20th May 2007, Shaw River, Marble Bar Road, WA

Before I moved to Karratha I spent 18 months at Port Hedland, WA which was basically built to serve the mining industry. The port exports iron ore and salt and it’s not unusual to see 10 or 12 ships waiting to be processed through the port and often 6 may be more in the process of loading.

 Fuel for the region is also off loaded and there’s a rail terminal as its end of the line for iron ore rail trains.

I usually worked 6 days a week with Tuesdays off and all of my days off I would leave town and take a ride somewhere.

This particular trip (the first of two) I decided to run north along National 1 (The Great Northern Hwy) and take the road to Marble Bar.

Map of route; http://goo.gl/maps/txd7l

 

It’s not the most spectacular trip for scenery unless you’re into flat coastal plains with a few mediocre trees, a few dry creeks/rivers lined with gum trees, spinifex grass and depending on the time of year: wild flowers

The first picture shows a pool of water where I stopped for a breather and a drink. It’s important to keep fluids up, you can get by without food for a couple days but fluids are a must. Exact location unknown but point B on the map looks close enough.

My next stop was the Shaw River (Point D on the map) and where I spent the rest of the afternoon. There was plenty of water and though not that deep you can still get wet and cool off. I could have spent more time here and stayed the night but I only had the one day off.

 The next few pictures show the bike parked in what could be described as a camping ground (if you don’t mind sharing with a cow or two) and no doubt would be used as such by many.

The line of trees across the middle of the picture is where the road crosses the river. 

 

The bike is parked in a nice shady spot
 

The water in the foreground is only ankle deep but there's deeper water behind the trees in the back ground

 
What could be a nice place to stay a few days at the end of the wet season.
 

This road also serves the mining around Marble Bar so triple and quad trailer road trains to Port Hedland and they all have to cross the river at this point. Looking west in this view. I walked the length of this ford.

The water flows from the south and under the road way to the northern sign.

I also wonder at the locations of some these water level markers. If you’re close enough to read most of them, you’re all ready under water. I didn’t take much notice at the time but it looks like this crossing has been built three times looking at the concrete layers.

The water looks inviting but there's plenty of tree branches and logs hidden in the water.

 

On the way back home I noticed a small sign post just the other side of the river crossing. Doolena Gorge, the sign read. Point C on the map shows the track heading south which is not really meant for a bike (Honda ST1100A) designed for 180kph cruising on the Autobahns of Germany.

The track wasn’t too bad so I slowly rode in and and at the end of it I found this. The body of water and the cliff face are visible on the map if you zoom in and follow the track until it ends.

 

Looking left of the previos picture. Gum trees are a dead giveaway for creek or a river courses even though there's no water.

 
A photo can only give you an idea, it's better to be there and see the detail.

The road is behind the trees to the left in the background. This was the only place I park the bike safely as it's fairly sandy and this would be under water in times of peak flow.

I was only there for half an hour; just long enough to snap a few pictures as I wanted to be back in town before dark if at all possible.

As luck would have it I had a shower or two of rain on the way back near Point B on the map but I missed a major down pour (I could see it crossing the road ahead). One big massive lightening storm with highly visible strikes to the ground about 1km away is not a good thing to be around.

Total return distance for the trip was 312kms
 

My August 2012 Border Ride or Bust

After several weeks of getting the bike ready for the 1077km trip from home in Peterborough, SA to Border Village which is located next to the WA/SA border the time had came upon us to leave.

Planned Trip Route; http://goo.gl/maps/etSe2

 

Border Villiage is the meeting place for the annual border ride which is held in early August.

There wasn’t much prep to do on the bike which is a 1999 Honda ST1100A either. The rear tyre needed replacing and the oil and filter were 500kms over due. It’s the first time in six years that these items ne...eded doing at the same time. Rear brake pads were checked and only half worn so they’re good for another 30,000kms. I also gave the side stand pivot point a going over.

On the Thursday the trailer tyre air pressures was checked and no loss of pressure since I last checked them. Classic Trailers recommend 12-15psi for their trailers so I have mine 13.5psi. The bike tyres needed a slight adjustment otherwise all ok.

I took this photo before we left home on the Friday morning. I’m not sure if we had a frost overnight or it was just heavy dew.

 

At 9:50am I started the bike and let her idle over while we put helmets and gloves on. I double checked the top case to make sure we had our debit cards etc. We then mounted our girl and headed for the local Caltex and added 15 litres of fuel. That’s more than enough to get us to do the 125km ride Port Augusta where we can use the Coles/Woolworths discount vouchers we had.

 

An hour and a half later at 11.36am we left the Coles Express servo at Port August East after adding 14.86 litres (topped to the brim) and a 10 litre fuel can. On longer trips like this I all ways take extra fuel.

 

Next stop was the local Honda dealer so Heather could get a balaclava for herself. Then it was around the corner for lunch at KFC. Next stop was the Woolworths supermarket for a few items to live on for the next few days. While getting back on the bike, Heather noticed a red ST 1300 heading south on the road bridge.

 

When leaving town we followed an unknown bike with a sidecar which was travelling with a red ST1300. We got held up by a campervan which the other bikes managed to pass and by the time the traffic cleared for us to pass the other two bikes were out of sight. Not sure if they were heading for the Border or heading to Whyalla or points south.

About seven kms east of Iron Knob I noticed two bikes coming up from behind. Only the headlights were visible at this time and Heather also made me aware that she’d like a photo of the bike with Iron Knob behind it. I started slowing a little to look for a good place to pull over and then two white ST1100s passed me. At that time I guessed it was Saaz and his mate.

