A reasonable nights sleep but woke to the sounds of rain splatting on the roof top. Look outside the door and….

Oh well, lucky we are on holidays. There was no letting up, each time you’d look out the door, it just bucketed 🙁  Not even the dogs were happy, they sat most of the time on our front door mat shivering in hope that we would let them inside. A cunning plan but what they didn’t know is we have our own little cunning planner Ella-Jane who is on holidays herself with Nanny & Pa. Sorry guys.

About 2 o’clock the rain eased and a sprinkle of sun light poked its head out of the clouds – let’s go! Out the wet gravel drive and turn left and just up the road it starts to rain again..argh!!! and the it’s as windy as all get out and chilly. We stop at the Bethanga lookout to get some reception and phone home to check on things before looking for somewhere to have a decent coffee.

Bethanga Lookout

This is the old Bethanga Bridge crossing the Hume River. A friend of ours took a shot of this the other day with the reflection of the bridge in the water…was truly a spectacular shot but ours in a sense is just as good…..it has bikes in it!! LOL.

Into Lake Hume and the first spot for a coffee. It’s one of the (as Jonesy would say) “dingy bell” cafes – complete with the inspirational placemats.

Into Tallangatta for the bank and to get something for dinner. A fine selection of meats and cheese to go with our Wild Brumby Pear William Schnapps (and who says, we don’t live lavishly…ha ha).

Back in Granya and it pours again just as we get into our room. Friday night at the Granya Hotel is lively with the locals and their kids in for the weekly catch up, dinner and drinkies (they even get dressed up for the occasion).

We have a quite night watching some telly and listening to the rain.

Slept like a babe!! Karl, yeah not so much (he never sleeps well on the first night, but you’d never know by his snoring…ooops did I say that!). Woke up with a sore throat and a blocked nose…noooooooo! Not the way to start a holiday. Drugs – check and we get started on our day.

What’s on today’s agenda…ooooo an agenda!

Charlotte Pass – can you believe there are road works on this road! S’pose with ski season encroaching they have to get it done. It’s cool this morning but the sun is out and it’s amazing how different everything looks when there aren’t thousands of other bikes on these roads. The scenery is spectacular, breathtaking….I don’t know how you couldn’t not enjoy this. On the way out Karl takes a little turn off to explore and finds a gravel road…argh! I followed him part of the way but then turned around – I hate dirt.

road works Charlotte Pass

Charlotte Pass

At the top, well, there aren’t words to describe it…

Charlotte Pass

The Wild Brumby Distillery

A place we’ve ridden past many many times but never stopped. Not gonna happen today, this is on my list of things to do. Guess what, the driveways dirt! but it’s not bad and so worth the short distance.

Top of the morning to you!!! Well it is St Patrick’s Day today…this is the best I could do to celebrate

Happy St Patricks Day from the Wild Brumby

You have to walk through the shop where you order to sit out the back and take in the view, take a deep breath of “fresh” air and relax….ahhhh….life is good! Shopping, yes, Karl sets me the task of selecting a Schnapps for our holiday….oooo the choices. What a shame, I’ll have to do a little tasting (yes, my friends…my priorities are in place) and decide on the William Pear Schnapps.

Ooo, and I found a pizza oven for Karl, maybe we could buy it with that view too…lol

I can just taste what Karl could cook in that

Through Thredbo and up and over the mighty mountain ride along the Alpine Way. It’s been ages since we’ve done this road and today it was in particularly good condition – little traffic (the odd idiot on the wrong side and a racing Audi), good weather conditions and virtually no litter. It’s not a road to take lightly though and I apologised to Karl for going so slow to which we said “you weren’t, I wouldn’t have done it much faster”.

Khancoban for lunch at Shane O’s and a bit of a break. Where it was cool on the Thredbo side, it’s a different story on this other side of the hill. It’s warmed up and time to take off a layer.

Shane O’s cafe

It’s familiar roads from here on. The open sweepers, the open fields, its here that I finally just sit back on Dudley and relax. We take a little detour to Tintaldra.

Tintaldra by the Murray

…before heading through to Walwa for an ice block. We check out the caravan park….nice and on the water – note for future reference.

Walwa General Store

I love these roads and we are winding and sweeping around the mountainside like a well-oiled machine.

