5dc52561b809c82b5788659abb01d54a.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/d9f6d39209cffe58f4e075312da61c68.jpg)
The Mundrabilla roadhouse was having it's fuel bays being rebuilt. They did have container fuel dispensers like Yalata but with Madura Pass being within range I didn't refuel here.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/5778e7df7aebd81722825d5664373ac7.jpg)
I did put the drone up though. In fact, I put it up at every roadhouse on the day from here to Cocklebiddy. I've known about the Nullabor Links golf course for quite some time but thanks to the drone this was the first time I've actually seen the holes. They have greens too.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/6a9b725950177222c0b41271042510c2.jpg)
These cars were at the Madura Pass roadhouse. I'd speak to the owners afterward. They were from France and doing a rally from Adelaide to Esperance. We talked for a while. I'd see them again in Cocklebiddy where they had lunch and at Caiguna, my pitstop for the day. They pressed on to Balladonia.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/4cb2903510af87312da14109ca86066d.jpg)
Just prior to rolling into Madura Pass Roadhouse I'd passed an unmarked police car that had pulled someone over (presumably for speeding). Said car then followed me into the roadhouse and sat there for a while. I wondered if they were waiting for me to depart with the hope of nabbing me. I spent a lot of time here and they eventually left. Firstly, I spoke with the French people of the vehicles above. In the store there was a Japanese girl behind the counter so I spoke with her for a while. Then I put the drone up.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/a3d1de61eb223f01f609790d27aa0e1f.jpg)
Whilst droning I heard the sirens go twice so the old bill obviously had pulled up a couple more for speeding. The speed limit drops from 110 to 90 at the pass so I'm guessing a lot of people fly through at 110 and get done. Actually, they were having a field day. I stopped at the lookout just out of town and as I was leaving that they put their sirens on, u-turned and chased someone down. By the time they finished with that one I was well gone.
One thing I noticed a lot in Western Australia was not just does the sign say fuel 5km ahead but also tells you when the next one is. Consequently I didn't refuel in Cocklebiddy.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/30ee6fb570e0dac2e7355cc32ec023e2.jpg)
I still stopped, had a look, bought something and put the drone up though.
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(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/484ac762d27f264905d45b9491c983bb.jpg)
There was no grid between Cocklebiddy and Caiguna, but I knew I had reached the latter when I arrived at this sign. It was the second time zone I crossed on the day (the first being at Border Village).
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/32d01028f4ea614ce573cea0674107b3.jpg)
This one was on the other side of the roadhouse and my accommodation for the night, but figured it would be dark when I departed opted to get a photo in daylight hours before refuelling and checking in for the night.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/edd59f9548e5134c166713957304226a.jpg)
The day's shopping. When I first started instagram years ago I tried registering with the adventure.before.dementia handle but someone had beaten me to it and opted for the.lad.rides instead. Nevertheless, I when saw this number plate at Madura Pass I bought it. The cap I ahve already explained. I bought that at Border Village. The coffee cup I bought at Cocklebiddy. I cringe when my accommodation has international roast coffee which I always refer to as Cocklebiddy gravel dust (it may as well be) so when I saw a Cocklebiddy coffee cup I bought it. Bar a bottle of Margaret River wine I all my souvenir shopping was done on this one day.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/b0595dc2151a7ec73ea90535c9323d31.jpg)
Those people from France had rocked up by the time I was going in to get a late lunch/early dinner.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/ab0df72e41a45b250b10389841bcbb6c.jpg)
In hindsight I shouldn't have ordered the chips as I couldn't finish them.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/4b69b95f22408d09a46754faa81a3f96.jpg)
After lunch I pulled the drone out but it refused to fly because I was too close to the airport. It turns out the airport was right behind the roadhouse. I planned to put it up a few kilomtres out of town on the return but forgot. I retreated to my room for the night. Day three complete.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/694c08b9f02bd691819c79933dee301a.jpg)
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Just prior to rolling into Madura Pass Roadhouse I'd passed an unmarked police car that had pulled someone over (presumably for speeding). Actually, they were having a field day.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/9d896adc427655ede0234c3644ef72f3.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/051ba93ce3d24a1a962cafb209cd81b8.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/89930780070f9e82853089b4c6acd19d.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/02202ad88fa18b452c45d2757382e6fd.jpg)
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(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/08/89930780070f9e82853089b4c6acd19d.jpg)
Not really a very safe/legal spot to pull them over... :think1
Did the copper have flashing lights on?
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Yes they did, but you can see the roadhouse entrance to the right. There was nothing stopping the car from pulling in there istead of where they did.
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Day Four
I'd been surprised at how few bikes I saw on this trip thus far. On day two my only recollection was the Honda ST I already posted and day three was this one when I rocked up at my accommodation in Caiguna. I spoke with him for a bit. As it turns out he had his bike shipped to Perth from New South Wales and was riding it back, so not doing the Border Run. He be staying in the room next to mine and I snapped this before departing.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/09/a23924e09e2b56654112a7ce6cc24d06.jpg)
I did the entire 146 straight road in the dark and snapped this at the Balladonia end. I'd traverse it in daylight hours on the return from Perth.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/09/b962b030ced23807b8326a864e0c7a28.jpg)
After the debarcle of the Nullabor Roadhouse the day before I googled Balladonia's opening hours that night and set off this morning with that in mind. It quite clearly says it opens at 5:30am. They're lying pricks. I got there to find they don't actually open until 6:00am. I did point this out to them and she said they'd rectify it, but I shan't hold my breath.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/09/b75c2e4c36dd7bf7c9f2b88a3c31b936.jpg)
The day's first drone flight was outside the Oasis caravan park at Fraser Range. It had a park closed sign out the front after I turned in but that wouldn't hinder me looking at it from above. Prior to this I turned into a road that sad **** Rocks (forgot the name) but did't see anything of interest from the bike. The ground was too soft for a side stand so I left without getting off the bike.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/09/e02537433870e3f6d7f2a0a5ad63c3cb.jpg)
This welcome to Norseman sign could do with some touching up. It reminds me of the one that was at Port Wakefield before it got carried away. Norseman would be my pit stop on the way from Perth to Border Village a few days later.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/09/499b01f6a05543cca50a36b2aff7214a.jpg)
I'm pretty sure I came under the 5 tonne limit, but didn't have four wheels. This was at Salmon Gums. I'd put the drone up over the town later.
