Western Australia Riders

[Pukmeister]

Adam- whaddya think of it so far ?

It's early days yet Phil, 5 months in so far. To be honest we aren't that impressed with WA, for us the reality of living down under doesn't match the dream. We were hoping it would be more like NSW/QLD but it seems a lot more backward / inward looking and very isolated. Crime (some violent), Graffiti and drugs use are high here and property prices are just too high due to the mining boom. We are all pretty homesick and I reckon after my 3 years minimum contract is fulfilled we will probably be on the plane back to UK again. I can't say my new job in defence is what I wanted either. We have a good social life here, nice beaches, fantastic weather etc but for us, the pluses dont outweigh the minuses enough to convince us to stay long term, at least we had the balls to come over and give it a try. We will try and make the most of it and see how things improve.

Hope that life is good for you guys over on the East coast. Has the rain finally stopped?

 

[RobBD]

It will grow on you - perhaps at the end of the three years you'll want to stay.......meantime we should catch up for a ride

 

[Zebedee]

It will grow on you - perhaps at the end of the three years you'll want to stay.......meantime we should catch up for a ride

Adam, I know where you are coming from. Most folks seem to hit a low ebb after about six months in the new home, I know I did.

However, after three and a bit years away and one brief return trip, a team of wild horses couldn't drag me back to the UK. As far as I'm concerned NZ is home, and in the short term I need to be hanging on the coat tails of the mining boom here in Perth so that I can get back on my feet financially.

If you can bounce back in the short term I'm sure your outlook will change.

However ... after talking to the accountant, things 'aint quite as rosy as I'd hoped (dreamed), and so it means I won't be riding a GS in the near future.

So the question is, can I still come out to play if I'm riding, dare I say a ... Vstrom

If all goes well I should be getting some wheels in the next week or so, and I'm keen to meet up with some folks for a ride out, chat, beer, etc ...

Adam, Rob ... drop me a PM and we'll see if we can get something organised

Have a good 'un

John

 

[RobBD]

Ooops ..... Sorry John hadn't checked in for a while .... hope your not sitting on your new vstrm in your garage waiting to go for a ride! I will pm you

 

[Zebedee]

Ooops ..... Sorry John hadn't checked in for a while .... hope your not sitting on your new vstrm in your garage waiting to go for a ride! I will pm you

No worries ...

Unfortunately the "garage" is still bereft of bikes, but I've had plenty of other things to keep me more than adequately occupied for the last couple of weeks (months).

Now than things are starting to settle down a touch I can start looking for a bike again and get out and do some exploring.

Changing the subject a bit, I don’t know if it’s come up on your radar, but the long weekend is the start of the Superbike racing at Barbagallo, and I was going to have a run out with one of the guys from work if you fancied a look.

Cheers

John

 

[Bry]

Hey guys, if you're interested the local BMW club meets for Brekkies on sundays around 7:30am and usually either a dirt or road route is taken (dirt usually)

Meets at Farrals in Victoria Park!



Bry

 

[RobBD]

John -very sad no bike but sounds like you will get your fix with the superbikes- I wont get there -thanks for the invite. Are you still living in a hotel or have you found a house?

Bry - yes I haven't got to Farrells at the same time as BMW club yet -its a great breakfast they do.

 

[Zebedee]

Are you still living in a hotel or have you found a house?

Cheers Rob,

I finally moved into a place that's a viable long term option last weekend.

Prior to that I'd been renting a room from a couple of very nice boys in Northbridge. No Space, no parking and way too easy to sit in the pub all evening.

However, I'm now in an old villa in withing spitting distance of the Subi oval.

Plenty of space for a scoot, I just need to find one.

Hey guys, if you're interested the local BMW club meets for Brekkies on sundays around 7:30am

Bry,

As I said, I'm into a decent sort of place now, so as soon as I get a scoot I'll be there.

Hopefully I'll see you guys soon

John

 

[RobBD]

Ah ... John, Subi is nice you must be near my daughter- she's there somewhere -rides a yellow Hyosung 250 if you she her flash by.
And what sort of scoot would you be aiming for?

 

[Zebedee]

- rides a yellow Hyosung 250 if you she her flash by.

And what sort of scoot would you be aiming for?

Them Hyosung things seem to be everywhere over here, not that it matters ‘cos when I'm on a bike I tend to be sociable and I’ll wave at most folks ...

Scoot ... first choice would be a GS 1100 or an airhead. Unfortunately the funds don’t stretch to a newer GS at the moment (well not a proper "R" one ).

Other than that I’d consider pretty much anything in the dual sport kind of range.

Worst case scenario, if the lack of a bike really starts getting to me, would be to consider shipping the 1150 across from NZ, but at this stage I'm not sure how long I'm going to be in this neck of the woods.

We shall see ...

