This is a slightly abbreviated version of the report posted over on the FarRiders' forum.
Exactly 6 years ago to the month I did my first Ironbutt ride. It was to the same event which occurs on a 6 yearly rotation with other states, and it was Tasmania's turn to host the annual Christian Motorcyclists' National Run. The ride back in 2012 hadn't been sanctioned by She Who Cares For My Wellbeing. She went to bed confident that I had found a suitable bed somewhere around Parkes after a long day's ride. I rang her in the morning from Fawkner (north Melbourne) arousing all sorts of consternation. These days she is used to my shenanigans now I've completed 17 certified rides.
My preferred starting point servo was unaccountably in darkness, so I collected my docket over the road from one of the thousands of servo attendants found throughout Australia who exhibit signs of Indian ancestry. I somehow missed the memo that this had become a pre-requisite for the job.
The choice of the Pacific Highway (now pretentiously renamed in Qld, "Pacific Coast Way", in deference to a much more magnificent PCH in California) was purely with respect to reports of wildlife out west, and ineluctable masochism. The latter refers to the extent of roadworks south of Ballina. The redeeming feature was the time of night- all the nannas were in bed and I could maintain a healthy GPS 80 kph.
We'd had a couple of weeks of rain, and showers were forecast for my route. There were a few stretches of light drizzle, so the dawn shot was doomed. The palm trees lent a little tropical ambience to an otherwise dismal outlook.
By-passing Grafton, I like Halfway Creek for my first refuel. It's only three quarters of a tank needed but it's a big convenient servo (and they do Coles vouchers and Flybuys).
The next stop was for breakfast at the Port Mac Interchange. Gotta love Maccas- 50 cents for a good quality Cappa! Call me Bogan, but that's a good breakfast for under 10 bux!
Weirdly painted creatures are popping up everywhere. Was it Dubbo or Parkes started this trend?
Down the slab, around Newcastle and into the utilitarian-named "M1 Southbound Freeway". What happened to "Jilliby"- much more attractive, with hints of a lively lass.
Inescapably
through Pennant Hills and then into the flow around Sydney with fuel needed at Gundagai. They saw me coming! Their 91 was E10 which I won't use leaving 95 at $1.80 (keep yer miserable tenth of a cent)!
The life sized dog on the box is underwhelming in this age of "big is better", and doggie has been eclipsed by The Big Koala:
Am I missing something else here? What's with the koalas at roadhouses?
I was needing to be at Station Pier in Melbourne on Thursday, but I'd given myself wriggle-room and a bed in Seymour ended the ride with enough kays for my purposes, and a short stroll down the road on the morrow.
https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=1baa55bc54212e6ac4&hoursPast=0&showAll=yesTo save you the maths, it's 1714 ODO kms. For anyone who is unfamiliar with the IBA rides, the minimum is 1000 miles (1610 km) in 24 hours.
