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Before setting off Magnus provided us with a riding brief on what to expect. There is a great track guide produced by “The Outback Travellers” – Series 4 (www.outbacktravellers.com.au) that Magnus was using. I would strongly recommend that you get a copy and take it with you as it’s your new best friend on this type of trip…. That’s if you want to know what to expect before experiencing it. Sometimes I wonder I’m better off NOT knowing!!!
The well counting begins.
At Well 2 and 49 of them to go…..
Time to remove some layers and take some shots
Next section had lots of rocky and gibber stones, steep rough and rocky descents that would catch you out. It was always in the back of my mind that you don’t want to stuff up the bike or yourself early in the trip otherwise it was going to be a difficult or sad ride.
Denise having a break from the rocky section:
Well 3 and by this stage I was taken down by a branch that decided to grab my barkbuster and throw
me in the bush. Thanks to a shove from Alan I was back out on the track. There was one enormous washaway (chest height for me) with awesome skid marks from the young gun Alex that cause Alan and I to admire and accidently follow. After much grunting both Alan and I got out of it. I was too focused on getting out that a photo opportunity was missed.At Well 3 and our campsite for the night
Unpacking the truck
Dillan and Merv removing my 40 tooth rear sprocket (which was ideal for the 2 days of open dirt roads) and replaced it with my 44. All the DR’s were running with 44 as well.
So all up from Montague Gold Mine to Well 3 we covered 220km and ‘enjoyed’ mug of cask red wine (I’ve been spoilt on good bottles of Red) and beef stroganoff. All our adventure riding gear was packed away and out came our light weight riding cloths.
Day 4 – Well 3 to 20km north of Well 8 (185km)
After bacon and eggs we set off at 7.30am and road with Denise and Steve for most of the day. It started with nice flowing sandy corrugated tracks… that changes quickly
Steve showing the way
Steve and Denise loving the rocky sections:
Steve and Merv consulting the map
Funny shot at Well 4
Boy’s checking out the well.
The next section to Windich Springs had lots of dry river bed crossing full of rocks and was unrelenting. Perfect spot to stop and enjoy morning tea and would make an ideal place to overnight. The bird life was amazing and great to hear them chirping.
Alex and Frank (father and son) chilling out as we wait for the truck to arrive.
Attempted a selfie group shot using the timer
We pushed onto Well 5 and the track guide had lots of warning about rocky and rough corrugations…. the warnings never seem to prepare you.
The boys showing how it’s done at Well 5.
Lunch was at Well 6 and Magnus used this opportunity to top up the water tanks.
Photo opportunity with Magnus
Stop to enjoy the scenery
Frank cruising on by
The photos don’t ever give it justice on the rocky experience
Just before reaching Well 8 we experienced the first small sandy crest and it known at the first sand dune in the Canning. I was over it before I knew it so no photos.
Frank had the job to find a camp site outside of Well 8 and found a perfect spot so it was officially named “Frank’s Knob”. The setting up of the swag and getting in/out of cloths became efficient. With hot water bottle and in the swag at 7.30pm (always first to bed) I survived another day.
Only had one bike misadventure where Merv ‘s front sprocket came loose but that was quickly and expertly rectified by Magnus.
One thing you learn quickly it to be efficient in setting up your swag and getting in/out of cloths and not consuming to much energy as you find out soon you don’t have much left in the tanks after riding all day.
Dinner was awesome
Day two we woke to -2 degrees and ice covering everything.
From Lake Moore we headed to Montague Gold Mine 450km away via Paynes Fine and Sandstone.
Stopped in at London Bridge
And enjoyed my last Rum and Coke for couple of weeks
This is where I found out the NZ’ers are really hard core going for a swim in 10 degree water to have their wash….
Campfire working and sun going down
After last night my ‘blue bit’ or otherwise known as “hottie tottie” came out. The hot water bottle was the best thing I packed.
Dinner was steak and vegetables that was enough to feed me for 3 nights. Alex was tucking into his steak.
]If you stayed awake long enough you could star gaze with Magnus. My star gazing was done with my eyes closed inside my swag.
The next morning was -4 degrees and by 7.30am we were thawed enough to ride into Willuna and arrived at 11am. In our riding brief that morning we were warned about “Danger Corner” well there has to be one in every crowd and a bike went down. It was renamed “Alan’s Corner” but we were all relieved to know Alan didn’t hurt himself.
Made for some good pictures tho. We had lunch and commenced our ride at 1pm and the start of the great adventure.
