OzSTOC
OzSTOC Ride Reports, Pictures & Videos => RIDE REPORTS => Topic started by: tj189 on April 10, 2013, 10:01:13 PM
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I posted the same ride report on the FarRider site
I was pleased to see another unique Australian ride be recognized on the world stage via the IBA, through the recognition of the Australian Southern Cross ride. A special thanks to the original guys who thought up this ride and to OX for his work in establishing it as an IBA ride.
Having just completed this ride I am over the moon with this great run. Hopefully it will become part of your bucket list of rides to complete.
My goals were to complete the run in six days starting at Brisbane then going to Sydney (the pointer), Melbourne, Alice Springs, Darwin and finishing in Perth (the Federation Star).
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9815_zps87861685.jpg)
the first star..Brisbane with the bridge and skyline.
My first day was to be the longest of approximately 1800k and the last day being the shortest around 1300k, with the rest of them being close to 1600k. The thinking of the longest day first and shortest last is that i would be at my freshest starting and knowing that as the days wore on I would wear down a bit as well. The second reason was that I had an option of another ride at the end.
Second star was Sydney and a photo at the Opera House. It was quiet amusing as where I pulled up for a photo, it appeared to gaing the attention of a number of tourists who gathered around the bike...
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9818_zps5dd4a6aa.jpg)
Next star was down in Melbourne. There had been an accident, unfortunately a fatal one involving a bus colliding with a motorcyclist. This backed the traffic up the Hume Highway for quiet a few kilometers.
Flinders St Rail Station in Melbourne City...
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9819_zps35b33094.jpg)
Stayed for a few hours a the Flag inn in the city and headed out early in the morning for my next sleep spot at Coober Pedy. It was during this part of the trip I noticed that I had lost one of my headlights, which was a bit of bugger when you drop down from high beam. Just one of those things.
Up over the boarder into the NT it was time to twist the throttle but not being used to the higher 130kph speed limit I thought I would sit on around 120kph for a bit before increasing the rate of knots. Was a good idea as abot 30 minutes over the boarder a couple of kangaroos decided that I need to test my breaking ability or at least that of the bike......the ABS really works and the poor bike groaned with the added pressure to the handbrake and footbrake. The old spinctre valve also went into overdrive and ended up at a 10 on the pucker scale. You ceartainly know you are alive when these typ of things occur.
onto the fourth star in the Alice...
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9828_zpsb23aaa64.jpg)
and the view from the ANZAC Hill lookout (not quiet at the top)..
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9826_zpsf12a921a.jpg)
Interesting occurrence in the Alice whilst fueling up...about 6 riders from one of the biker groups pulled in and refueled. A couple of them commented on my bike and that it had everything on it but the kitchen sink. Seemed like nice chaps and so explained what I was doing, all good and they headed off.
A bit further out of town there is a roadside stop and on this occassion two copper stood out on the road indicating I should stop, then a police vehicle pulls out into the middle of the road to ensure I do stop.....really?... It then became a bit more amusing with a young senior constable walking over and looking at me says "well, you really don't fit the profile you may as well head on", looking over into the roadside stop there would have been around 60 bikers being checked for licences, drug, and alcohol. It appeared that there was to be a bit of convention in Darwin in the next few days.
A bit of siteseeing, the Devils Marbles...
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9830_zps4387377c.jpg)
Cannonball Memorial...
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9823_zpsb7481d40.jpg)
Up into Darwin for the fifth star....
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9832_zps54c3d72b.jpg)
Turn around and hopefull make it back down to Katherine and miss the group of riders heading up on their road trip. Frome hear on down to Perth is all new ground for me, it was also the first time I felt isolation.
Riding across the rest of the Territory ws an absolute hoot, cruise control on 128kph and off I go, the long sweepers were absolutely magnificant and scenery to behold. I absolutely loved this part of the trip.
The rest of the run down through to Perth was full of mining equipment and dump trucks. Stopped off at Auski Village for a sleep and thought I would pop in and grab a quick chicken burger, well after and hour I was becoming a bit peeved, to the rescue was one of the ladies who works one of the shifts in the kitchen and she went out and had a bit of a discussion the the cook on duty, 10 mins later out came my chicken burger. I was off and put my head down for a few hours. Very expensive for accommodation around these parts.
Into Perth and the sixth star (Federation Star) and the finish of the run
Outlook of Perth City skyline from Kings park....
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9858_zps4c401720.jpg)
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9859_zpse3825cff.jpg)
What an absolute fantastic adventure, take the tiem and do this one.....
With that finished there was time for a sleep and off for another challenge, one that I did not think I would ever do. An attempt at the 50CC Gold was to be had..
A great group of West Aussies came down to put me on my was and guide me out of town, this send off was exceptional and again thank you guys....
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9860_zps81ab7ffd.jpg)
The run was to go from Freemantle in Perth to Coffs Harbour. less than 50 hours, my planning had given me a buffer of around two hours...
just some photos on the way back across the paddock...
the straight bit....
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9861_zpsacd65c89.jpg)
the two cyclists were not going to move out of the photo
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9862_zps03cf3c5e.jpg)
still no bends since last time across there
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9863_zps68bdf1d9.jpg)
thats where I have been
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9851_zpsabb7b5ca.jpg)
the cockpit..
still can't catch him....
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9849_zps03a90919.jpg)
sunrise....
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9848_zps2c86d809.jpg)
well I was getting towards the end of this part of the run and still had my buffer of two hours, then it hit at Dorrigo, bloody fog. Well I probably would have made better time had I got off and pushed the bike, I could feel the time slipping away......bugger, was that a turn off? ah well keep going....
