Australia, Tasmania, Western Explorer

FuddyLogic · 03-26-2007, 06:39 PM

Intro

Howdy all,

Scottmoto16 and myself have just returned from a 4 day trip up through the centre, and down the West coast of Tasmania.

The Western Explorer, has been an ambition of mine to complete since moving to Tasmania 2 years ago. For Scott, it was also one road he'd yet to ride, in this motorcycle paradise called Tasmania.

Here's my map of Tassie (I'll show ya mine, if you show me yours) that hangs on my office wall at work. As you can see there's a definite lacking of black lines over on the West - that was about to change...

Now armed with a bike that could do this trip justice, Scott on holidays, and me able to wangle a couple of days off work - we set off last Friday on the KTMs.

Let the ride begin...

TouringDave · 03-26-2007, 06:41 PM

Keep 'em coming please Fuddy!

FuddyLogic · 03-26-2007, 07:16 PM

Day 1
Hobart-New Norfolk-Black Hills-Gretna-Ouse-Bronte Park-Great Lakes-Meander-Mole Creek-Devil's Gullet-Moina-Wilmont-Moina-Waratah

Scott arrived at my place about 8:30am, after a quick coffee and bullshit we were on the road.

Now every trip there's gonna be some stuff-ups, my intention is to get them out of the way early, so the rest of the trip is trouble free.

Stuff-up #1: Stall the bike in the main street in town - whoops.
Stuff-up #2: Leave my bike pump in my other bike jacket - oh well, Scott's got his, and we were trying to keep weight off the bikes

Will get to the other stuff-ups as they occured, on with the ride...

10 or so minutes out of New Norfolk, we were on gravel, took a bit to get the feel back again, and get used to the weight on the bikes. Scott was also running a new tyre (Michelin Baja). I decided to run with my D606 that still had some life in it, and leave the new Baja at home - Hmmm would that come back to bite me?

Made good time to Ouse, stopped outside the pub, but it wasn't open so no chance to mingle with the locals.

How's that rear sprocket looking Scott?

Turned off the main drag up to Victoria Valley and back onto gravel, where Scott practiced his sheep mustering skills, clearing the path for me - thanks mate

Obligitory bike shots at the first pisstop...

Past Lake Echo

As you can see by the swell on the lake, the wind was picking up. The forecast was for showers and wind - not the motorcyclist's best friends.

Scott pointing in the wrong direction - can't remember why...think he was trying to follow the sun

Following Scott...

Hmmm...those clouds don't look too good.

Great Lakes Hotel...

FuddyLogic · 03-26-2007, 07:23 PM

Stuff-up #3:

Give the bike and gear a quick look over outside the Great Lakes Hotel..hmmm that's not meant to be there...

That could have ended in tears

Luckily no damage to bike or rider - just a slightly shorter tie-down strap, a good lesson learned, and a bruised ego.

A quick snack, then back on the bikes

FuddyLogic · 03-26-2007, 07:48 PM

The weather was starting to look worse, so packed the camera away, and headed North, sorry no pics.

The roads gravel around the Great Lake, but heading to Deloraine it turns back to asphalt and coming down off the plateau, has some awesome corners.

Before reaching Deloraine, we turn West and head to Meander. Then the back roads to Mole Creek.

Western Tiers...

Horses...

The roads out here follow the paddocks, so there's lots of corners that seem to pop up out of nowhere

We stop in Mole Creek for a very refined lunch of gourmet pie with chips and salad. Scott had taken off his jacket to "dine", and was getting some very strange looks from the grey-nomad tourists at the other tables - what you've never seen someone eat lunch in full body armour before? We high-tailed it outta there, before things got serious - those zinger frames and walking sticks can damn well hurt let me tell ya.

FuddyLogic · 03-26-2007, 08:16 PM

Leaving Mole Creek unscathed, the road West has some beautifully banked corners which were a hoot to ride.