Granya Hotel

A tucked away hotel just out of Granya on the road to the Hume Dam. We dropped in here on our last trip to the area.

Granya Hotel

It’s not a flash place and there is no Wi-Fi but the room “the honeymoon suite” has air conditioning and an ensuite. Included in the price is breakfast and entertainment from the resident pooches – Hatch (son), Percy (dad) & Molly (mum).

our 4 legged hosts

Aren’t they cute! After dinner we went for a stroll and had Hatch come with us. The views are pretty good and we managed to set all the dogs on the next property off barking….oops.

Just a few extra pics

Its 9:30 before we leave home, partly cos we had a sleep in but mainly because we were hoping the rain would stop….ha! Rained all the way out of Sydney, I was soaked…my gear is no longer waterproof 🙁

Fuel at Pheasants Nest and Karl takes a turn off at Marulan that takes us through Mountain Ash Rd and a back way which has us pop up in Tarago. Nice road, little traffic but most important – no freeway.

short cut-Mountain Ash Rd

Tarago through to Bungendore for lunch at the Gunna Doo café (this is another fav place of ours to stop). Then another turn off through the back of Queanbeyan which bypasses the whole general traffic route and just like magic we pop out on the Monaro Highway at Royalla Station. The roads not very wide but the surface isn’t too bad (now just to remember that way for future runs).

Gunna Doo Cafe Bungendore

Being mid-week there really isn’t much traffic on the road and we have had a pretty good run so far.

La la la and before you know it we are into Cooma for another fuel stop. I like following Karl, he’s so smooth and fluid. We swap now and he says “lead the way Sweety”, OK, but it might not be as smooth as following you. Berridale then left and head for Dalgety and the Snowy River. The road through here is really only a cars width wide and with no traffic it’s a good day for a ride. Fresh air and open fields – lovely.

The Snowy River

We wind our way through to the back of Jindabyne (they’re re-surfacing the road in sections and it’s unmarked so we are taking it easy) and into our digs for the night – The Jindy Inn – a bargain found on booking.com

Jindy Inn – recommend

It doesn’t look like much on the outside but they have renovated on the inside. Our room was freshly painted, had a brand new modern bathroom new bedding, a flat screen TV and WiFi.

How did Dudley do? We made some changes to the damping (front & rear) and added some rear preload before leaving home and he takes the bumps fully loaded a bit better but you do feel the weight on the back. I’m also gonna need new hoops when we get home.

Went down and got a couple of pics by the lake.

this was the best one

Dinner at the local Chinese, which is very flash considering where we are. It’s just a shame the feed wasn’t as good as it looked….next time we’ll go Thai (we know from previous, it’s good).

A lovely stroll after dinner before returning for a cuppa tea.

Lake Jindabyne

Thought I’d be musical

YAY!!! it’s that time of year again for the annual pilgrimage to Tintaldra ***happy dance*** and it’ll be Dudley’s first time 🙂

Friday morning with the two boys (Trevor & Dudley) packed and ready to roll, Karl and I head out of town to rendezvous with our friends Mark, Esther & Rob in Hume ACT. I’m going for a ride so naturally we had some rain til we got to Goulburn and then it was like someone turned the hose off and let “the sun shine through!”

Fuel and quick hellos and we are off. It’s still a little cool but will warm up soon enough….the sky is a beautiful pale blue with fluffy white pillows – lovely!

The Monotonous Highway never really changes and soon we are into Cooma and wave goodbye just as quickly heading towards the turnoff to Adaminaby – The Snowy Mountains Highway or better known as “Kimmies Favourite Road”.

Karl knows only to well how much I love this stretch (44km) of road to Adaminaby and kicks me through. It’s not long and I’ve rounded up Esther and then chase Mark down. My happy face is “on” (despite a kick arse headache) and I can feel that Dudley is excited to have a crack at this piece of road. We round Mark up lickity split and I ask Dudley “are you ready for this?” As I down a gear and open up the mighty triple he roared with anticipation to get his teeth into this ride………

We were in flight, taking the sweeps and curves with the hungry eagerness of someone starving for excitement!! Not having his suspension set quite right had us backing off a few times as the front was a little flighty at times which was a little unnerving. Mark was hot on our rear tyre and was happy sitting at a nice $1.50 (anything over that was a bit hairy). Adaminaby for lunch and a fist pump as we roll into town – I, sorry we (me and Dudley) “lurve” that stretch of road. Dudley’s ride of firsts includes a photo op with the Ada Trout.