 

 

 

Time of arrival at Kimba was about 3.00pm where we stopped at the Big Galah for another photo stop.

I also needed a loo stop which is just around the corner and just as Heather got back on the bike a red ST 1300 stopped behind us. Heather got back off the bike thinking I wanted to go and meet him but for me the loo stop was more important…lol. Heather is back on the bike and we ride the 250 metres to the rest stop which was all most full of caravans and camper trailers.

Before I’d even stopped the bike some guy was taking pictures. The Blue ST1100 has that effect on some people I have noticed over the years. About three or four more people taking pictures when I opened the trailer up to get a drink out of the esky.

I checked the fuel level before I left the rest stop and noticed that for the 160kms from Port Augusta I had used more fuel than usual for that distance. I would still make my planned stop at Wudinna ok but it was issue as to maybe adjusting planned stops after Ceduna.

A few things I had forgotten at the time were the number of hills between Iron Knob and Kimba. There was more uphill road than down hill road and I had Heather with me this time where normally I would be on my own. The trailer was larger than my previous one and overall I had more weight to tow.

As we passed the Mobil servo I noticed the two white 1100’s and their riders getting ready to leave. Triple disc brakes on an 1100 are still the best when stopping rather quickly even with a trailer on. Into the servo I went and pulled up beside Saaz. They were planning on an overnight stop at Ceduna (330kms away) and it was all ready 3.10pm. I only stopped for a minute and I was on my way again. About 10 minutes later they passed us and apart from a cloud of dust from a car they had passed I never saw them again. I think the car went off the road after see two white bikes. White bikes in SA are generally SA Police BMWs but you would rarely see them that far out of the city.

At 4:50pm we left Wudinna after fuelling the bike where it took 20.69 litres for the 263kms from Port Augusta or 12.71kms per litre. By far the worst figure I’ve had since having the bike in six years

We started looking for somewhere to camp overnight as well. It was a new tent and its first use. I pulled up off the main hwy at Yainee and set up camp.

 

Grain silos at Yainee

 

During the night I woke up with a sore throat which didn’t get any better by Saturday morning so I had to think about either going on or going home. I could see myself getting worse so I decided to go home while I could.

It was a slower trip home and I need to stop to keep fluids up but I managed one stop between Yainee and Kimba at a blink and you miss it place called Koongawa. I took a couple pics of there.

 

My partner Heather took a picture or two of me as well.

 

 

 

 

So I returned the favour

 

 

We stopped at Kimba for lunch at the Mobil Roadhouse and I was glad of the break. We did another stop off at Iron Knob for some more pictures and fluids for me.

 

Iron Knob is a small mining town located on the other side of the iron ore mine in the back ground

 

We stopped at Woolworth Plus for fuel (10cent discount) in Port Augusta where the ST1100 took 21.19 litres for the last 301kms or a slightly improved 14.2 kms per litre. We left the servo at about 2:45pm and headed for home where we arrived at about 4:15pm.

From about 7:00 pm Saturday night after I got home until midday Tuesday (7th) I spent most of time getting over a very bad cold or the ‘flu. In hind sight I made the right move by going back home when I did. On the Sunday I never had the energy to drive my car never mind riding a bike 1100kms back home.

I checked my GPS log of the trip:-

Average speed 87 kp/h
Max Speed 131 kp/h……wow!!! With a trailer…….downhill run with throttle lock on
Trip Distance 825kms
Total Time 13.59 Hours
Stationary Time 4.34 Hours

Trips To Python Pool WA 2008/9

Here's a little ride we used to quite often while we were living at point A on the map.
Point A is a truck stop where I lived for two years while working for their other garage in the town centre of Karratha. The things we do for free accommodation etc.

The route is here http://goo.gl/maps/WAVl0

Points A to E is a 90km sealed section of the 400km road to Tom Price. Point E to F is a dirt road leading to sealed section through the Millstream Chichester National Park. Point I is a camping ground inside the park. That's as far as I've gone with the bike but the road does continue on back up north to the main national 1 hwy. The last 40kms sealed section is full of high speed turns and one 3rd gear hill if you want to maintain the 110km/h limit.

We took advantage at point B on the map and had a rest stop and took pictures of a south bound train stopped in a siding waiting for a loaded north bound iron ore train. This line runs from Dampier to Tom Price.

At point C we get held up for an empty triple header on another line that crosses the road just before the road crosses a river. This line is from Cape Lambert To Panawonica and crosses the previously mention line above a few kms south of here.

The ford crossing for the road with Heather looking at a loaded north bound train which was taken a little while later.

Next stop is point D where the Tom Price line crosses a river

Taken from underneath the bridge looking at the bike.

The sealed road ends at point E and about 1km later a left turn takes you along a dirt road to the sealed road inside the national park.
We stopped at point G and did the 300 metre walk to the top of the hill.

Heather waiting at the tree in the centre of the above picture for me to catch up

A couple of shots looking in a northwesterly direction from top of the hill we walked up

The bike in the car park

Can't forget a picture of Sturt's Desert pea which is fairly well wide spread in at least most dry areas of the country

Heather at Python Pool (turn off at point H) feeding the fishes. We all ways had a picnic lunch here. There's water here all year around and people do swim in the water as well.

A section of the cliff face on the other side of the pool.

And the tourist info plaque though I never saw any of the plant mentioned

And of course me on the bike taken at the start of the sealed road on the way back home (back then anyway) Note the end 110km/h sign for the dirt road.