Heading off

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  • Filthy
    Filthy
    13 years ago

     Me & half a dozen mates are heading off tomorrow (Friday) morning. Will be gone for just over a week, returning Sunday week. This is roughly the planned route, although it will be tents & swags and avoiding the bige towns other than to pas through wherever possible.

    Philthy

  • Hound_Dog
    Hound_Dog
    13 years ago
    2 things mate, plenty of pics and ride safe
  • Humbug
    Humbug
    13 years ago
    Have a pucking good time and stay safe.
  • Deadwood
    Deadwood
    13 years ago
    Lucky bugger.
  • slip
    slip
    13 years ago

    Enjoy, can't wait for the pics 

  • SoftailSteve
    SoftailSteve
    13 years ago
    looks like a great ride .lucky you
  • 48fan
    48fan
    13 years ago
    have a good one
  • Soapbox2627
    Soapbox2627
    13 years ago
    and for 500ks more, you could be in Edenhope
  • Fangio
    Fangio
    13 years ago

    have a blast and ride safe...

  • softyJ
    softyJ
    13 years ago
    Looking forward to seeing the photos, Ride safe.
  • Filthy
    Filthy
    13 years ago

     One more sleep :

     

    Can't wait ! 

     

    Philthy

  • heavyduty1340
    heavyduty1340
    13 years ago

    Filthy - you are an absolute mongrel

    Ive just gone and packed my snorkel as well - if it wasnt for you buying your "Cox" we would have been on the road last week!!

    No fresh ground coffee for you tomorrow

     

  • Filthy
    Filthy
    13 years ago

     If it wasn't for poofters that can't make the whole ride we wouldn't be going to Albany. Severe weather warning, thunderstorms, max 21. Pack the wet weather gear HD1340 

    Seeya tomorrow

     

    Philthy

     

  • heavyduty1340
    heavyduty1340
    13 years ago

     

    Filthy AKA "Fall Down Phil"

    Going Going

     

    Gone!!

     

     

     

    And here is LaLa and Windex (formally known as JA) - Swan draught and windex doesnt go together does it.

  • Filthy
    Filthy
    13 years ago

     G'day

     
    Well, arrived home yesterday a shattered man (liver wise anyway ) after what was the best fucken trip I have been on.
    Left Bunbury on the Friday morning in light drizzle, although it was more wet roads than rainfall.  of us met at a mates place before heading off at around 8:00ish
     
     
     
    Swung through Busso, picked up a mate and then headed down to Marg's to pick up another couple of blokes before setting off. Just as we pulled in to the shed, the skies opened up.
     
     
    Hung around chinwagging for a while before saying fuck it and heading off. Belted down to Karridale, up the Brockman Highway and the Stuart Road across to Pemberton for lunch.
     
     
    Next stop was the Walpole Hotel for a couple of quieties before setting off to nearby Nornalup.
     
     
    Lala's thumb print is clearly visible in this photo of his missus telling him to stop having fun and come home.
     
     
    Organised some supplies and headed out to set up camp.
     
     
    Hit the piss Friday night in ideallic surroundings, overlooking a valley of Karri's.
     
     
    Sat morning saw us up and at it early, with a 70km run into Denmark for breakfast. From there it was off to Albany - about another 50kms where we lucked onto a vintage "show and shine" on the esplanade.
     
     
    I have shitloads of photo's but don't want to exceed my upload limit too soon . While at Albany we learned that the decision to stay 120km's West was a good one as they had 2inches of rain with flash flooding the night before. Spent an hour or so looking at the bikes however with black clouds looming we decided to leg it. Fatbelly and Lala couldn't handle the pace after one night and went home for a bex and a good lay down. That left the remaining 6 of us heading out towards Esperance.
    Just out of Albany I swapped bikes with one of the boys who has a 1600 Thunderbird. What a fucken ripper. Lotsa power and torque, excellent brakes, handles well and sounds shit hot. What more could you want ! Anyway, as we headed towards Jerramungup it became more and more apparent that the Springer wasn't gonna make the next fuel stop. As we were at the back of the group, we swung into Wellstead - an isolated servo in the middle of nowhere. Imagine our surprise when the joint was crawling with coppers ! Lucky they were busy coordinating a search or the may have been curious about the other 4 bikes that had passed through at a significant pace  . Fuelled up, we headed off to Jerramungup where we stopped for a graze and fuel. With the clouds again threatening, we headed towards Ravensthorpe where we broke the trip up with a beer at the local. After a couple, the clouds were again looming so we set off on the final 200km leg to Esperance. Hit town around 4.00 Sat arvo and waited for our host at the Pier Hotel.
     