Dudley & The Ada Trout

Off through the Kosciusko National Park and High Country. Unfortunately we were advised Cabramurra Way was closed so we had to take Elliot Way. Unfortunately, we think Rob missed that bit of the discussion at lunch cos we got to the Southern Cloud Lookout and no Rob but we picked up Don. The roads are great, the sun is shining, my head is pounding but we are riding and therefore the world is good!

Southern Cloud Lookout

Southern Cloud Lookout

We figured Rob took the alternate (closed) road and we would meet him in Tintaldra so we press on. Karl takes the dirt option at Tooma while Mark, Esther & I take the sealed route through the farmlands. Over the hill and down the dale and the tall trees that line the road leading to the Mighty Murray / Border and Tintaldra are in sight and it’s like the weight of the world is lifted off my shoulders – I have reached “serenity!!”.

What seems like eternity rolls by and no Rob! We manage to get his phone number and start leaving messages and texts before going – nup we are heading out to look for him. Not long as the boys head out he rolls in…phew! Turns out he did take Cabramurra Way all the way to the end (it’s not closed) and then turned around when nobody was there and came back down Elliot Way.

Our lovely hosts from the Clearwater Caravan Park, Rick & Eilsa greet us with huge hugs and smiles and we settle in for a meal fit for Royalty and a night of stories and laughter.

Settling in for a great night

Saturday is the mighty breakfast for champions and the ride plan for the day is set. Walwa – Granya (including a stop at the Granya Pub – Tallangatta (headache pills for me, fuel for others) – Eskdale – Mitta Mitta. Some of us have trouble reading signs and Esther flew past (I’m told…I was behind her riding like a nana), I stopped just past the sign and did a uey and we waited for Bubba to chase Esther down and bring her back.

Granya Pub

Nice ride of twists and turns with the sun bearing down on us.

A pleasant lunch at Mitta Mitta

river at the back of the pub

and some of the guys decided they needed an afternoon nana nap (I’m gonna cop it for this one).

Poor old dears…..lol

…..before we head out to Dartmouth Dam for a photo op

then it was back over Granya. My head is not feeling any better and I have to stop, so Karl and I head for the Granya Pub again for a cold drink. Rocket Rod arrives and we have a rest before heading off again for fuel in Walwa and an ice cream. Doesn’t matter how many times you do these roads you just wanna keep going back to do them. The scenery is spectacular, the roads are windy, dappled with the suns rays and peaceful!

We finally arrive back at Tintaldra and I NEVER get tired of taking this photo……my happy place!!!

The Mighty Murray @ Tintaldra

and we are ready for another fabulous meal, more stories, laughs and the Crew Photo!

The Tintaldra Hotel has “live” music tonight – Duncan & Macca are playing covers. Most go on up to join in the festivities at the pub but we decide to hit the hay instead for an early night.

Sunday and all the happy faces appear….not – we all have to go home today 🙁

Karl cooked breaky for us today and we noticed that Don’s tent, bike & Don were missing!!! On closer inspection of his campsite we found a note in the tree. Apparently someone woke him super early so decided to get going.

The trip home through Cabramurra Way – Adaminaby – Cooma – Bungedore where we stopped for lunch and Karl helped a poor bugger fix his flat rear tyre (which mind you he’d been battling with for 2 days). When he saw how Karl repair it says “I’ll have to get me one of the repair kit things”….seriously, you should already have one (were my thoughts)….anyhoos….

Arrive home and Ella-Jane is so glad to see us. Tintaldra Pilgrimage done for another year.

Capturing those special moments of the weekend!

Tintaldra 2016

With Karl away for the weekend, and as a reward to myself I went off on a little ride on Dudley. I’d decided that heading south and Jamberoo was going to be the destination – I didn’t even program the GPS, thought I’d just wing it….OMG!

Never been to Woronora Dam, passed the sign heaps but never gone down there. This morning was that day. Not a solitary person around, serenity, early birdies were out twittering & tweeting and the glass-like stillness of the dam was a sight within itself.

