Border Village 2019.
Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2019 9:09 am
This years attempt at a 4500km 6 day ride to the WA border for a buffet dinner started with loads of maintenance. Both bikes were prepped and well ready, as were we. We even had a mechanic come along with us too. Welcome to Brett from Willow Grove. Brett was a little nervous as he had not ever attempted such a long ride.
The D1 map, but you’ll need to add another 110kms for the Gippy boys. I was to meet them at Calder Caltex at 0600 for the longest day of the week.
Day 1 was over 1000kms to an old SA mining town named Burra. It had been a cool night in Melbourne and 0600 is usually about when it gets the coldest overnight. We headed off towards Bendigo, all excited and raring to get going. By the time we got to Kyneton, the temp gauge on Bretts F800gs BMW said -3C!!! Brrrr…then calculate the windchill at 110kph and it’s around -10-15C on our fingers!
Nonetheless, we pressed on, shivering excitedly probably just enough to generate some body heat from all those muscle contractions. Grant and I were on 1981 R100RS BMW’s, ol’ skool, no heated anything. We were relying on Aldi thermals, good biking gear and fierce determination but our bikes have excellent fairings so that helped. Brett on the other hand had no such fairing. His screen was tall and narrow and not as effective. He did however have heated hand grips. They might have been his saviour.
We regrouped and stopped to shiver together at the turn off before Bendigo. It’s hard to have a decent conversation when yer teeth are clatterin’ away! The ground by the roadside was frosty and the hills had a sheen of white too, glistening in the rising sun. There was a mob of ‘roos in the paddock that had us worried but we need not have been. No doubt they were probably heading off to cuddle up somewhere of their own trying to stay warm.
We knew we were cold when we took advantage of the stop for roadside ablutions. The operative word was shrinkage! We didn’t need to worry about anyone seeing us either as the steam from warm fluid meeting frost was enough to provide some privacy cover from the passing traffic!
With that stop over and done with we proceeded to Wycheproof for petrol, then Ouyen for a snack.
Pinnaroo was next, via the Sunraysia Hwy, turning north towards Berri. This time we had a welcome and uneventful ride into Burra. We met our friend Doug who had dragged his new caravan from Adelaide on a “sorting it out” trip of a few days around the riverland.
Just outside Burra.
Day 2.
Burra, Port Augusta, Whyalla, Elliston, Streaky Bay. ~ 714kms. This pic was on the downslope towards Port Augusta, at the lower end of Horrocks Pass which is a short twisty road that drops from the higher plains to the coast.
Grant with supplies...
0630 across Streaky Bay
The D1 map, but you’ll need to add another 110kms for the Gippy boys. I was to meet them at Calder Caltex at 0600 for the longest day of the week.
Day 1 was over 1000kms to an old SA mining town named Burra. It had been a cool night in Melbourne and 0600 is usually about when it gets the coldest overnight. We headed off towards Bendigo, all excited and raring to get going. By the time we got to Kyneton, the temp gauge on Bretts F800gs BMW said -3C!!! Brrrr…then calculate the windchill at 110kph and it’s around -10-15C on our fingers!
Nonetheless, we pressed on, shivering excitedly probably just enough to generate some body heat from all those muscle contractions. Grant and I were on 1981 R100RS BMW’s, ol’ skool, no heated anything. We were relying on Aldi thermals, good biking gear and fierce determination but our bikes have excellent fairings so that helped. Brett on the other hand had no such fairing. His screen was tall and narrow and not as effective. He did however have heated hand grips. They might have been his saviour.
We regrouped and stopped to shiver together at the turn off before Bendigo. It’s hard to have a decent conversation when yer teeth are clatterin’ away! The ground by the roadside was frosty and the hills had a sheen of white too, glistening in the rising sun. There was a mob of ‘roos in the paddock that had us worried but we need not have been. No doubt they were probably heading off to cuddle up somewhere of their own trying to stay warm.
We knew we were cold when we took advantage of the stop for roadside ablutions. The operative word was shrinkage! We didn’t need to worry about anyone seeing us either as the steam from warm fluid meeting frost was enough to provide some privacy cover from the passing traffic!
With that stop over and done with we proceeded to Wycheproof for petrol, then Ouyen for a snack.
Pinnaroo was next, via the Sunraysia Hwy, turning north towards Berri. This time we had a welcome and uneventful ride into Burra. We met our friend Doug who had dragged his new caravan from Adelaide on a “sorting it out” trip of a few days around the riverland.
Just outside Burra.
Day 2.
Burra, Port Augusta, Whyalla, Elliston, Streaky Bay. ~ 714kms. This pic was on the downslope towards Port Augusta, at the lower end of Horrocks Pass which is a short twisty road that drops from the higher plains to the coast.
Grant with supplies...
0630 across Streaky Bay
I started using 91ron after that. Bike ran fine, but subjectively didn't feel quite as good. Highest we saw was $2.07/litre at Nullabor Roadhouse.
