2012-12-07 Naracoorte Caves Weekend

What started as a just ride a to Naracoorte turned out to be a little more as I had two stops to do on the way. Rather than by pass the Adelaide suburban sprawl I had to go into it.

Route there.  https://goo.gl/maps/Ymv1KnZZz9w

First stop was the Your Suspension Shop which was just to check the condition of my front forks in regards to rust/stone chips in fork travel area. The seals need doing and I was thinking of adding some new progressive springs at the same time. Fork legs are ok and don’t need to be re-chromed ($150 a leg) but the ABS set up might be a bit beyond these guys so I will get a Honda dealer to do the seals and fit the springs.

Next stop was out to the Port Adelaide area to see one to of my twin grand-daughters, Krystal for an hour or so before heading off towards Naracoorte.

The bike was fuelled up at Coles Express West Terrace where it took 14 litres for the 259kms (18.5k/L) from home. The best figure I’ve had for towing a trailer and tail wind helped there. Next was fuel for me so I stopped of at Macca’s on Glen Osmond Road. Then one more stop at Woolworths in Murray Bridge for essentials that I’d forgotten.

I didn’t want to get to Naracoorte until Saturday morning so I spotted a place to camp near the Desert Camp Conservation Park  https://goo.gl/maps/RVyh6ph9LxH2  and stayed there until about 9:30 . 

 

Saturday morning. Having 65kms to ride I tried to work it for arrival around 10:30 which turned out ok as Rick (Lonerider1) arrived about 15 minutes later

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The two of us walked the main street looking for a bank where we both got some cash out then back to town square where we had the bikes parked and Peter (StinkyPete) rode past us on our way back. We also noticed an ex BMW police bike as well.

 

It would have been just after midday when we headed of to the hotel for lunch and of course we all forgot to take our cameras in. Peter couldn’t stay to long as he had to get back so when it was time for him to leave I grabbed my camera and took a couple shots of Pete (red 1300), Rick (Blue 1300) and my Blue 1100 and trailer.

 

 

On Sunday morning Rick and I headed for the Naracoorte caves and made it in time for the fossil cave tour which took up from about 10:30 until about 11:45 by the time we got back to the bikes.

 

Overnight stay in the caravan park.

 

 

Swimming area behind the park

 

Fossil cave pictures are here, some turned out better without flash. https://www.flickr.com/gp/152195423@N05/U9R666

 

Bikes at cave entrance

 

 

Rick and I parted ways here while he went to the caves shop and I made for home as wanted to be home before dark.

 

From the caves I went to Woolworths Plus where the bike took 22.46L for 368kms (16.38kms/L) and then to the local take away store for my lunch. I left Naracoorte at about 12:30 and arrived back home at about 8:30pm. Return distance was about 550kms as I by passed the city and stopped at Tailem Bend for about 30 mins.

 

Return Route  https://goo.gl/maps/hTZ7EQZm42n

The odometer clicked over to 150000 about 1km south Of Riverton where I took a photo and added the 20 litres of spare fuel I had bought earlier after ridden 398kms

Total Distance travelled was about 1165kms.

 

 

 

2017-08-04 SA/WA Border Ride

This was to be the second time we undertook this ride and though usually it can be done at leisure this trip also included a 1000 km within 24 hours ride under the FarRider banner.

Border Ride History

After leaving home at just after midday on Friday the 4th August we aimed for our first fuel stop at Puma Port Augusta truck stop (127 km from home) and a late lunch at Barnacle Bills since we had to go past the place.

Our next port of call was the Big Galah at  Kimba  (286 km from Home) to stretch our legs and take on fluids as we have not got into the camelbak thing of drinking on the move.

 

After we left Kimba for our fuel stop at Wudinna (388km from home) we not only had the wind but we also had some rain showers  added into the mix and it would continue until we arrived at our overnight accommodation at about 7:30pm at Ceduna (597 km from home).

 

Saturday 5th August.

 

Heather declined to go any further as she slipped off the bike while getting off at Wudinna and spent the day resting in our room. We found out later that some tendon damage had occurred.

 

For me though it was an early morning rise and on the road before 6am for the completion of the final leg to the SA/WA border. No towing the trailer for this part of the trip so I can travel at the state limit and use less fuel and at 7am I stop for fuel at Penong (670 km from home) at 7am.

 

A brief rest stop across the road from the Nundroo roadhouse (749km from home) at 8 am. From here on the clouds gave way to sunshine but I still had the wind to contend with.

 

 

Another visitor in the rest stop

 

And some green from the growing grain crops which soon gives way to the natural bushland.

 

 

This is the where the Eyre Hwy begins to cross the actual Nullarbor (No Trees) Plain (875 km from home)

 

 

Looking North

 

 

And along the road towards the West

 

 

A little further down the road I pulled into the first of the rest stops beside the Southern Ocean. I've never stopped at this one before.

 

Looking East along cliffs of The Great Australian Bight

 

Just as well I had our zoom lens for the camera though its only a 75 - 200 mm it's good enough for us.

 

 

 

And we have whales. Only two

 

 

Next stop is Border Village (1079 km from Home) where I arrived at 11:50 am and is the end of the ride and the start of the next one home. After filling the bike tank in readiness for the return trip back to Ceduna I had some lunch.

 

I saw this parked on the other side of the road; it's a B triple

 

 

While I was having lunch I saw two of our SA Ozstoc members arrive on their red Honda ST1300s and they parked next to mine. When they organised there overnight accommodation we all headed over for a coffee.

 

I did mention that I'd seen one of our members that came from WA and by the time I had to leave at 2 pm I hadn't seen anymore ST riders though I did see a parked red ST1100 as I was leaving.

