Kevin Withnall

Yesterday….

Left the caravan at about 8:30 heading for Anglesea. On getting to Geelong (on the way) after about an hour on the road, it started to rain. I was going past a Westfield parking lot and decided it would be dry. I didn’t like getting a tcket from the machines because I didn’t want to pay for a spot in a 90% empty 50% completed parking station but thats life I guess. I walked past an officeworks, then went back for a look. $60 later I had some new noise cancelling headphones to replace the ones that eloped with my sunglasses. I have no proof that happened but they both went missing together.

I called the others and found they were heading to Torquay so I jumped back on the bike, passed neatly between the boom gate and the wall (while wearing an evil grin) and headed out (in the rain again to the next stop).

In Torquay, we all met up and went to the surf museum. It was small but interesting enough to make it worth visiting. After that, we went to Bells beach. Last week, there was a huge swell and was supposed to be very impressive. This week, it was ‘normal’ which still looked pretty impressive to me. It was cold and windy (theres a huge low pressure thingy in the southern ocean).

It was then on to Anglesea for the night with no internet access.

This morning I left (with Libby on the back of the bike) at about 8:30. We started the Great Ocean Road. The road, for those who haven’t done it, consists of…

a) some windy bits near the ocean
b) some bits no where near the ocean
c) some bits through farms and mountains
d) some straight bits near the ocean
e) the bits you expect (where the good views are that are on the postcards)

The first bits, could have been really nice. Bike people call them twisties. Due to the recent rain, very low sun and lots of cloud, the roads were slippry and we had to go quite slowly. On getting to Lorne, It started raining again. When I was looking into this trip I was told it rained about 2/3rds of the time. I didn’t realise it was 20 mins out of every 30 mins though. Libby decided (mainly due to the rain and wind) that she was going to go back into the car. She had decided to ride all along the Great Ocean Road with me but you know girls, they change their minds a lot.

Anyway, when we met the car, she re-decided (changed her mind again!) to stay with the bike so we took off to progress along the road. About 3km into this leg, she changed her mind again and I stopped, met up with the car and I was on my own again. We all headed (well I went on and the others were somewhere behind me) towards Otway Fly. Its a rainforest tree top walk (you know, one of those gantry thingys). It was very nice (it stopped raining for most of it) but the walk from the bottom back up to the top was a little hard. I’m glad that I’m slightly less fat than before.

After the walk (read hike) I took off again heading for the 12 apostles (one of the goals for this trip). About 20 mins into this leg (back down the mountain) it strted raining more heavily so I put on the wet weather pants (bright yellow). It then slowly got worse.

You see, the wind was still there (gusting to 100kph according to the weather reports), the wind was coming from the southern ocean (and was freezing. ok about 6 degrees but still cold enough for me) and it was still raining. The riding started to really suck. Riders know that when its rainy/windy every time you turn your head to check for traffc, you have a chance of water going down your back so you try to minimise this sort of movement. Safety however demands that you still look around so you inevitably get a damp jacket and then proceed to damp underwear.

On arriving at the 12 apostles it was, as mentioned, cold, windy and rainy. I had visions of taking some cool HDR images during this trip but on parking in the car park, decided to not even get the proper camera out. IT was so windy and rainy, I decided to walk the 300m to the lookout with my helmet still on. Now, you should picture what sort of idiot I looked like doing this. Everyone was struggling with umbrellas and raincoats in the wind (the rain was going sideways) while trying to keep scarves,beanies in place (it was cold). Heres me, walking along quite sealed to the elements (I didn’t have to look for cars to no more dribbles here!) and I met someone coming the other way in bike gear, wearing a helmet, like me at least 200m from the nearest vehicle. See, its not just me thats silly.

Anyway, we chatted about bikes etc and I proceeded to get some photos (and some video) that should be below. The first one is a video. click on it to view on flickr.

Anyway, the photos are crap (water on the lens) and It was too cold/windy/rainy to get more. At least I have seen them now.

After getting back on the bike (still in poring rain)  and leaving the car park, the rain eased. I saw the others with the van just turning in while I was leaving. I have found out that they had a gap in the rain and had a chance of getting some better shots. Bugger.

The last 100km or so was crappy. I just wanted to get here (Warnambool) to be warm and dry and out of the wind. I was travelling a little quick during the last parts to get here so I’m glad I managed to avoid any official interest.

