Where every self respecting motorcyclist must visit
Day 2, Wednesday 5 Feb 2014
Wet, wet, wet. But unlike previous trips I was far better prepared. So this day was basically a highway push through the rain and got as far as Taree. When I booked into a motel there, I was wishing to be in the USA, where standards and prices are very different.
A new February, a new trip. Tuesday 4 Feb 2014
Today I headed of on what has become an annual pilgrimage to the Adventure Travel Film Festival. This is the third running of the festival and if I arrive safely, it will be my third time there. I'm not confident I will make it in 2015, we will have to see how my university studies go.
This year I am doing a few things different. No laptop; I'm using my Samsung android phone and tablet to update the blog and keep in touch. That will save three kilograms of weight off the bike. I've also replaced the bike's battery with a more power Lithium battery which makes it crank better and gives another three kilogram weight saving. The cooking gear has been left at home as there are plenty of places to buy healthy food at decent prices and the tyre changing gear has been left behind as well.
One my first day I stopped overnight at Haydn and Diane's, a couple of motorcycle world travellers extraordinairres and very inspiring. They will be the official photographers for the next Horizons Unlimited meeting in Beaudesert, Queensland in October 2014.
Here is the view from their front balcony.
Kenilworth - Maplton -25 Jan 2014
Today I caught up ith Mark, who teaches at the same school as my wife Karen. This is a good opportunity to note how small your world can be but first a bit about the ride. Unfortunately no pictures this time and no videos (thank goodnes I hear you say).
We set off from home at 9:00 am. Mark had arrived 10 minutes early and so none of that normal procrastination often associated with motorcycling, already a good sign. We headed out through Narangba, the back of Burpengary, Rocksberg and the Wamuran, Woodford, Maleny and Kenilworth. With light but constant rain, there was no temparature in the rosd surface or our tyres. Mark was on new tyres and I was on Mitas E07 dualsport tyres, so there wasn't anyreal chance to open up the throttles. This gave us more time to take in the smells, sights and sounds; this is one ofthe real benefitd of riding over driving, the more complete immersing in the environment as you travel. When going through a pine forest in Autumn you can almost taste the pine and the smell can stay on you for a day or so.
The final stage into Kenilworth was even more slow due to traffic andsowe pulled into the Bellbird Cafe. As usual, great coffee and it gave me a chance to day hello to Pete, the owner and leave some brochures on the next Horizons Unlimited meetings. From there Mark led the way via the Obi Obi road. A great track that comes out the back of the Mapleton pub. Lunch was served. I ordered a small garden salad and potato wedges. I have no idea what a large serving would be because I ended up giving away my wedges to a group of dirt bike riders also stopped in for lunch.
After a fine lunch and chat, we headed home via Montville, Maleny, Landsborough, Beerwah, Glasshouse, Beerburrum, Elimbah and Caboolture. Here Mark headed back to Brisbane and me back home. An excellent ride. The light rain kept things cool and breezy, the roads were not too busy and the views along the ranges as fantastic as ever, especially along the Obi Obi Road which was new to me.
Now about that small world business. As I said, Mark teaches at the same school as Karen. The same school that I went to as a child. Mark also went to the same high school as me, he was a few years behind me. Mark also had the same unusual surname as one of my cousin's husband although we haven't found a close family tie there. Nonetheless, as Mark once commented, if you are from Toowoomba, you will be related!
We set off from home at 9:00 am. Mark had arrived 10 minutes early and so none of that normal procrastination often associated with motorcycling, already a good sign. We headed out through Narangba, the back of Burpengary, Rocksberg and the Wamuran, Woodford, Maleny and Kenilworth. With light but constant rain, there was no temparature in the rosd surface or our tyres. Mark was on new tyres and I was on Mitas E07 dualsport tyres, so there wasn't anyreal chance to open up the throttles. This gave us more time to take in the smells, sights and sounds; this is one ofthe real benefitd of riding over driving, the more complete immersing in the environment as you travel. When going through a pine forest in Autumn you can almost taste the pine and the smell can stay on you for a day or so.
The final stage into Kenilworth was even more slow due to traffic andsowe pulled into the Bellbird Cafe. As usual, great coffee and it gave me a chance to day hello to Pete, the owner and leave some brochures on the next Horizons Unlimited meetings. From there Mark led the way via the Obi Obi road. A great track that comes out the back of the Mapleton pub. Lunch was served. I ordered a small garden salad and potato wedges. I have no idea what a large serving would be because I ended up giving away my wedges to a group of dirt bike riders also stopped in for lunch.
After a fine lunch and chat, we headed home via Montville, Maleny, Landsborough, Beerwah, Glasshouse, Beerburrum, Elimbah and Caboolture. Here Mark headed back to Brisbane and me back home. An excellent ride. The light rain kept things cool and breezy, the roads were not too busy and the views along the ranges as fantastic as ever, especially along the Obi Obi Road which was new to me.
Now about that small world business. As I said, Mark teaches at the same school as Karen. The same school that I went to as a child. Mark also went to the same high school as me, he was a few years behind me. Mark also had the same unusual surname as one of my cousin's husband although we haven't found a close family tie there. Nonetheless, as Mark once commented, if you are from Toowoomba, you will be related!
