What a fantastic journey. Thank you for sharing it with us. As great as it must have been for you, I'm sure a part of you is very happy to be home. But don't get too comfortable. Our expectations are now very high when it comes to your posts. I, personally, expect ride reports from every trip now. For example, "Rode down the road to the market where, if you get there early enough, you have your pick of the warmest, softest bread this side of the Yarra." [Insert photo of bread loaf here.]
In all seriousness, I appreciate your words and photos and what they reveal about the rider much more than the ride itself.
Great trip... Thanks so much for sharing. You really raised the bar for trip reports! Awesome.
Cormanus,
Can you ride a motorcycle to Alice Springs? Is there anything to see there?
Popgun,
The answer to the first question is yes. It's about 35 hours and a minimum of 3,000 kms from my home. A good deal of it may well be hot and flat and boring.
The answer to the second question is 'I'm not sure'. I've only ever got off a plane in Alice Springs to stretch my legs en route to Darwin.
The [url=http://www.ulyssesclub.org/Whoweare.aspx]Ulysees Club, a motorcycle club for the over 40s, held its AGM in Alice Springs in 2014 which means lots of people rode there. I thought Pterodactyl and I met some riders on their way there when we went to Mildura in June, but they must either have been on the way back or going there for some other reason. But it does mean people ride bikes there. The [url=http://agm2014.ulyssesclub.org/]website for the 2014 Ulysees AGM will have stuff on what happens in Alice Springs. The page on [url=http://agm2014.ulyssesclub.org/RidesTours.aspx]Rides & Tours will have further information.
Having always thought the drive up the centre of Australia wouldn't be all that interesting, I read a travel report in a newspaper years ago in which the authors reported their surprise at the number of interesting things to see and do on the way. You'd have to have a squiz at Uluru if you went that way—a mere 6-7 hours out of Alice Springs.
Planning a trip?
As I sat here and read your seat report this morning I thought to myself ,,, what an interesting read this is and the way that you write Cormanus is quite incredible .. I have read all your reports and I have to say they're very impressive .... I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing with us as it really helps me thru these blistering cold days here in the state of Tennessee . I can see spring around the corner so hopefully I will have a nice seat time write up for the forum soon ... Until then ,, ride on and write on brother ! Thank you so much and God bless !
As usual, an amazing ride report and great pics. I'm SO envious!
EXCEPT, how the heck do you get comfortable riding on the wrong side of the road???
That is some amazing scenery, Cormanus. Your roads are so smooth. The snow will start melting in earnest here on the Northeast USA coast this week. We got some frost heaves that make the road look like a motocross track. Potholes clear thru to China. I thought I lost the front end of the car the other day. Baboooom! Another great ride report, always!