My Honda ST1100A/ST1300A Motorcycle Trips

Thursday, 21 November 2013

Overland Corner Hotel RTE/ Lake Bonney Overnighter

What was originally going to be a day ride over to the Overland Corner Hotel turned out to be a little different than it was planned to be. My dad was going to meet us at the hotel but he was unable to make it so our day trip turned into an over night stop.

Our route map http://goo.gl/maps/zpE14

On Wednesday (13^th November) it was decided that we would load up the trailer and camp beside Lake Bonney at Barmera after our clubs RTE at the hotel. I spent a couple days organising what to put in the trailer and that the tyre air pressures were ok. The bike’s tyres were also checked as they hadn’t been done for a couple weeks.

Saturday morning came and at 8:50 am we left home and headed off towards Burra for a drink and stopped in a rest stop just out of town. The first hour and 90 kms down the road was done.

Heather standing beside the trailer.

Another 81 kms to go to Morgan and plenty of time to do it in and back on the road by 10:10am and 50 minutes later we stopped on Fourth Street Morgan to wait for the group coming up from the city (Adelaide).

Whilst waiting for the riders from Adelaide we noticed a few bikes come into town from the way we had come in. There were seven or eight bikes, a couple Harleys, a couple BMWs, one red ST1300 and a couple other bikes that I didn’t take much notice of. One of the members of this group was already an OzStoc member but he’d bought his car with the bike’s camper trailer in tow. It turns out this group of riders were from the Mallee Branch (Riverland area) of the Ulysses Club and they were on their way to Jamestown.

Some of the group that travelled up from Adelaide

At midday we all left for the RTE destination at Overland Corner 68kms away.

I never managed to catch up with every one that turned up but we had a total of 11 bikes and 15 people turn up. Seven ST1300s, 2 ST1100As, I Harley and 1 BMW. Of the people, 12 were from SA, 2 from Victoria and 1 from NSW.

The hungry mob at that the table

After the meal I took some pictures of the bikes in the hotel car park before they headed off on their various routes home and Heather and I headed for our camp site beside the lake.

I almost forgot to get the flag shot

This ones better.

Two Honda ST1300's that arrived earlier than the rest of us. The owner of one on the right had completed an IBA ride the night before after having ridden from NSW

Just a few pictures of our camp site beside Lake Bonney where we had a SE wind for all the time we were there. Dad did manage to visit us for a little while.

On Sunday morning we packed everything back in the trailer and headed for our fuel stop at Waikerie. Coles Express is there and we had an 8 cent per litre discount voucher so might as well use it. For the 298.9 kms we’d ridden from home the bike took 19.56 litres or 15.28K/L which for a loaded trailer and two riders is quite good.

After Waikerie we went on the road south of the River Murray to Morgan where after crossing the ferry we stopped at the bakery and bought a pie for Heather and a pasty for me.

An hour later we were in Burra and as we entered the town the group of bikes we’d seen the day before in Morgan were just leaving. We parked at the rest stop in town and while there I took a couple pics of what I could see.

Bridge across the creek. Normally has some water but emptied to take out the rubbish.

Burra Art Gallery

Burra Town Hall

Burra Rest Stop

Looking towards the main street shopping area

A couple on a BMW went passed and a few minutes later came back and stopped beside us. They wanted to know about the trailer but thought it was a camper trailer. No, we’re not that rich, we put a tent up instead. Of all the Beemers we saw over the weekend all but one were tourers with boxer motors and one was a GS.

We were in Burra for about 45 minutes before leaving for the uneventful final 88 kms home were we arrived at just after 1:00pm. It is 207.5 kms from Waikerie to home the way we went so all up we did 506.4 kms for the trip.

This was also the first trip we’ve had with the trailer after replacing the rear shock. The initial setting of 3 on the rebound for the Progressive shock seemed ideal for the load we had and two riders.