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I'd learned of Skylab when I lived in Perth and knew someone who had part of it in his house. Well, he said it was part of Skylab, but to the untrained eye it could have been anything. This was outside the museum in Esperance. I also planned to check out the Stonehenge replica but missed the turnoff. I did get the big whale tail though.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/09/36b800cb27f5d0bb23b34a68e0f6ad4a.jpg)
I was looking forward to getting my hand on some of that Western Australian delicacy spearmint milk prior to departing. In fact, prior to Border Run 2019 I did email Border Village in inquire where they sourced their milk and if they could get some in. I got a reply asking who made it. Both Brownes and Masters do. My quest to find some started once I crossed the border which is one reason I went into every roadhouse the previous day. Up until Balladonia they only stocked that Nippy's garbage. I'm not a fan of FUIC for that matter either. From Norseman places did start stocking Masters but none had spearmint. I'd finally get my hand on some at the Munglinup Roadhouse. It's not as good as Betta's lime milk (Tasmania) but I was content.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/09/e02402c238baadc895305ad4d684f1dc.jpg)
Rain had been forecast for the latter part of the day, but it I didn't really see any until I arrived at the pit stop for the night - Ravensthorpe. This was the smallest room on the entire trip. With no table/desk inside I dragged the one from under the balcony inside to set up my computer. Actually Caiguna had a set of rules which the bike next door scoffed at. One of them was what they would charge you if you rearranged the furniture. I didn't pur sé, but did drag a bed over to the desk so I had something to sit on as there were no chairs.
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(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/09/becd56e4e66e2389e4990d603ff06db1.jpg)
GPS logger stats from the first four days of travel. The distance for day two is wrong because I didn't ride a straight line from Stirling North to Penong. If only this had happened between Caiguna and Balladonia.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/09/bb30075ca4e4a9f6fd0d9dcb3905d320.jpg)
That afternoon I'd walk up to the roadhouse to get some dinner. She wanted $23 dollars for a small plastic container of butter chicken and rice to which I said get stuffed and bought a chocolate bar instead for a tenth of the price. Day four done and dusted.
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Thanks Bodo :thumb
Good read and photos
Thanks for sharing :thumbsup
:beer
My pleasure.
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Good stuff Bodo, and people say the Nullabor is boring.
Did you see the the Skylab museum at Balladonia and the eagles at Cocklebibby?
Between the new fuel tanks and the highway at Yalata, there is the history of Yalata.
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Good stuff Bodo, and people say the Nullabor is boring.
Did you see the the Skylab museum at Balladonia and the eagles at Cocklebibby?
Between the new fuel tanks and the highway at Yalata, there is the history of Yalata.
I've never thought the Nullabor is boring (although I know people who do think that). I did scoff when I first heard of the Border Run thinking if I go all that way to I'd rather go all the way across rather than just turn around. I ended up doing it because work suddenly threw put "leave available" for those weeks on the whiteboard and needing a break I went, had a blast and would go on to do more Border Runs.
I did see the Skylab museum in Balladonia and thanks to you, the eagles at Cocklebiddy. I wouldn't have known about them had you not told me (can't remember if that was at Alfreds or Norseman though). The history of Yalata I have seen before. I also rode into Yalata Community after BR19 but the road was closed on my BR24 return.
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Day Five
The wheelbarrow was loaded up for another day of adventure. The day's desination was Broadwater, a suburb of Busselton.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/30e99beedf996b39a6674ddd6adfb1a0.jpg)
I dragged this table and chair inside from from the balcony to set up my computer. I think I forgot to put them back.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/03a9480357084d93e07921414a66ff42.jpg)
The previous night I had opened the Big Things (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_things_(Australia)) wikipedia page to see what was there and learned of the big lollypop and big liquorice all sorts were just down the road from my accommodation at Ravensthorpe. Too bad it was already dark then, otherwise I'd have gone and got better photos.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/7c919f1bc9174af0021cc09651b949dc.jpg)
This Anzac mural in Jerramungup was pretty impressive and no doubt would have looked better in daylight hours. You'll find that a lot of Western Australian localities end in "up". An urban myth is that is means water in the local Aboriginal language although I have also hear that this is false.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/158286576067209336d37324f3381d8c.jpg)
Selfie of the day comes from Wellstead. I even took the helmet off for this one. That's because I refuelled and bought breakfast here and eating is easier without a helmet. Too cold for baseball caps the Ozstoc beanie was the headwear of choice. I bought that at the National Rally in Mansfield.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/006123f44b75eb5313f33c89dc905ec5.jpg)
My spearmint milk fix came at Lange, a suburb of Albany. I "smashed it" as per the carton's caption of "smash it" instead of the traditional "open here". 600ml cartons look better than the previous day's plastic bottles.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/743e4cbccc4b57cf206e6efd82299b34.jpg)
Western Australia has a Mount Barker too. I didn't go there. It was 30 kilometres off course. Actually WA has a Hay too. That's where I took this photo.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/6b5e497abb9bf9c577c957e0371cfba1.jpg)
And a Denmark as well. The tourist information centre used to house the world's biggest barometer that was brought out here from the Netherlands. It was removed in 2011 and I am unsure of its current whereabouts, if it's still works or even in one piece,
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/aaf827b2dd7718c0991f205b3119da0b.jpg)
This mural is outside the Saint John's Ambulance building at Walpole.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/b2c700909bee5fd8047c8c762e8c9c5b.jpg)
More art work at Northcliffe. I took quite a few photos here.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/75a23380588209e048130ac512964379.jpg)
Now an actual wheelbarrow. This was at Rosa Brook between Nannup and Margaret River. I pushed a wheelbarrow the lenght of Japan in 1991 so have a soft spot for them. Like this one, mine too got a flat tyre in Mihara in the eastern half of Hiroshima Prefecture.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/1cc1df9cbb05ddb52ab38b43171ccc15.jpg)
