This is a ride report from last year that I wrote up. When I can work out how to load pics. Properly I'll throw some up as well.....
So for the last 3 years the Minister for War & Finance and I have done a trip between Xmas and New Year. 2 years back we did the GOR 2 up overnight, last year was Gippsland, GAR & Eildon Mansfield both on bikes and now we're ready to head off again!
This year we're going Melb>Mildura>Adelaide>MtGambier>GOR over 4 days..... But with a twist...
We've long said that when we retire (some time away yet) we'll travel Australia and visit all of the crappy big things (ie Big Shit) - such as Big Banana, Big Merino etc etc. Why you may ask - well, because they're crappy and there would be the answer!
So we've decided to get a head start on things and visit some this week - in all we're hoping to visit 10 things in 3 states on our 'big shit tour'
Both bikes (07 HD Nightrod and 02 Honda Shadow 400) are packed and ready to head off in the morning - 4 days, 3 states, plenty of sights to see and roads to explore!
Day 1
Today was 650km in hot weather and Tanya never missed a beat; both bikes running well. Missed the kids (but they will be fine I'm sure...); saw some big shit and now beer time.
Small day tomorrow, only 450 or so kms...
Day 2
Ok - so today was a short day....only 550km but heaps of big shit seen
Unfortunately 1/3 of that was in 37C and 1/2 was into a head wind gusting to 80kmh but we made it. We did discover however that Tan's bike does not like 100kmh into a headwind; and her fuel consumption went from 240km to the tank down to 160km in the wind. The spa in the hotel room did help though...
Adelaide Hills tomorrow then the big push along the coast to Port Fairy so the beer tomorrow night will be well & truly earned.
Day 3
Little over 600km today in 10hrs (including breaks) and some serious big shit seen! Also spotted a black Alpaca and a white Goat...
Also had a 20min chat with a 1/2 drunk Irishman an in Salt Creek about bikes, fishing and wind.
Tanya did well keeping the bike around the $1 - $1.20 mark most of the day despite some wind and carrying an injury sustained in the spa last night. Can recommend the porterhouse in Port Fairy and the beer was suitably cold.
Day 4
The Big Milkshake was that disappointing it didn't even rate a selfie - to be classed as big it needs to actually be bigger than normal size people!
There's only way to quell our bitter disappointment....it was to be a race.....
Stage 1 - to Apollo Bay
I started well heading out of Peterborough, but knowing that Tanya had superior ground clearance on the Honda and a tasseled jacket it would be tough.
Sure enough she bitched me in the inside of a right hand T intersection and took the lead into Pt Campbell....well played Tan, well played.
Out the other side of town was a different story as I called bulldust on a series of 35kmh advisory signs. My joy was short lived however, while I was wondering where the rest of the apostles were she hurtled past - 1 hand nailing the throttle with the other casually flipping the bird.
Momentarily held up by 3 dope smokers Ina Wicked camper I decided that objects in my rear view mirrors no longer mattered and set about reeling Tan in, finally getting her up the inside of a fast left hander and mounting the top step of the podium in Apollo Bay
Next stage - Apollo to Lorne
Stage 2: to Lorne
I was left loading Appetite for Destruction on the playlist in a shower if gravel as Tanya got the jump out if the carpark and it wasn't until Scene's Creek until I caught her. The ensuing battle raged over many miles, around numerous 4 wheeled mobile chicanes and using the left over quota of speed limit not taken up by others.
A hipster on a postie bike in Wye River was no match for the devil possessed pink helmet wearer as she leg checked him into a gully; while old mate in the blue Cooper S mixed it with me for 12 seconds before retiring a beaten, shaken and thoroughly cowed man.
I was just about to celebrate another win when a late entrant in the form of a squid on a gixxer wheelies past me to the checkered flag in Lorne, short shorted girlfriend hanging on for dear life.
Time to fuel up for the gruelling Lorne-Queenscliff stage.....
Stage 3: Home
It was with full fuel tanks, 80s rock in the headphones and the taste of last night's bourbon still in the mouth that we shot out of Lorne like the proverbial Bat out of Hell.
The little Honda was howling in anger as Tanya snarled her way past holiday makers left and right. My 125hp. of Harley/Porsche engineering, sublime handling and all the rubber I could use from Pirelli and boot soles weren't enough to catch her....I kid you not people she had time to stop and take a selfie at the Great Ocean Rd sign before I finally snuck past the other side of Anglesea.
The battle then raged past The Kombi vans lined up at Bells Beach and the bikini wearing shoppers clogging the streets of Barwon Heads; but as I argued with the ferry man over my suggestion not to pay until he got us to the other side Tan gracefully mounted to top step of the podium and to the winner go the spoils.
The last leg from Sorrento to home will be at a more leisurely pace given the abundance of Premier Napthine's revenue collectors on the peninsula and expected throngs of red wine sippers piloting their Audi's to the local providor for some mid afternoon scones and sherry.
The Great Ocean Road race has been run with us each claiming a podium. The Harley has lost plenty of sparks from the foot pegs, and the Honda was pushed that hard the headlight dropped out.
Ride Hard or Stay Home people.....Ride Hard or Stay Home.....
