08-09-2009, 12:05am
I regularly ride with an older mate called Alan. He's always wanted to do the run from Sydney to Perth. It's also been on my "one day" list for years but I needed the motivation to get off my ass and do something.
All of a sudden, motivation came from three areas. Firstly, Alan just wouldn't stop whining about wanting me to do the trip with him. Secondly, the Ulysses AGM seemed like a legitimate excuse. Thirdly, I started following Davo's travels (R.I.P Davo). Davo's passing just seems to make it all the more important.
The clincher of course... its the kind of trip a Busa is just born to do.
So.. we're off over yonder to the West. Dates yet to be confirmed, but Late March / Early April. Most direct route across, then a very leisurely run back following the Southern and Eastern coasts as much as possible. All up... allocating 2 weeks to the jaunt. I'm working on a schedule of 4 days to get there.... 2 days at the AGM.... 8 days get home.
So... I'm looking for tips and hints. Who has done this before? What are the fastest and most direct routes you can suggest? What do I need to look out for? There are a thousand questions and I don't even know what they are. I've done long'ish trips before but the east coast is a pretty safe run with help and fuel only a few km away at almost any point. Sprinting across the middle isn't quite the same I'd expect. Mind you, there will be thousands of bikes heading over so I'm not expecting to be out there with just a whinging OAP and his Triumph - at least, I hope not.
Alan likes to pitch tents and light fires in the middle of nowhere... so tips on equipment are also much appreciated. Apparently motels are for soft, plonker, wuzzies. Who knew?
I'll be taking along my iPhone. I've loaded it up with apps that will constantly be plotting our progress and automatically updating our Google Map.
It's very early days yet. I'll be joining the LongRiders forum as well as trying to convince Peter Thoming to let me write it up for Australian Road Rider. (That'll take 2 beers... and a doughnut.)
Thanks in advance.
All of a sudden, motivation came from three areas. Firstly, Alan just wouldn't stop whining about wanting me to do the trip with him. Secondly, the Ulysses AGM seemed like a legitimate excuse. Thirdly, I started following Davo's travels (R.I.P Davo). Davo's passing just seems to make it all the more important.
The clincher of course... its the kind of trip a Busa is just born to do.
So.. we're off over yonder to the West. Dates yet to be confirmed, but Late March / Early April. Most direct route across, then a very leisurely run back following the Southern and Eastern coasts as much as possible. All up... allocating 2 weeks to the jaunt. I'm working on a schedule of 4 days to get there.... 2 days at the AGM.... 8 days get home.
So... I'm looking for tips and hints. Who has done this before? What are the fastest and most direct routes you can suggest? What do I need to look out for? There are a thousand questions and I don't even know what they are. I've done long'ish trips before but the east coast is a pretty safe run with help and fuel only a few km away at almost any point. Sprinting across the middle isn't quite the same I'd expect. Mind you, there will be thousands of bikes heading over so I'm not expecting to be out there with just a whinging OAP and his Triumph - at least, I hope not.
Alan likes to pitch tents and light fires in the middle of nowhere... so tips on equipment are also much appreciated. Apparently motels are for soft, plonker, wuzzies. Who knew?
I'll be taking along my iPhone. I've loaded it up with apps that will constantly be plotting our progress and automatically updating our Google Map.
It's very early days yet. I'll be joining the LongRiders forum as well as trying to convince Peter Thoming to let me write it up for Australian Road Rider. (That'll take 2 beers... and a doughnut.)
Thanks in advance.