STranglers Tassie Ride Report. SORRY PICS LOST
Early March after farwelling my Mum and Kimba, I left home in Picton on STrangler, towing the coffin off on an adventure, 3 weeks in Tasmania.
I headed down the Hume headed to Terry's place in Canberra. The coffin sat behind effortlessly and I positioned myself to keep the coffin within the lane, as I was passing Eagle Hawk servo 2 cars raced along and I changed lanes only for them to block my Madura rd Exit so of into Canberra, around the "TROUGH" and out to Terry's, pulling up out front, then herded into the garage. Tery had his trailer ready to be packed. After gathering his things we we're packed almost ready, a quick check of Terrys trailer lights and darn it nothing,,.
The next morning Terry and I headed off to Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay stopping along the way for fuel and refreshments,
STrangler was warning I had 48, 30 then down to 11k's remaining once, PHEW, as we filled up around Barnawartha, then onto towards the port for the night crossing on Spirit of Tasmania.
We were on board with about 50 other bikes for the trip, I stayed until the crew came to 'lash down' the bikes to insist they used my crash bars NOT the handlebars, I'd read in a european forum about handlebar cracks after ferry trips in the Mediterranean, so I had Terrys and my ST1300's lashed down correctly, the crew we're obliging and happy to learn about alloy bars.
TAKE NOTE for when you're travelling to the 2019 Tasmania Rally... use engine bars if you don’t have Tip Over bars...
Terry and I shared a 4 berth inside cabin so both had bottom bunks and after the meal on board, a walk around we both had early nights hoping for a calm journey, and a good sleep. I remembered my earplugs 😉
*BEEP BEEP BEEP drivers on deck 5 allowed on deck Beep Beep Beep***
I had already showered and returned with coffee for Terry when my keycard decided to not work and Terry thought I was in the shower...
On Deck 5 Portside we un-lashed our bikes and rode off onto the little island Tasmania, out through quarantine to be met by Mr D, Diesel, the man in the know for where to go when riding in Tasmania.
We had breakfast and Diesel took us on a sightseeing welcome ride and lunch at the 50's Diner, leading us eventually to our first campsite at the Deloraine Apex camping grounds, by the river with the water birds. We met a couple of travellers from Nowra, Dave and Lynne and Dave helped manhandle Terrys new tent.
We were eager now the trailers were gone to get out and ride! Dave showed us Mt Rolland from all sides and we rode through a magical land not long forgotten back on the mainland. Beautiful scenery and varied livestock, crops and views, sorry, didn’t get pics, but it did happen.
We met Diesel and Mick for a ride and went to the end of the tar above The Great Lake, where my local CBA staff (Picton,NSW) made us coffee in her new coffee van, her future retirement home with BnB and a coffee van, I can't escape locals where ever I go.
I like the new helmet so far. Still 1 dislike, the open OR closed visor positions.
Thursday morning because of a long weekend and bookings full we had to break camp and move to Ulverstone Big4 and a new camp. Our new friends from Deloraine had also moved here., We set up a lot quicker this time and then went walking dow the mainstreet shopping.
I had to go for a ride back across to Launceston to buy a decent new phone as I broke my other one. Terry stayed and fixed up his sugar level and wiring again regarding brake lights on his trailer.
Terry was feeling a bit better so we went of heading west towards Mt Stanley and the Nut. It’s a fun ride after Burnie, very scenic locations to catch the 'WOW'.. After Hellyer, the road is a fun ride, nice curves and straits,. Terry caught up near the turnoff to the nut, and we rode thru and stopped for lunch at Hurseys Seafood. Terry had the STICKY DATE Pud so after lunch he had a nanna nap in the park.
I went for a ride over to the other hill and saw the old farm and remains,, The weather was turning,, Terry wanted home so we left, having a few fun moments with other bikers and at Ulverstone I peeled off and visit my Uncle Jim, who always called me Temporary in my youth of motorcycles.After a yum steak cooked by Mr B we discussed or exit plan for the morning and got our things organised. Our plan ride via cradle Mountain, even though we were in cloud, then onto our pub booking 2 nights in Queenstown, and a day trip on the Gordon River Cruse from STrahan.
The River cruise although it was a wet n windy day still turned out fun and informative. Lunch on board was good and when everyone else has had their fill its open tables I ate so much salmon. 😉 Riding back to Queenstown the rain let up for our ride. At least we didn’t have to pull down camp tomorrow.
We checked out and headed back east via Derwent Bridge and the wall. A whittle bit of work there, talented chap.
Our next STOP Richmond staying at The Richmond Arms Hotel, We were supposed to be going off grid camping but the weather says no.. Richmond is a lovely old place with a bridge everyone recognizes, Some yum coffee shops, bakeries and antiques shops,,
After breakfast with Terry I headed off down to Port Arthur as Mr B wasn’t feeling the best, his bee sting is sore his sugars must be wrong.. I had a fun ride down to and across Eagle Hawks Neck onto PA. I visited here last year with my mum but the May weather was crap so didn’t see much. This time I was alone and able to explore, I went to the boys prison and the burial island where guide tells stories of the time, on the boys prison island there are very few footings and the odd wall but otherwise the stop is well narrated. Personally I wouldn’t recommend doing both islands the time is better spent on the main prison area's our brutal past half told,,
Ill try and get the pic in some how,, lost in word somewhere..