 

 

I completed the requirements for a FarRide of at least 1000 km within 24 hours on my way there and could have a more leisurely trip back to Ceduna and eventually home but with Heather being in Ceduna I aimed to get back as soon I could.

 

The route from Home to Border Village with all the stops included.
 

https://goo.gl/maps/vaMUtsE9WtA2

 

 

 

The Return Trip

 

 

While going to the border I noticed the view in the picture and made a mental note to stop and take some pics on the return trip (13km from Border Village). This time I had a tail wind.

 

This is looking west towards Western Australia.

 

 Close ups of above.

The sandy beach and coastline beyond the cliff face is all in WA

 

My next stop for a photo was at Nullarbor Roadhouse (184 km from Border Village) for a photo with the bike in front of a whale. I missed the sign showing the Western end of the Nullarbor Plain as I didn't think it was so close to the roadhouse but I've marked the point on the next map

 

 

I parked behind a B double which I would later overtake which I would again see stop for fuel at Penong as I was refuelling the bike.

 

 

I saw this remains of old wooden wagon at the roadhouse as well.

 

 

That was the last of the pictures I took until Sunday morning though I did have a couple rest stops between here, Penong and Ceduna.

 

I rang Heather at 7:30 pm after I passed through the quarantine station at Ceduna and no need to stop at the roadhouse so I went straight to our room (481 km from Border Village) making a total of at least 960 km for the day.

 

Before leaving for home on Sunday morning I took some pictures in the caravan park.

 

Bike and trailer in front of the unit. It's a fairly basic unit but has all the essentials at a budget price. I first stopped in this place July 2008 and the cost hadn't changed since then.

 

 

Some higher priced units in the back ground with some empty caravan sites in the foreground.

 

 

 Looking from our unit across to the pool with the office complex beyond.

 

As we were travelling East we began to catch up some of the rain that had been falling all that weekend so I stopped to put our wet weather gear on. Luckily we missed it but got wet from the oncoming trucks.

At Wirrulla (572 km from Border Village) we stopped off for some breakfast

The local store

 

 And rest area

There was also a small caravan park behind the rest area

After Wirrulla I planned to stop at Wudinna for fuel with the tail wind I could easily make Kimba though if needed I did have 10 litres at hand. At the Kimba roadhouse (791 km from Border Village) we also had lunch since it was 1 pm.

We rode the rest of the way home with a brief rest stop after we went through Port Augusta.

https://goo.gl/maps/yAaZNFwTBAo

Total distance for the trip was 2145 km (1333 miles) according to the bike's odometer and used 132 litres (29 gallons UK or 35 US) of fuel at an average of 16.24 k/l (46 mpg UK (38 mpg US))

 

 

 

 

 

2016-06-03 Mount Bryant

On Friday we rode 300 km south so Heather could see her friend at Murray Bridge. Came back Saturday. Took the more westerly scenic route via Angaston to Mount Pleasant there and our usual easterly route via Sedan back home https://goo.gl/maps/o6w5bwQno5L2

Our last stop before home was at Mount Bryan as the female toilets at Burra were locked - so while there I took a few photos.

Old crane from South Australian Railway days

Old station platform

Playground and BBQ area

Turbine Blade display

The ST has been in front of this one before but not with the trailer on

Mount Bryan Hotel

9th April 2016 Trip to Robe South Australia

Some of our ride to Robe after the 7:50am start for the 560 km (350 miles) route. To early for breakfast before leaving so our first rest stop an hour later was the BP at Burra for Breakfast.

Our route there and back apart. https://goo.gl/maps/7k5YLe2dQrk

Next stop was Sedan where I took some pictures.

The rest area in town

 

What was once the town water supply

 

 

Church Building

 

An old plough located in the church grounds with a bell beside it.

 

The local supermarket

 

 

Hotel 

 

 

The ever faithful Honda ST1100 having her rest as well

 

A stop at Murray Bridge for fuel was next before the lunch stop at Tailem Bend. Rather than buy take-away we bought our own with us this time

 

One of the Tailem Bend rest stops. I took this just before we left for a photo stop at Kingston S.E.

 

 

The Big Lobster (it has seen better days) at Kingston S. E.

 

 

We arrived at the Sea Vu Caravan Park ,  Robe just before 5:00 pm, set the tent up and inflated the air bed before a walk to the Robe Hotel for dinner/tea

 

Being an outing for our motorcycle club dining was in the company of several members plus some friends who attended. All of us were at the hotel for about 3 hours with 13 of us at our table. I've posted the basic info on the club website . By midnight we were all in dreamland.

 

There was some rain overnight and though I didn't get wet some of the bedding on my side got damp. In the morning a photo of the rain system that had gone past and of our campsite with a red ST1300 in the foreground. Not sure if I mentioned or not but the camera time was still on summer time so an hour needs to be take off the photo time.

 

 

 Before leaving Robe I took some more pics.

 

Two views of the Robe Hotel were we had the evening meal

 

 

 Looking across to the boat ramp and the entrance of the boat harbour 

 

 

On the way home I detoured to Cape Jaffa and parked in front of the swimming area which part of a marina development.

 

 

To my left was catamaran - looks big enough to live on.

 

Being a new camera and for Heather I took some flower shots as well to tryout a couple of close up shots.

 

 

Fuel for us (breakfast) and for the bike were next on the list at Kingston before retracing our route back home.

 

Meningie was a rest stop and this little piece of history came to light.

 

Heather and I

Another stop at Tailem Bend to take the Rhino which is advertising for the Monarto Zoo

 

The only way to cross the river from Tailem bend is by ferry. It's free and runs 24/7 and is run by the state Dept. of Transport.

 

View of the River Murray

Looking North West

And South



 

One more stop for fuel at Murray Bridge and a visit to a supermarket and we were on our way home at which we arrived at 6:30 pm after a total of 1130 km. (700 miles).