When I lived in Perth I often said I was the only person who lives in Perth that has never been to Margaret River (and the only one who had never been to Bali). Margaret River wasn't on my planned course for this trip, but in Nannup did some calculations in my head and said sod it, let's go. It was the only reason I went to Rosa Brook. After taking a photo of my bike in front of this mural a passer-by offered to take a photo of me as so here's a bonus one of me.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/24d48c07163ded9ad0aa17091788d1a9.jpg)
I didn't know Margaret River was a winery town. I always thought it was a surfing town. From there I did the short ride along the Bussel Highway to my digs for the night at Broadwater. After unloading the bike and setting up my computer I went for a walk to get a late lunch. Actually on Adelaide time it was probably dinner time.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/a3cb91be05a0bcb2f0f06b8e8e17e4ce.jpg)
I spotted a lot of new (to me) service station brands in Western Australia. This was a Vibe servo and I had refuelled at a Burks just prior to arriving at my accommodation. I never saw any of those when I lived in Perth. Povey was before my time but I heard about them and Golden Fleece.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/9058b90eae3c45c53422b1af1bd1e4df.jpg)
The good old Western Australian bus stop, an orange pole that is no more than a metre high and obscured from the driver when someone actually stands in front of one.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/1cc1ec8a287ff9068baf2e36b2d0bc9b.jpg)
I noticed this in Albany too, but the buses in Busselton also have the same livery as their Transperth™ counterparts.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/128a72b97a9e58e2cce754af8d52b0ff.jpg)
Day five done and dusted.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/166d283764429fe89b24212d9b3656e8.jpg)
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I got photobombed whilst droning at Madura. :rofl
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/10/8bc4b8a0661287e0590eb3cf56a8aa62.jpg)
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Bodo, you queried the suffix "up". Generally it means "place of". More info in this wikipedia page.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/-up
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Thanks. I knew I had heard that it meaning water was a misconception and that page also explains that. I guess there must be a big retirement home in Nannup. :crackup
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Day Six
This would be my shortest day on the road excluding day one's last minute Adelaide to Napperby after work and the saturday in Border Village when the bike didn't move an inch. Accommodation is a strange thing. Some places have a list of rules some of which "say due to health reasons or what not no cooking (I think Penong said that) but Broadwater, Busselton is the first motel I have stayed in that has had an oven. I didn't use it.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/90680fc6ee271aff8267311f0effcdc3.jpg)
I stumbled upon the Cheese museum in Busselfton after missing a turn. I did see the sign saying Bunbury/Margaret River and thought that's the opposite direction of where I'm going. Whist the latter was true, Bunbury was the direction I was heading.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/798b45782b2dac086414e43d415114c1.jpg)
The Mandurah railway line was in its planning stage when I lived in Perth (2001-2005) so this was my first opportunity to see the railway station. The news the night before had mentioned that Perth's newest railway line was about to be opened (or something to that effect). I was more in awe that Rick Ardon and Susannah Carr were still reading the news. Truth be know, I was a Tina Altieri (channel nine) fan back then. I don't know what she's doing now.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/9120fb73aa5ff849aa26d7c54ac75dc7.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/0b09ab8189e043d473fcbe0cac12c316.jpg)
Just as I did when I went to Brisbane in 2017 I had a look at an old work place. Back then it was labelled as the Fremantle bus depot but now has signs referring to it as the Palmyra bus depot. That had me scratching my head because I thought it was neither in Fremantle nor in Palmyra, but in O'connor. It turns out I was wrong. Research that night shows that road is the O'connor/Palmyra border and that side of the road is Palmyra. I wonder if the borders have changed. I'd look at my Perth street directory of that era but it's in Japan as is a lot of my Perth stuff,
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/811f430660456e9fcacfb92d0864ea9b.jpg)
The day's only sightseeing was at Fremantle. After that it was down to checking out old haunts, bike repairs and an Ozstoc Ride To Eat.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/2054b1aceb189beeaabcd568d71a2a32.jpg)
Sopranos restaurant in South Perth appears to be still in business. We held our wedding reception on the top floor there in 2005.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/335e578d95db0a4d8b82b118561ca489.jpg)
Another image from South Perth is BMW's 100 year anniversary from november last year. I didn't take this photo, but ended up with it after being asked to get some drone footage for the BMW group at Border Village. I'll explain more about that when I get to Border Village, but I think it's an impressive photo.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/90ced1b32299d5179cdf1be610f9f72f.jpg)
I met my wife at Curtin University in Bentley in 2003. On wednesdays they had a thing called Speakers Corner and I had wednesdays off so I used to go. Each tree was assigned a language, and the idea was that if you wanted to practise a language you'd go to the tree of that language, students from those countries would also go and you'd do a language swap. The first two weeks I went to the Chinese tree which was somewhat boring before migrating to the Korean tree where it was much more fun. I majored in both languages when I went to university, About six months later she rocked up and the rest is history.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/7e7b53d0a8240b040e669da273f61f43.jpg)
Each wednesday I used to buy Nasi Lemak at the Karawara shopping centre and take it to Speakers Corner. This shopping centre looks very different now, but I did manage to buy Nasi Lemak for brunch. Due to parking issues I didn't take it over to the university though, opting to eating it in the shopping centres table area. That was never here before. Actually, the whole place was new. Yeo's soy milk was also a fave.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/1166996149841e1290160319ba583997.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/63852799767b888b67abdf72625ffdbe.jpg)
Actually, this wasn't in the list of photos I set aside for this report but since I mentioned it here is the eating area.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/59c0acf226b990e7ef09cf1e40ccb7ce.jpg)