The Canning Stock Route – 1800km to Halls Creek
It feels surreal when you are presented with a daunting task ahead of you but something guttural pushes you forward. You find ways to set little goals (ie count each well, focus on getting to next meal break, celebrate after each tough section) that all comes together in an experience that will enrich your life. So the next section is snippets of my experiences on the Canning:
Fremantle to Willuna (Start of Canning Stock Route) Approx 810km
We started with a rider’s brief that was interrupted by some gnarly weather but didn’t stop Magnus from pushing on.
It took two and half days of open country dirt roads to get from Fremantle to Wiluna which is the start of the Canning Stock Route. The first day was 360km via Calingiri to Lake Moore in the rain and red dirt but out spirits weren’t dampened as we were all excited to start the adventure.
Better late than never.
Here is my take on an awesome OldBull Adventure weekend. Got to enjoy this with SMick400 and Robbo (on the mighty CRF230)Getting the bikes ready at Lithgow
So TB calls out what route to take…. he got me at a weak moment with a few drinks under my belt…. Enduro Route it was…. I was regretting it the next morning!! Some of the tracks were hard going!! but that’s what I like about TB routes!!
The weather looked a bit suss…. Robbo come up the rear
We were overtaken …
We enjoyed seeing some good skid marks on the tracks. Robbo hitting a corner
Fantastic tracks
We followed in the support vehicles into the caves:
All the adventure boys having their cafe latte experience
Since I was chief navigator Smick400 and Robbo had to put up with my U-Turns to find some of these tracks
We came across Strucky
The river crossing Abercrombie National Park got a causality
Robbo went through there no problems at all on the CRF230
I was happy girl living the adv dreams
Then fuel/lunch at Burraga and the most amazing burger & chips
The support vehicle arrived
Then it was back out and a dash to the pub
Got to the pub at 4.30pm and sorted out tent, shower and drinks/dinner. The rest was a blur but it was great catching up with old and new friends. Got to meet the legend Geoff Ballard once someone told me who Geoff was…… sorry Geoff…. blame it on being new into this sport
Next day we were on the bike and ready to rip it up at 7am with hangover as ususal.
Riding under trees
We heard some big bikes ripping it up and decided to get in camera position as they came out. This is Geoff Ballard coming out and decided to give me a wide berth… what a gentleman
Not so his mates!!.. They tried to hit me
Not often you get a cuddle from a legend on a track…. I was trying to out do Geoff with my brown dirt on top lip
Watched Geoff tackle a hill
Followed by his mates
Thanks to Mick’s navigational skills we got to Oberon early but I wasn’t complaining
After a burger and chips it was back out on the trails
Bit of log hopping
Happy boys – Smick400 and Robbo
Got back to Lithgow at 2pm in time to have a relaxing drink, pack up the bikes and head home early. Thanks to everyone responsible for pulling this together and supporting the weekend. Without you this ride would never happen. Can’t wait for the next one!!
Well after the week from hell at work it was time to focus on something the meets the following criteria:
1. NO mobile, IPads or any other friggen way to contact me
2. Fast adventure style riding
3. Camping
4. A pub in walking distance to the tent
5. Mates that laugh with you rather than at you (well that’s what it felt like)
6. Meet characters along the way
7. Get some good photo’s that allows me to look at during my next week of hell
8. Get home where the bike and I are in one piece.So big tick on all fronts…. Here is the bike all packed and ready to go from Tuggerah at 11.30am
Went up to Letter A via Cedar Brush Creek Rd then straight down to St Alban’s. Stopped in at the Convict Trail and took a picture of my bike featuring one of our key sponsors Teknik. I still get comments from guys on how well the bike is balanced. Maybe they are referring to something else!!
One my way down I came across two riders on their Ducati Multistrada and BMW GS1200 bikes trying to manage the gravel conditions. Both had slick tyres and knew they were nursing the bike through so I decided to dust them up a bit and made the XR400 fly past them like they were standing still. I thought it was funny!!!
Stopped in at the lake.
I noticed there were lots of people around so I went to investigate and found a “carpometer” board, scales and pamphlets on fishing.
Then this kid turned up with a sack full of Carp. This was the annual Carp catching completion to eradicate Carp out of the lake.
The head Carp judge and land owner invited me back for next year’s event. I’ve got a year to work out how to put bait on a hook and take a fish off. Might take longer hopefully.
Got to St Alban’s pub waaaaay to early ….. like 1pm and then I had to sit there (without phones, IPads and any friggen communication) and tried to busy myself. So I started taking photos.
This old Indian was sitting outside the pub. When I saw the oil everywhere it made me feel better as I’ve seen my XR with oil over it after a failed oil ring change.
Then I decided to look up in the trees!!!
Then took photo’s of pub
Then the boys arrived on their bikes and I suggested that they needed to keep a girl company whilst her buddies arrived. I found out they were a father and son combination that had a passion for bikes all their lives. How awesome to share a passion like this together. I remember being that age and sailing with my old man to Hobart but remembered it was painful because we were on the same boat. Being on different bikes works!!
