Post by: StinkyPete on August 27, 2015, 09:00:26 AM
I have chosen to ride from Home to Coober Pedy and return, a distance of around 1700km. My plan is to leave home at 0200hrs which should put me at Coober Pedy by midday, and I'll turn around and be home by 2230hrs. I've chosen the route/day/time as it means most of my "dark o'clock" riding is on the highway to Port Augusts which is dual highway for my first and last 100km, no rain is forecast, temps max around 20 degrees with mostly clear skies, and it's a full moon. My planned and pretty easy ride schedule include 15 minute breaks for fuel and snack no more than every 300km (Pt Augusta, Glendambo and Coober Pedy) with an extra break at Port Wakefield on the way home for a hot snack and a coffee. Ride times on my trip planning spreadsheet are taken from Google Maps, which are very conservative, and I may pickup at least one hour on the Google estimate of 2230hrs return. Here's the link to my Spot Messenger, so you can follow my progress in real time. http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0qDgXQYACM1Niq6Lv0UrbR6NtxisuFFRM (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0qDgXQYACM1Niq6Lv0UrbR6NtxisuFFRM) As you would hope, I will pull out if my body tells me I'm struggling.
I'm looking forward to this next challenge and adventure. ++
Post by: spanner on August 27, 2015, 09:05:06 AM
Good luck and as you already said ...... keep an eye on your fatigue.
Ride safe, ride well
Post by: Diesel on August 27, 2015, 09:50:16 AM
Will watch the spot tracker with
++
Post by: Biggles on August 27, 2015, 09:55:37 AM
And when they ask, "Why?" just say, "Because I can!" :p :grin
I'm with Diesel- would love to do another one, so just jealous.
And you've nailed the weather, which is a huge help.
Post by: alans1100 on August 27, 2015, 10:27:00 AM
Have a safe trip.
Post by: ppopeye on August 27, 2015, 10:38:50 AM
I agree with Alan.
Sent from my iPad
Post by: WendyL on August 27, 2015, 10:40:08 AM
Post by: Gadget on August 27, 2015, 01:25:16 PM
Cheers,
Gary
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Post by: ST2UP on August 27, 2015, 04:53:57 PM
Post by: richo on August 27, 2015, 06:22:10 PM
Post by: Shiney on August 27, 2015, 07:02:50 PM
Enjoy and have fun :grin
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Post by: Abe on August 27, 2015, 07:19:44 PM
Safe trip, and the first IBA solo is one you will never forget.
Post by: Gadget on August 27, 2015, 07:21:05 PM
Great ride plan Pete :thumbs, but I can not see the "spot" link, so, what are the above members seeing :think1 :think1 :think1, or, are you not looking yet :think1 :think1 :think1Not working for me either. I was expecting a Spotwalla link.
Safe trip, and the first IBA solo is one you will never forget.
Do Spot provide a similar service?
Post by: StinkyPete on August 27, 2015, 07:33:46 PM
Great ride plan Pete :thumbs, but I can not see the "spot" link, so, what are the above members seeing :think1 :think1 :think1, or, are you not looking yet :think1 :think1 :think1Not working for me either. I was expecting a Spotwalla link.
Safe trip, and the first IBA solo is one you will never forget.
Do Spot provide a similar service?
Thanks everyone for your best wishes. The Spot link seems to be working OK for me on an "Incognito" window, although there are no spots to display yet, so it shows as a Spot Window without any map or data showing.
Post by: tj189 on August 27, 2015, 07:35:59 PM
Post by: Biggles on August 27, 2015, 08:57:21 PM
There will be tomorrow morning when Pete launches. Check back then! :thumbs
Post by: Biggles on August 27, 2015, 09:00:32 PM
Great ride plan Pete :thumbs, but I can not see the "spot" link, so, what are the above members seeing :think1 :think1 :think1, or, are you not looking yet :think1 :think1 :think1Not working for me either. I was expecting a Spotwalla link.
Safe trip, and the first IBA solo is one you will never forget.
Do Spot provide a similar service?
Spotwalla simply takes the data from Findmespot and presents it in a more user-friendly format.
