NIGE Motorcycle Club

Posted on: October 16th, 2009
By: Brizzer
Under: Drivel

SA to home via Great Ocean Road some suggestions.

Haven’t been in that corner of SA from Adelaide to Mt Gambier. There were some nice roads around Victor Harbour area. One place I have wanted to visit is Picinini Ponds near Mt Gambier. A diving snorkelling spot – fresh water but very clear and very deep apparently. Of course the blue lake in the crater is there too.
Great Ocean Road is a beauty – didn’t spend enough time at Port Fairy which is meant to be interesting – especially the waterfront. Do the short walk around Mait’s Rest in the Ottway part where you leave the ocean for a while.
Instead of going through Geelong and into Melbourne why not catch the ferry from Queenscliff to Sorento?
There will be a fair bit of bike traffic from the GP I imagine.
If you haven’t been to Wilson’s Prom I reckon it’s a great spot. Only one campground at Tidal River and it is a fair way into the park but it is worth it.
If you are not in a major hurry and are coming up the South Coast Mallacoota is worth an overnight at the main campground on the inlet.
Tarthra Wharf is also worth a look.
You do know school starts Monday, right?
Went for a short ride today and I think the little screen makes a big difference.
Sad news about your friend.
Make sure you ride safe!
I’m certainly up for some weekend trips when you get back.

Mudgee trip went well – did day trip to Hill End and Sofala and drove down to Glen Davis in Capatee Valley on the way home. Glen Davis and Newnes are great weekend destinations.

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Trying to make the GSX1400 a little bit tourable

Would like to do some touring so have tried to make it able to carry some stuff.

Went for a ride down to Brooklyn yesterday and also found it to be capable of speeds that make it uncomfortable as a naked bike. Fortunately the small screen I got on eBay was at the post office to be picked up when I got back so I fitted it last night and will try it out today to see if there is an improvement.

Fitted the soft luggage I bought a while back just for the photo – haven’t done any kms with these but I was impressed at how well the same type were able to put up with the amazing riding that Nige was doing on our trip. Only damage at that point was one broken clip.

It is still certainly no BMW in the luggage department.

Also picked up a right side alloy engine cover to replace the badly scratched one. It has a tiny scratch but not the gouges of the other one. When I removed the old one it was also cracked on the inside so an improvement all round. You can see it in the first pic. Now all it needs is a decent paint job and maybe some stainless steel header pipes as the current ones do have some imperfections.

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Posted on: October 9th, 2009
By: Nige
Under: Rides

Kinchega Days 60-63

Spent time with my brother and his family camping on the Darling River at Kinchega National Park.

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3 day Criss-Cross. Oct 2009

DD, Pockets and Mohawk left Macca’s on Tues morning. Great ride up Bucketts Way to Gloucester for morning tea. Then up Thunderbolts to Walcha stopping only when Pockets cleaned up a brush turkey. Thru to Uralla and quick lunch and internet at Armidale. A bit cool and the big Kwaka was using fuel at an alarming rate, (carbies and altitude). Beautiful ride along Waterfall Way to Ebor and up Summerland Way thru’ Nymboida to Grafton. No beds as there was Arts Festival, so on to Casino. 700Kms in the day. Great room and people at the Swagman Motel and walk around the corner to the RMS Club.

Wed and a fantastic ride across the ranges via Bruxner H/Way to Tenterfield. Cool again and on to Glenn Innes for coffee. Pockets decided to abandon ship as he had to put the cat out, so he headed down the New England while DD and I did the Gwydir H/Way to Grafton. Back across Summerlad Way thru’ Nymboida and Ebor to Armidale and coffee. Then Uralla and Walcha for the night at the Commercial Hotel. Great food and people. 600kms for the day.
Day 3 and it was the Oxley H/way to Wauchope… 175kms mega road. On to DD’s mum at Port for toasted sandwiches. Decided to head directly home via very windy Pacific H/Way and some rain. Coffee and goodbyes at Heatherbrae Pie shop. 500kms. Thanks lads.

All up 1800kms and some great roads and good company.

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Posted on: October 5th, 2009
By: Nige
Under: Rides

John Holmes Day 58

Joined the Broken Hill Branch of the Ulysses for a ride out to Penrose Park and then on to Silverton Pub for a John Holmes. They get a very good turn out.

Just missed the Ghost Town Rally, apparently a very good roll up, 380 odd people although the weather was pretty ordinary.

The ‘Bird among a few of the bikes.

They were everywhere.

My beer and John Holmes at Silverton Pub.

Ned and I went to the Demo Club (a bit too early) to watch the NRL Grand Final on the big screen but we both drank way toooo much beer. They too, had free John Holmes on the menu at half time. I can’t remember watching much of the game and Ned was asked to leave the premises (keeping up the family tradition). We think that Melbourne Storm won 🙂

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Broken Hill Day 57

Joined the Argent Milk Bar Gang for a reunion today at the milk bar and then we went for a ride out to Little Topar Pub for lunch.

Off to Silverton tomorrow with the Broken Hill Branch of the Ulysses club and then to the Demo Club to watch the NRL final and have a few beers with my brother. Game is not on telly here, they only like AFL 🙁

Quite cold here still and so I am reluctant to head south just yet, NSW school holidays will also have an impact. Might end up going up into QLD. I have no cold weather gear with me and it is impossible to buy even a sloppy joe here.

Ned and his new best mate (Peter) standing in the main street ... duh!

Ned and his new best mate (Peter the explosives exspurt) standing in the main street ... duh!

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Posted on: September 26th, 2009
By: Nige
Under: Rides

Still Alive Day 50

Bit of a technical glitch (whole friggen’ server hacked by the #%*kers)

Climbed Uluru, walked around it and then headed to the Olgas and did the ‘Valley of the Winds’ walk.

Met another crazy motorbike rider, a nice young bloke named John Baxter who was on a similar journey.

Rode to Coober Pedy and lived in an underground campsite, met some awesome people including Eric Smart who is riding his push-bike from Aberdeen to Adelaide.

Foul weather riding at a 30 degree lean on the way to Port Augusta.

Will fill in more soon.

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Alice Springs Day 42

Took the ‘Bird around to Desert Edge Honda and had a chat with the very helpful service manager who even knew what a Michelin was 🙂 but recommended I try Bridgestone Battlax BT 021 as they may be a bit longer wearing for my type of riding. Anyway, they had them in stock and so $670 later, they were fitted. The ‘Bird ticked over 70,000kms today to celebrate the new shoes.

Big day on the card, bought the tyres and then chased around town to buy a new tent and airbed, hopefully the newies will perform better.

Put my tourist hat back on reluctantly and went up a hill to see what I could see.

Followed a few of those ‘Brown’ signs and one lead me to ‘Alice Springs Desert Park’ where the lady took a lobster from me and away I went…….fascinating.

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Posted on: September 17th, 2009
By: Nige
Under: Rides

Alice Springs Day 41

Somehow managed to drag myself away from Tennant Creek and continued south down the Stuart towards Alice Springs.
Using my amazing general knowledge of all things amazing to see in amazing Australia, I almost rode past the amazing ‘Devil’s Marbles’ but the big signs and bypass road sorta caught my eye.

Just outside the ‘Marbles’ this sign almost made me turn around.

Stopped for fuel at Barrow Creek, one of the Telegraph Stations but the pub was interesting. Spoke to the publican about the similarity to Daly Waters Pub and he assured me that they copied Barrow Creek. I also asked him why there was no bra and panties collection in the bar (like at Daly Waters) and he said he kept all those in his bedroom….boom, boom.