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Hallet Wind Farm

On 6th October 2013 we went for our usual ride to the take-away in Jamestown for lunch. While there we also visit the supermarket as well before going for lunch.

Our route http://goo.gl/maps/rswUR with stops marked for the take-away, where we took the generator pics and Hallet where we turned for our way back home.

This is the café located on the main street

After lunch we took the longer way home via Hallet and this time I had our older digital cam so I could get some photos as along this road we can get close enough to a couple of generators to do so. The only issue I had was with this little cam is that on a sunny day its very hard to see what's on the view screen so most of the shots were guessing and hoping I got something.

I was lucky with this one and the whole generator in one shot. Also close enough to hear the sound of the wind as the blades spin. We need to make another trip and get it on video as well.

The next shot shows the bike in front of the above picture. It wasn't until I got home that I didn't get the whole scene in.

To the left of where we stopped you can see a few for more generators. The wind farm is on both sides of the road and it's a safe bet to say the land is still being farmed around them and there's sheep grazing as well.

This a better shot of the dam and the sheep seen the above picture. It's also spring here and it's still green from the winter rainfall but it won't be long and it'll dry off.

This is Heather and the bike

So that's our little ride of about 140 kms (96 miles)

Saturday, 21 September 2013

Birdwood 21st September 2013

For once the weather forecast was near enough spot on for our ride down to Birdwood. Nice blue cloud free skies and the sun shining brightly warming up the coolish morning air.

The plan was to leave Peterborough no later than 9:00 am but it turned out to be five minutes later. Still, I allowed three hours for the 240 km ride to Birdwood via the most direct route. http://goo.gl/maps/jHWa1

Road works between Hallett and Mount Bryan slowed us down to 40kph and 60kph for most of the distance between the two towns. At Burra we took the Heavy Vehicle bypass which we usually do as it’s quicker than riding through the town. About 30 kms later is Manoora which is about the half way point between home and Adelaide so it’s a rest stop for us.

After Saddleworth the limit drops to 100 kph but being a little behind time 110 was good enough. It used to be the limit until a stroke of the pen one day made it less safe to do that any more. Just before Gawler it was back to a 100 and we went passed a police car that had stopped a car driver.

Ten minutes later saw us the other side of Gawler and on one of the hills roads for the last 40 kms to Birdwood via Kersbrook. Just south of there it’s Checker Hill road which is an 80 kph road with a couple 25 and 35 kph bends to do and a steep 2^nd gear climb to the top of the hill and 3^rd gear engine braking down the other side. We arrived at Birdwood just on midday and spotted a bluish coloured 1100 parked in front of the café. The owner turned out to be Peter from down Victor Harbor way.

We chatted by the bikes for about 15-20 minutes waiting to see if any others had decided to venture out for a ride but it wasn’t to be. Plenty of other bikes around but sadly no STs. Off to the café for lunch where I took three pictures when it came time to leave.

The fountain in the outside dining area

Heather

Peter

But the day wasn’t a total loss as just before we got up from the table we spotted a 1300 so it a quick exit to see where it went. Turns out it pulled up just up the road from ours, expecting an SA one but it had a Vic plate and I thought “beggars can’t be choosers” as we walked up to meet the owners who now live in SA.

I gave the Richard one of our cards and it looks like we may have a new member.

It was a blue day, 95 and 99 ABS 1100s

The café from out front

The horse at the toy shop at Gumeracha http://goo.gl/maps/On0YS

Then it was time for us to go as we wanted to get home before it got dark. I stopped off at Gumeracha for a couple pictures of our little horse at the toy shop. The rest of the trip home was back the same way except for detour in Gawler to Woolworths Plus so I could use the twenty dollar gift voucher I had and a stop off at the supermarket.

Heading north after Saddleworth I sat on 120 kph most of the way back home except for the road works and arrived home about 6:05pm.

We collected a quite a few bugs and by the time we got home the screen/headlight area was all bug hits so I cleaned it off before I did anything else.