We turn off to go to the Devil's Gullet, it's about a 14km track going up the side of the Western Bluff to overlook the Fisher River Gorge. The road was as slippery as a butcher's prick, I thought it was just my tyres causing the problem, but keeping the bike straight enough for a few seconds I noticed Scott also struggling for traction. Making it to the top, the view was covered in by low cloud. Took the obligitory tourist shot...

Then headed back down ... this should be fun into corners under brakes

XTC · 03-26-2007, 08:31 PM

Great report so far! I lived in Oatlands Tasmania many many years ago....
Andy.

scottmoto16 · 03-26-2007, 08:33 PM

Not to much to add , just a couple of pic's so far (still uploading

).

Fuddy looking concerned , that we are back at the infamous Black G-String Pub.....

And some quick maintenence at the Great lake hotel.

FuddyLogic · 03-26-2007, 08:39 PM

Back on the black stuff we head for Moina. Along the way we stopped for some photo opportunities...

At the look out, both bikes were swammed with European Wasps, getting back on the bikes took a great deal of nerve and skill. Scott had a great technique, which basically went - put all ya gear on, gingerly reach over with arm fully extended, start the bike (hoping the vibes would scare the wasps away - nope), then do a running jump onto the bike, kick it in gear, then ride off flailing your left arm about

Wish I had some video of it - mind you I employed the same patented Scottmoto "start ya bike in a swam of wasps" Technique too

OK so there's only 3 in the pic, but I tell ya there were hundreds of those killers

Back on the bikes...

Dr AT · 03-26-2007, 08:42 PM

great report guys, I know I promised to post a report on our ride in the same area the month before, the best my limitted tecnophic abilities allow is at
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...=50630&page=52

TouringDave · 03-26-2007, 08:43 PM

Oh man, homesick!

Brilliant pics Fuddy!

scottmoto16 · 03-26-2007, 08:55 PM

Mole creek.

In case you don't know where you are , (or which way to go).....

FuddyLogic · 03-26-2007, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmoto16

Mole creek.

In case you don't know where you are , (or which way to go).....

Gotta love a town that's a "Gateway to..."

FuddyLogic · 03-26-2007, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TouringDave

Oh man, homesick!

Brilliant pics Fuddy!

Cheers Dave... I blasted ahead without Scott, so will go and get some ales so he can catch up.

When ya coming back?

scottmoto16 · 03-26-2007, 09:13 PM

On leaving Mole creek , our next stop was Devils Gullet , up near lake MacKenzie.
Like Fuddy said it was slippery , fucking slippery , like riding on marbles on some of the corners on the lower part of the road.

Some tourists in a small camper van pulled over to the left to let us past , and nearly ran off the road.

Once at the top the veiws were spoiled by the clouds/misty rain.
Pretty cold and windy as well.

Coming back down the hill wasn't as bad as trying to get traction on the way up (I was keeping the pace pretty low tho).

From here on we started to get a bit of rain on and off , with wet roads for pretty much the rest of the day.

Next stop , lookout over Cethana (home of the European wasp

).

03-26-2007, 07:23 PM	#4
FuddyLogic ^OP Blue'n'Orange Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Tasmania, Australia Oddometer: 1,048	Stuff-up #3: Give the bike and gear a quick look over outside the Great Lakes Hotel..hmmm that's not meant to be there... That could have ended in tears Luckily no damage to bike or rider - just a slightly shorter tie-down strap, a good lesson learned, and a bruised ego. A quick snack, then back on the bikes __________________ Fuddy Is it cider o'clock yet? ---------------------------- KTM 640 ADV, Yamaha TTR 250, BMW R1150RT Ride Pics