Most SPOT users get a Spotwalla account (free) and publish that URL. It's a bit more involved than the straight findmespot setup, but worth doing.
Too late now, Pete- it takes Spotwalla a day to recognise your SPOT data because of the way it polls findmespot.
Post by: tj189 on August 28, 2015, 05:34:31 AM
Post by: Wombattle on August 28, 2015, 06:10:49 AM
Great going so far Pete! Get some pics!
Post by: Biggles on August 28, 2015, 08:24:45 AM
Took a break at 5:50 in Port Augusta, again- on the plan.
Rolling nicely- average 108 kph on the Sturt in the middle of Woomera now.
Post by: WendyL on August 28, 2015, 08:45:50 AM
Post by: Pezzz on August 28, 2015, 09:26:17 AM
Post by: WendyL on August 28, 2015, 10:26:05 AM
Post by: Gadget on August 28, 2015, 10:50:59 AM
opcornGlad I've taken the day off.
Post by: Biggles on August 28, 2015, 11:35:49 AM
Glad I've taken the day off.
Was wondering why you had so much time on your hands. Figured it was because you are the boss at work and have everyone else doing the necessaries while you keep abreast with OZSTOC. :whistle
Post by: Gadget on August 28, 2015, 11:42:43 AM
Nope.Glad I've taken the day off.
Was wondering why you had so much time on your hands. Figured it was because you are the boss at work and have everyone else doing the necessaries while you keep abreast with OZSTOC. :whistle
I put in a 11:30 hour day Wed and 8:30 yesterday, because I have Flex time, I have to burn some off.
Post by: Abe on August 28, 2015, 12:07:07 PM
Post by: Biggles on August 28, 2015, 02:54:54 PM
Post by: WendyL on August 28, 2015, 03:13:47 PM
Post by: Gadget on August 28, 2015, 05:18:13 PM
Cheers,
Gary
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Post by: Biggles on August 28, 2015, 06:06:49 PM
Being downhill at this stage would be helping, I guess. |-i
Post by: Biggles on August 28, 2015, 07:42:17 PM
I hope he remembered to grab a docket in Coober Pedy in his rush to get home. :eek
Post by: Gadget on August 28, 2015, 07:47:32 PM
Looks like he is easily going to do it all on the same date.
Cheers,
Gary
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Post by: Biggles on August 28, 2015, 07:53:43 PM
On the road again. Google maps says only 1:20 from his last position to his home.
Looks like he is easily going to do it all on the same date.
Cheers,
Gary
A shoo-in.
It's not a race, but he'll beat his Coffs-Gundagai-Coffs time.
The more open roads would have helped enormously.
Post by: Gadget on August 28, 2015, 07:57:20 PM
Cheers,
Gary
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Post by: Gadget on August 28, 2015, 08:20:08 PM
Post by: Diesel on August 28, 2015, 08:36:39 PM
Looks like the RR is going to be a real short read! :rofl
Well done Pete - you've crushed it so far! :-++
Post by: Biggles on August 28, 2015, 08:56:41 PM
His wife will be saying, "Where have you been? I've been looking for you all day when I woke up and you'd gone out!"
"Just up to Coober Pedy for the milk, dear. Streak said it's what you do."
Post by: Gadget on August 28, 2015, 09:12:14 PM
Good thing about doing it this way, is he gets to sleep in his own bed tonight.
Well done Pete
Post by: StinkyPete on August 28, 2015, 09:20:01 PM
I'm a bit tired and will do a Ride Report tomorrow.
Post by: ppopeye on August 28, 2015, 09:22:45 PM
Post by: Gadget on August 28, 2015, 09:26:19 PM
Post by: StinkyPete on August 28, 2015, 09:34:57 PM
Post by: tj189 on August 28, 2015, 09:45:10 PM
.....and goodonya Richo ++
Post by: WendyL on August 28, 2015, 09:48:14 PM
Post by: Biggles on August 28, 2015, 11:00:09 PM
All day Saturday to kick back and write the RR (with pix). ++
Post by: tj189 on August 29, 2015, 06:53:20 AM
Post by: tj189 on August 29, 2015, 06:59:26 AM
Post by: StinkyPete on August 29, 2015, 07:01:20 AM
ok its Saturday.....where is the Road Report :well :popcorn
Go away. I'm still asleep........ :fp
Post by: Abe on August 29, 2015, 07:40:26 AM
Home safe :thumb
I'm a bit tired and will do a Ride Report tomorrow.
