"Zig Zagging the Sth Aussie Tothill Ranges along a Dotted Line"

[masterbrewer]

Originally Posted by masterbrewer

Following on from here: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showp...postcount=5651 & http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=758239

I'm finally hoping to experience the "vibes" of the Port Henry Arms Hotel where .....

" the usual drunken mob of bullockies also known as "early adventure riders" were playing cards, drinking, swearing, fighting. So little were they trusted, that the landlord or landlady held the nobbler in one hand while they take money with the other! ... So much is the publican in the hands of these ruffians that they insist upon his rising at any hour of the night and satisfying their insatiable desire for drink. They were known, as a notoriously hard living, hard drinking and hard wenching group. They cussed, drank and womanised and in that order"

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm ......................................... sounds like another annual event I know.

I can't wait any longer ........ I'm planning my ride to follow some dots on a map.



I'm off now to find some dotted lines on a track in real life

Well, when we started out in unusually pouring rain for a summer ride ............................................... I couldn't find one damn Dot in all the mud, clay & slush on any tracks

So we changed tactics & DRTrev & BernieS guided us east towards Morgan & believe it or not, into a dust bowl and strong 40kph cross winds.

Yet another Tothill Ranges ride deferred.
The closest we got to the Tothill Ranges was the Totness Pub



Cheers

[masterbrewer]

BernieS led the wet way outa Gawler with clear instructions to avoid any clay/mud/water or the like

However a final shortcut, used many a time in the past, was all clay & wasn't long before anyone with a low guard was stopped in their tracks, especially DaveP (BMW) & myself.





Clearing the debris from under the front guards we were soon on our way & over the ranges into Eudunda struggling with 40kph+ cross winds which made cornering challenging.













After such a wet start, morning tea was in the believe it or not, dust bowl of the Eudunda servo



Heading east along the stock route we were ever conscious of the wombat hazzads





1WD leaving his avoiding tactics rather late







DaveP just pole vaulted straight over without any hesitation, sending timber splinters in the cameraman's direction









We later realised that the first wombat hole paled into insignificance with this underground bike park entrance



Regrouping to compare escapes

[masterbrewer]

After clearing the wombat minefield we could relax for a while high tailing towards Morgan after someone mentioned lunch







A brisk pace had to be maintained to avoid being caught by your own dust









Kissin' cousins



Did someone mentioned a beer & food? .............................. "I hope they take a senior's card"





Final regroup before the dash home.



Anyone else with photos, stories etc, please feel free to add.

After such a dismal start, the day was well worth the effort, thanks for the company guys

Great ride ............. great mates.

Special thanks to Sundowner for Sweeping

Cheers

[Aussie Trev]

Well done MB, here's my additions.....


Firstly, the rain was persistent around 0800 and thoughts of the clay up around Clare caused us to reconsider our day. Bernie promised that he could get us to Eudunda without mud, so we laid our faith in him.





The roads were slightly wet....





As MB stated, Bernie picked the wrong track and caused some of the lower front fender guys some trouble...... (it was raining during the photoshoot)







The sun started to break through and by the time we made it to Eudunda, you wouldn't have kown it had been raining.

[Aussie Trev]

Made it down to Mallee Rd and the boys let loose. Big Jim on his XR650R made a mockery of the tricky track and I think he might have just sailed over any wombat holes....of which there were many and deep too.



Everyone else had a ball on that one...

[PeasantFarmer]

Good stuff.

Next time perhaps.

[Aussie Trev]

Morgan for lunch and the pub did alright......

time to dry out some bits and pieces.....




After lunch was a sprint back to Eudunda but MB and some of the crew took a left to take in some other sights...

The rest of us headed along the straighest possible way back.....







Then 1WD starts to tell us about the giant kangaroo, dressed in a black oil skin which jumped out of a tree and tried to eat him.....how big was it Aaron??



Quick diversion to a little ole track out from Nuri and Big Jim was at it....



What started out as a crap day ended up being one of the best....enjoyed everyone's company again....

Thanks to Sundowner for being sweep all day (will catch up for the fluro jacket Rich) and a couple of new riders with us who seemed to have a ball.

cheers all.....

[kipo]

Originally Posted by masterbrewer

Great report MB as always. What's going on with the Big Fella in this picture? Having a heart attack or reaching for his wallet or both at the same time because it's his shout.

[Aussie Trev]

Originally Posted by kipo

Great report MB as always. What's going on with the Big Fella in this picture? Having a heart attack or reaching for his wallet or both at the same time because it's his shout.

Neither, just saw a photo opportunity, but her boyfriend was watching me!!!!

[Arek Kontrol]

Hmm - did I miss the call or e-mail about riding today?


MB , thanks again for next great adventure report.

[LC4nicator]

Well done fellas on the pics & report.
Good to see the day turned out well, weather wise & injury free.
Mud & Low guards has me a bit worried for the future though!

[icebergstu]

Great Pix and looks like a fantastic ride.

Con and I will be joining you a lot more soon. (dunno if thats a good or bad thing...)

Stu

[TerryK]

Good report MB & Trev, gee big Jim makes that XR650 look like a 200

Cheers Terry

[Aussie Trev]

Originally Posted by LC4nicator

Well done fellas on the pics & report.
Good to see the day turned out well, weather wise & injury free.
Mud & Low guards has me a bit worried for the future though!

Originally Posted by icebergstu

Great Pix and looks like a fantastic ride.

Con and I will be joining you a lot more soon. (dunno if thats a good or bad thing...)

Stu

Originally Posted by TerryK

Good report MB & Trev, gee big Jim makes that XR650 look like a 200

Cheers Terry

Looking forward to it Con/Stu....Con - high guard is a must.

Big Jim is 6'7" and 140 kgs Tel, he makes any bike look like a postie....and rides like the wind in all conditions...both trail and road.

We're getting smarter and building up a fair knowledge of which areas and roads are still rideable after heavy rain...I think this track provides great options in adverse conditions.

PS. I also think that this Tenere and I are getting along quite nicely..

[Sol Erzenberg]

Great report fellas, looked like you all had a top day out regardless of the conditions at the start of the day.

Wished I could have joined you as I really wanted to try out my new Dunlop D908RR rear tyre on some tracks, however was still busy working on our investment property..

Catch you on the next ride for sure.

Cheers, Sol..