Our apartment block in Victoria Park looks exactly the same, except they've put a keypad lock on the gate now.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/f9281ba6ee4b5a0f3f84a451f462ce39.jpg)
The church we got married in has been refurbished, especially that staircase.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/a887ac81e309d9c742daf48d12da1740.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/4de8ebe761e95f083a5994606ce15749.jpg)
2005:
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/ee7934f62b24c9c969fad711e1dc750c.jpg)
Before proceeding to Perth I stopped at the Kawasaki dealership in Victoria Park to see if they could change the switch block for my LED bar as mine was sticking. Turning it on wasn't an issue, but turning it off was. If it was the other way around I'd have waited until got back to Adelaide, but having it stick on and not be able to switch off saw me not using it so I didn't blind oncoming traffic. They said they don't do electrical work so I went on to Perth. Motorcycle car parks were hard to find but I did find this one. They're not 45º or 90º angled like the ones in Adelaide.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/8d4d062ce862aed51869947cfce392b4.jpg)
I stopped to have a sticky beak at the pub that used to sponsor my old football club. They used to have a whole heap of team photos on the wall. I was in three of them. Although they weren't open, I could see those photos had been taken down. I did drop them a line inquiring about their whereabouts but never got a reply.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/01fbba4777cd4ce4e94be7e21b0f88b3.jpg)
This was out the railway station where the Indian Pacific, which is on my bucket list leaves from.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/20a9c991aa6944b203f59d8ab41f2006.jpg)
Ironically, I passed Wellington Square to get here. I couldn't see a football ground there this time, but it was the ground I got my only ever red card. The opposition was awarded a penalty and I was the goalkeeper who had the task to stop it. I save it only for the referee to deem I had moved before it was kicked. In those days keepers couldn't move (these days they can move along the line). The penalty was retaken and I saved that too, only to be deemed to have moved again and earning a yellow card. Third penalty I stood completely still and the kicker kicked it straight into my arms, but muggins here had to yell out to the referee "book me for that one you prick". He booked me for dissent and two yellows make a red.
(http://www.footballnews.com.au/forum/download/file.php?avatar=11561_1250666853.gif)
With everything I wanted to see out of the way I headed towards Midland, snapping this at Maylands. It reminds me of one at Ottoway and another at Evanston Gardens.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/4a2e238814b9d5aaf5680a4dfbd70e71.jpg)
I checked out the venue for the nights Ride To Eat. It's the first time I have posted an RTE in another state. I did this as when I went to Brisbane in 2017 a couple people muted "it looks like we're going to have an impromptu RTE" and me being all up for it only for no one to suggest anything/anywhere and not catching up with anyone. This time I opted to be proactive.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/12b14e36f64cb065e6e4fa57ad4fa1e2.jpg)
Arriving in Midland quite early I dropped into another Kawasaki dealership to ask about replacing the LED light switch. They said they didn't have a switch block but if I could source one from nearby Alltrak or Jaycar they could do it. Actually that was probably even better because it enabled me to buy a switch I liked and knew could be operated with gloves on, took that back and they swapped the new one for the old. Problem solvered.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/497acfb2ece0a467cc8131af0b58df28.jpg)
They had Versys 1000 in there as well as a Yamaha Super Tenere (my bike in Japan), not to mention the Niken I alluded to in the Stinky Pete's quest for a lighter bike thread. Just between you and me, I think he's headed west now to check it out. :grin
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/27ad75750601c5b7f6a003270bc2c3f3.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/886fb51cc808bb235ea30a6451aed4da.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/29024103f077ffbd5bda4b8b4b355794.jpg)
LED fixed and it was time to head to my accommodation and set up my office for the night.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/6dfac9165d0cbbb9f4aa0215a9efd2d3.jpg)
The day's spearmint fix came from the local IGA and was the Brownes' version.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/5662f526b3d4f4ebd1d25322643b57d1.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/ac86ea1848c6eb0e03c8fe53739eb18d.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/ee6a75ef39a286bc564b1942fd8c54ac.jpg)
Last task was to head back to Aflreds for dinner. I took this before others arrived but none at dinner. It was great to catch up with Lindsay, Glen, Hoffy, Wombat and to meet Brock and Shawn. Unfortunately I didn't see Mitch or Yorkie here or at the border.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/11/ef1dd0fafe4f90c311f30c25aba32b06.jpg)
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Great reading Bodø.
Also, great photos.
Thanks for sharing.
Sent from my SM-N986B using Tapatalk
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Mentioneing Tina Altieri reminded me of this channel nine commercial which I found by searching "channel nine Perth weapon of choice". Apparently this sort of advertising is called an indent. I learned some thing new today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cObluK596wY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cObluK596wY)
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Day Seven
Midland was the only place I couldn't park the bike out the front of my room, although I did to unload and load it. Unloading it was a bit of a hindrance to other people who had to squeeze through, loading it not so much, because everyone was still in bed. With that done it was time to rock and roll.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/ae843a0d54e6f3806711cf6074294f76.jpg)
Simple but effective, the new switch to operate my LED bar.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/4f9683ead5a26187265e29092bc8a79f.jpg)
First stop to stretch the legs was at Grass Valley. I noticed Mundaring is a lot bigger than I remembered it and The Lakes has a flashy new roadhouse. I vaguely recall a place called Three Springs in my bicycle days. I got pulled up for speeding going down a hill in Northam back then.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/0a937a0ad3ed3d05e4eef23bf3235c3a.jpg)
I snapped the big camera at Meckering among other things before getting the Ettamogah Pub in Cunderdin. I remember there being a similar one on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland and it having to change its name for some reason or another. I'm surprised this one hasn't, unless it was the sourse of the other having to do so. Something to reasearch after I get home from work today (yep, it's back to the daily grind).