Dropped down into Dorrigo and there was Crappy waiting like a parent for their child to come home from their first date. He was a sight for sore eyes, how fantastic is this, middle of the morning and another rider comes out to greet you and make sure all is ok, yes it is Crappy, now get me off this bloody mountain.
Down into Coffs and the servo for the final docket, 58 minutes to spare. done!!!!
The man....
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9892_zps74a33a50.jpg)
yep, I am happy....
(http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/TeeJay_019/Australain%20Southern%20Cross%20ride%20and%2050CC%20Gold/DSCF9893_zpsdabe4043.jpg)
around 14000k in eight days ...one great adventure and one great personal challenge that I thought I would never attempt let alone achieve....
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TJ that is simply an amazing effort, hats off to you completing it, and doing so with all the safety and planning that goes into an IBA ride, just amazing.
Look forward to sitting down with you and being told all about it :thumb
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Wow thats very cool TJ - It would be nice to get skilled enough to be able to do those sort of distances. One day. I have only been riding for 3 years.
Cheers
:slvr13
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Strewth :eek That's one mamoth effort. Congratulations and well done. :clap
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Thanks gentlemen,
look forward to that Streak.
Tony, My long distance riding is a sport to me. So like most sportspeople I train, learn the theory and participate in the smaller rides first and build up to longer rides. There are of course those that can just jump on and away they go, me, I like my approach, it suits me :beer
It was Pete, but oh so rewarding from a personal perspective
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Well done TJ :hatwave
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Great effort Trev, I'd love to do that - but my arse is already arguing with my brain. Congrats big time. :hatwave
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Fantastic ride TJ - well done once again mate! :hatwave
Thanks for putting the Honda ST back on the map of endurance for everyone out there to be in awe of. :thumb
And thanks for checking the camera lens for bug guts this time! :rofl
Awesome effort mate. :-++
Cheers, Diesel
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I read this over on FarRiders and saw the respect you got there from Australia's top performers... hang on! You're up there among the best in the country at long distance riding. There aren't many at that level. Top props to you!
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Now that is one awesome effort - congrats!! How do you keep focused on a road like that crossing the Nullabor?
It's stories like these that make me so look forward to finally getting an ST and putting some miles on it.
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Good stuff mate..... I loved my trip to middleton this year...
Great photos....
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Now that is one awesome effort - congrats!! How do you keep focused on a road like that crossing the Nullabor?
It's stories like these that make me so look forward to finally getting an ST and putting some miles on it.
Beaker,
Like I mentioned to Tony earlier, this is a sport for me so it comes down to training yourself and....you gotta love the sport :beer
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Thank you all, nice to get the replies, it does make it better when you have one of the best touring bikes around :thumb
Bugger Diesel, you remembered the bugs :rofl
cheers Biggle but I am just another rider out there enjoying myself :thumbs
BigTed, thanks for your offer of support over in the west it was appreciated :-++
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:-++ :-++ :-++ :-++ That is unbelievable from where I sit TJ. I would love to do that ride over a month or so. 8 DAYS ??????
You obviously aren't tied to a timeclock and a 9 to 5 job. Congratulations TJ. You are definitely living the dream. Like Streak, I can't wait to sit and chew the fat with you. Again, :-++ :-++ :-++ :-++ :thumb
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look forward to it Skip :beer
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Top effort TJ, and well writen, apart from the odd spellin eror.
:beer
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Wow that was an awesome read, thanks for sharing :-++ :-++ :-++ :-++
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thanks Shiney
....and to you to Brock, thanks for not using white out to fix them for me :crackup
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Brock, thanks for not using white out to fix them for me :crackup
No problem, besides I was in Thailand, and the internet was too slow to do correction.
o:) o:)
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G'Day TJ
I read about your ride over at FarRiders, Very big effort, well done again.
Now I have one of these toys I'm interested in some of your set up for the ST for these extended trips.
Any chance of a closer look at your rig in pics one-day?
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Maybe we can arrange something, there any rides coming up that you are planning of doing? I am considering the run to Bathurst from the FarRider site. Might be able to catch up on my way down if I go?
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Sounds good TJ.
I'm looking at a start from a bit further afield for this one just to get off my local roads sooner.
I'll be staying over Saturday night with possibly 2370km under the wheels by then.
See you there.
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:thumb
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Brock, thanks for not using white out to fix them for me :crackup
No problem, besides I was in Thailand, and the internet was too slow to do correction.
o:) o:)
WHAT........................ YOU'VE BEEN IN THAILAND?
WHY WASN'T EVERYONE TOLD ?
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I enjoyed reading your ride report,I like to take a little more time to cover the km's.but all power to you.your ST must have some K"S on it?
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just the odd one or two :beer
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Amazing achievement, TJ. Congratulations.
Like Gatey, I am wondering about the setup on your bike.
Any chance you could give us a list of the mods and extras on your bike? GPS, cruise control, seat, lights, screen etc. etc.
Thanks,
Marty
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will see what I can do :thumb
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Wait...did you do all that on a stock seat? Are you bonkers?
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:rofl not quiet, had the sargent on, so it is well broken in now :grin
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will see what I can do :thumb
Waiting eagerly, TJ, for any insights you can give us into your bike setup. In awe of what you did and the work that you must have put into the preparation. (Fascinating posts about fatigue management and long distance spread sheets etc.) Not looking for pictures necessarily, just a list of mods would be great. :thumbs
Thanks,
Marty
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My humble apologies, have been a bit caught up with holidays and visiting family in WA.
I have started a new topic over here that lists the farkles
http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=4592.new#new (http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=4592.new#new)
cheers