Leave Scarborough at 7.00am and head for Margaret River skirting the coast all the way South saw some stunning beachside areas with ideal lifestyles to go with it.
Beautiful homes and shopping precincts with good coffee shops with a real European feel, this theme flowed through most of the towns we went into on the way to Margaret River and left us thinking they needed further investigation with more time to spend.
Arrived at Margaret River at approx 1.30 pm and found the Australis Margaret River Accommodation, went into town and looked around, the village itself was nice and reminded us of the Hunter region years ago without the commercialisation.
Total Klm's to date 9,440
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Day21 - Friday 22/10/10 - Weather, Clear sky cool and around 25 degrees
Today was a rest day and bike service day, so we have both had the tyres changed on our bikes and oil and filter change done ready for the run home.
After we picked up the bikes we went sightseeing around Perth starting at Kings Park for the view back to Perth City then Down to the coast at Fremantle for lunch and a walk around the Maritime Museum and Marina.
This gave us a chance to check the bikes and prepare for the next couple of days, we leave for Margaret River in the morning for a wine tasting tour and stop overnight.
Total Klm's 9,150
After we picked up the bikes we went sightseeing around Perth starting at Kings Park for the view back to Perth City then Down to the coast at Fremantle for lunch and a walk around the Maritime Museum and Marina.
This gave us a chance to check the bikes and prepare for the next couple of days, we leave for Margaret River in the morning for a wine tasting tour and stop overnight.
Total Klm's 9,150
Day20 - Thursday 21/10/10 - Weather, Overcast 14 to start climbing to 18
We left Geraldton at 7.00am and headed for the first fuel stop being Dongarra, and then left the main Highway and headed for the coast running through leeman and onto Jurien Bay for good sightseeing and coastal views. At Jurien bay the turn off to the pinnacles was showing another 37 Klms each way and we did not know if the road was dirt or tar so we left for Perth and settled into the Sunmoon Resort and Observation Resort for the next couple of nights.
Dinner was not booked and we ended up in a Thai place with the rest of the group for this meal.
Total Klm's 9,090.
Dinner was not booked and we ended up in a Thai place with the rest of the group for this meal.
Total Klm's 9,090.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Day19 - Wednesday 20/10/10 - Weather, Clear becoming overcast
Leave Carnarvon for the first fuel Wooramel Roadhouse then onto Billabong Roadhouse where the walls were covered in pictures of many tattoos, we did not actually know the significance of the photos and did not ask, but the owner of the Roadhouse gave $200 to the Foundation.
They actually had a full size eagle in a glass enclosure, I am keen to get a photo of the ones on the road that actually stare you down as you pass, they do not fly off they watch as you have to go onto the wrong side of the road to get away from them , they are very big and we have only seen one so far but we have both agreed that when we see the next one that refuses to budge we will stop and photograph it.
Arrived at Geraldton about 12.30 and had lunch with the local Police who put on a BBQ which seems a contrast to the Police in Rockhampton and Mt Isa who went out of there way to book everyone they could.
We had a few sausages on bread and soft drinks, local TV Stations came and interviewed a few key members and while writing this we saw ourselves on the local news.
We then left for the accommodation at the African Reef Resort, we are looking for the African part and also the Resort side of things, the only wildlife so far is an insect crawling up the wall behind the TV.
All in all the day was an easy ride and most felt happy to be moving down the west coast closer to Perth.
Total Klm's 8,576
They actually had a full size eagle in a glass enclosure, I am keen to get a photo of the ones on the road that actually stare you down as you pass, they do not fly off they watch as you have to go onto the wrong side of the road to get away from them , they are very big and we have only seen one so far but we have both agreed that when we see the next one that refuses to budge we will stop and photograph it.
Arrived at Geraldton about 12.30 and had lunch with the local Police who put on a BBQ which seems a contrast to the Police in Rockhampton and Mt Isa who went out of there way to book everyone they could.
We had a few sausages on bread and soft drinks, local TV Stations came and interviewed a few key members and while writing this we saw ourselves on the local news.
We then left for the accommodation at the African Reef Resort, we are looking for the African part and also the Resort side of things, the only wildlife so far is an insect crawling up the wall behind the TV.
All in all the day was an easy ride and most felt happy to be moving down the west coast closer to Perth.
Total Klm's 8,576
Day18 - Tuesday 19/10/10 - Weather, Clear dry and Hot.
Leave Port Headland at 5.00am after breakfast in the dining room and the temp is 16 degrees head for Roebourne Roadhouse for the first fuel stop, Steve has been road testing a new Goldwing for this distance and was uncatchable until we met at the first stop just over 200 Klm's.
Honda allocated this bike for anybody to test while on the ride most comments say great bike but not quite what they were looking for yet we have quite a few on the ride?
The next stop was Fortescue River where we got more fuel and had a good stretch, then back on the bikes and onto Nanutarra Roadhouse for the next fuel stop and lunch.
The last fuel stop for the day is Minilya Roadhouse and then into Carnarvon for the night.
