Cape to Cape..(probably go right ‘round…)….Again…

[Huzo]

Thank you to all you guys.
We should keep an eye on Tris. I reckon we should cajole him into going to John o Groats.

[Glawster]

Well done Peter!  A very entertaining and thought provoking thread.  For those of us who think we've done a long trip riding from UK to Italy, the relative size of Australia is mind boggling. 
Cheers,
Derek

Capture by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

[Huzo]

Well done Peter!  A very entertaining and thought provoking thread.  For those of us who think we've done a long trip riding from UK to Italy, the relative size of Australia is mind boggling. 
Cheers,
Derek

Capture by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

Thank you Derek.
I still remember this day


A great dinner and beaut sleep in your lovely home....(Hi to the puppies....)
PS
Jeez that red bag gets around..!

[Glawster]

Yes - nice little ride out Peter.  I don't suppose you saw many villages like this in the Northern Territories...

20190624_151730 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

[Huzo]

No mate..
Not a lot....

[elrealistico]

Great story! I see you cleaned her up for her close-up after arriving home :)  One day when I get all these kids and animals out of my AOR I aspire to do such a trip, I'll settle for FL-ME-WA-CA-FL

[Huzo]

Great story! I see you cleaned her up for her close-up after arriving home :)  One day when I get all these kids and animals out of my AOR I aspire to do such a trip, I'll settle for FL-ME-WA-CA-FL

Funny you say that, I haven’t put a rag on it yet...But I will when some parts arrive.

[Huzo]

Forgot this one.

[Huzo]

So...
Concluding impressions.

Before I left on this trip, I was swamped by well wishes and support regarding the upcoming events. Even the comments like “utter lunacy” and “fantastic madness”, were delivered tongue in cheek and dripping with implied support, this does not go unwelcomed and as the date draws near, these gestures of support loom large on the near horizon and are a comfort at the times when self doubt creeps in at 2 in the morning inside a flapping tent.
It’s true in my case, I look at myself dispassionately and wonder why I find such a venture so achievable, when guys that I know in my group of friends balk at the prospect.
You find yourself asking inside your head...”Who’s wrong, them or me...” ?

I do know that an essential mechanism to enable one to face something like this, is to learn to compartmentalise and break the enormous journey into easily manageable bite size chunks.
It may be worth considering that while I was being congratulated for soldiering away for seven weeks at a wonderful trip, a goodly percentage of my supporters were spending as much of their life as I, getting up, going to work, coming home and having three hours before bed, then doing exactly the same thing tomorrow, so as to provide for their loved ones.
What I did was easier, more enjoyable and more self serving than them.
If I said the trip was relatively easy, it is not because I am God like in any way, it’s just that I went for a medium length ride for 49 days in a row with a week off in the middle.

Which brings me to a point....

Why would it not be possible for a group of guys to all purchase an identical bike, meet at a central point and head off on some sort of quest ? I gratefully accept the kudos that have been offered to me, but I must let you know that most guys here would be able to do similar, if you don’t want to I understand, but please don’t think you cannot.
A concept something like.
Pick a destination in the middle of the U.S. and form a number of fringe groups about 400 miles out from the centre. Each group forms it’s own faction and converges on that point, it’s not about the meeting at the end, it’s about forming a desire in your mind and getting together to make it happen. There’s a certain excitement that manifests when you pick a crazy idea and say...
“Bugger it, I’m just gunna’ go....”
The less suitable the bike, the more suitable it is.
 I loved the thought of being laughed at when I parked my bike next to the 1200 BMW GS’, KTM 1190’s, Ducati Multistrada’s and Africa Twins, but the only trouble was....
It never happened....(I parked the bike, but no one laughed..)
I was made an awffer I couldn’t refuse by a group of Harley riders on an 8 person table occupied by seven of them at Pine Creek.
“Hey mate.. is that your ******* postie bike...?”
“Yes mate, it is..”
“Are you gunna’ come and sit with us, or do I have to come and get ya’...”.  (Notice there was no question mark..?)
It wasn’t a question...
“Yeah ok, thanks...”
So on went a rollicking conversation regarding the benefits of living your life the way you wish and not setting out to artificially conform. Upon leaving they all gave me a well meant congratulatory handshake and a Man hug....
There are a thousand stories that are all fundamentally the same and carry the same intrinsic message, but I think we should move onto another tack.

If there’s one thing above all else that I would love to see come from all this, is that there’ll be a bit of a groundswell of interest among those who would like to do similar. I reckon it has been one of the most fulfilling trips that I have done and I think that’s because it seemed like an ill advised venture.
But it worked.
Thank you all.
Peter.

[tris]

Forgot this one.

Is that the Gun Barrel straight I seem to have heard about some time??

[Huzo]

Is that the Gun Barrel straight I seem to have heard about some time??

I think you might be referring to the Gun Barrel Hwy, but I may be mistaken there.
In any case, that part is perfectly straight and takes 2 hrs at my speed.

[Ncdan]

Thanks Pete for the recap of your adventure and an adventure it was. Personally I enjoyed following you the entire trip and found myself looking foreword every nite to see what you had accomplished that day or hear an account of something special that may have occurred.
I think Following Huzo’s trip is a great example of why the majority of the members of WG are so loyal. We didn’t just follow a motorcycle enthusiast across the great land mass of Australia, we followed a brother, a family member of the WG forum.

I think that we should collectively consider Huzo’s suggestion to consider doing something similar  as a group.
Maybe if nothing else the next time we attend a rally pack up on some little unorthodox bike and head that way. Who knows, an adventure like Huzo’s could rekindled a little spark in what has become a boring uneventful life for some of us.

