Ride To Melrose 23rd August 2014

We gave the bike a quick polish (doesn't happen often) and checked all the fluids and air pressures on Friday. Coolant hadn't been checked for at least 6 months and it was still ok so no loss since last time. Air pressures were ok as well after not being checked for the last month.



On Saturday morning like Friday we awoke to a nice bright sunny day unlike the last week or two when we'd be lucky to see a patch of blue and a glimpse of the sun.

Being only just over 100 km from home to Melrose we left home about 10:40am for a casual ride over arriving at the car park at about 11:45 with the North Star Hotel in the background.

I bought a new Samsung mount for my Galaxy Note 8 Tab and the ride was it's first use. An 8 inch tab might seem large for a GPS but it also contains the fuel log etc. for the bike.



Looking towards Mount Remarkable which is right next to Melrose from the car park. A history lesson http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/melrose.htm



While waiting for the others to arrive we went for a walk down what would be the main street of the town. Heather was a little hungry so we went into a café and bought a pie for her and then crossed the road and sat down so she could eat.

From the seat I took these few.

The Mount Remarkable Hotel



A push bike shop which was mainly a hire a bike business.



I'm sure every kid in Melrose that I saw was riding a bike, here's one of the girls



And looking back up the road towards the Hotel we would have lunch at.



When Heather finished eating we walked back up to our bike and as we got the first of the 1300's arrived, so good timing. After a little while we all walked inside and ordered lunch. I didn't worry to much about photos inside but some where taken by others so they might get posted on the Ozstoc site

I did take this one from inside of my bike, plus a BMW (GS ???) (their version of the Honda X tourer comes close) and a Harley in the middle



and this one of inside the hotel



After lunch we all walked down the main street.

Heather spotted this.....a fitting end to one of our older cars: an FJ Holden (about 1952-58) ute complete with tree growing through the LH headlight http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_FJ .



A little further down the street is the court house museum



and the local law enforcer



And then back up to the car park and getting ready to leave. Just as well the local servo was open as some need fuel for the trip back home.



Two red, two black 1300's and my blue 1100.


Rather than return home the way I came http://goo.gl/maps/v1qKL

I went this way http://goo.gl/maps/hO7ju

And we got back home about 4:10pm. I only used the GPS on the way there but it recorded a max speed of 115kph and an average of 82kph for a 105kms and a total of 211kms for the day.

2014 Wharfest Port Augusta

After a frosty start to the day this morning we put of leaving for Port Augusta until 10:30. By then the sun had warmed up the morning a little and it wasn't to bad for the 125 km ride over.

Not sure what the temp was outside but 1C was showing on our lounge room clock when my partner Heather crawled out of bed this morning. Our back yard this morning

We stopped in Orroroo for ten minutes to say "hello" to Heather's brother as he was there selling citrus.

At 12:10 we were at KFC Port Augusta for lunch and half an later down at the shopping centre car park for the Wharfest. I guess the name sounds better than Port Augusta show and it is held on the old shipping wharfs that are no longer used. Even the rail line is still place

I managed to find a place to park the bike.

Helicopter flights were quite popular but at $30 a person for a two minutes seemed a bit pricey considering two people a time means $60 for two minutes.

The helicopter take off/land point is behind us and we were starting the walk through the show area so I took so pictures as I went through.

Some farm animals making it a sort of kids zoo type event

A calf I think, Heather managed to pat it whatever it was.

Behind the lamb there is a piglet lying on the ground. This is the second shot as the owner walked in front of the camera (what's wrong with people these days) and then the lamb walked in front as I took this one so I left it at that. I just managed the shot before the female walked in front as well.

Our delightful boys in blue had a display as well

The Fire Brigade as well. SES (State Emergency Service) and Navy were in the same area.

The jet ski belonged to the coast guard

Coast Guard display

Looking back towards the emergency displays from the middle of the selling stalls

Towards show rides from above

The start of the side shows and rides and pictures say it better than I.

A large stuffed dog in the middle of the show stand

Heather liked the three coloured toy bears

I took a 10 second video of the above ride

 



This was the first time this ride was here. Usually see it in the city show but not a country one. Not to sure if I want to be upside down in something like that. The bridge behind crosses the top of the gulf. Head west (Left of pic.) to all points West (Perth) and North (Darwin). Go East for the opposite (East Coast and South to Adelaide)

 

When we got fed up with walking around we went to a couple shops before heading home. All up we did 259 km for the return trip and arrived home just after 4:00 pm  and even then the chill factor was starting to take effect the closer we got to home.

Going through Horrock's Pass on the way back home we caught up to a few cars that were behind an 18 wheeler and the last car couldn't even manage a RH bend without going over the centre line.

Ride Map