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/7ad4c8c2677940459a47ce67798f1afe.jpg)
This rusty truck was outside the Kellerberrin pub. The Royal Enfield was inside a window just up the road. I also saw the bakery Glen said would be his pitstop to Norseman but didn't go in.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/45242b82d878b536b39ec308fdda7870.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/51cd97fb9543ac779393d18e785d3ec9.jpg)
I didn't actually go into the Doodlakine general store either but did ride around 'town'. The roads weren't dirt but a more hairy mud.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/a01d2b16cae4da7d5efe30d7db06c9b0.jpg)
I mentioned Povey and Golden Fleece in an earlier ride report on this trip, but completely forgot about Gull. It would appear the Hines Hill roadhouse has been closed for quite a long time. I went looking for the railway station and encountered more soft mud like that in Doodlakine. I figured this area had had heavy rain recently and made an executive decision to stay on the asphalt for the rest of the day.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/34a0a982d0f13a1e279089a2a5e292bb.jpg)
Apolgies to Merredin, but this is the poorest attempt at silo art I have ever seen. It's a shame because I actully quite like Merredin.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/157cfd172c4eed415659b267910c3a77.jpg)
One of many cyclists I passed on this trip, but the only one I snapped as I was already off the bike getting photos of the Burracoppin Tavern, which has long since closed. I used to cycle like this, but with a lot less luggage.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/2ea004c21b6d796bcaf7e70f34cc1327.jpg)
The rabbit proof fence obviously works because I didn't see any rabbits on this trip. I didn't see any dingos either. I did however see camels. They were made of corrigated iron and on the display in the middle of a roundabout in Norseman on the way to Ravensthorpe.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/cbf4d3413b0b4f310f70dec9a6362566.jpg)
Burk was one service station brand I saw for the first time on the trip, the other being Vibe. This was at Carrabin. I contemplated going to Westonia for a look but wasn't sure if the road was sealed or not, and after Doodlakine and Hines Hill mud opted to give it a miss.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/22e3609895560cf0864a392b4a19b8ac.jpg)
I was suprised to see a Perrys in Bodallin as I thought they were limited to the mid north of South Australia. This one here doesn't accept cash payments so they got nothing from me.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/403c97f333782a91bc80306265ac9250.jpg)
I'm kicking myself for not stopping at the Yellowdine road house as I'd just overtaken a road train. It was destroyed in a fire which that night research told me was a suspected case of arson. Why would anyone want to torch a roadhouse? A couple of days ago local new showed footage of some bellend trying to set a service station at Camden Park alight so they're out there, I did make a point to stop at the defunct Rock Tavern at Bullabulling though.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/7f3775233848fa229add03d793a65a8a.jpg)
At Alfreds the night before Glen mentioned the WA crew usually text each other when they get to Southern Cross on the way to Norseman so I duly dropped an sms to that effect. The Denver City hotel at Coolgardie had me wondering if Coolgardie was once called Denver City. That doesn't appear to be the case, I saw camels here too. This time they were concrete moulds in a park.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/ffdf38939903f0f3f9748fc4edf8b1e0.jpg)
I saw two sidecars at Widgemooltha. I though they were travelling together but they arrived separately at Border Village the following day.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/5cde7a9809bc1157ee8185ad07313629.jpg)
I'd seen this Kawasaki when refuelling at Coolgardie and had a brief chat before pushing on. He passed me when I was checking the visitor information signs on the entrance to Norseman and spoke to him again when refuelling at Norseman. He made the comment of having to get some accommodation sorted. I thought you're game, given that you kew there's an event on and hadn't booked anything. He hadn't booked anything in Border Village either and ended up sharing a room with Stroppy and Langers.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/98e46061702d80b4d05d04e2d43b015f.jpg)
This was a random bike I spotted at my Norseman accommodation before the usual suspects (Glen, Hoffy and Wombat rocked up). I snapped those too.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/663cceb91ee59b3bb849e9112b3a55d9.jpg)
Once the bike was unloaded I went for a walk to the local IGA to buy a one to four powerboard as my room didn't have enough power points. I also boought some breakfast cereal to take to Border Village in the hope it would be cheaper.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/2d80b64451f159bb81fa3ec309c2a181.jpg)
I nearly didn't go but had dinner with Glen, Wombat and Hoffy at the local pub. The blue Kwaka rider was there and got his accommodation sorted.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/b733907f697aeef6144a54a0938bd5c2.jpg)
My Western Australian loop was complete and it would be nothing but the Eyre Highway the following day.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/12/4a9e5923cc926b315884312ff6b4e9f2.jpg)
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The Ettamogah Pub is based on a long runnings series of cartoons by Ken Maynard.
The family trust that owned the copyrights.
I can't remember of it was the fault trust, or if they sold the copyright, either way, they they wanted an extraordinarily high annual licence fee, which the ownersof the Sunshine Coast one refused to pay.
In 2013/4 legal actions ensued, and the owners had to remodel the whole pub. It's now called the Banana Bender Pub.
Surf boards on swinging frames hang from the high ceilings and act as fans.
https://www.thebananabenderpub.com.au/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ettamogah_Pub
Sent from my SM-N986B using Tapatalk
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Burk is a relatively new service station that has the cheapest fuel going. They also take any discount card , RAC, NRMA, Coles etc.. so an extra 4c a liter off..
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"When I lived in Perth I often said I was the only person who lives in Perth that has never been to Margaret River (and the only one who had never been to Bali). "
My brother lived in Perth for a few years with his family. As a wine lover, he definitely visited Margaret River, but unlike John Schumann, he & you have never been to Bali :rofl
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I had to google John Schumann, then search Bali on his wikipedia page to get that.