Well tomorrow is here, :popcorn :popcorn :popcorn
Congratulations Pete :clap
Post by: ppopeye on August 29, 2015, 09:18:03 AM
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Post by: StinkyPete on August 29, 2015, 10:22:29 AM
Blackwood to Coober Pedy and Return
Time: 0150hrs to 2033hrs or 18 hrs and 43 minutes
Total Distance: 1726km by Google Maps
Overall Average: 92km/h
I left home in the southern suburbs at 0140hrs and headed up the street to the local 24 hours servo for a fill and start docket. My route needed to take me south to north across metro Adelaide. I crossed town in under 25 minutes and cleared every traffic light on the way, which I have never done before. It was seriously cold, with temp of 0-4 degrees for almost 400km and I was considering my sanity, as I was belting along in the dark, surrounded by a wet fog and thinking of the warm bed that I had given up. Despite thermals and various other layers, OzSTOC jackt and totally waterproof overjacket, and Hoteeze in my boots, the cold was seeping in to my body. However with my Venture heated gloves and heated grips, my hands were very snug indeed. When I stopped for a rather urgent roadside wee at Warnertown, I nearly couldn't find the little boy, who was hiding under all the layers and determined not to make an appearance.
My first stop was pre-dawn Port Augusta and I filled with fuel at the 24 hour Shell on the way into town, had a quick guzzle of water and a mueslei bar, and rode on into the cold and dark beyond. My wide beam Dualy spotties were great and provided a great flood of light. It was full moon, but the fog and cloud had it's face well hidden. The fog cleared well north of Port Augusta and it was lovely to see the orange glow in the east as the sky gently lightened and the warming sun eventually peeped above the horizon. I considered stopping for a photo, with the ST in silhouette against the dawn sky, and regret not making that stop for a classic Long Distance Riding photo.
By now I was in the groove, easily punching through the kilometers and maintaining a good steady speed. A cruise control would be a great addition to the bike for trips such as this. It's a great route for a Long Distance ride, as the road is good and there are few almost no towns, and the speed limit is 110km/h. A quick fuel up at Glendambo and in what seemed to be no time Coober Pedy was in my sights before lunch. Coffee, snack, fuel, rest, photos, and turn around docket and I was off again. The return trip always seems downhill and easier. It was a wonderful day for riding, with slight overcast conditions, not much wind, and temps around 15 degrees.
The “desert” landscape was green after the recent rain, the claypans and lakes, such at Lake Hart were all full of water. I had one quite close encounter with a Wedgetail on a road kill just around a corner and
I was chatted by some police at Port Augusta, who thought I was a nutter, and warned me not to drop off to sleep and become a statistic. After Port Augusta I was still feeling bright and strong and was starting to think that I could have a sleep at home, get up early and knock off another 800km somewhere before 1350hrs Saturday for a 2500k in 36 hrs. That thought soon left me, as darkness and cold descended upon me, and the weariness from the long day started to catch up.
As I pulled into the Shell at Port Wakefield a red ST1300 with Richo on board pulled in the up beside me. He had been watching my progress, and decided to ride to Port Wakefield to meet me. What a lovely gesture, and one that I really, really appreciated, as I was feeling quite knackered and the body aches were setting in. I had a restorative coffee and a snack, and when we left, Richo took the lead and escorted me back to Adelaide, which made the last leg much easier.
I was home by 8.45 pm, and will compile my paperwork for IBA today. There aren't many photos, as I was on a mission, but here's a few, including a lovely shadow on the road frame grab from a video. Most of my short videos were crap as the dash cam was shooting through a wet and dirty screen.
I wouldn't be dead for quids, love my riding, and thanks for all the encouragement and interest.