     
     
    Had a couple of beers and with the drizzle starting to fall, we got some provisions together and set off the 10kms to our host's ranch - 10 acres just out of town. Accommodation for the night was again salubrious.
     
     
    Some more than others.
     
     
    Sunday was a layday with a run out to the Condinup Pub for lunch and then a look at the coast.
     
     
     
     
    Chunk of beef in the webber Sunday night and a few beers and it was an early start again on Monday. Got away at 7.00ish and stopped at Salmon Gums for breakfast. After three nights of piss drinking and red meat, all I felt like was a cheese and tomato sandwich for brekky. The rest of the boys went bacon and eggs sandwiches and whilst there was initially a bit of panic at such a "big order" in sleepy Salmon Gums, the tucker was bloody good.
     
     
     
    From there we headed up to Norseman where we stopped for fuel. Norseman had a bad rep from a couple of the boys who have lived out that way and it lived up to it's rep. Two of the boys fuelled up on the same pump without stopping it. When they got inside, the bloke tried charging them $78. He reckoned that there were two amounts on the bowser. Even when it was explained that the bikes wouldn't hold $78 he was reluctant to do anything but when we called in the manager, common sense prevailed eventually (although they reckoned someone must have done a drive off - we let them know we didn't give a fuck, it wasn't us. Look it up on the security video). Had a break under the trees while it was being sorted out.
     
    From there we kept heading North towards Kal. This ride is a recreation of a ride I did with my brother Urny in 1987 (RIP Urny) on a shovel and iron barrel. On that trip I had wanted a photo of the bikes under the Widgiemooltha sign cos when people tell me about the fancy places they have been I could say I have been to Widgiemooltha and that would have them fucked. Anyway, on the occasion (not unlike this occasion too actually  ;) we were hungover to buggery when we left Esperance. When we got to Widgie I pulled in and Urny pulled in alongside me. He said "Do you need fuel?". When I said no, he just said "Then why the fuck did you stop here!" and fucked off. Consequently, I didn't get my photo. Made sure I did this time.
     
    From there it was a pretty uneventful run into Kal where we set up camp in a local caravan park. While we were setting up camp we noticed one of the boys had collected a rock and had a shattered headlight on his streetglide. Taped it up to avoid it letting go altogether and then retired for a cleansing ale. Pretty good digs.
     
     
     
    Tuesday was another layday to do the touristy thing. Kal is a majestic old town with many of the buildings dating back to the late 1800's. Sad to see the damage done by an earthquake late last year however a lot of effort is going in to repairs. Again - I have heaps of photo's but trying to keep it to a minimum for this report. 
     
    One of the boys used to live in Kal so we called in and saw an old mate of his. He had a nice shed full of toys, as well as this in the front shop.
     
     
     
    Turns out his young bloke is a 7 times state title holder
     
     
     
    Also took the opportunity to do some quick maintenance on one of the bikes which had a dragging clutch. Bit of adjustment and fresh oil and she was good as gold.
     
     
     
    Once that was done we did the touristy thing out the super pit (that's a big hole) and out to broadarrow.
     
     
     
    Then it was back to the campsite and into the piss again.
     
     
     
    Wednesday morning was back on the road with destination Quairading. We headed off early with the first fuel stop being Yellowdine for a coffee.
     
     
     
    From there we headed west along Great Eastern Highway, through Merredin and to Cunderdin for lunch. Pretty good ride with the only real excitment being watching the panic behind me when I ran straight over a 5ft dugite at speed.  
     
     
     
    Last bit for the day was a quick blast across towards Quairading where we stopped with a mate on his property. Now this is one bloke who likes his toys !  ;D
     
     
     
    Definitely a highlight of the trip. Big night before swagging it under the stars.
     