Tomorrow, we are going to another kind of theme park. Its a period seaside village that should teach us all about shipping and ship wrecks. At night, theres another sound/light show (like we saw at soverign hill) all about shipwrecks.

If the weather is good and I feel like a ride, I may go back to get some photos.

I think it should be renamed the ‘pretty good ocean road’.

Heres another photo of my in a Lorne cafe drinking a coffee. (taken by Libby)

I haven’t shaved in a week and am starting to get fluffy. I have never let face fur go over 2 weeks before but will leave it 5 weeks this time. Lets see how pitiful it is at the end of the trip.

Yesterday morning, I decided a day without riding wasn’t good enough so I went to do some shopping (in Melbourne) Its about 1:50 each way so was quite a nice ride. In melbourne, I got a down jacket as all reports were telling me it was going to be cold and it packs up very small.

During the day, we went to Kryal Castle and the girls liked it. It is a little lame but still worth visiting. It was really cold and windy and was somewhat unpleasant. Then it started raining and was starting to annoy me. The forecast was for it go get colder so I was quite glad of the jacket.

This morning, again scared of a day without riding, I jumped on to get some supplies at the local supermarket. Only about 3k later I Was home again (it was cold and raining) so its not too bad.

Then we all went to Soverign Hill. Its a 1850’s themed gold mining town and is actually done quite well. I have found that most of these parks seem to always joke about what they are and what they do and all the commentry has little ‘tongue in cheek’ comments. Soverign hill doesn’t do that and I think its far more enjorable for it.

The staff are all willing to talk (althougn sometimes only to each other) but the day was enjoyable.

Anyway, tomorrow is another easy day (only 120k riding or so) but I might take a detour via Bells beach and Geelong.

Then, on Wednesday, its time for the great ocean road. Lets hope its not cold and raining.

This morning, very early, some people at the motel where I was staying at decided 1:30am was the perfect time to work on their boat motor. by 2:30am I thought it had gone a little long but it was too cold to get up. Shortly thereafter they left and if wishes mean anything, they should have drowned as soon as they launched the boat.

At about 7:30 I left the motel, immediately got fuel and headed towards Ballarat. The satnav was suggesting i would be there by 12:30pm and I decided to detour via Melbourne CBD. On arriving there (at about 12pm as i was riding slowly) I realised that, although it seemed like a good idea, I had nothing to do while there. I found a curry shop, had some lunch (people don’t understand when I want only half of a small meal and always keep piling the food on until I stop them). Then more fuel and onwards towards the goldfields. In the morning I saw 6 degrees on the screen and it felt ok. By the afternoon, it was reading 10 degrees but seemed far colder. The road was wet in places and I think the humidity with the wind chill made it seem worse.

I’m now sitting in a cabin at the caravan park, wearing a beanie. My ‘pocket heater’ was great all day and the heated seats and hand grips got a run.

I forgot to mention yesterday that this the first time I have ever ridden/driven to another state. Pretty lame I know but there it is. So far I’ve done about 1200km at am slowly but surely starting to fall in love with the bike. Theres not a single thing that I would change at the moment. I know what you’re thinking, love is blind but everything is just going perfectly with it. What a fantastic machine.

Anyway, theres probably not going to be much blogging over the next 2 days as theres no riding. I will have some time for my ass to recover a little, spend some time with the wife and kids (they are here also) and see the local attractions. I’m sure Libby will be blogging so check out hers (Libby Withnall).

I might post some photos if I get around to setting up the relevant software. Libby with surely have some.

I’ll write more in a few days.

Well, this morning it all was supposed to be smooth and organised. I slept in a little and was then planning to leave about 7:30.

On taking my final packing (in the pannier bags) down stairs to put into the bike, I noticed the garage floor was somewhat wetter than it supposed to be. Apparently we burst a hose last night on the water tank pump. We then had to get everything moved so it can dry out.

Anyway, After stealing an anzac cookie that Libby had made (she always gets up really early) I got on the bike and left. It seems strange that when I want to do a few hours riding, it seems like it takes ages. This morning, it seemed to take no time at all until I was in Nowra. There I had a coffee, friant and 1/4 of a coffee before moving on again. Next thing I knew, I was in ulla-dulla and had to get petrol. (16.32L@1.749) and had to explain to a local police officer what the headlight modulator was all about. Then time seemed to slow down a bit. I arrived in Eden and wanted to have a stretch and noticed 4 missed calls on my phone. Apparently when I re-set the bluetooth stuff, I hadn’t stopped the bike talking to the phone. I fixed it so it goes via the Zumo and returned some calls while heading south.

