I have just copied and pasted what I have been trying to put up on the FarRiders forum for the past hour although the RR is relevant here anyway.
Firstly, I would like to wish Jeff all the best for a speedy recovery. :hide
For some reason rising a white bike with panniers seems to decrease the occurrences of the infamous SMIDSY :up
Anyway, I left home around 6:15 am and filled up at the local Caltex. Met up with Wombat in Gosnels just on 7 and we headed off to meet Yorkie in Brookton for 8:15. On the way to Brookton we had a couple of turn arounds as Wombat spotted this little fella on the side of the road ....
.. and then i got a call on the 2 way from him telling me something had fallen off the bike. It was just the number plate surround so back on the road again pretty quickly.
Left Brookton and made our way down through Wagin and Katanning and across to Kojonup. Arrived just before 11:30 and no one was there. Parked out front and by the time we had parked up a few started to come in. Had a bit of a chat then registrations were open and it was a flurry of activity finding dockets and organising drinks.
We took the required photos (here are mine Gus)....
....and then it was on to getting a bite to eat.
As mentioned at was the "pub with no food" but there were options nearby and we were more than welcome to eat on the front verandah.
About 1pm we headed off. Yorkie headed back North but Wombat and I went for a run down to Albany to check out some accommodation for a future ride.
Wombat had registered for a FR12 so from there we headed across to Karridale via Denmark, Walpole, and Pemberton. We avoided Norseman as Spokkie had warned us of the smoke but even then, the destruction we saw was quite humbling. I didn't stop for any pics as it was getting on to dusk by then and we were having some encounters with the rather large grey wildlife.
Here is one just before we came into Denmark (i think) ...
Not far before it was another fire starting up ...
..... and another as the sun went down behind the hills in Pemberton.
Left Pemberton just after 8pm and by Karridale it was full dark so we could pick up speed a bit with all the aux lighting on and we made good time to Margaret River. My fuel light came on just before Margaret River and we found that there is no 24 hour fuel there (I was hoping to fill up at Karridale but none there either).
Made it to Busselton where we eventually found some fuel around 9:15pm and had some dinner while we were there.
From there was set the cruise control and hit the Bussel Hwy to the freeway and then all the way home.
Filled up again at same Caltex at 1:15am.
Total distance 1247km (should have registered for a FR12 - oh well)
Thanks again to the organisers and once more a big Get Well Soon to Jeff.
See you on the road next time ...