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Great report sofar Bodo. I've crossed the Nullabour a few times and love every minute of it.
I was hoping to attend BR this year but .....
RIP STroppy
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Great report sofar Bodo. I've crossed the Nullabour a few times and love every minute of it.
I was hoping to attend BR this year but .....
This is the first time I have ridden all the way across but loved every minute of it. I've also thoroughly enjoyed all my border runs prior to this.
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Day Eight
With my Norseman office cleaned up it was time to load the wheelbarrow back to South Australia.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/7b972e639ac9cabce959b98736f5679d.jpg)
It was a barmy minus five degrees when I arrived at Balladonia and if felt colder than Yalata a few days earlier. With the knowledge that the 5:30am opening time advertised on their website is wrong I timed my ride to arrive just on opening hours. I needed to defrost so had a bite to eat, a cuppachino and look at the museum. I also bought another number plate, basically because I thought it looked cool. I didn't take a phot of until day ten though.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/07af26ef89bf4c4a98c734ce529dc5c2.jpg)
Usually speed limits are rounded to a 5 or a 10 but all the WA roadhouses had 8.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/7413f4102e4d170e4e496afcf14b0b17.jpg)
The 146·6km straight road was done in daylight hours this time but I didn't get a photo of it as the sun was in my eyes as I flew around the last bend and only just saw it as I flew and couldn't be a*sed u-turning. Despite having done this a few days earlier I still stopped at every roadhouse bar Mundrabilla. That was the only one I never actually wnet into - in either direction. I checked out the Caiguna pub for the first time, depsite actually staying there heading west.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/bbeda710710cfd4f02e845a9e3f69eb2.jpg)
No sun in my eyes for this one.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/3f5b17e866064eb1e66795e543c1f04e.jpg)
Glen had told me about the eagles behind the Cocklebiddy roadhouse so I went and and had a look at Samantha and Bruce.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/93c15fa254ef88e235586572f00d49d2.jpg)
I completely missed the big kangaroo heading west so stopped at it here before refuelling and checking in.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/a83466f9b69e193bd597377f49822cdb.jpg)
Border Village was the only place I sayed two nights on this trip. I usually request this room because I know it has a desk. Despite that request when I assigned a room they gave me the one next door. I went back and asked if they could change it and that I requested this one for that reason. They did so I was content. One advantage of arriving early I suppose.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/3f8b24b5af7750f003d3395edb0d3e33.jpg)
They used to give you Nescafé Blend 33 but this time it was Cocklebiddy gravel dust (international roast). Just as well I bring my own just in case. It was the lack of cutlery on my very first border run which saw me start taking my own cutlery on road trips. Eating cereal with a wooden stick was tricky on that inaugural run. The container is a Japanese bentō bako.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/924603c3414e7b09c0822ed61548a65c.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/ac1d1c730959e96a9fea6f41c8ea0c75.jpg)
I've leaned how to edit GPS tracking files now so removed the bit from Caiguna to Norseman on day two as it overlapped (affecting the color). The blue portion was this day's ride and the also the bit I rode in both directions.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/b1c218f0073735035361549b60265a5b.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/c8f356cfcd89e280c68a09faea273acc.jpg)
I think I am the only one from SA. That said, I'm coming from WA this time. :crackup
Maybe, maybe not😬
This had me thinking was someone showing up that I was unaware of. From inside my room I heard that unique squeal of an ST and went outside for a sticky beak, saw itt from a distances and though Shillas had made the treck across. It was actually Stroppy. I hadn't seen that bike since the Harrow RTE of 2018. I'm not sure what he rode to Balranald 2019, but definitely wasn't on a ST for Border Run 2019.
We talked for quite a while and two things in that conversation would haunt me two days later. He also mentioned the SA possibility was Langers. Eventually being in shorts and a t-shirt I was getting cold so went inside to puts some jeans and a jacket on.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/882d08da4fbc04f506178776f311352a.jpg)
I put the drone up at about 1615 local time for an areal view. Despite having come here a few times I really only knew the motel and shop area. I didn't know there were bigger cabins around the back.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/d7c9a01b5d052a982fe1331fa5be229f.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/629eef2f4d12a4471589e92c5ccfab76.jpg)
That night I had dinner with Stroppy, Chippy and JD. This is actually one of Chippy's photos which someone from the next table offered to take for us.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/13/49249512f94b9d61e9279949a55bd918.jpg)
I had one pint of Guinness with dinner. It's the only pint I had for the whole trip. No, I tell a lie. It was the only Guinness, but I did have a Heinekin at Norseman the previous night. Other than that it was spearmint milk.
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Terry was in the room next to me at Balranald and was in his Mercedes.
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Terry was in the room next to me at Balranald and was in his Mercedes.
That was this year. I only saw one ST there this year. I meant the previous Balranald RTE in 2019.
