Having completed a 1,000km day (1015kms Keith SA to Ceduna)) and a 1,200 km day (1,217 kms Ceduna to Norseman WA) bringing my 88 GL1500 back from Tassie I thought it was time for another "Farride". This along with having a slow "Green" GL1500 and a fast "Red" ST1300 had me thinking when I came across a 1999/2000 GL1500 SE for sale in Brisbane with 31,000 kms. Although the 88 GL1500 has still only done about 80,000 kms, besides not being "Red" it is showing its age. A phone call to Biggles had a preliminary inspection done. Thanks again Bill. I then flew to Brisbane overnight last Thursday for a final inspection and decision time. I was at the bank at 9.30 am on Friday. After running out of time to have coffee with Biggles I had lunch with my brother and headed for Goondiwindi.
Over night at Goondiwindi meant Hay was in the picture for Saturday night. I got off to a late start but pushed on with Hay in my sites. I thought the day was hot but when the new Wings temp gauge didn't move above 50% for the first half of the day I thought it can't be too bad. It dropped to about 40% when I rode through Forbes in the afternoon with a roadside signboard saying 37 degrees, was down to about 30% when I arrived in Hay where it was still over 37 degrees at 8.30 pm. Conclusion, it was a bloody hot day. I have never been to Hay before so have not travelled across the Hay Planes. The start of the Hay Planes saw me getting close to running out of daylight so off with the cruise control but after a little while at 145 I thought this is stupid in a 110 km area I could be walking home. Back down to about 120 km and enjoyed chasing the setting sun west. With little foliage above 500 mm I was happy to continue at 120 even after I saw one emu and a stray sheep. The first Kangaroo sign had me thinking twice until the next thing I knew was seeing a roo almost next to me as it raised its head from grazing on the green growth on the edge of the road. Back down to 80 kms and gee I guess the two roo whistles on the front fender don't work very well. Still it was a great time of day on a nice open road. Soon it was time to turn on the lights ready for the approaching darkness. After the 25 km sign to Hay having to brake hard to miss a roo standing in the middle of the road convinced me the roo whistles do .... all. I arrived in Hay just after dusk.
Sunday afternoon I met a friend, Steve, on his V-Strom, at Tailem Bend for a coffee and company for the remainder of the ride to his place at Victor Harbor.
So the new wing is sitting in Victor Harbor where my plan was to pick it up in a few weeks and ride it home. But the new plan, Steve having had a ride on the Wing, is for Steve to buy my 88 Wing.
The first week in April Steve on the 2000 Wing and me on the 88 Wing will meet about Border Village and swap wings.
Brisbane Bike Shop to Goondiwindi 389 kms
Goondiwindi to Hay 1020 kms
Hay to Victor Harbor 676 kms
