OzSTOC

OzSTOC Ride Reports, Pictures & Videos => RIDE REPORTS => Topic started by: Sabie on March 11, 2013, 01:27:23 AM

Title: The Trip to Middleton (In Pictures)
Post by: Sabie on March 11, 2013, 01:27:23 AM

Day 1

Left Townsville at around 9:30, through to Charters Towers for fuel and a bite to eat.

JUST WEST OF CHARTERS TOWERS
(http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii610/pmdodds1/OzSTOC%20Middleton/DSC00219_zps90d6964f.jpg)

I had a couple of Truckies come up and ask about the bike and where I was heading. Original plan was to out to Hughenden and down to Winton for an overnight stay. But as I left Charlies Trousers (Charters Towers) I kept thinking about the road from Torrens Creek to Aramac. Going this way would knock over 300K's off my trip. The only downside was there was 32K's of dirt, and not good dirt either. I called into Pentlands just under 2 hours west of Chaters T and asked what the road was like at the moment. Got the "not sure" "Don't think they've had any rain.

Ok I'll take the risk, phoned Mrs Sabie to let her know the change in route, 300K's of nothing and not many people travelling that way I thought it best to let someone know where I was.

500 K's MORE OF THIS TO WINTON..MIND NUMBING
(http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii610/pmdodds1/OzSTOC%20Middleton/DSC00225_zpsb0df429a.jpg)

All I had to do was sneak along over the dirt even if it was 60 to 80kph I still be in front. I'd been over that road in a hilux 18 months ago.

FORGET ABOUT 80... FORGET ABOUT 60...TRY 30 TO 40 KPH
(http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii610/pmdodds1/OzSTOC%20Middleton/DSC00228_zpsb1dc5fc7.jpg)

My poor Blue Baby, it was like riding on marbles, the back of the bike was like a pendulium, some places I was down to 20kph and it was still unnerving...

HEY BUT THE ROAD GOT BETTER....NOT
(http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii610/pmdodds1/OzSTOC%20Middleton/DSC00229_zps3241765b.jpg)

BELIEVE IT OR NOT I'M DOING ABOUT 35KPH HERE
http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/pmdodds1/media/OzSTOC%20Middleton/MOV00234_zps5751d4e9.mp4.html (http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/pmdodds1/media/OzSTOC%20Middleton/MOV00234_zps5751d4e9.mp4.html)

http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/pmdodds1/media/OzSTOC%20Middleton/MOV00235_zps4d9f63ec.mp4.html (http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/pmdodds1/media/OzSTOC%20Middleton/MOV00235_zps4d9f63ec.mp4.html)

http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/pmdodds1/media/OzSTOC%20Middleton/MOV00234_zps5751d4e9.mp4.html (http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/pmdodds1/media/OzSTOC%20Middleton/MOV00234_zps5751d4e9.mp4.html)

AND THEN I PASS THIS TRUCK
http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/pmdodds1/media/OzSTOC%20Middleton/MOV00232_zpsf6d8980f.mp4.html (http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/pmdodds1/media/OzSTOC%20Middleton/MOV00232_zpsf6d8980f.mp4.html)

I had quickly turned the camera off and in the dust I hit sand,from one side of the road to the other, put me straight into a wobble, feet out, handle bars going like a washing machine adgitator, but i held her up..phew that was close. Hundreds of K's from anywhere. I was just short of being back on the tar by less than a kilometre (if you call it tar, talk about the thin line)

AROUND 200k's NORTH OF ARAMAC
(http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii610/pmdodds1/OzSTOC%20Middleton/DSC00240_zpse88f6550.jpg)

AROUND 100K's NORTH OF ARAMAC
(http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii610/pmdodds1/OzSTOC%20Middleton/DSC00245_zps00f60819.jpg)

PASSING THROUGH ARAMAC (Don't blink)
http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/pmdodds1/media/OzSTOC%20Middleton/MOV00246_zps75293547.mp4.html (http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/pmdodds1/media/OzSTOC%20Middleton/MOV00246_zps75293547.mp4.html)

COMING INTO BARCALDINE
http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/pmdodds1/media/OzSTOC%20Middleton/MOV00247_zps4962a596.mp4.html (http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/pmdodds1/media/OzSTOC%20Middleton/MOV00247_zps4962a596.mp4.html)

Title: Re: The Trip to Middleton (In Pictures)
Post by: tj189 on March 11, 2013, 05:31:31 AM

Looks as though the change in direction added a bit of excitement for you :wink1

Title: Re: The Trip to Middleton (In Pictures)
Post by: Streak on March 11, 2013, 06:16:46 AM

Holy crap mate  :eek

Glad your in one piece! Great photos and vids

Title: Re: The Trip to Middleton (In Pictures)
Post by: Whizz on March 11, 2013, 06:25:02 AM

Jeez, and they call that a road?  :eek :eek

Title: Re: The Trip to Middleton (In Pictures)
Post by: StinkyPete on March 11, 2013, 06:52:39 AM

I assume you were testing the pre-production variant of the ST, to be called ST1300X Crosstourer?

Was your selection of the route a case of your GPS getting it's own back for all the times you ignored her instructions?

Title: Re: The Trip to Middleton (In Pictures)
Post by: Biggles on March 11, 2013, 09:18:40 AM

I'm guessing you'll be giving Aramac a miss on the way home.
Maybe they'll run a grader over the road and it will be smooth.

Title: Re: The Trip to Middleton (In Pictures)
Post by: Yorkie on March 11, 2013, 11:24:00 AM

A good thing you are on a STurdy bike, anything else would have been shaken and not stirred.
Also see you are trying out great PPE on the gravel sections.

Title: Re: The Trip to Middleton (In Pictures)
Post by: ST2UP on March 30, 2013, 06:38:30 AM

 :eek :eek :eek.........I off for a bex powder and a lay down after that !!

 :beer