Woronora Dam

Arty shot..lol

So peaceful and smooth

When we lowered Dudley we also changed the suspension on him and have since been chasing the front-end. Flighty and wobbly is the best way to describe it and somewhat like a pogo stick on braking and heavily into a corner….not the most confidence inspiring. Anyway, put him back to the “factory setting” with the lowering links in and the seat in the low position and he’s seems to be handling so much better. I may even just increase (harden) up the preload on the forks a tad bit more and go out again and see how that goes. I’m hoping that with these minor adjustments I can avoid having to spend and $$ on re-springing the forks.

Following my nose, found my way to the Sublime Lookout, again another sign passed many many times without venturing in for a look see. Blinker on and up we go. There’s a little cafe up there, the look out of course and so pretty machinery…I’m tipping not all the time.

Sublime Lookout

ah, my pretty

OK, time to keep moving. So far Dudley and I are enjoying the roads and the road conditions aren’t that bad. The heat of the day is starting to set in and I;m almost sorry I didn’t wear my Draggins instead of my touring pants…but AGATT.

Out onto Mt Marshall Rd, through the causeway (Dudley’s first river crossing…lol). I wanted a photo, it was so lush and pretty but the water was running a little quick and the surface leading in a bit slippery…another day. Also no bouncing through the corners….awesome.

Mt Marshall Rd..so green

Mac Pass…Oooo, time to have some fun!! 🙂  For the first time in….I don’t know how long, I had a clear run. Not a single car/bike in front of me..awesome! 2nd & 3rd gear and Dudley just whirs through the twisties at a steady pace and I find flicking him from left to right so much easier. Bout half way up I see Angel (now renamed “Whitebird” by her new owner) and it put a big smile on my face. Quick uey and down the pass & they’ve uey’d too..lol Waiting at bottom of Mac Pass now.

Mac Pass…waiting

To much traffic this time up the hill and glad to stop  at the Pie Shop to re-hydrate and a yak with some new friends.

I’d planned Jamberoo for lunch, so we go in the heat to find some lunch. Not much traffic here either and a road I don’t know so just took it nice and easy and took in the scenery. Through a few twisties and a nice photo op..I thought.

Barren Grounds

Into Jamberoo and lunch…not the healthiest but it was rather tasty!!

lunch

34 degrees according to Dudleys temp gauge and I’m feeling every degree, time to start heading home. Dudley said he wanted to see this coast road and Bald Hill where he insisted we have an ice cream while taking in the view.

Dudley wasn’t quick enough to eat it, so I had to help him…  🙂

Was a little bit blowey and was lucky to keep  my hat on

happy me

Now to head home through the National Park. Unfortunately being early afternoon there was a decent amount of traffic blocking the way. However, we still managed to have a little bit of fun here and there. Had I packed my swimmers, I would’ve stopped at one of the beaches for a quick dip to cool down.

Back home around 2ish, wash Dudley and have a cold shower to cool down myself. Not a big day out, but as I’m not ride fit and in the heat, it was plenty enough and I had a Really Good Day.

Dudley performed great with the luggage and the suspension setting with only one or two skips/wobbles which even on Angel I believe I would’ve experienced the same. Just a tiny bit a diving on braking which as I’ve said I’ll make a slight adjustment and see how we go on the next run out.

Thanks again for staying tuned and I look forward to sharing quite a few more adventures/journeys in the coming weeks/months 🙂

……. born in SA in March 2015, a fine strapping babe he was too. Previously owned by a retired gentleman who in 6 months had his first service done and had put 2054 kms on the clock and decided he wanted something different and put him up for adoption.

Searching the internet I spotted the ad for his adoption and pondered the thought – no photos available, what’s wrong with him? Bit the bullet, range the dealer (didn’t want to miss out on what I wanted), enquired and started the dealing. SOLD!! in record time, now to go pick him up…..YIPPEE!!!!

I picked up my new man Friday morning from Adelaide. We are currently on our first date and getting to know each other. NO I haven’t traded Karl. Anyway meet Dudley!

Dudley!! My new man.

