My nephew was getting engaged, so thought it a good opportunity to give Candy the longest ride that I’ve had on her. Prior to departure, a quick visit to Stinky Pete to put a finishing touch on the rack he built for my top box, which all went smoothly & also purchased a number plate frame & cap. End of the day, not so smooth. After washing, doing pre-departure checks and before putting panniers back on, while wheeling her back into position, I overbalanced her and she fell and smashed r/h mirror and broke the mirror housing into three pieces. After much
, the pieces still fitted well, so was able to tape them for the time being. A trip to Autobarn saw a replacement lens kit purchased for $15, which I cut to shape and fitted in place of the smashed mirror, so at least roadworthy. More permanent repairs to come.
Started out at in the dark at 6.23 am on Thursday 27th, dodged a roo at 6.25 am less than 500 metres from home. The rest of the ride was uneventful, and made good time to Bordertown for quick stop, topped the tank up (fuel was cheaper there than other towns) & rearranging the screen I was bringing across for Chris (Ace) to try. The screen kept shifting for a while, until I stopped at Kaniva and resecured it, was fine after that. Another stop at Ararat for some lunch, then at Ballan Service Centre for fuel top up (not really needed) and to plug earphones into my Navman for directions to destination. All fine until after crossing Westgate Bridge, when I experienced Melbourne traffic on a bike. Stop / start traffic for a few k’s, and I was glad to finally get away from the fumes in the tunnel and crawl along for a few k’s more before finally getting to move at the speed limit.
After a good weekend, including catching up with Chris to loan him the screen, departed at 8.30 am Monday morning in an effort to dodge some of the heavier traffic. Good in theory. Traffic on Monash Freeway stopped at Glen Iris & wasn’t moving. I was able to get off the freeway and navigate out of Melbourne, but two hours of travel time to travel 73 k’s to Rockbank where I filled the tank. A quick stop at Beaufort to put wet weathers on as it looked threatening, a shower within a few minutes after. Then a solid ride through to Bordertown, a couple of light showers and one heavy one on the way. Fuel warning light came on about 15 K’s out of Bordertown and filled with 23.9 litres, about 5.6 L/100ks, or 17.7 k’s /litre at 2.45 pm.
Left Bordertown thinking I’d be home before dark, around 5.30, but was a bit puzzled at the stream of semis and cars that would pass, then nothing. Around Culburra the cause became apparent, with a number of emergency service vehicles and smoke arising out of a paddock. I’d just missed the last lot of traffic allowed past an accident site as the medivac chopper came in. After an hour and 20 minutes, the chopper was gone, the police finished their measurements and site was largely cleared, and at the time I was expecting to be home, I was just starting to move again. The remaining ride home was uneventful and I arrived home at 6.45, with Candy herself not missing a beat the entire time. My new 22” screen worked very well, the Saddlemen seat was comfortable enough over the distance and my tank bag with clear vinyl face worked well for viewing GPS. Only thing I need to do before next big ride (perhaps to Wooli?) is to raise the handlebars an inch to ease pressure on my wrists.
Unfortunately, work demands meant I had to cut the trip by a day so I was unable to get the "Where is this?" game pictures I wanted to get.