After many conversations covering everything about bikes and tiny bit about work stuff the boys departed to head back to Hornsby. As they were leaving the son came out with a pearler one liner than beats any pick up line I have ever heard in my life. “Hey do you want to see my big key”. Well I just about buckled over a laughed up my guts. The father couldn’t believe what he heard.. I think the whole pub stopped to see what the belly laughing was about. I think I was old enough to be his mum but maybe having dust on my face helped. The poor kid realised what he said and put his helmet on quickly to cover the blushing.
So by now after a few drinks I decided to lie down and keep a lookout between the legs and I knew Eagle was coming from that direction.
Waiting … waiting… the seat is still empty
Then I heard motorbike noises but turned out not to OldBuller’s
Then Eagle had landed…..
As we were chewing the fat the noise of another bike was ringing in our ears and didn’t take us long to work out when he arrived it was Tryhard …. I somehow worked it out from the stickers on the bike. Oh and notice all his camping equipment is in his backpack!!! He travels light. I so told him that I had a spare tarp but THAT WAS ALL.
Then I got to meet Mr Squiggle for the first time …… on the Tiger
So by then I was 3 drinks ahead of everyone else and I thought I was hallucinating when this bloke arrived on a Tenere and took his helmet off and there was standing in front of me was Lotsa…. WTF . After his sickening accident hitting a sheep and spending time in ICU not so long ago I was stumped to see him in person.
Next to arrive was Wigster. Again I hadn’t meet Wigster but after nano-seconds we realised our sailing background had connections that made us laugh.
Whilst some were somewhat sober we set up camp
Then it was back to drinking
This is when James arrived from Arcadia and then it quickly got dark. As you heard from earlier reports the next bit was funny but blurry in many respects. I remember the poop in the glass… lots of laughing about Toy Story but I couldn’t remember why and watching the boys eat desert in the dark. I nearly relented to go a sticky date but my will power was still remarkably strong… go figger.
Well the next morning had the normal experience of an Oldbull hangover for some.
Oh and Eagle has a very precise why of setting up his tent…. Is anyone surprised?
Mr Squiggle was last out of his sleeping quarters
I noticed some art work on my way to the toilet
James and Mr Squiggle checedk the chain tension on the Tenere
Then it was off to Laguna for a well needed coffee or two. I blasted ahead so I could get some photos.
Bit dusty down the back so flew past the guy’s again and got up the top section of the road to get more shots
Then we regrouped before hitting the tar to Laguna
Then coffee at Laguna
We did the Boree Track to Finchley’s Lookout and made the boys walk to the top of the lookout.
Then to Wollombi Pub for quick lubrication. Again the will power was good and I stayed away from the rum.
This is where Wigster hit the tar and headed home and the rest of us went back up into the Watagan’s via Watagan’s Creek Rd for a last blast on dirt. I think the throttle was pinned open and I was on Eagles tail features all the way.
This is where we parted ways with a final chat, handshakes, cuddles, kisses….
Top weekend, top mates, unexpected top experiences….. TOPS on all round.
Thanks guys and till next time keep riding……. HARD and LONG.
Oh and by the way… you know you’ve had a good weekend when you have hands like this.
Hey TB, Can you include SMick400 and myself to the list of riders .
Ta
KatGirl
oldgirl wrote:My struggle is over :woohoo:It involves lots of complaining (by me), showing the MOF the cost of fixing said clunker compared to possible retail value (stuff all), and finally crying (trust me guys if you cried for your MOF she would give you anything
).So the MOF has agreed its time to let the clunker just die. Strip what parts I want off it and take the rest to the Motor recylers.
I kind of lost it when I was fitting the parts I’d ordered and the bolt for the speedo just spun around in the plastic when I tried to fit a Nyloc nut to it. Not only that but the cable for the speedo was the wrong one and wouldn’t fit. :angry:
But I really lost the plot when I put the new handbars on and realised that um the old ones weren’t that bent ..no….it was the WHOLE FRONT END of the bike that is bent!!
That was it for me. I was on the phone to the MOF in full stage three appeals (aka crying my eyes out)
So any suggestions of what I should and shouldnt salvage off it? Or does anyone think they want the engine (would make a seriously high powered go cart
)Oldgirl ….. This thread has me belly laughing…. And seriously not at your expense….i could so relate as i would have so done all the same things as well as hiitting below the waist line and said no more ‘special’ moments until I got a new bike. Works every time.Ha Ha.
What ever you end up doing…. Do it quick cause I want to go riding with you again soon…..you are one cool chic.
Kat.