Travelling under a special permit, Mr RTA said I had to take the optimal direct route to get home…bugger that rules out detouring to see my FarRider friends in Aireys Inlet. Leaving Adelaide we headed south for Hahndorf along the freeway. It’s already getting warm and as much as I’d like to stop here, we really just need to push on.

Hahndorf

Adjusted the brake & clutch reach and lifted the clutch lever slightly. There’s a heap of play in the throttle but that will have to wait for now. Down the B12 heading towards Pinnaroo and it’s getting quite hot now. Lunch on the way home is at the BP servo in Pinnaroo. Day 1. It’s bloody hot 37 degrees ? but the ride has been pretty good so far. Dudley and I are getting along just fine. Took refuge from the heat in the diner while I had a bite to eat and downed a Powerade. Fatigue hits me quickly in the heat and I make a few stops along the way purely to have a drink.

Somewhere before Underbool SA the heavens opened up and I can tell you this was a very pleasant relief. All vents open and while the temp was still sitting in the low 30’s the rain was enough to cool the body temperature down somewhat…thank goodness. The storm followed me all the way to Tooleybuc before drying up. I’d ridden through road works, gravel road, slippery surface and Dudley handled it all well.

We arrived into Balranald at 6pm (still 37 degrees) and while there was still daylight, it wasn’t worth pushing through to Hay. I had the insight at lunchtime to ring ahead and see if I could get a bed in Balranald (just in case) and luckily enough snagged the last bed available in town which was at the Shamrock Hotel Motel…phew! Thank goodness cos by the time I got there, I really didn’t want to go any further – the heat had got to me. Poor Dudley is covered in bugs….Oooo.

Balranald

My flash accommodation at the Shamrock…… Showered, fed, and hit the bed. Dudley also got a bath (oops shower, boys don;t have baths) as a the storm front hit Balranald while I was having dinner.

first class accommodation…lol

Saturday morning up to a nice day (no rain), pack and we get on the road ready to cross the Hay Plain. What a beautiful morning, the sun is already high (missed sunrise) and we have a clear run. I’m a little more settled / comfortable on Dudley this morning and enjoying the ride and the scenery.

Hay Plain

Hay Plain

A photo that has eluded me until now has been in front of “Hells Gate”. Thanks to OX-34 & Eliot for the co-ordinates and location so I could get this one off the bucket list.

Hells Gate

Into Hay for a pit stop (no fuel), check in with Karl and get on our way to Narrandera. Now I’d figured that I should get 300km minimum to the tank if I sit on $1.15/$1.20 but for some reason the first fuel bar dropped at 180 kays. the next bar dropped after another 36 kays and now I was calculating whether I would make Narrandera or not (my calc had me short by about 3 km….yikes!). I backed off a bit and when the last bar was left started the count down again. Oh no, the empty light is now flashing and I’m sitting on $0.90/$1.00 and something funky happened to the dash trip meter. This “Trip F” thing started a count down and I watched it and said a little prayer hoping to make the servo. We made it!! Phew!! with 7.6km on the “Trip F” and I have no idea how much we had to go. Anyway, 306.1 km to that tank and now reflecting back I don’t think I actually got an absolute full tank in Balranald (which would maybe explain things).

On the way to Wagga Wagga and came across this lovely view.

Canola Fields

Into Wagga Wagga for lunch at the forever nutritious McDonalds….LOL!! It’s not as hot as yesterday thank goodness. Missing my Sweety but Dudley is making me smile.

On the Hume Highway and there is nothing much very exciting happening along here. Dudley is just cruising along, happy as and my butt is as sore as. A quick little detour for a pic at The Dog on the Tucker Box….have to treat Dudley to all the sites 🙂

Dog on the Tucker Box

Dudley’s cruising nicely on $1.20/$1.25 just purring along. My only real complaint is the buffeting I get from the screen….it’s not quite high enough and makes for a noisy helmet. Into Yass for fuel and a short stop. Have a chat to a couple of young fellas also riding and then get on my way again.

Almost there, my butt is now really sore and I have to stop at Pheasants Nest for relief and a splash of fuel. Now in long distance riding there’s this unwritten thing about having a Cherry Ripe at the finish of a ride. Well, we weren’t exactly finished (almost) but this was the only chance Dudley was going to get to experience his very first Cherry Ripe on his very first long distance ride.