     
     
    Thursday morning was back on the road with the destination Geraldton - around 600km away. One of the boys used to live in York and as this was not really too far out of our way, we swung in and had a look at his old place, We also took in a lookout just out of town - spectacular outlook over the Avon Valley
     
     
     
    As we were chatting, it turned out a couple of the boys had a mutual acquaintance who lived not far away. Popped in to say g'day and he showed us one of his toys.
     
     
     
    Whilst we weren't on any particular deadline, with only 100kms covered in the first two hours we thought we'd better cut some miles. Headed out through Northam, Toodyay and Bindoon before stopping briefly in New Norcia for a photo opportunity.
     
     
     
    The next stop was Moora for lunch. Nice old pub tidied up and the $14 steak sandwich was the best I've had in recent memory. 
     
     
     
    From there we headed up through three springs & Mingenew. There was some debate over which way to head and for one reason or another we got split up into two groups. Whilst we thought we were out in front, we couldn't be sure the other boys hasn't cut across and got ahead of us. What could we do but find a nice comfortable spot to sit and wait  ;D
     
     
     
    With about 70kms to Geraldton, we hit the road and arrived at the host site for the stay. Unfortunately, two of the boys who had split off didn't have our mobile numbers (or we theirs) and the other bloke had a "mishap" with his phone and let's just say it wasn't working. Fortunately, after a series of phonecalls interstate through a mutual friend, we were able to get in touch and reunite the group, setting up camp for the next two days in the back yard.
     
     
     
    Once the tents were up, we settled in and hit the piss.
     
     
     
    Friday morning saw a slow start.
     
    Before an opportunity to give the bikes a quick cleanup.
     
    As it was rememberance day, we checked out the HMAS Sydney memorial. A very well put together and poignant memorial that bought a tear to my eye. Won't go into detail here however we were lucky enough to see them turn on the water in the new reflection pool for the first time. Spent the minute's silence atop the hill overlooking the batavia coast - quite a memorable occasion.
     
     
     
    Spent the rest of the day ginning around trying to organise a new back tyre for one of the bikes (which pissed off the owner cos he has a brand new set of custom rims & tyres at home that should have been fitted by now but needed a spacer that wasn't available when we set off !). Caught up with a mate who invited us to his shed for a couple of beers before we headed back to camp to hit the piss. A few of the host's friends turned up and our last night on the road turned into a rollicking party. The tucker was sublime with prawn & scallop entrees, sirloin steak main and an array of exotic salads (even one with cornflakes on it  ;)
     
     
     
    Saturday saw us pack up for the last time before heading south. With Perth approx 420kms south, we got away earlyish after a cook up breakfast. 
     
     
     
    Took the new coastal highway through Jurien Bay, which was a timely fuel stop.
     
     
     
    From there it was 200kms to Joondalup which was our next stop. We had a graze and a coffee and discussed where to from there. Three of the boys peeled off down the freeway with me and the Margaret River boys heading south. Last stop was the Shell Servo on the entrance to Bunbury and with just on 200kms on the tank we called in for Fuel. I fueled up and moved the bike out of the way and paid up. When one of the other boys moved his bike, there was a bad top end noise. Fuck ! 
     
     
     
    Limped it around to a mates shed where it was left. All the gear was unloaded in the shed and for the last 100km stretch they had to dink. With upwards of 3500kms and 9 days away that would have been a shit of a ride. On the bright side, the bike is currently 5kms from the Harley shop where it was sold, should be under warranty and is safely tucked away. It could have happened at Widgiemooltha.
     
    So, about 3:00 yesterday afternoon I arrived home after an epic trip. We were hosted like royalty everywhere we went, the weather and road gods smiled on us, I made a couple of new mates and got home with no dramas.
     
    Cheers
     
    Philthy
    BBB
    FFF
     
  • AJ56
    AJ56
    13 years ago
    Mate awesome pics, what a trip. No wonder your liver is tired....
  • robert65
    robert65
    13 years ago
    great pics , looks like ya's had a good time
  • Deadwood
    Deadwood
    13 years ago
    How good is that! Top stuff.
  • motor_head
    motor_head
    13 years ago
    Excellent..... thanks for sharing .... now thats what ya call living.
  • softyJ
    softyJ
    13 years ago
    Great pics, Thanks
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