Just caught up with the whole adventure 
3 years to retirement.. sounds like my kind of trip
Thanks for sharing it with us 
3 years to retirement.. sounds like my kind of trip
Thanks for sharing it with us 
Australia it is then....!6th November 2008
- Thread starter BaldBaBoon
- Start date
BaldBaBoon
Registered user
Flying Snakes
I think that the wildlife of Australia has taken a shine to me, as animal incident number four happened yesterday.
Following behind a double trailer landtrain ( and not paying 100% attention im afraid to say ) I forgot some advice about keeping a distance back in case the landtrain hits some roadkill and you end up getting an exploded cow thrown at you.
The landtrain clips something laying on the road with its rear axle and rather than squashing it, the object is flung up and back towards me........heading straight at me at eye-level and slightly to my left side.
Said object turns out to be a snake, a metre long,brownish/bronzy colour and still alive.......time slowed down in a " life flashing before eyes moment " and maybe it was the adrenaline distorting the memory to something fanciful and untrue, but I swear both the snake and I were staring in horror at each other and screaming in fear as we passed within inches.
I think that the wildlife of Australia has taken a shine to me, as animal incident number four happened yesterday.
Following behind a double trailer landtrain ( and not paying 100% attention im afraid to say ) I forgot some advice about keeping a distance back in case the landtrain hits some roadkill and you end up getting an exploded cow thrown at you.
The landtrain clips something laying on the road with its rear axle and rather than squashing it, the object is flung up and back towards me........heading straight at me at eye-level and slightly to my left side.
Said object turns out to be a snake, a metre long,brownish/bronzy colour and still alive.......time slowed down in a " life flashing before eyes moment " and maybe it was the adrenaline distorting the memory to something fanciful and untrue, but I swear both the snake and I were staring in horror at each other and screaming in fear as we passed within inches.
BaldBaBoon
Registered user
Scuba terror
Well I had to try Scuba as it was so cheap.
Doing the snorkelling was pretty damm impressive and enjoyable, may have to try it some more when I get back home methinks.
However, as soon as I had to put the weights and tank/vest on I started to feel a little flustered and started to flap.......got in the pool and really started to panic as I discovered that I had great problems with water getting down my nose when using the breathing apparatus, not a good thing.
Got the chance to try it out in open water and I didnt even make it further than 30 metres from shore....the combination of the current, the weight of the gear ( even If i was floating with the bouyancy vest ) and the restriction on your senses...sight/hearing etc and I went into a full on panic.First time in my life that something caused that reaction,seems like Scuba is not for me.....but you dont know if you dont try.
Well I had to try Scuba as it was so cheap.
Doing the snorkelling was pretty damm impressive and enjoyable, may have to try it some more when I get back home methinks.
However, as soon as I had to put the weights and tank/vest on I started to feel a little flustered and started to flap.......got in the pool and really started to panic as I discovered that I had great problems with water getting down my nose when using the breathing apparatus, not a good thing.
Got the chance to try it out in open water and I didnt even make it further than 30 metres from shore....the combination of the current, the weight of the gear ( even If i was floating with the bouyancy vest ) and the restriction on your senses...sight/hearing etc and I went into a full on panic.First time in my life that something caused that reaction,seems like Scuba is not for me.....but you dont know if you dont try.
RobBD
Guest
Re : scuba terror. Andy,
Try snorkling while you are over on the Gt Barrier Reef - less terror more sense of being able to stick your head in the air when you want and you still get to see another amazing world.
I only snorkle now because my ears always give me buggery when I scuba dive - just have to pick the spots where I go to make sure its shallow enough but its still awesome to be able to peer into another world.
Where are you on the East coast?
As for the flying snake.... avoid at all costs I would recommend because after being clipped by a roadtrain the snake would probably not be in the best of humour and would start to bite everything in site. (thats why they put armor in motorbike clothing in Australia, it's not to save you when you kiss gravel at all
)
Try snorkling while you are over on the Gt Barrier Reef - less terror more sense of being able to stick your head in the air when you want and you still get to see another amazing world.