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Day Nine
This was the day the the Versys didn't move an inch. Just on surnise I put the drone up to get some photos from the eastern side of the village.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/25a024668d54715e7f9e8899a38e8db7.jpg)
And the north.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/9816d52094bce79d4cd815cfa8e24e38.jpg)
And above
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/65617433cf6a4c0fdba9074700ea01ec.jpg)
And of the pilot.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/ec3b71bb2f37149e4adfa17aa9c2ebe6.jpg)
Having learned there was more village behind the motel area I then went for a walk. I never knew Border Village had a pool.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/0a8450795045f05de135fef65016b7a5.jpg)
It was also the first time I had seen the bigger cabins where the West Australian crew and Superfrog were staying.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/b3c281d5ce4a8e78ad2357e986ed4736.jpg)
Deeper into the bush tents were set up. I'd see a hell of lot more of them later in the day when I went to return a usb stcik. More on that later.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/5535122e29a3be761fa18af77827eec7.jpg)
JD and Chippy set off to find the old Eucla Telegraph station.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/c2109bc309cc703bd38e1d1b9349c0c1.jpg)
Stroppy would do the same two hours later as I was making my way to the border sign for another drone flight. I'd capture him coming out of the Western Australian quarantine station. The photo in the very first photo of this thread is a crop of the second drone photo here.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/e7a9e74ae9968fed1a5c1f79a37faa2f.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/0ac529827390ffca00e073ec5ed47717.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/b245da7844f01a6c68a4e594746f8e56.jpg)
That drone flight took off in Western Australia and landed in South Australia outside the iconic big kangaroo where some random punter was taking his own photos.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/fd93ee759dd5a28310a75dd413edf6bd.jpg)
Late in the afternoon I put the drone up again for the Ozstoc group photo, unaware that Hoffy and Superfrog were missing. Superfrog said he wasn't disappointed as he doesn't like drone selfies. I didn't use it to get an areal view of everyone waving, but more to have it hover and film so we could get everyone in without someone have to take it.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/abf244cb6c56fbc5059cc618420ed8d2.jpg)
Just as I landed someone from the BMW WA branch came over and asked if I wouldn't mind getting some drone footage for his group. Why not? He was getting the four quadrants of the BMW logo that he hoped to snap at four quadrants of the state, with Border Village being the south east quadrant. At the time I didn't notice it but I think the quater is the wrong way around for the lower right corner and should have been rotated 180°. Oh well, it's a bit late now.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/ff12276e21afb1117b539cb4c3369aea.jpg)
After that I asked if he had a memory card I could copy files to and he gave me a usb stick, told me what he had done for the BMW 100 year anniversary in South Perth and suggested I look at them (two photos and one video). I copied them to my computer and looked at them that night, which is how I came in possession of the South Perth drone shot I posted on day six (I think it was six, but don't quote me on it).
By the time I had edit my footage for him he had gone deep into tent territory to set up his 'room' for the night. That's when it sunk in how many tents there actually were and how far into the bush they went. I'd heard the harley davidson crew put their tens up on the other side of the highway (that was evident in drone footage).
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/c4c6fb669828ecb250c4aa5090dabe9f.jpg)
I didn't speak to them but there was a goldwing there. There's a good chance I'll take mine on my next border run. It probably won't be next year.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/14/e0a14987025233c659598c628289575b.jpg)
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Day Ten
A rare in room breakfast for me, as this was the first time I brought breakfast cereal on a road trip in over a year. I'd bought this in the hope of saving a bit of money not eating every meal in the roadhouse for my two day stay.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/c012544530ff6cfa54c307f00362e3f1.jpg)
The number plate I bought in Balladonia two days earlier. The design is simple but I quite like it, with Skylab to the west and the ninety mile straight to the east.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/ab40dfac584e31a01a9be2a8d540d1ce.jpg)
The wheelbarrow was loaded up and it was time to check out and head east.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/2ce0dd80e753c1ca7af89cdabd7a2764.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/a7f35031b098279d531958faf4204383.jpg)
Again I arrived at the Nullabor roadhouse before opening time, but only by a few minutes. I wasn't going to stand there for an hour plus like I did heading west a week earlier.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/5a561bd91af02e0b11e64de9590993d3.jpg)
I had three to do things for the day. The first was to look at the new Yalata roadhouse I'd brielfy spotted in the dark heading west. It was closed. Google tells me they open at 10:00am (surely that's taking the piss). They had container fuel tanks like Mundrabilla but only 91 fuel but the large undercover eating area was impressive.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/efd2a8bac3890eca825d5d72e5d52cf9.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/c353fe618314771ede4ef212d45bf361.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/0b7112bf2c23886b38d09998da4f18c0.jpg)
On the way from BR2019 I rode into the Yalata Community and noticed the old big boomerang that was on the roof of the old roadhouse had been moved to the entrance of town. The sun being on a bad angle that day didn't make for good photos and with it being ordinary weather this time went to go and try for some better photos. Alas the community was closed and the road had bollards so I turned around. That would have been fun to do on the wing.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/75801b0959861c813ec961e01350a6fc.jpg)
The sign didn't give a reason. It originally said "due to covid" on it but that part was painted out. Either way I didn't go in.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/ba57b72651e5693c0fe6fc7e0bc0e552.jpg)
Third planned task of the day was to check out the big wombat at Bookabie. That too is a 'community' that could have been closed but fortunately it wasn't. It's the first time I have seen this big thing.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/122ddf7bc34491dfbf41a7f3aaae4e21.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/d75ca0f96cbcfa5693134fe39833b4a3.jpg)
Eat your heart out Kimba. The real halfway across Australia is at Uworra/White Well Corner depending on which side of the highway you're on. (disclaimer: this is a mocked up photo of a time lapse photo heading west a few days earlier.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/ffa42172c71a3df1526d13ba4f25a740.jpg)
On the eastern half of the continent I noticed the big oyster at Ceduna had been moved heading west. I asked the girl at the quarantine station what happened to it and she told me it got moved to Ceduna Machinery in the interest of "public safelty" and rolled her eyes. I found it. It's behind a closed fence/gate on weekends.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/96be190f8f0b9ced687748619f8cca34.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/4492cbbbbe50aec16e83692dd8126423.jpg)
Last year I found a Japanese garden in the East Murray area school so this time deviated at both area schools along the Eyre Highway for a sticky beak. The Mittaburra school at Nunjikompita had this old building. I'm not sure what it is. The one at Karcultaby had work being done and that was all I saw.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/25f85a5fafa1b6556e8325eece5eeecc.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/647b6037ce69dbf6ba5bb7538a90646b.jpg)
The grain train line at Carpietha, Cungena stopped seeing trains only weeks after BR2019 and the line is now a disused railway.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/a734449951aa31c8392fa80ab73907af.jpg)
Twelve kilometres shy of my pitstop at Wudinna the wheelbarrow reached the 199'000km mark. Being 500 klicks away from home that 200'000km milestone wouldn't be notched up on this trip. I haven't worked out where/when I'll do that just yet.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/f402659fe7c1f43be37da113d4ed1141.jpg)
Despite bing the cheapest accommodation on this trip the Gawler Ranges motel in Wudinna had the biggest room. I also managed to put the bike undercover so I think this will be my pit stop for returns from the Border Run in the future,
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/d4d6407daa3167e914893624c2abd57b.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/527acae6f7dfda82b4c0194eb8c78a36.jpg)
The drone flight for the BMW group at Border Village the previous day may have been its last flight. I went to fly it at Wudinna only to find the operation console non responsive. A google search suggest it's a common occurrence for this model and is usually caused by the cable to the battery coming loose inside. I watched a youtube video on how to open it and solder it back up, I don't have a solder iron and am not sure if it's worth me buying one to try and fix.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/b292a343449993dadec56403e578392d.jpg)
I meant to remove day one's Adelaide to Napperby from this map but forgot.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/38339d00eba4f3f0385e98b178fa711c.jpg)
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Bodo, I have a soldering iron you are welcome to borrow (& solder you are welcome to use). I can bring it along Sunday to Caltowie if you like. Alternatively, I reckon I saw a soldering iron for sale at ALDI the other day - there may be an ALDI near you still carrying the tool.
