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.

 

 

 

2016-06-25 Paringa

On any other day this cold I would have stayed in bed for a little longer but we had this ride to do. Not impressed when I turned the PC on and saw the current temp in Peterborough was 0c but a little warmer than a 100kms away at Yunta which had -0.5c.

We had a frost overnight and the bike was covered in ice which a little warm water soon got rid off.

and a hint of low lying cloud across the road behind the old folks home but otherwise a sunny start to the day.

On the road at 9 am on the way to Burra for our usual rest stop which we just passed by and headed straight to Morgan where we stopped instead. Got held up for 10 minutes with some road works near Monash otherwise we had good run and arrived at 12:20pm.

Took these of our group inside - we had the place to ourselves

and the bikes; 4 x 1100s and 4 x 1300s

I had to cross the road for this one

On the way home I topped the tank worked out that we averaged 18.6 k/l (16.55 litres) from home to  Paringa and back to Renmark. Another brief stop at Morgan and we arrived home just after 6:00pm.

http://goo.gl/maps/21Rfr5pNTxC2

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).

Winkler Park Saddleworth

Yesterday we had one of those "let's go for a ride" moments so we left for Saddleworth at about 10:30 am this morning.

Most of the 140km trip was ok but having a 60kph road work speed limit for about 30km slowed us down a little. Heading north just south of Terowie were quite a few cruisers of various makes and even some riders waved.

Winkler Park is about 2km south of Saddleworth and we arrived about 12:30 and rather park the bike in the car park and walk I took it over and parked next to one of tables.

 



It didn't take long to unpack the bike with what we needed for lunch either. As I took this Heather was trying to break her camera by taking one of me. The Galaxy Note 8 is on the dash shelf and is mounted with one of Samsung's mounts which is made for it.

 

 

Somehow this photo got taken with me behind the bike.

 

 

Then Heather wanted one taken as well. I moved the mount to the fake tank cover for the trip back home and it seems better there.

 

 

I loaded some music on the tab and tried out the little Bluetooth speaker that Heather got a freebie with her phone. I used a lead rather the pair the speaker with the tab. At 3 watts it's not what you'd call loud but good enough for around the table and inside a tent.

 

 

After lunch we packed everything up and went for a walk around the southern half of the park.

 

 

We managed to get a photo of one the parrots

 

 

and a red bottle brush just coming into flower.

 

 

and a wild pea. The only other flower in abundance was the sour sob. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalis_pes-caprae

 

 

The park is between the Barrier Hwy and the Gilbert River though up here it's more like a creek.

 

 

At about 3:30 pm we left for home via Clare so we could avoid the roadworks on the other road. It's about 10km further and with stopping at the supermarket in Jamestown we did it in about the same time and arrived home about 5:20 pm.

Our ride map. The new Google maps won't show the route we took the same as the old maps so here's the link http://goo.gl/maps/mbrsx

The little 8 inch tab performs 100% as a GPS using the SYGIC app. But it's being used as more than just a GPS. I have a fuel/maintenance/trip app called Driver Diary from Google Play installed on this one just for bike use and the same apps on our 10.1 tab for the car. Plus I can load music like I did for today and all in one item.