Australian WSBK 2014 - Part 3 Going Home

[Pterodactyl_imp]

Day 7: Phillip Island to Lavers Hill, Vic

365kms 5hrs 01mins
Left Phillip Island early. For the last night at PI we had a big one around the campfire so I wasn't, to say the least, in "showroom condition". Stopped at the first roadhouse for fuel, a big drink of water, coffee, a burger and large fries, and finally a litre of coke to cut the grease. Never felt better. First stop was Geelong where I picked up a RH mirror from the Honda dealer. Once fitted and adjusted took a lazy ride to Torquay, surfing capital of Victoria (Bells Beach et al) and then revisited the Great Ocean Road. A beaut ride and I was lucky for both weather and traffic. Stopped the night at Lavers Hill. I would recommend the Pub and associated campground to any one lucky enough to be looking for a stop in this area. Cheap ($5 for crying out loud!), good facilities, beautiful camp site and the pub food is well above average. The locals and staff are very biker friendly.

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Near Lorne

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The GOR rides this coastline from Lorne to Apollo Bay. Get ready for Campervans, piloted by Euro-tourists, on the wrong side of the road.

[url=http://goo.gl/qYs1gD]Day 8: Lavers Hill to Bright Vic

611kms 7hrs 54mins
From Lavers Hill through forest twisties and then back to the Coast to do some sightseeing. The coast is wild here. Cliffs battered by the Southern Ocean swells have produced a series of island outcrops known as the Twelve Apostles. One collapsed into the sea recently so in fact there are now eleven apostles. I guess a rename is out of the question. The Eleven Apostles doesn’t have the same ring about it.

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An Apostle

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And another (and no more I promise)

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A swim would be good, but this is Great White Shark capital of the world

On to Port Campbell for breakfast and then through the Otway Ranges (more twisties).
After the Otways I made good time up the highway (boring, bloody boring...thank you Mr Apple for iTunes). The Doom (Hume) highway is four/six lane, divided, speed limited to 100/110, and with an honour guard of speed safety cameras. Speed safety is a euphemism for revenue raising. About an hour out of Bright ran into evening thunderstorms and finally set up camp, in the rain, on the river bank in the centre of town. Glass of red, a pizza and (another) good, albeit damp, nights sleep.


[url=http://goo.gl/rAvlA5]Day 9: Bright Vic to Yarralumla ACT

494kms 6hrs 48mins
Mates (and Bruces), the Kosciuszko National Park and the Snowies are biker heaven. Well for Aussie bikers anyway. Twisties, sweepers, straights, double lane and single lane. This time, the weather was a little variable but nothing to make the surface too scary.

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Mt Beauty, gateway to the snowfields (in winter) and all sorts of other fun in the summer.

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Goat Ridge Rd., Kosciuszko NP

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Going "Popeye"

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Heavy Traffic - Snowy Mountains Highway

Continued through Cooma to the Australian Capital Territory and stayed with friends at Yarralumla. I had forgotten how good a mattress feels.

[url=http://goo.gl/3XeUuR]Day 10: Yarralumla to Home Sweet Home

290kms 3hrs 03mins
Boring , bloody boring. Up the highway, in the rain, and rolled into the garage with this, exactly, on the clock:

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Bloody hell, Bruce, this is a bonza bike!
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bonzer
adjectiveAUSTRAL./NZinformal
adjective: bonza
1.
excellent; first-rate.
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Cheers, and thanks to those with the patience to read these posts.

 

[Cormanus]

Geez, Bruce, thanks for that bonza series of posts. What a bloody great ride that must have been—except of course for the boring bloody boring bits up the bloody highway.

I'm a bit interested in your phone set up. I can see you have a power outlet and bracket for the phone. May I ask some questions?
[li]Do you use it for navigation as well as music?[/li] [li]How do you listen—Bluetooth or do I remember you mentioning noise reduction earbuds?[/li] [li]If the latter, are they a PIA to run from the phone?[/li] [li]Does it work OK?
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I have a navigation program on the phone which I rarely use, but I'd like to be able to rather than having to buy a dedicated SatNav for very occasional use on the bike.

Edit: Congratulations on the 29,000 kms. It's getting well used, that bike.
Further Edit: Actually, I can see the answer to question 2 in one of the photos—earphones. What do you do when it rains?

 

[enzo_imp]

Yea Bruce, that's a great ride...........

 

[the Ferret]

Wow, that is just a stunning finish to your ride report. Most excellent job. A pleasure to read and view.

Going to show this page to my wife when she gets out of the shower. Pics are amazing.

Thanks so much for posting Pterodactyl. :worship:

 

[StackMan_imp]

Nice! sounds like a fun road trip with some adventure to life exciting! thanks for the great pic's and narration