I only snorkle now because my ears always give me buggery when I scuba dive - just have to pick the spots where I go to make sure its shallow enough but its still awesome to be able to peer into another world.
Where are you on the East coast?
As for the flying snake.... avoid at all costs I would recommend because after being clipped by a roadtrain the snake would probably not be in the best of humour and would start to bite everything in site. (thats why they put armor in motorbike clothing in Australia, it's not to save you when you kiss gravel at all
)RobBD
Guest
OOps sorry Andy missed that bit about you enjoying snorkling. It is cool huh!
Tarmac - will try to find something for you and maybe Andy will be over here by then.
Tarmac - will try to find something for you and maybe Andy will be over here by then.
BaldBaBoon
Registered user
Location Location
RobBD
At the present moment Im relaxing at the YHA in Sidney, but just for the night.....I will look at at the map in the morning and see what place grabs my eye.Later Im heading off to a little place South-West-ish of Canberra called MITTA MITTA.....there is a Horizons Unlimited meeting there on the 13th or 15th...best I check tonight.
Should be a long weekend spent there camping with the Horizons boys and girls and then Im at a spare end, might go back up the coast and look at all the places I scooted past to get to Mitta Mitta on time.Or I might visit a naturist beach that i heard about.....however my lilly white skin burns within 30 minutes ( thats the bits that are used to the sun ) so that might be a short visit.
RobBD
At the present moment Im relaxing at the YHA in Sidney, but just for the night.....I will look at at the map in the morning and see what place grabs my eye.Later Im heading off to a little place South-West-ish of Canberra called MITTA MITTA.....there is a Horizons Unlimited meeting there on the 13th or 15th...best I check tonight.
Should be a long weekend spent there camping with the Horizons boys and girls and then Im at a spare end, might go back up the coast and look at all the places I scooted past to get to Mitta Mitta on time.Or I might visit a naturist beach that i heard about.....however my lilly white skin burns within 30 minutes ( thats the bits that are used to the sun ) so that might be a short visit.
RobBD
Guest
My advice to a lilly-white pom would be keep it out of the sun lad - last thing you want is those un-ozone depleted rays of burning sun turning what was happy being white to an unhappy burning glowing red.
Plus don't scare the locals!
Plus don't scare the locals!
BaldBaBoon
Registered user
.
Just arrived in a town called Bega today, after following the coast down as best as I could.The roads are impressive and the veiws are better, with each little diversion providing a more scenic sweep of beach or wave lashed rocks than the last
On the minus side, I am really freezing cold during the day ad at night its the first time that I have had to break out my sleeping bag since being here.......I must be too used to all the Darwin/Red Centre weather.
Second Minus is the state of the car drivers since I Hit Brisbane, Totally motorcycle unaware.....tailgaiting within a few feet....complete swerving across roads to get a missed exit etc etc.As soon as I hit the east coast it was an immediate and obvious drop in skills compared to what the drivers have been like in the outback.??
Today I will be looking at doing some of the mountain roads ( Snowy Mountain Highway ) and having a general photo grabbing and scenic ride for the next few days.....then into Canberra at some point.
Just arrived in a town called Bega today, after following the coast down as best as I could.The roads are impressive and the veiws are better, with each little diversion providing a more scenic sweep of beach or wave lashed rocks than the last
On the minus side, I am really freezing cold during the day ad at night its the first time that I have had to break out my sleeping bag since being here.......I must be too used to all the Darwin/Red Centre weather.
Second Minus is the state of the car drivers since I Hit Brisbane, Totally motorcycle unaware.....tailgaiting within a few feet....complete swerving across roads to get a missed exit etc etc.As soon as I hit the east coast it was an immediate and obvious drop in skills compared to what the drivers have been like in the outback.??
Today I will be looking at doing some of the mountain roads ( Snowy Mountain Highway ) and having a general photo grabbing and scenic ride for the next few days.....then into Canberra at some point.
lkyphl
Registered user
The road from Tathra (just east of Bega) up to Bermagui has some excellent corners, especially if one, er, disregards the speed limit ....