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Bodo, I have a soldering iron you are welcome to borrow (& solder you are welcome to use). I can bring it along Sunday to Caltowie if you like. Alternatively, I reckon I saw a soldering iron for sale at ALDI the other day - there may be an ALDI near you still carrying the tool.
Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. I'll have a look at Aldi on saturday.
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Day Eleven
The ride home didn't have any real plans to stop anywhere except at the big galah in Kimba if it wasn't dark. It was half dark.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/097e3c8c3054edba00ce21e0882a69e9.jpg)
Fuel stops were at Kimba, Port Augusta and Port Wakefield. As mentioned the bike didn't quite reach the 200'000km mark, but it will next outing.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/36893ea65e8f10cf27eb9e4aedfe93d6.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/5283aaf732f384a07719fe914de3d324.jpg)
I didn't keep the stats that Glen did but the bike tells me I did 6778 kilometres. It's the third biggest trip I have done after Tassie 2019 (10'000km) and Queensland 2017 (8'500km).
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/b4e42062e59931262756f6958c6d0e36.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/8e4ad3e641120b376b12baaf8d81a733.jpg)
To unload the bike, dig out the two usb hard drives, boot up the home computer and correct errors for those drives (I always have to do this when I have used them in my travel computer) took me the best part of an hour, and after posting I was home safe in the Border Run thread (which along with my Alfreds thread can be unstickied now) I opened up facebook and saw the SAPOL post regarding the accident in Koongawa and my jaw dropped. Without naming him the details pointed to Stroppy or a lot of coincidences. The first thing I did was rang his phone. After that it's a blur. Even now I still don't know what to say. As mentioned in the very first post of this thread you were the first interstate forumite I met and you'll be sorely missed. That was at Balranald. This photos was at Harrow in 2018.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/08/15/017a451976dc5b226565c26e6355df1a.jpg)
R.I.P.
(actually if I know you you'll be bantering with the angels).
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Bodo, I have a soldering iron you are welcome to borrow (& solder you are welcome to use). I can bring it along Sunday to Caltowie if you like. Alternatively, I reckon I saw a soldering iron for sale at ALDI the other day - there may be an ALDI near you still carrying the tool.
Googled said item on the Aldi website which said "stock available" for the Plympton store and "likely to be sold out" for the Adelaide airport store. If I go to Aldi it's usually at the Airport store. Plympton is slightly closer but more of a hassle to get to, but with this knowledge went there this morning. Not finding any and querying it with staff she looked on her computer which said they had nine in stock, went out back and still couldn't find any. She contacted the airport store do did have one and they put it aside for me. I now have a soldering iron (and solder).
Alas, it's butane operated. Neither they nor Bunnings (both the airport store and Mile End South store) had butane so after enough jinning around for one day came home.
Thanks for the offer, but I now have the tool. I shall try again for butane next week.
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This is probably the widest "oversize" load I've had to step aside for, Wallaroo, Western Australia.
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/09/05/a318185948b027633eeb6adc1f82c28d.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/09/05/6f22b63e58b1b60a26043bf21162797b.jpg)
(https://www.imghostr.net/images/2024/09/05/4fbd706167bd275a0558da74f3f94a71.jpg)
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That is massive :eek
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That is massive :eek
Usually I just pull to the edge of the road and slow down. This time I got off and stopped until in went past.
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That is massive :eek
Usually I just pull to the edge of the road and slow down. This time I got off and stopped until in went past.
Lucky that the shoulder was suitable to pull off on to.
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One of the reasons, that I have a UHF CB on the bike. Helps prevent nasty surprises..
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That is massive :eek
Usually I just pull to the edge of the road and slow down. This time I got off and stopped until in went past.
Lucky that the shoulder was suitable to pull off on to.
It was also dry, unlike the mud I encountred in Doodlakine and Hines Hill.
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One of the reasons, that I have a UHF CB on the bike. Helps prevent nasty surprises..
I think if I get one it will go on the wing, not this bike. I was expecting something out of the usual as after there pilot vehicle there was a police car with flashing lights. The only other time I had seen that was where a wind turbine blade was being carried on the Augusta Highway a couple of years ago. That was just long so no big deal (no pun intended) whereas this was wide.
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:bl11. :thumbs. Thanks Bodo, What a great write up.its almost like I was there, :-++
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:bl11. :thumbs. Thanks Bodo, What a great write up.its almost like I was there, :-++
I'm still trawling through video footage so I am reliving it, hence the Wallaroo photos. Western Australia has a Wallaroo too.