ADVrider - Andy Gadget and Just Dan go wandering.

ADVrider (http://www.advrider.com/forums/index.php)

- Ride reports (http://www.advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2)

- - Andy Gadget and Just Dan go wandering. (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=836283)

Andy Gadget and Just Dan go wandering.

Home on leave at the start of the nice motorcycling riding weather in south eastern Australia, Rallies and GP's to attend, and time between the events to play, what could be better.

Picking up Just Dan on his new Tiger 800 road, on my Guzzi Mille GT, that had been owned by Just Dan until four months before.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG1321-L.jpg

We both live in Hobart, the capital city of the island state of Tasmania, so it was off to the ferry to get to the "north island".

Stopped for coffee at Campbelltown.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG1322-L.jpg

No images of the ferry or crossing as it started to rain, but we hid out in a mates shed before going to the ferry.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG1326-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG1327-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG1328-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG1329-L.jpg

Dan shot off to the Gippsland lakes to catch up with friends, as I caught up with family in Melbourne, then it was up to the Victorian Guzzi club Rally, the Spaghetti rally, north of whitfield.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG1353-L.jpg
Usual rally stuff, tall tails and true around a camp fire.

http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG1338-L.jpg

Spaghetti the traditional way, out of my Mille GT side cover.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG1371-L.jpg

Not to be outdone, out of a helmet, minus lining :-)
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG1375-L.jpg

Dan consumed his spaghetti the conventional way, having no side covers to pull off.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG1374-L.jpg

http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG1398-L.jpg

Mille as kitchen table.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG1401-L.jpg

After the Spag rally, it was off to play in the high country, accompanied by McArdigan on his way home to Stratford via the Dargo High Planes Road. With the intention to ride over to a pub called the "Blue Duck" via the falls creek to Glen Willes road, but at Mt Beauty the sign was out that the road was closed.
The locals said that it had been closed all year, and didn't know why, could have been trees down, or flood damage, so plan A was out.
Plan B, much to McCardigan's heart, was over Toowonga gap to Bright, where the boutique brewery would ensure a good nights sleep.

The lookout on the gap road.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0024-L.jpg

The pub at bright were we stayed.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0027-L.jpg

The top of the Dargo road.
http://justdan.smugmug.com/Motorcycl.../IMG0550-L.jpg
Chris's computer was saying 1 degree, and flashing to warn about ice.

http://justdan.smugmug.com/Motorcycl.../IMG0553-L.jpg

After Chris departed, Dan and I continued up over Mt Hotham and snow.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0040-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0038-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0042-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0032-L.jpg

Chris had suggested taking to the back road, and an old log hauling steam engine in the high country, called the Washington engine.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0048-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0047-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0044-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0043-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0052-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0053-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0054-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0056-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0057-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0059-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0061-L.jpg

The Mille was struggling with the slippery conditions, but it was Dan's Triumph that bit the mud.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0075-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0077-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0078-L.jpg

We were heading to a set of huts at Benley Plains, One hut is called the "Russian Villa" and on the other side of the river was a shelter shed and small hut called the "Bush Hilton", where we settled in for the evening and night.

Russian Villa
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0088-L.jpg

The site is high, 1147 meters according to my GPS, so it was going to be cool, the thermometer was reading 1 degree C, 33.8 Degrees F, at 6PM, but the morning say my thermometer reading -10 degrees C, 14 degrees F.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0106-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0105-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0110-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0109-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0096-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0121-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0160-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0145-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0146-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0156-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0162-L.jpg

I had slung my Hennessey Hammock inside the shelter shed, while Dan had setup inside the small hut.
I wanted to see if my ExPed down mat could do duty as the under quilt on the hammock, which it did do, but undid itself from my restraints during the nigh, and moved away at the foot end to give me cool feet.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0135-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0139-L.jpg

We went down to Ensay after the cool morning, then up to Swifts Creek for lunch, then down to a mates place in Stratford.

No photos, as it was a transport stage really, as road works on the Tambo river road took most of the fun away.
Settled in this morning to watch the Barry Sheene ride, from Bairnsdale to the track at Philip island, as it passed through Stratford.

Then back to the bikes and a very windy ride to the the island, the wind causing power outages in towns along the way.

Getting away from the masses was the main goal, and various zig zags achieved this.

Currently in the community race house, awaiting the arrival of the rest of the crowd.

The numbers at the GP on Philip Island are huge, Saturday was like a normal Sunday race day, so how busy is Sunday going to be?

http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0188-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0211-L.jpg

Where is my bike?
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0213-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor.../IMG0200-L.jpg

Great ride guys. Do all those bikes in the shed belong to one person!? Ill be settling down in front of the telly soon to watch the GP. Have a great time and ride safe.:D

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/28/ebezyhy3.jpg

It did take awhile to find my bike and there was only a handful of tigers and only one mille

Quote:

Originally Posted by zadok (Post 19913449)

Great ride guys. Do all those bikes in the shed belong to one person!? Ill be settling down in front of the telly soon to watch the GP. Have a great time and ride safe.:D

Mostly theirs, they are proving the rule, that you expand to fil all available space, and this is one shed of two:evil

The race day was kaos on the island, requiring a 630 AM departure to ensure a fence side position for the race, that starts at 4 PM.

I and Dan woosed it, and stayed in the house, and watched it on TV.

We felt for the poor working stiffs who had to get off the island that evening.
Even at 10 AM the next morning, it was bad enough, so Dan and I chose to get out of the traffic by heading north, rather than east or west, that the vast majority was doing.