There's a take-away fish 'n chip shop in Bermagui, opposite a motel near the port which serves the best battered fish I've ever eaten. The scallops aren't bad, either !
It has a little window overlooking a small car park where one orders and collects ; worth a try if you're up that way,
The road from (just south of) Pambula through Wyndham and up to Bombala is well worth doing, perhaps turning south at Bombala, heading down the Cann Valley hwy and returning to the coast via the Imlay road,
Phil
There's a take-away fish 'n chip shop in Bermagui, opposite a motel near the port which serves the best battered fish I've ever eaten. The scallops aren't bad, either !
It has a little window overlooking a small car park where one orders and collects ; worth a try if you're up that way,
The road from (just south of) Pambula through Wyndham and up to Bombala is well worth doing, perhaps turning south at Bombala, heading down the Cann Valley hwy and returning to the coast via the Imlay road,
Phil
Last edited:
lkyphl
Registered user
And here are a few more suggestions ....
Canberra - boring road to Cooma, then down to Bombala.
From here, take the road through Delegate and Bonang down to Orbost ; this road has over 100 kms of continuous corners, and you'll need to switch off the concentration for a while in Orbost before heading up to Buchan, and then up the very scenic, mostly unsealed Barry Way (good camping along here) to Jindabyne.
From here I'd head west up past Thredbo and dead horse gap towards Khancoban and Corryong. Along the way there's excellent camping at Leatherbarrel Creek (there's a nice little spot below the road), a large open area (with toilets) at Tom Groggin rest area, or, even better IMO at Geehi Hut rest area (toilets), where you can camp right next to the river. In the morning, face away from the river and you'll see any number of kangaroos out on the plain.
From here I'd continue to Khancoban (the glass-fronted large shop in the "town centre" serves good food), and on towards Corryong for "about 5kms", and turn right to Cabramurra (Australia's highest town), where the shop in the centre of town not only sells excellent egg & bacon sangers, but they have a display of some very good B&W photos taken during the construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric scheme.
Heading out of Cabramurra, turn left at the town's edge and travel "about 5kms" to a T junction, turning left towards Tumbarumba. It's worth stopping at the Tumut 2 tunnel to hear the echo ! After perhaps 60kms you'll reach another T intersection, with the right heading to Tumbarumba, but I'd turn left towards Corryong. Along the way there's a new lookout for the Silver Cloud, a plane which crashed in the mountains opposite. Carry on through Tooma and across to Tintaldra, west through Walwa, and across the bridge to Jingellic, where there's a good free campsite next to the pub.
Back across the bridge to the river road and turn right towards Wodonga for about 60kms, turn left to Granya and across the gap to the Murray Valley Hwy, right to Tallangatta where there's a "motorcycle friendly" pub in the main street. The local police are fairly enthusiastic about their jobs .... About 500 metres west of town is a road up to the lookout ; watch out for gravel on the first left-hander which turns behind the house! From here it's a short ride to Mitta and the HU meeting.
From Mitta I'd head south towards Omeo, turning right after Glen Wills and across the partly sealed road to Falls Creek, down the great bit of road to Mt. Beauty, turning left at the town's northern end and across the Tawonga gap road to a T intersection, Bright to the right, but if you wanted to camp, left to Harrietville and a campground at the town's southern end with a lovely little creek. IMO the northern pub (on a corner) has the better meals.
If you're heading towards Melbourne, ride up through Bright, up to Myrtleford and turn left in the centre of town towards Cheshunt and Whitfield. This'll take you past Lake Buffalo, and after a 40 zone in the middle of nowhere, the road turns right, becomes unsealed and leads to Whitfield. You can camp in the uninspiring campground here (the food service at the pub is deplorable), but better to ride north towards Wang and stay in an excellent little campground in Moyhu, right next to a pub which serves excellent meals. Between Whitfield and Moyhu is La Cantina winery, where Gino makes excellent well priced preservative-free wines.
Back to Whitfield, take the turnoff to Mansfield, stopping at Power's Lookout on the way. The short, slightly strenuous return walk from the lower lookout is well worth it for the view.
