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The 1st Ride of 2009 - Brisbane to Gloucester OZ
- Thread starter Mike.C
- Start date
The scond half of the Thunderbolts has previously been described as 'a treacherous stretch of tarmac, riddled with potholes, broken corners and fallen debris that winds and turns agressively as it traverses down into the Manning River valley. The landscape is rough and unforgiving, more suited to a well acclimatised billy goat than a highly strung Guzzi'.
Fortunately for us there has been a major upgrade project over the last few years and the road surface has improved somewhat, but it still was indeed a handful and unfortunately we were too busy in the office for a photo shoot.
Fortunately for us there has been a major upgrade project over the last few years and the road surface has improved somewhat, but it still was indeed a handful and unfortunately we were too busy in the office for a photo shoot.
Re:The 1st Ride of 2009 - Brisbane to Gloucester O
Next morning the weather had closed in, although we knew it would - the Weather Bureau prediction was spot on, but doesn't mean we were happy to see the rain. The Miinster decided that discretion was in order and a good book would be her entertainment for the day.
But in the true essence of adventure motorcycling and inspired by a recent ride report from ADVRider jaqhammar and his fiance (well maybe wife by now - not sure??) who explored the area recently on their dirt bikes, I decided that if they can do it so can I, and anyway I think some practice for Stelvio riding in Africa is probably a good idea.
Now I might point out that the Breva is a BIG lump and not at all suited to dirt riding, with a very high centre of gravity, and given that my last experience on dirt was aboard a Honda XT many years ago, it was not without some missgivings that I set out to see if I could get the bike up onto the nearby range known as The Gloucester Tops and as far as The Knob Lookout, which promised a view out over the entire valley.
It all started well as I turned off the bitumen onto the dirt with my goal visible in the distance.
Next morning the weather had closed in, although we knew it would - the Weather Bureau prediction was spot on, but doesn't mean we were happy to see the rain. The Miinster decided that discretion was in order and a good book would be her entertainment for the day.
But in the true essence of adventure motorcycling and inspired by a recent ride report from ADVRider jaqhammar and his fiance (well maybe wife by now - not sure??) who explored the area recently on their dirt bikes, I decided that if they can do it so can I, and anyway I think some practice for Stelvio riding in Africa is probably a good idea.
Now I might point out that the Breva is a BIG lump and not at all suited to dirt riding, with a very high centre of gravity, and given that my last experience on dirt was aboard a Honda XT many years ago, it was not without some missgivings that I set out to see if I could get the bike up onto the nearby range known as The Gloucester Tops and as far as The Knob Lookout, which promised a view out over the entire valley.
It all started well as I turned off the bitumen onto the dirt with my goal visible in the distance.
But very soon, the heavens opened up and the track closed in and became very steep. It was actually a logging track used to haul cut logs out and not really a tourist drive at all. 
hmy:
Hmmm big road bike, a VERY rough road, with enough rain falling to cause water to run over the road in places - probably not the sort of conditions Simon Pavey would choose for an off road training run with a greenhorn like me.
However, I pushed on as the track closed in.
hmy: Hmmm big road bike, a VERY rough road, with enough rain falling to cause water to run over the road in places - probably not the sort of conditions Simon Pavey would choose for an off road training run with a greenhorn like me.
However, I pushed on as the track closed in.
The photos don't show it but the track was very rough for a road bike, and the Breva was shaking itself like a dog after a swim.
I was worried about bits falling off and the thought was constantly in the back of my mind that he had to go at least another 1000km before getting home.
I was worried about bits falling off and the thought was constantly in the back of my mind that he had to go at least another 1000km before getting home.
So when the road took a decdedly upward turn and became even steeper and the rain started to become even more peristent I decided that I should call it a day and turn around when I got to the edge of the State Forest.
What did I learn, well heaps really. It is amazing how much grip you actually do have even on wet dirt as long as the surface is mostly sandy rocky dirt. A muddy clay surface I suspect would be a different matter altogether. In fact nothing fell off the Breva, but I suspect that not many more miles of the bone shaking would have resulted in some plastic bits breaking.
All in all a fun afternoon - next time the Stelvio will make it to the top.... B)
What did I learn, well heaps really. It is amazing how much grip you actually do have even on wet dirt as long as the surface is mostly sandy rocky dirt. A muddy clay surface I suspect would be a different matter altogether. In fact nothing fell off the Breva, but I suspect that not many more miles of the bone shaking would have resulted in some plastic bits breaking.
All in all a fun afternoon - next time the Stelvio will make it to the top.... B)
The relief pic shows the final destination - the end of the yellow road up in the mountains. In fact I didn't get much past the end of the straight bit - about to the first little kink, the start of the dirt was at the turnoff in the middle of the yellow road. 
More Soon
More Soon
Brevabrabo
Cruisin' Guzzisti
I guess so and performing an Aboriginal Tribal dance...
Keep the pics on coming Mike.
Keep the pics on coming Mike.
RJVB wrote:
Fixed it for you.
Just scrolled through this rapidly, I'll be sure to come back for more, but right now I'll just leave a single word of praise
awesome pants! :silly:
(that must be Bush-in-springtime camouflage or something?)
Fixed it for you.
RJVB wrote:
But seriously, have you ever tried to buy womens motorcycle clothing? Word of warning let her go on her own, it's worse than shoes... The pants are Draggin Motorcycle Jeans - Womens' Camos made with unobtanium and suitable for sliding down the road at obscene speeds while painting your nails.
Link HERE
Well actually The Minister says if your going to ride in the bush - you might as well clash.
But seriously, have you ever tried to buy womens motorcycle clothing? Word of warning let her go on her own, it's worse than shoes... The pants are Draggin Motorcycle Jeans - Womens' Camos made with unobtanium and suitable for sliding down the road at obscene speeds while painting your nails.
Link HERE
Day 4 (Friday) was a motorcycle free day.... well except for the commute, in the rain with rubbers on and best of all on the dirt. :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:
The Minister's 1st ride on dirt, and did she fall off - no bloody way mate - steady as a rock, roosting it through the deep stuff, and rear wheel steering around the corners with gay abandon.. well sort of anyway - in her words; because it was raining she couldn't see the rough stuff anyway and if you can't see it it's not a problem is it!
The Minister's 1st ride on dirt, and did she fall off - no bloody way mate - steady as a rock, roosting it through the deep stuff, and rear wheel steering around the corners with gay abandon.. well sort of anyway - in her words; because it was raining she couldn't see the rough stuff anyway and if you can't see it it's not a problem is it!
So it was good preparation for a day or real off road riding up in the "back Country" of the Barrington Tops, an area that my mum and dad frequented and often used to tell me about - so I thought it would be nice to have a look around and see what they had been banging on about. The day was still wet, but forecast was for a clearing afternoon.
But from the back of a horse it all looked different.
Now horses and I just don't get on, my last encounter with one was - well let's just say it was a bad experience for both of us... All my farm work was done on ag bikes and at least they did what they were told :dry:
But Peanuts and I were introduced and after a stern talking to he agreed to at least walk... so we were off to a good start.
Now horses and I just don't get on, my last encounter with one was - well let's just say it was a bad experience for both of us... All my farm work was done on ag bikes and at least they did what they were told :dry:
But Peanuts and I were introduced and after a stern talking to he agreed to at least walk... so we were off to a good start.