03-26-2007, 07:48 PM	#5
FuddyLogic ^OP Blue'n'Orange Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Tasmania, Australia Oddometer: 1,048	The weather was starting to look worse, so packed the camera away, and headed North, sorry no pics. The roads gravel around the Great Lake, but heading to Deloraine it turns back to asphalt and coming down off the plateau, has some awesome corners. Before reaching Deloraine, we turn West and head to Meander. Then the back roads to Mole Creek. Western Tiers... Horses... The roads out here follow the paddocks, so there's lots of corners that seem to pop up out of nowhere We stop in Mole Creek for a very refined lunch of gourmet pie with chips and salad. Scott had taken off his jacket to "dine", and was getting some very strange looks from the grey-nomad tourists at the other tables - what you've never seen someone eat lunch in full body armour before? We high-tailed it outta there, before things got serious - those zinger frames and walking sticks can damn well hurt let me tell ya. __________________ Fuddy Is it cider o'clock yet? ---------------------------- KTM 640 ADV, Yamaha TTR 250, BMW R1150RT Ride Pics FuddyLogic screwed with this post 03-26-2007 at 10:21 PM

03-26-2007, 08:16 PM	#6
FuddyLogic ^OP Blue'n'Orange Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Tasmania, Australia Oddometer: 1,048	Leaving Mole Creek unscathed, the road West has some beautifully banked corners which were a hoot to ride. We turn off to go to the Devil's Gullet, it's about a 14km track going up the side of the Western Bluff to overlook the Fisher River Gorge. The road was as slippery as a butcher's prick, I thought it was just my tyres causing the problem, but keeping the bike straight enough for a few seconds I noticed Scott also struggling for traction. Making it to the top, the view was covered in by low cloud. Took the obligitory tourist shot... Then headed back down ... this should be fun into corners under brakes __________________ Fuddy Is it cider o'clock yet? ---------------------------- KTM 640 ADV, Yamaha TTR 250, BMW R1150RT Ride Pics

03-26-2007, 08:33 PM	#8
scottmoto16 Orange Adventurer Joined: Apr 2005 Location: Tasmania Australia Oddometer: 2,003	Not to much to add , just a couple of pic's so far (still uploading). Fuddy looking concerned , that we are back at the infamous Black G-String Pub..... And some quick maintenence at the Great lake hotel. __________________ PARTLY ORANGE

03-26-2007, 08:39 PM	#9
FuddyLogic ^OP Blue'n'Orange Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Tasmania, Australia Oddometer: 1,048	Back on the black stuff we head for Moina. Along the way we stopped for some photo opportunities... At the look out, both bikes were swammed with European Wasps, getting back on the bikes took a great deal of nerve and skill. Scott had a great technique, which basically went - put all ya gear on, gingerly reach over with arm fully extended, start the bike (hoping the vibes would scare the wasps away - nope), then do a running jump onto the bike, kick it in gear, then ride off flailing your left arm about Wish I had some video of it - mind you I employed the same patented Scottmoto "start ya bike in a swam of wasps" Technique too OK so there's only 3 in the pic, but I tell ya there were hundreds of those killers Back on the bikes... __________________ Fuddy Is it cider o'clock yet? ---------------------------- KTM 640 ADV, Yamaha TTR 250, BMW R1150RT Ride Pics FuddyLogic screwed with this post 03-26-2007 at 08:56 PM

03-26-2007, 06:39 PM	#1
FuddyLogic ^OP Blue'n'Orange Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Tasmania, Australia Oddometer: 1,048	Australia, Tasmania, Western Explorer Intro Howdy all, Scottmoto16 and myself have just returned from a 4 day trip up through the centre, and down the West coast of Tasmania. The Western Explorer, has been an ambition of mine to complete since moving to Tasmania 2 years ago. For Scott, it was also one road he'd yet to ride, in this motorcycle paradise called Tasmania. Here's my map of Tassie (I'll show ya mine, if you show me yours) that hangs on my office wall at work. As you can see there's a definite lacking of black lines over on the West - that was about to change... Now armed with a bike that could do this trip justice, Scott on holidays, and me able to wangle a couple of days off work - we set off last Friday on the KTMs. Let the ride begin... __________________ Fuddy Is it cider o'clock yet? ---------------------------- KTM 640 ADV, Yamaha TTR 250, BMW R1150RT Ride Pics

03-26-2007, 06:41 PM	#2
TouringDave Ok Human Let's Ride! Joined: May 2005 Location: Frankston, Vic, Aust. Oddometer: 6,392	Keep 'em coming please Fuddy! __________________ K7 Strom with Chair 84 Kwaka GT750 Cafe Project 84 Kawaka GT750 Outfit Project