This is obviously a very circuitous route, but it takes in not only great scenery, but some of the best motorcycling roads in south-east Australia. After all, it's the journey, not the destination !
If it's wet in Melbourne, look out for the tram lines !
I'll be down in Tassie from the 13th to the 22nd, but if you need a "guide" for a ride down the Great Ocean Road (or anywhere else), give me a call on 9817 2009
Safe riding,
Phil
Canberra - boring road to Cooma, then down to Bombala.
From here, take the road through Delegate and Bonang down to Orbost ; this road has over 100 kms of continuous corners, and you'll need to switch off the concentration for a while in Orbost before heading up to Buchan, and then up the very scenic, mostly unsealed Barry Way (good camping along here) to Jindabyne.
From here I'd head west up past Thredbo and dead horse gap towards Khancoban and Corryong. Along the way there's excellent camping at Leatherbarrel Creek (there's a nice little spot below the road), a large open area (with toilets) at Tom Groggin rest area, or, even better IMO at Geehi Hut rest area (toilets), where you can camp right next to the river. In the morning, face away from the river and you'll see any number of kangaroos out on the plain.
From here I'd continue to Khancoban (the glass-fronted large shop in the "town centre" serves good food), and on towards Corryong for "about 5kms", and turn right to Cabramurra (Australia's highest town), where the shop in the centre of town not only sells excellent egg & bacon sangers, but they have a display of some very good B&W photos taken during the construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric scheme.
Heading out of Cabramurra, turn left at the town's edge and travel "about 5kms" to a T junction, turning left towards Tumbarumba. It's worth stopping at the Tumut 2 tunnel to hear the echo ! After perhaps 60kms you'll reach another T intersection, with the right heading to Tumbarumba, but I'd turn left towards Corryong. Along the way there's a new lookout for the Silver Cloud, a plane which crashed in the mountains opposite. Carry on through Tooma and across to Tintaldra, west through Walwa, and across the bridge to Jingellic, where there's a good free campsite next to the pub.
Back across the bridge to the river road and turn right towards Wodonga for about 60kms, turn left to Granya and across the gap to the Murray Valley Hwy, right to Tallangatta where there's a "motorcycle friendly" pub in the main street. The local police are fairly enthusiastic about their jobs .... About 500 metres west of town is a road up to the lookout ; watch out for gravel on the first left-hander which turns behind the house! From here it's a short ride to Mitta and the HU meeting.
From Mitta I'd head south towards Omeo, turning right after Glen Wills and across the partly sealed road to Falls Creek, down the great bit of road to Mt. Beauty, turning left at the town's northern end and across the Tawonga gap road to a T intersection, Bright to the right, but if you wanted to camp, left to Harrietville and a campground at the town's southern end with a lovely little creek. IMO the northern pub (on a corner) has the better meals.
If you're heading towards Melbourne, ride up through Bright, up to Myrtleford and turn left in the centre of town towards Cheshunt and Whitfield. This'll take you past Lake Buffalo, and after a 40 zone in the middle of nowhere, the road turns right, becomes unsealed and leads to Whitfield. You can camp in the uninspiring campground here (the food service at the pub is deplorable), but better to ride north towards Wang and stay in an excellent little campground in Moyhu, right next to a pub which serves excellent meals. Between Whitfield and Moyhu is La Cantina winery, where Gino makes excellent well priced preservative-free wines.
Back to Whitfield, take the turnoff to Mansfield, stopping at Power's Lookout on the way. The short, slightly strenuous return walk from the lower lookout is well worth it for the view.
This is obviously a very circuitous route, but it takes in not only great scenery, but some of the best motorcycling roads in south-east Australia. After all, it's the journey, not the destination !
If it's wet in Melbourne, look out for the tram lines !
I'll be down in Tassie from the 13th to the 22nd, but if you need a "guide" for a ride down the Great Ocean Road (or anywhere else), give me a call on 9817 2009
Safe riding,
Phil
BaldBaBoon
Registered user
Thankyou Phil for the effort into guiding on some of those routes.
Been doing a few this weekend.