When heading south on most rides, if you need fuel or something, theres always a town or something close. After Eden, theres just long stretches of nothing. I made it to Cann River with about 30k left on the screen. I Put about 19L in the bike ($35) and had about 130k to go to get to lakes entrance.

It was very cloudy and was starting to get dark so I was glad to arrive. I’m now sitting in the hotel room ($70) watching some tv and getting ready to get a pizza (the local shop has really small ones)

After the water pipe issue, I had to re-cut a hose to get it fixed and realised in eden that my Leatherman was still back at home. I found a shop and have a replacement so its all good again.

Tomorrow I will probably aim for Ballarat but don’t know which way to go. I guess I’ll just trust the satnav and see how it goes.
The bike is performing very well and nothing has gone wrong so far with any equipment or planning. I only drank about 250ml water today so I think I will trey to stop more often to get some fluids.

This  morning I started the final preparations for the trip. When I got to the office (at about 6:30am) I was just sitting down for a coffee when the power failed. The failure was the result of some huge winds tht suddenly arrived.

Now, I can (and have) ridden through extreme cold (well, 4 degrees seems extreme to me), rain, lightening and hail and its not that bad. Wind on the other hand makes riding very difficult as a big gust could cause you to end up in front of another vehicle.

Anyway, its thursday night now, the wind has died down lots and I’m ready to go at sunrise tomorrow. I don’t know where I will end up tomorrow night yet so we will just have to see how it goes.

The bike has both panniers full, top box full and the tank bag full. I don’t have a backpack strapped across the seat at the moment (its gone with the inlaws to meet me in a few days time) so it should be a nice comfortable start.

Just for anyones info (if anyone cares) the bike has a Zumo 550 GPS linked via bluetooth to my phone and an autocom bike comms system. The helmet plugs in to the autocom and this all allows me to use the phone, get sat nav prompts (great for school zones, speed cameras etc) and listen to music from the zumo (with an 8GB card) that has about 800 songs I will probably be sick of by the time I get back. The phone has its own weather proof box that has a charging cable.

In the top box, I have the laptop, 150W inverter (the top box has a 12v cable from under the seat), satellite phone, epirb, archos 605 (160GB media player) and misc cables, chargers etc.

I Have a Nikon D300 camera with an 18-200 lens for the ‘planned’ shots, and a little snappy IXY1000 (canon) for the simple stuff. It should stay in my pocket I think.

I have (in no particular order) Crocs, alking boots and bike boots, 3 tee shirts, 3 pairs undies, 3 pairs socks, riding jeans (draggin), thermal underwear, misc drugs and first aid stuff, emergency flashing light, head lamp, cable ties, electrical tape 4 pairs sun glasses, 2 pairs clear safety glasses and lots of other stuff I can’t remember at the moment.

The GPS only talks to the autocom with bluetooth for phone calls, the music/nav prompts are sent through a 3.5mm stereo cable (so i get stereo).

I have a telstra internet connection (next G) and an optus 3G connection so I should have both major carriers covered. Libby has a different optus system and the inlaws have a Next-G to ethernet box with a high gain antennae.

The BMW dealer has failed to get my spare key in time so I only have one (plus the silly emergency ‘wallet’ key they give you that would snap if you actually put it in a wallet)

I will need to change tyres probably in Alice, Darwin or Mt Isa depending on how they go. If Jason ends up coming along for the last week and a half, I will miss darwin. I have wired his mike (and mine) so we both have similar comms and have added UHF radios to the mix.

Thats all the ‘facts’ I think are things I may want to read about later (basically this is my diary so if its booring, please ignore me )

The longest day I’ve done so far is 550km and the longest ride was 1200km over 3 days. Tomorrow I think will be about 650k with about 500k on day 2 (if i plan to get to Ballarat for the second night to save some money)

I’ll try to blog daily. I don’t know if I will be able to include photos in the posts (depends on internet access etc). As I’m with Libby for most of the first 3 weeks, check out her blog at http://libby.withnall.com for her take on whats going on.

Hopefully I’ll post more tomorrow night.