The main differences here in Landscape is that in the Northern Territory they actually burn back about 30 metres off the road so you can see whats likely to jump in front of you but here we find the bush encroaching very close to the road.
I had an interesting stare down with an Emu today his mates had run off but this one in particular was happy to stay on the road and check me right out, not sure which way he was likely to run I slowed to just about walking pace to pass while he seemed intent to look at the bike up and down then front to back.
This is the biggest kilometer day on the whole trip and now completed the rest seem like normal day rides.
Total klm's 8,084
Honda allocated this bike for anybody to test while on the ride most comments say great bike but not quite what they were looking for yet we have quite a few on the ride?
The next stop was Fortescue River where we got more fuel and had a good stretch, then back on the bikes and onto Nanutarra Roadhouse for the next fuel stop and lunch.
The last fuel stop for the day is Minilya Roadhouse and then into Carnarvon for the night.
The main differences here in Landscape is that in the Northern Territory they actually burn back about 30 metres off the road so you can see whats likely to jump in front of you but here we find the bush encroaching very close to the road.
I had an interesting stare down with an Emu today his mates had run off but this one in particular was happy to stay on the road and check me right out, not sure which way he was likely to run I slowed to just about walking pace to pass while he seemed intent to look at the bike up and down then front to back.
This is the biggest kilometer day on the whole trip and now completed the rest seem like normal day rides.
Total klm's 8,084
Monday, October 18, 2010
Day17 - Monday 18/10/10- Weather, Clear sky no clouds and 36 degrees
Leave Broome at 6.30am head for the first stop which is a roadside stop organised by the support crew for those that need fuel, I have decided to carry 4 litres so we don't have to wait for the support crew if we are in front of them which has happened a few times.
It's hard to believe that after so much straight road across the top of Australia we have encountered unbelievably long and straight stretches down the west coast but here the temp varies so much one minute you can feel the heat coming up under the helmet from the road the next you can smell the salt of the sea which is close by and the temp drops, the variance's are huge.
The straights are incredible we set the throttle locks and the speed drops off because there is a slight incline in the road then when you finish that straight and top the crest there is another 20 or 30 klm's of straight road waiting for you on the other side, very boring and hard to deal with, a lot of bikes have had the rear tyres changed and the ones that haven't are waiting to get to Perth to do so, the flat spots on most rear tyres are incredible.
The most significant change in the landscape is that there are no hills or mountains in this section just huge parcels of open grazing land that goes on to the horizon on each side of the road.
We stopped at Sandfire roadhouse for breakfast and fuel, interesting breakfast, a huge home made sausage roll and a water to keep the hydration up.
Then onto Pardoo Roadhouse for another fuel stop and more water then into Port Headland for the overnight accommodation at the Hamilton Motel which is owned and run by one of the mining companies, its easy to tell as there are mining vehicles everywhere but the accommodation is good and the rooms are fully equipped with washing machines and dryers in each, the dinner was great and the kitchen will be open for us at 4.30 in the morning which is good as we have 870 klm's to do tomorrow.
Total Klms todate 7,214 klm's
It's hard to believe that after so much straight road across the top of Australia we have encountered unbelievably long and straight stretches down the west coast but here the temp varies so much one minute you can feel the heat coming up under the helmet from the road the next you can smell the salt of the sea which is close by and the temp drops, the variance's are huge.
The straights are incredible we set the throttle locks and the speed drops off because there is a slight incline in the road then when you finish that straight and top the crest there is another 20 or 30 klm's of straight road waiting for you on the other side, very boring and hard to deal with, a lot of bikes have had the rear tyres changed and the ones that haven't are waiting to get to Perth to do so, the flat spots on most rear tyres are incredible.
The most significant change in the landscape is that there are no hills or mountains in this section just huge parcels of open grazing land that goes on to the horizon on each side of the road.
We stopped at Sandfire roadhouse for breakfast and fuel, interesting breakfast, a huge home made sausage roll and a water to keep the hydration up.
Then onto Pardoo Roadhouse for another fuel stop and more water then into Port Headland for the overnight accommodation at the Hamilton Motel which is owned and run by one of the mining companies, its easy to tell as there are mining vehicles everywhere but the accommodation is good and the rooms are fully equipped with washing machines and dryers in each, the dinner was great and the kitchen will be open for us at 4.30 in the morning which is good as we have 870 klm's to do tomorrow.
Total Klms todate 7,214 klm's
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Day16 - Sunday 17/10/10 - Weather, Clear Windy about 31
Another lay day in Broome the Metropolis without the people as Steve calls it.
Going to watch the Moto Gp With Wes and a few of the others over a couple of beers
which seems to be the norm for this group, as most afternoons we meet and wash the road dust out of our throats with a couple of beers.
Going to watch the Moto Gp With Wes and a few of the others over a couple of beers
which seems to be the norm for this group, as most afternoons we meet and wash the road dust out of our throats with a couple of beers.
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