Took the Alpine Way road leading out of a town called Cooma,Lots of sweeping/swooping roads in what I would say looks like the terrain in the first Mad Max film....lots of grassy plains,rocks and isolated towns ( bloody cold as well today ).This Led into the Kosciuszko national park where the tight corners and steep hills began after leaving the Ski resort town of Threbo which has been having a country and western festival this weekend.
Got a photo of me at the highest point in central Australia " Dead Horse Gap " 1580 m or 5000 some-odd feet.Then it was a big loop around through Khancoban/Carbramurra ( highest town 1400m )Kiandra then headed backtowards Cooma.......night caught up with me so I located a rest stop and naughtily camped out for the night.Previously bought two camoflagued groundsheets for the job.
Next day I saw a shedload of bikes going down a certain road,asked two old fellas what was going on.....and got invited onto a rally that was camping out in the wilds.So it was follow the Barry way, which led into some stunning mountain hugging gravel/sand tracks for a trek 40km into the forest.Everyone setup next to a river and the wine/beer/grog/moonshine was on flow.
Absolute top night, a few fires going and the mixture of people was as varied as the bikes which included a Yamaha GTS,a Vellocette, several BMWr 60 and 80s and the rest was just about every bike running including a large amount of BMWR GS...several which were towing off-road trailers.
Morning was a cold swim in the creek and drinking water straight from the mountain fed river and a huge breakfast, Then it was straight to Canberra by using as many off-road national park roads as possible ( 80% )while looking at what routes for the next few days into the mountains.
Photos tommorrow.
Been doing a few this weekend.
Took the Alpine Way road leading out of a town called Cooma,Lots of sweeping/swooping roads in what I would say looks like the terrain in the first Mad Max film....lots of grassy plains,rocks and isolated towns ( bloody cold as well today ).This Led into the Kosciuszko national park where the tight corners and steep hills began after leaving the Ski resort town of Threbo which has been having a country and western festival this weekend.
Got a photo of me at the highest point in central Australia " Dead Horse Gap " 1580 m or 5000 some-odd feet.Then it was a big loop around through Khancoban/Carbramurra ( highest town 1400m )Kiandra then headed backtowards Cooma.......night caught up with me so I located a rest stop and naughtily camped out for the night.Previously bought two camoflagued groundsheets for the job.
Next day I saw a shedload of bikes going down a certain road,asked two old fellas what was going on.....and got invited onto a rally that was camping out in the wilds.So it was follow the Barry way, which led into some stunning mountain hugging gravel/sand tracks for a trek 40km into the forest.Everyone setup next to a river and the wine/beer/grog/moonshine was on flow.
Absolute top night, a few fires going and the mixture of people was as varied as the bikes which included a Yamaha GTS,a Vellocette, several BMWr 60 and 80s and the rest was just about every bike running including a large amount of BMWR GS...several which were towing off-road trailers.
Morning was a cold swim in the creek and drinking water straight from the mountain fed river and a huge breakfast, Then it was straight to Canberra by using as many off-road national park roads as possible ( 80% )while looking at what routes for the next few days into the mountains.
Photos tommorrow.
BaldBaBoon
Registered user
quick post
Just to let you know Im still up and about, Lots of of-road/mountains and a Horizons unlimited weekend.
Will post more in depth when I can find a internet connection that doesnt cost a ridiculous amount.
Just to let you know Im still up and about, Lots of of-road/mountains and a Horizons unlimited weekend.
Will post more in depth when I can find a internet connection that doesnt cost a ridiculous amount.
Jaqhama
Guest
Good onya cobber
Glad you're enjoying your tour around Oz. Andy.
Some of the OZ ADV blokes were at the HU meeting.
Including a guy from Ozriderz with a BMW R100 Tourer.
He had his daughter with him as pillion.
Future is his forum name.
Where to now then?
If you're coming back to Sydney give us a yell and I'll see if I can manage a day taking you up into the Blue Mtns...off the tourist route.
Cheers: Jaq.
Glad you're enjoying your tour around Oz. Andy.
Some of the OZ ADV blokes were at the HU meeting.