Our destination was the old gold mining town of Walhalla up in the foot hills.

Packing up at the house.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0221-L.jpg

A stop at Mirboo north for a coffee, after using the back roads like on the way down.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0222-L.jpg

The camp area, the town is long and skinny, being build around a narrow gully, running north south, so sun and its arrival time was a consideration in where to tent up.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0227-L.jpg

Dan yarning to a local.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0231-L.jpg

Coffee time.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0233-L.jpg

The sun is gone for the evening.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0236-L.jpg

There had been a rally held at this spot, called the V2 Rally, so the joys of packing wet tents was known, so I parked at the "get the sun early" position.

The sun is almost there.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0249-L.jpg

When the sun does get there, it does so quickly, Dan basking in the newly arrived sun.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0251-L.jpg

Now that the vast majority of the traffic had gone, it was retraceing our footsteps up to Omeo, then off along the Limestone road into the Alpine Nation Park, with the plan being to camp at native dog flat camping area.

Caught up with a couple from WA, whose goal was Jindabyne that evening.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0255-L.jpg

They don't like wild dogs up this way.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0257-L.jpg

There was lots of evidence of the floods and high winds the area had suffered.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0258-L.jpg

Native dog flat camping ground.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0260-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0263-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0265-L.jpg

Lots of wild Horses in the area, the stallions leave piles of dung on the road, that other stallions then add to, is an horsy pissing competition.
There is a small one here.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0267-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0272-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0271-L.jpg
knarled old man snow gum.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0276-L.jpg

I elected to hammock up.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0277-L.jpg

Had some locals visit
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0288-L.jpg

This camp is on the national equestrian trail, and so is set up for horse camping, segregated from the rest of use.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0289-L.jpg

Nice big area, has the look of a frost hollow to me, like Bentley plains of a week or so ago.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0296-L.jpg

A fine meal of cryovac lamb shanks and rissotto was had.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0297-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0298-L.jpg

It was now time to head up to the Trout rally, at three mile dam, near Kiandra, at 1470 meters.
The route there was back roads to Wee Jasper, then to Tumut and up the race track of the snowy mountain highway to the site.

The old hotel, right in the middle of Canberra.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0359-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0361-L.jpg

The Milli ready for the off again.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0360-L.jpg

The rally site, at 1470 meters, 4822 feet, it got cold as soon as the sun went down.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0363-L.jpg

So a fire was essential.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0365-L.jpg

Or for cooking the old fashioned way.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0367-L.jpg

The usual "Friday night at a rally" tall tales and true were told.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0369-L.jpg

Dsan kept the cold at bay with a bottle of Stones green ginger wine.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0371-L.jpg

http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0373-L.jpg

The next morning, a group of us went on a walk to some old gold mining equipment, the lake had been made to provide water for hydraulic mining of gold.

The top of one arm of the lake.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0376-L.jpg

Frost hollow plains like most of the area.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0377-L.jpg

Wild horses.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0381-L.jpg

"That will buff right out"
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0397-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0399-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0401-L.jpg

Old stamping battery.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0402-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0404-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0405-L.jpg

Old mine workings
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0411-L.jpg

And back to the rally site.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0417-L.jpg

The same wild horses had moved to our side, and soon bolted.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0421-L.jpg

http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0427-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0428-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0429-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0430-L.jpg

Lots had arrived while we were away.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0431-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0432-L.jpg

Rally chair engineering was discussed, at length.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0434-L.jpg

Nibblies came out, and were consumed.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0437-L.jpg

The usual rally events were conducted.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0439-L.jpg

To the amusement of the spectators.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0440-L.jpg

Egg toss.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0445-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0446-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0447-L.jpg

The raffle prizes, the foil wrapped bundles were smoked trout.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0453-L.jpg

The next day and it was off again, packed up again.
Even this far into the trip, the pack for each morning was different to the previous one.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0454-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0456-L.jpg

Down the twisties on the tooma road towards Tumberumba.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0460-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0462-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0461-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0463-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0464-L.jpg

The "snowy ride" was on the same weekend, meaning lots of squids to make the roads less fun, so we had lunch ar Corryong, and took the dirt of the Omeo highway over to the free camping of Anglers Rest.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0467-L.jpg

Which had the attraction of the Blue Duck pub on the other side of the bridge.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0469-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0472-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0478-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0483-L.jpg
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0485-L.jpg

We had forgotten that the weekend was a long one in Victoria, the Melbourne cup weekend, the other event on the first Tuesday of November.
And this had a profound effect on our plans, as all the camping sites nearer Melbourne would be full, so we settled in for a second night at the Blue Duck.
BTW, the name of the pub of slang for a mine that isn't producing anything, and the Cobungra river is full of fools gold, and little real gold.

The long weekend, and the Falls Creek road being open, had lots of squids and pirates enjoying the warm and sunny conditions, and the plentiful corners of the area.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0489-L.jpg

A weather front was due through the area the next day, so an early pack and drone to Melbourne was the plan.
An early lunch at Stratford, again, we were becoming regulars here, we watch the Barry Sheene ride from the veranda, and stppped in again after the GP.
http://andy-gadget.smugmug.com/Motor...IMG_0495-L.jpg

What a great adventure + great pics :clap:clap

Great photos, hope catch up again somewhere down the track :freaky
Cheers
Baza

Excellent ride report and great photos:clap. I liked the Mille, I bought a Cali III at the same time the Mille came out in early 1994 and I have only just sold it :cry and I am now missing it dearly, not one of my better decisions.