Pheasants Nest – Cherry Ripe

Last leg home and I think we were both a little excited. Dudley was feeling very spirited and we had become one! we maneuvered through the traffic….cars moving as they hear his triple engine roaring with that burst of power that pulses through his veins and puts a huge smile on my dial. GO DUDLEY!!

Home at about 7pm. We are both covered in bugs and in need of a good shower 🙂

Sunday morning and Dudley is due for his shower.

Clean Dudley.

Big THANKS to Karl for installing his first modification, the lowering link on him and adjusting the preload and damping for me.

Now that’s he all clean, time to wheel him in the shed for his second modification…..a radiator cover.

Ready for surgery

The finished product, genuine article straight from Mr Yamaha (cheaper than aftermarket) and looks pretty good.

Genuine Yamaha rad cover.

I hope he has enjoyed his first long distance trip cos it was the first of many more to come!

So, was Dudley all as promised? Pros and Cons…

ALL and MORE!! It’s easier to list the cons cos there aren’t many…………1). The standard seat is too hard for my liking and my butt is still recovering (I forgot to take my airhawk)……2). Needs a slightly taller screen. The std is very noisy and I had a bit of buffeting. THAT’s IT.

Very happy with Mr Yamaha’s entry into mid size tourers *thumbs up*

I can hear you asking “how did he get the name Dudley?” Well, it didn’t come straight away but his shiny red uniform and smart good looks reminded me of Dudley Do-Right of the Mounted Police and so “Dudley” it was!! And will he DO-Right by me…..well, he already has!

I’m looking forward to taking into something that has a few bends in it, but from the 1400 odd kays we just covered in 2 days….I don’t think I’ll be disappointed.

This particular bike is the one that I have been most looking forward to ride. Since it came onto the market, it’s one that has always caught my eye and I’ve thought….hmmm I can see me on that (in white of course…lol). Other than the ride home of Saturday that’s all I managed to get in (sometimes life gets in the way). After a rather late night Sunday morning Karl & I headed out for a little squirt up the Old Pac. Not the nicest day, it had been raining and was still drizzling now and again but nothing serious, but hey you have to take the moment and make the most of it.

The F800FT has a very pleasing agronomic to it, so similar to Angel that it wasn’t funny, so I kinda felt at home from the get go (good start). The screen provides excellent protection, the levers and controls are all located in easy to operate locations. The gearbox I found to be tight, especially from 1st through to 3rd…it could just be one of those things but it didn’t put me off. Comes with heated grips standard, traction and ESA which I fiddled with, Comfort, Normal & Sport all reacted the same as it did on the F700GS – no complaints. Down the freeway, it quite happily sits above the limit and is smooth and comfortable.

                           BMW F800GT

Getting down to business though, from a standing start taking off it reminded me of riding my dads Burgmann 400 scooter. It had that same wind me up and pick up that it did, complete with the buzz sensation you get from the engine. Into the twisty bits and back into 2nd gear and you do have to get the engine above 4000 rpm to get it to wake up….it’s kinda like Sleepy of the 7 Dwarfs and there is nothing wrong with that if that’s what you’re after. It’s agile and the weight isn’t to dissimilar to the F700GS….as you’d expect. You had to work the gearbox on inclines, I mean you could’ve done it in 6th but it chugged, 4th gear seemed to be it’s happy place. What did surprise me though (and I was warned about this) was how warm/hot the frame where your knees, thighs touch it. Today wasn’t hot and it was drizzly and my legs were considerably warmed and dried….so I hate to think how hot it might get on a hot day, let alone in the middle of the outback in summer…. It handles well, is solid, stable and takes the varying surfaces fine and it would be more than happy to tour the country just ticking along.

                                 F800GT

However, just fine and just ticking along isn’t what I’m looking for. I want a bit of excitement and this bike just didn’t give it to me. What amazed me though was how different two bikes with the same engine and slightly different gearing can be. The F700GS was a hoot and the 800GT was ho hum….go figure. Yes I know the suspension makes up a big part of that difference also but I suppose I wasn’t expecting such a huge difference. Horses for courses.

                      

Watch this space for the final decision……..it might be a few months though (have to get a few ducks in a row first).