Including a guy from Ozriderz with a BMW R100 Tourer.
He had his daughter with him as pillion.
Future is his forum name.
Where to now then?
If you're coming back to Sydney give us a yell and I'll see if I can manage a day taking you up into the Blue Mtns...off the tourist route.
Cheers: Jaq.
BaldBaBoon
Registered user
Cheers Jaq,Im in the Blue Mountains at the moment.....place called Katoomba I think.
Give you a shout.
Give you a shout.
BaldBaBoon
Registered user
Living Rough
Been a busy little tosser over the past two weeks....been lagging behind with my trip reports I have.For the last two weeks ( roughly ) I have been exploring the Blue Mountains and the mountains south of Canberra,and to put it mildly.....they are stunning.
The temperature is back to a normal cooler and comfortable setting that a Pom is used to,about 16 to 20 during the days at altitude and down to almost freezing at night.The air is just so fresh and clean with the scent of eucalyptus oil around the Blue mountains it makes the smell everywhere else seem tainted.Been basically living in my tent in national parks or rest stops and also camped up at a bike rally in the middle of nowhere and spent 4 nights camped at the Horizons Unlimited event.
The pure quiet and isolation when you find a good spot is incredible with nothing but the exotic screeches and calls of the local birds to keep you company.
Been a busy little tosser over the past two weeks....been lagging behind with my trip reports I have.For the last two weeks ( roughly ) I have been exploring the Blue Mountains and the mountains south of Canberra,and to put it mildly.....they are stunning.
The temperature is back to a normal cooler and comfortable setting that a Pom is used to,about 16 to 20 during the days at altitude and down to almost freezing at night.The air is just so fresh and clean with the scent of eucalyptus oil around the Blue mountains it makes the smell everywhere else seem tainted.Been basically living in my tent in national parks or rest stops and also camped up at a bike rally in the middle of nowhere and spent 4 nights camped at the Horizons Unlimited event.
The pure quiet and isolation when you find a good spot is incredible with nothing but the exotic screeches and calls of the local birds to keep you company.
Attachments
BaldBaBoon
Registered user
BaldBaBoon
Registered user
BaldBaBoon
Registered user
Big Lee
Registered user
More cracking pics Andy 
I like the one with Steve Irwin and family, thats a good tribute to the guy
I like the one with Steve Irwin and family, thats a good tribute to the guy
BaldBaBoon
Registered user
Blue Mountains
As I am on a bit of a roll at the moment,I will post these last photos just to keep up to date.
As mentioned before,the Blue mountains got their name due to the haze of evaporated eucalyptus oil hanging in the air over them.Bracing temperature in the mornings that gradually gains heat,means the mist increases with it.....a lovely smell from the oil if you like,or like living death if you hate it.
Ive spoilt myself for last night and tonight by staying at a YHA in Katoomba,now these are nothing like a YMCA that involves tacky 70's/80's songs sung by men of dubious orientation wearing over-tight builders/indians/cowboys and bikers clothes.....rather it is a exceptionally well run and very clean hostel.Even got up morning pre-dawn to stroll to the local scenic lookout and just sit back and soak in the perfect chilly air and watch the sun rising.......christ...if this keeps up I might degenerate to reading poetry!
As I am on a bit of a roll at the moment,I will post these last photos just to keep up to date.
As mentioned before,the Blue mountains got their name due to the haze of evaporated eucalyptus oil hanging in the air over them.Bracing temperature in the mornings that gradually gains heat,means the mist increases with it.....a lovely smell from the oil if you like,or like living death if you hate it.
Ive spoilt myself for last night and tonight by staying at a YHA in Katoomba,now these are nothing like a YMCA that involves tacky 70's/80's songs sung by men of dubious orientation wearing over-tight builders/indians/cowboys and bikers clothes.....rather it is a exceptionally well run and very clean hostel.Even got up morning pre-dawn to stroll to the local scenic lookout and just sit back and soak in the perfect chilly air and watch the sun rising.......christ...if this keeps up I might degenerate to reading poetry!
Attachments
Similar threads