03-26-2007, 07:16 PM	#3
FuddyLogic ^OP Blue'n'Orange Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Tasmania, Australia Oddometer: 1,048	Day 1 Hobart-New Norfolk-Black Hills-Gretna-Ouse-Bronte Park-Great Lakes-Meander-Mole Creek-Devil's Gullet-Moina-Wilmont-Moina-Waratah Scott arrived at my place about 8:30am, after a quick coffee and bullshit we were on the road. Now every trip there's gonna be some stuff-ups, my intention is to get them out of the way early, so the rest of the trip is trouble free. Stuff-up #1: Stall the bike in the main street in town - whoops. Stuff-up #2: Leave my bike pump in my other bike jacket - oh well, Scott's got his, and we were trying to keep weight off the bikes Will get to the other stuff-ups as they occured, on with the ride... 10 or so minutes out of New Norfolk, we were on gravel, took a bit to get the feel back again, and get used to the weight on the bikes. Scott was also running a new tyre (Michelin Baja). I decided to run with my D606 that still had some life in it, and leave the new Baja at home - Hmmm would that come back to bite me? Made good time to Ouse, stopped outside the pub, but it wasn't open so no chance to mingle with the locals. How's that rear sprocket looking Scott? Turned off the main drag up to Victoria Valley and back onto gravel, where Scott practiced his sheep mustering skills, clearing the path for me - thanks mate Obligitory bike shots at the first pisstop... Past Lake Echo As you can see by the swell on the lake, the wind was picking up. The forecast was for showers and wind - not the motorcyclist's best friends. Scott pointing in the wrong direction - can't remember why...think he was trying to follow the sun Following Scott... Hmmm...those clouds don't look too good. Great Lakes Hotel... __________________ Fuddy Is it cider o'clock yet? ---------------------------- KTM 640 ADV, Yamaha TTR 250, BMW R1150RT Ride Pics

03-26-2007, 08:31 PM	#7
XTC Taz Joined: May 2005 Location: Waiuku New Zealand Oddometer: 523	Great report so far! I lived in Oatlands Tasmania many many years ago.... Andy.

03-26-2007, 08:42 PM	#10
Dr AT (KTM quack) Joined: Jul 2006 Location: maffra, vic Oddometer: 1,586	great report guys, I know I promised to post a report on our ride in the same area the month before, the best my limitted tecnophic abilities allow is at http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...=50630&page=52

03-26-2007, 08:43 PM	#11
TouringDave Ok Human Let's Ride! Joined: May 2005 Location: Frankston, Vic, Aust. Oddometer: 6,392	Oh man, homesick! Brilliant pics Fuddy! __________________ K7 Strom with Chair 84 Kwaka GT750 Cafe Project 84 Kawaka GT750 Outfit Project

03-26-2007, 08:55 PM	#12
scottmoto16 Orange Adventurer Joined: Apr 2005 Location: Tasmania Australia Oddometer: 2,003	Mole creek. In case you don't know where you are , (or which way to go)..... __________________ PARTLY ORANGE

03-26-2007, 09:13 PM	#15
scottmoto16 Orange Adventurer Joined: Apr 2005 Location: Tasmania Australia Oddometer: 2,003	On leaving Mole creek , our next stop was Devils Gullet , up near lake MacKenzie. Like Fuddy said it was slippery , fucking slippery , like riding on marbles on some of the corners on the lower part of the road. Some tourists in a small camper van pulled over to the left to let us past , and nearly ran off the road. Once at the top the veiws were spoiled by the clouds/misty rain. Pretty cold and windy as well. Coming back down the hill wasn't as bad as trying to get traction on the way up (I was keeping the pace pretty low tho). From here on we started to get a bit of rain on and off , with wet roads for pretty much the rest of the day. Next stop , lookout over Cethana (home of the European wasp). __________________ PARTLY ORANGE

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