Do a little dance.......

[Roblatt]

After much dramas with the dash, only 6 hours to go before I ride onto the canoe that will take us across the Tasman to a week of glorious riding.

No I'm not excited, I just keep running to the WC.

Robert

 

[ghezzi]

Is that Tassie or Un-Zud, either way you are a bastard. Enjoy!

Ps. Please post photos, lots of photos ..................... and tells us lots of stories.

 

[PP-1753]

Australian South Island - we live on the North. Good riding Robert

 

[Roblatt]

I'm back. Tassie was great. 5 left, 5 came home - always a good result.
We had storms, rain, hail, sleet, snow, muddy roads, strong wind gusts (stood me up mid corner). None of us would change a thing.
As you would expect the hardest part was coming home knowing all the chores and work waiting for us.

I'll post up some stories and pics as soon as I get a chance.

Robert

 

[PP-1753]

Welcome back mate.

 

[Roblatt]

Five of us gathered at Port Melbourne to catch the evening ferry to Tasmania. It will be 5 days of riding through some pristine earth and smooth, twisty roads. There are lots of bikers doing the same thing which we met each time we stopped. Tassie really is motorcycle heaven.

While the trip over was smooth, we all struggled to sleep, some because the "deck chairs" weren't suitable (these chairs are like reclining lounges and I reckon they're good), other because they were excited. I didn't sleep at all because I'm generally a bad sleeper, add in excitement, and I spent the night talking to the ships crew - security, cleaners, general hands and, other insomniacs. These people provided good feedback as to where to go, what areas to avoid, what the state of the roads are.

We took the road to Launceston, a breif look at the motor museum which seemed larger last time, up to Scottsdale stopping at Pyengana for the night at a place called "Pub in a Paddock". It literally is. There's nothing around except a beer drinking pig, a couple of horses and a couple of locals - they're different.

The next day took us through St Helens to St Marys where we picked up the Elephant Pass. This is a tight, twisty road where if you lose concentration you crash. Onto Bicheno and across to Campbell Town and then to Hamilton where we stayed at the pub. There was no one else there and the publican told to get our own beers because he couldn't be bothered. At night, he told us to lock up when we finished because our Limoncello got to him. We did the right thing and kept a tab which we settled in the morning.

Now the good weather ends. We headed to Queenstown and then onto Strahan for night. The day started with rain. Then heavy rain. Then sleet and finally hail. Donning our wets, we all stayed dry except for our hands and feet. The roads would've been excellent except for the weather, the strong wind standing me up mid corner once, and blowing me off the seat moments later. It was scary stuff but we all survived unscathed. We normally go easy in the wet, but this time it was painfully slow because one of the group had never ridden the rain (in 15 bloody years, the woos) and the roads were tight. We kept him at the front to set the pace so as not to pressure him into keeping up. He survived so we were all happy.

Stahan, Zeehan, Rosebery was good riding. But from Tullah to the Cradle Mountain turn off was about 20km of road under repair. We were warned by the locals that mud in some spots was 12" deep, that the night before a 4WD got stuck, and that it was the only road out (that part was true). With a change of underpants we found the road had just been graded, and while quite slippery, easily passable.

Half way up to Cradle Mountain the ice warning came on the dash. It was cold. Thank goodness for the Oxfords. Top of the hill was snow. Lots of it, so we had a photo stop. There were a couple of cars off the side of the road in the ditch but no one hurt. We survived this too. The night saw us settle at a friends place just outside a town called Sheffield. A great host who is adversely affected by limoncello (home made), poor dear wore sunglasses indoors in the morning.

One of her friends took us out through some local roads on our last day. A great days riding with perfect weather and a burger for lunch at an American 50's style burger place with all the paraphernalia and decked out beautifully. This was in Deloraine.

The sail back was good too. It had to end, but it's also good to be home.

If you've read all that, you really have too much time and should be riding more. It does you so much good, I feel new.


The crew having a break.


Lunch consisted of home made wood fired pizza, prosciutto.......

...and of course it ain't lunch with out one of these.


I also supplied the lads with home made Tira Mi Su.


One of the pubs we stayed at. Always pick a pub with a balcony. Here is where were were told to pour our own.


Brrr. It's cold up on Cradle Mountain.


This seemed to be a theme. Home made vino, capocollo, salami, grapa, ......... you get the picture. We only bring what we can't buy.



We really are a traveling cafeteria (licensed of course).

Hope you enjoyed the story. As always there's lots more but I'll save that for the book.

cheers

Robert

 

[PP-1753]

Choice mate.