I've been back in Australia since October 2015 and am still struggling with not being in Europe.
The distances here are just massive
Since then, I have submitted and been awarded my Irish IBA - FHB 48 certificate.
My greatest ride yet.
I have also been in contact with the Australian IBA and they held their Inaugural Muster in Parkes, NSW.
Well, What better time to do my first Australian ride. So, here goes!
I didn't really plan or think about such things as petrol stations. Hey, in Europe they're accessible 24/7.
But this is not bloody Europe, is it?
Inaugural IBA Muster - Parkes, NSW, Australia
The ride to Parkes has to include an IBA certified ride, I chose the easiest (SS1600K) for my first certified Australian ride. Not all went to plan.
The check-in time was to me 14:00 hours in Parkes. So, I planned to firstly ride out west to Charleville, then south to Parkes. Sounds so simple, right? Wrong!
I left home around 14:00, 01/07/16. Witnessed by my cousin, Ben.
The ride out to Roma was extremely uneventful. I know that there is a 24 hour petrol stop in Roma, but figured I could get some in Mitchell, 86 km away. I arrived in Mitchell to discover that I was oh-so-wrong. The petrol station had closed about 1 hour prior to my arrival. Bugger!
My only option was to return to Roma (or wait till morning)
So, back I rode. frustrated but successful. Fully tanked, I headed back west, direction Charleville. This is where I should start to ride in a Southerly direction after refuelling.
Unfortunately, the universe didn't want to play along. I arrived in Charleville around 01:00 hours to find that the last petrol station closed at around 22:00 hours and opened around 05:00 hours.
What the hell is this?
I drove around looking for other possibilities, tried (unsuccessfully) to wave down a passing Taxi to ask for information. Eventually, I flagged down the local garbo, figuring if anyone knew where I could fuel up, they would. "Kel" informed me that I was out of luck and that I'd have to wait till 05:00 hours. So, I pulled up in the car-park opposite the servo, whipped out my sleeping bag and mat and got ready for the wait. A couple of hours' rest would be good for me but would take it close to the wire.
At around 02:00 hours Kel turned up at the petrol station looking for me. Her Garbage truck had broken down and she had some time to kill. She then asked me if I knew how to syphon petrol from a car, as she had 1/4 tank in hers and wanted to offer me some help. I jumped at the offer, unfortunately modern cars have a safety mechanism that prevents syphoning fuel and we were unable to pass the hose into the tank, just my luck. After a few failed attempts Kel suggested we go back to hers as she had a ride-on mower and other engines in the shed. We managed to find enough fuel to get me to the next fuel stop, Cunnamulla, I even had about 10kms to spare.
I left Charleville around 03:00 hours, heading south. At around 05:00 hours I came across hundreds of kangaroos, both dead and alive. Kangaroos, unlike other animals, panic when they see a vehicle. and have a death wish, they can't seem to decide where it is safer for them. I'm sure that their thought process goes something like this:
"Oh Bugger, a Motorcycle.
Think I'll cross the road as it's safer over there (half way across)
No, it's not, it's safer where I was.
No, wait, I think I'll just head into the light.
Aaaarrrrggggghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!"
Stupid animal.
and it's a strange thing, at first thew all came from my left, then after a while they all came from the right, and then a little later the left again. I wonder if they have meetings about this?
So, try as hard as they could, one of them really wanted to be hit and crossed my path just at the right moment, it's tail making contact with my spotlight which was pushed back and smashed my RHS fairing...
At least that's all that happened, no dead roo, no dead Melinda and no dead Skippy
Wallabies, on the other hand would rather ignore you and stay safe. I only saw one Emu, he was minding his own business.
Around 06:40 hours I stopped for a sunrise photo (see below)
Finally, I arrived in Parkes, NSW at about 12:55 hours to fuel up. A total of 1,850 km in 23 hours, I had achieved my first Australian SS1600K.
I then proceeded to the meeting point, Parkes RSL. I registered, submitted my paperwork and then headed over to the Settlers Inn (just across the road) for a much needed rest.
That evening we all assembled back in the RSL, over 100 riders from all over Australia. Many had travelled much further than I with at least 3 from Perth.
Certificates were presented, stories swapped, dinner, drinks, camaraderie. Not long after, I headed back to the hotel and bed...I was wrecked.
The next morning I got up nice and early, checked out and assembled with the others for a ride out to "the Dish" and group photo. After a bit of brekkie, another catch-up and chit-chat, I then mounted my trusty steed and headed off in the direction of Brisvegas, QLD (990 kms away). I wasn't sure if I'd do it in one leg or stop the night. That's the wonderful thing about long-distance riding, you can do whatever you like.
After an uneventful north-easterly ride I arrived home around 21:30 hours.
A great weekend was had, some 2807 kms ridden and met some great people.
I hope to meet with them all again in the future.
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| The Certificate tells all! |
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| Post-Kangaroo strike |
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| In the middle of no-where, cold as balls! |
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| Level-up! |
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| Some of the bikes which took part! |
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| What did you do this weekend? |