Thanks Pete and I’m looking  forward to following your next big adventure!
 

[Huzo]

 
Mandello 2022 with 200,000 km clicking over on the Norge.

[Huzo]

A bit of a tart up..


Wouldn’t know it ever left.

[wyno]

Well Done Pete. Now you'll have to do the same trip on the Norge.

[Huzo]

Well Done Pete. Now you'll have to do the same trip on the Norge.

Nah mate.
I never go anywhere on it.....

[Huzo]

One of our Aussie members Ian, (Bat 11) was with me for the Cape York part of the trip and a few days before.
He is too modest to say much about his involvement in that part of the lap, but suffice to say that his effort was no less noteworthy.
10,000 km is a damn good ride as well on a Honda AG200.
This is what some of his time looked like




Fair to say that he is a rescoursceful bugger and tenacious as buggery...(an old Navy man...)
Top touring partner and does more than his share of daily functions...(a lot fitter than me too..)
Ian can tell you in finer detail about his exploits after we parted ways.
He continued South East after the Atherton region and curved his way back to Adelaide, whereas I went directly West towards Mt Isa.
Good memories....

[Texas Turnip]

Congrats. YOU DID IT!. Unfortunately, I've run into way too many "Gonna d0 it" When I retire I'm gonna. When the kids are grown I'm gonna. When the house is payed off I'm gonna.  Gonna, gonna and then I see them laying in a casket taking a dirt nap and dreams unfilled.

You can make out a thousand excuses or do it.
Tex

[Huzo]

Congrats. YOU DID IT!. Unfortunately, I've run into way too many "Gonna d0 it" When I retire I'm gonna. When the kids are grown I'm gonna. When the house is payed off I'm gonna.  Gonna, gonna and then I see them laying in a casket taking a dirt nap and dreams unfilled.

You can make out a thousand excuses or do it.
Tex

Thank you Tex.

[bottler]

Huzo,

Once you have had a bit of home time to catch up on your cartography I would be interested to know what, if any, gear you carried with you on your lap of Oz that turned out to be unused/unnecessary. Also, what was your most essential item?

I ask as I intend to embark on my lap just as soon as the virus allows.

Thanks

Bottler

 

[Huzo]

Huzo,

Once you have had a bit of home time to catch up on your cartography I would be interested to know what, if any, gear you carried with you on your lap of Oz that turned out to be unused/unnecessary. Also, what was your most essential item?

I ask as I intend to embark on my lap just as soon as the virus allows.

Thanks

Bottler

I’ve formed the opinion over the journey that whether here or overseas, there a four main categories.
Camping
Communication
Currency
Navigation.
In my case, which will vary if applied to someone else it’s like this..

Camping.
I use a good quality tent as do most guys, but I also consider as essential, an American made Ultralite Cot. It means when you are given a site that is gravelly or just plain bumpy, you can elevate yourself 3” clear of the ground and sleep well.
Also best sleeping bag you can afford. It gets VERY cold in the outback at night.
Other than that, same as anyone else.

Communication.
I have an Optus mobile which has some large black spots. Telstra has better overall coverage, but not 100%.
It’s the lack of internet to non Telstra customers that has the greatest impact. Good thing is these days, that you can make free calls from phone boxes, even to mobiles.
Make sure you have your own data on your i pad.

Currency.
Not a big issue if you’re at home in Oz, so just your plastic card and cash.

Navigation
I took my GPS (Tom Tom 550) and found it surplus to requirement...(you cannot get lost going ‘round Australia).
However I did use the i pad a couple of times to zero in on campgrounds and hotels/motels. It is more than good enough if you use Google maps. Also it’s handy for getting ETA’s on destinations.

What did I take that was unnecessary?
Too many pairs of pants. I took my $450 Kevlar jeans and hardly wore them.
3 T shirts is enough..I took 5.
3 pairs of socks..I took 5.

Most essential equipment other than obvious..(wallet, mobile etc..)?...Of the stuff that I will never leave behind ?
The cot, it means you will ALWAYS sleep well.

What I should have left home ?
Go Pro, heavy/bulky Kevlar jeans, excessive clothing.

It should be noted though, that my trip was a low speed/low key affair at 70 kph. The chances of a high speed crash are negligible compared to high speed touring on European Autobahns, so I was lightly dressed most of the time.
But that’s my take on it..

[zedXmick]

Congrats on the successful adventure!!!  Here’s to the memories you made!! Well done!! 

[Huzo]

Congrats on the successful adventure!!!  Here’s to the memories you made!! Well done!! 

Thanks Mick..
I tried to zoom out far enough, but cannot quite fit the entire map in. The guy who built the tracker will sort something out.




Or...

[Jorg66]

Huzo ,agree ! 3 pairs Socks ,Underwear,Shirts more than enough  plus a good Iso matt for under the Tent !
One Pot for cooking and making coffee serves Me and my Better Half well .

[bulwnkl]

Congrats and well done!  Thanks for posting the pictures and ride report.
I'd like to see Perth some day...

[Huzo]

Congrats and well done!  Thanks for posting the pictures and ride report.
I'd like to see Perth some day...

It’s quite Rocky North of there...
You’d make a great pair. !

[bulwnkl]

LOL!

[stubbie]

Hear you go

[twowings]

I STILL want my t-shirt from Tittybong. 

I hope you get to do such an epic trip on the Norge! 

[Huzo]

I STILL want my t-shirt from Tittybong. 

I hope you get to do such an epic trip on the Norge! 

What....
AGAIN.......! (I did a lap in 2018)