 

[Pukmeister]

Many apologies guys, missed the replies on this thread. Sadly we had to go back to UK as my dad passed away suddenly. After 2 weeks in UK for the funeral we have decided we will see out my contract then go back to UK in 2010 as there is so much we miss, but gonna enjoy the different culture and leisure opportunities that Aus has to offer us in the meantime.

I have been on training courses lately and will be off to sea in July so kinda busy, but if anyone fancies a rideout on a weekend drop me a PM and I'll get back to you. Can't do evening rides due to the early winter evenings and the missus having a full time job so getting home late (I cook the meals and do the childcare until she gets in).

 

[RobBD]

I am doing a ride out to the WA/SA border about 18/19th of May to meet up with a couple of guys who are doing a charity ride around the borders of South Australia. I am going out via Hyden, then through to Norseman and out to Eucla. I will stay overnight and assuming they are on track time wise, wave them on their way then I will start heading back. For the return I will head back along the Eyre Highway to Balladonia and then head south west down a dirt track (if I can find it) to Esperance and wander back to Perth. If anyone is keen to come let me know.

 

[Zebedee]

Adam,

Sorry to hear about your loss, but I'm pleased that you have decided to see out your contract.

I know from personal experience that living on the other side of the planet suits some of us poms and not others. For me, it's the leisure opportunities that make this place a winner, but I understand that it's different strokes for different folks.

Rob / Bry ... I'm on the scrounge (Adam, I'd include you, but I think you are a bit far South to help out).

Do either of you know of anybody with a trailer I could borrow at the weekend?

I went mad last night and bought a commute scoot off the BMW WA website, and need a trailer to get it from Willetton to West Leederville so that I can start sorting out some of the basics.

Obviously now that I'm back in the BMW fold (unfortunately not a GS) I'll be signing with the BMW WA club over the next couple of days, 'cos "baby" needs a bit of TLC and I intend to take advantage of the local knowledge within the club.

Also once she's back up and running, I'll try and join you guys for the sunday runs when I can.

Have a good 'un

John

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

Many apologies guys, missed the replies on this thread. Sadly we had to go back to UK as my dad passed away suddenly. After 2 weeks in UK for the funeral we have decided we will see out my contract then go back to UK in 2010 as there is so much we miss, but gonna enjoy the different culture and leisure opportunities that Aus has to offer us in the meantime.

I have been on training courses lately and will be off to sea in July so kinda busy, but if anyone fancies a rideout on a weekend drop me a PM and I'll get back to you. Can't do evening rides due to the early winter evenings and the missus having a full time job so getting home late (I cook the meals and do the childcare until she gets in).

sorry to hear that Adam, but you did choose the worst place to live (WA) - you should try it out over on the civilised side

alos sorry about your old man too - its a journey i'm dreading too - but hopefully not in the near future

 

[Bry]

Sorry Zebedee, I haven't got a trailer, what did you buy?

Turn up and intro yourself at the brekkys, at least then you can get in with the regulars!
See you out there...

Bry

 

[Zebedee]

No worries Bry,

One of the locals has got a ute and some spare time on Saturday, so I think it's all good to go.

What did I get? ... don't laugh ... please ... it's a humble little R65, but I found this thread on Adv and it's started giving me ideas already.

See you out there.

John

 

[Bry]

That's cool...

I think the forks would be the stiffest part of the whole setup!

Bry

 

[RobBD]

I have a ute and van and will be available on the weekend if you still need a lift for your sick(?) new toy. Just pm me if you want.
Glad you've got wheels!

 

[Zebedee]

I have a ute ...

Thanks for the offer Rob, but one of the other guys from BMW WA is going to give me a hand to relocate the awesome beast on Saturday morning.

I just hope that the rest of the guy's in the club don't get too jealous when they see my new bling-tastic scoot ...

 

[Pukmeister]

sorry to hear that Adam, but you did choose the worst place to live (WA) - you should try it out over on the civilised side

alos sorry about your old man too - its a journey i'm dreading too - but hopefully not in the near future

Unfortunately Phil I had no choice, I was sent to WA under my contract. I know it is more lively on the Eastern side, now we have lived here we realise it isn't what we are after long-term but at least we had the guts to try something different in life for a few years. As Zebedee says it isn't for everyone and my belief is that if you don't try it, you'll never know and end up regretting an opportunity missed. My wife and kids can't wait to go back so it's pretty much decided already after less than 8 months that we will honour my contract then return to whatevers left of UK. I am getting my Aussie citizenship soon due to serving in the Aussie Navy so we always have a return option for the future should the UK finally collapse under its own debt.

I guess the majority of us suffer a loss in the family at some point in our lives, personally I was lucky to be there at the end for mum and dad when the worst happened thanks to getting home just in time.

I wouldn't wish it on anybody.