Post by: ST2UP on August 29, 2015, 11:52:07 AM
The LD solution to the urgent when cold roadside wee is to carry Pepper and tweezers ;-*
Thanks again for the read :like
Post by: tj189 on August 29, 2015, 12:27:32 PM
Post by: StinkyPete on August 29, 2015, 12:34:49 PM
The LD solution to the urgent when cold roadside wee is to carry Pepper and tweezers ;-*
Or............ :fp :rofl
Post by: Wombattle on August 29, 2015, 01:22:32 PM
Post by: ppopeye on August 29, 2015, 01:54:03 PM
Well done and in very good time.
That is a well chosen trip. I wonder how much longer it would be at 100kph all the way.
Good on Richo for meeting you part way. That was a great idea.
Cheers :runyay
Post by: Gadget on August 29, 2015, 02:08:40 PM
Post by: Abe on August 29, 2015, 04:38:14 PM
Great RR
Post by: StinkyPete on August 29, 2015, 04:59:33 PM
:think1 Before the OzSTOC ss1600k I was chatting to Wombattle about fatigue and he advised that I should expect to feel quite drowsy around sunrise. I did on that ride and it lasted for about 15-20 minutes before disappearing, and found it happened again on this ride. Isn't experience a wonderful thing.
:think1 I found that my right forearm became quite fatigued, and initially put it down to having no cruise control, which was probably a contributor, but I've done plenty of riding before without the same fatigue in my grip. However, I believe it was my newish thick and bulky Venture winter heated gloved, which required more grip squeeze pressure to overcome the new thick material. I expect they'll shape better to my hands and fingers over time, and require less grip power as the gloves wear in. New gloves may not be a good idea for an IBA ride, but I had nice warm hands when everything else was cold.
Post by: Biggles on August 29, 2015, 05:52:16 PM
Before the OzSTOC ss1600k I was chatting to Wombattle about fatigue and he advised that I should expect to feel quite drowsy around sunrise. I did on that ride and it lasted for about 15-20 minutes before disappearing, and found it happened again on this ride. Isn't experience a wonderful thing.
It's that circadian rhythm thing.
I have a second bout of it around 2:45 PM. It's time to get off and do a lap of the bike while having a snack.
Post by: ST2UP on August 29, 2015, 06:08:56 PM
Post by: HOFFY on August 29, 2015, 07:57:54 PM
That must have been daunting, they are a huge bird normally but when they are flying at you and you are doing 100+ they are even bigger.
I bet it woke you up a bit.
Post by: Biggles on August 29, 2015, 08:05:17 PM
Yes it's the after lunch one that gets me too......in fact some days it goes through to the same time the next day and starts again :Stirpot
Now I can understand why you decided to be a Check Marshal in Coffs Harbour rather than a rider. :Stirpot
Post by: Lionel on August 29, 2015, 09:22:21 PM
:-[
Post by: Gadget on August 30, 2015, 06:44:15 AM
Now that I'm retired I don't fight the tiredness. I usually have a nana nap every afternoon for a couple of hours between 2 and 6 pm.Even on an IBA ride?
:-[
Post by: Shiney on August 30, 2015, 06:56:45 AM
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Post by: alans1100 on August 30, 2015, 11:51:12 AM
Not sure what the temp was down the hill on the highway on Friday morning but we had a low of 1C and frost overnight and temps around Port Pirie and Port Augusta weren't much higher either.
Post by: Carsten on August 31, 2015, 09:38:59 AM
Post by: StinkyPete on August 31, 2015, 09:41:58 AM
Post by: spanner on August 31, 2015, 11:14:08 AM
great photos
awesome report.
thanks.
Post by: StinkyPete on September 14, 2015, 02:59:34 PM
Just 16 days later, the certificate is in my letterbox. That is certainly prompt service, and well done to the assessment and certification team. :thumb
Post by: Abe on September 14, 2015, 03:03:26 PM
Another nice certificate for the man cave.
Congrads once again :thumbsup
Post by: tj189 on September 14, 2015, 04:50:54 PM
Post by: Shiney on September 14, 2015, 08:30:51 PM
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