Crows Nest via D'Aguilar Highway - 14 Dec 2013
We loaded up at our usual staring point in Redcliffe with a view to a full day's ride. Lunch was at the Crows Nest Pistol Club and then the homeward stretch TBC, depending on time, traffic and weather. Brenda and Michael were on the mightly CL1200, a BMW flat twin cruiser sometimes also referred to as the "Mothership". Peter was on his Harley and Trevor on his BMW GTL1600. On this trip I was on the Rainmaker, the old V-Star 650.
The first stage was out to Kilcoy where we stopped at Yowie Park. A nice leisurely run without too much traffic at all. The markets were on and so we stopped for a stickybeak and a chat. Here we are, inspecting the mothership.
After a good look around, we road up through Blackbutt, Yarraman and then turned left down through Cooyar and eventually to the Crows Nest Pistol Club. About 4.5 kilometres of gravel but not too bad of the main road and we were greeted by a great bunch of enthusiastic shooters. Unfortunately I had my helmet cam set up incorrectly and the video feed didn't work out.
It was the pistol club's Christmas shoot and so after some burgers, Peter and I just had to try out a few pistols. Peter is ex-US Navy and I'm ex RAAF, so a little bit of interservice rivalry sparked up. I've not shot a pistol since 1996 myself and that was a nine millimetre Browning. I'm getting old as well and have struggled to be consistent with larger calibre rifles so I wasn't too confident. Peter can't recall when he last shot a pistol and his usual service pistol was a .45. Nonetheless it wasn't too long before the inter-service rivalry sparked up and with both did fairly well on the Ruger .22 pistols. Later came out the .357 magnum ( with .38 ammunition ). Peter clearly aced this one.
Anyhow, back on the bikes, down through Corws Nest, Carbarlah, Highfields, Murphy's Creek and then onto the Warrego Highway. We pulled into the BP at Blacksoil and said our goodbyes as we split into different directions shortly thereafter.
Our next ride will be in mid January 2014. On the 8 February 2014 I'm off to the 2014 Adventure Travel Film Festival. My route will be down the Pacific Highway to Gippsland and then inland to Bright. After that I hope to ride to South Australia again and this time go as far as Port Lincoln to check out the Tuna fishing. That will depend on my university studies etc, so fingers crossed it will all work out. I'm determined to camp as much as possible this time and have changed a lot of my kit and the way it is packed to be more convenient and lighter as well.
The first stage was out to Kilcoy where we stopped at Yowie Park. A nice leisurely run without too much traffic at all. The markets were on and so we stopped for a stickybeak and a chat. Here we are, inspecting the mothership.
It was the pistol club's Christmas shoot and so after some burgers, Peter and I just had to try out a few pistols. Peter is ex-US Navy and I'm ex RAAF, so a little bit of interservice rivalry sparked up. I've not shot a pistol since 1996 myself and that was a nine millimetre Browning. I'm getting old as well and have struggled to be consistent with larger calibre rifles so I wasn't too confident. Peter can't recall when he last shot a pistol and his usual service pistol was a .45. Nonetheless it wasn't too long before the inter-service rivalry sparked up and with both did fairly well on the Ruger .22 pistols. Later came out the .357 magnum ( with .38 ammunition ). Peter clearly aced this one.
Anyhow, back on the bikes, down through Corws Nest, Carbarlah, Highfields, Murphy's Creek and then onto the Warrego Highway. We pulled into the BP at Blacksoil and said our goodbyes as we split into different directions shortly thereafter.
Our next ride will be in mid January 2014. On the 8 February 2014 I'm off to the 2014 Adventure Travel Film Festival. My route will be down the Pacific Highway to Gippsland and then inland to Bright. After that I hope to ride to South Australia again and this time go as far as Port Lincoln to check out the Tuna fishing. That will depend on my university studies etc, so fingers crossed it will all work out. I'm determined to camp as much as possible this time and have changed a lot of my kit and the way it is packed to be more convenient and lighter as well.
Bellbird Creek Cafe, Kenilworth & return via Maleny - 23 October 2013
The word had gone out Facebook
Come up on Wednesday to Bellbird Creek Cafe for a look
Channel 7 will there to film a piece
And we need some people for background, for the show the Great South East
So I went.
The Rainmaker didn't make it rain, much
I coooled me down, just a touch
Just a drizzle as I turn off the highway
And made it an even more pleasant day
So if you have an afternoon to while away
Here's a tip, head off to the Bellbird Cafe
Whilst there check out the frill-neck lizard
And have some great coffeee to full your gizzard.
Come up on Wednesday to Bellbird Creek Cafe for a look
Channel 7 will there to film a piece
And we need some people for background, for the show the Great South East
So I went.
The Rainmaker didn't make it rain, much
I coooled me down, just a touch
Just a drizzle as I turn off the highway
And made it an even more pleasant day
So if you have an afternoon to while away
Here's a tip, head off to the Bellbird Cafe
Whilst there check out the frill-neck lizard
And have some great coffeee to full your gizzard.
Mount Mee - Glasshouse Mountains - 7 September 2013
How do you blow off the headaches of all those worries of a federal election? Go for a ride of course. So Trevor, Val, Noel, Ian and myself jumped on the bikes after voting and rode up over Mount Mee, down through Peachester and ended up at the Glasshouse Coffee and Tea Merchants for lunch. Very nice.
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