http://www.austouring.com/forum Austouring, a forum for motorcycling touring in Australia and around the world en Sat, 19 May 2012 12:19:04 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.austouring.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.austouring.com/forum http://www.austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4060&goto=newpost Mon, 14 May 2012 14:05:07 GMT Something a bit different this time - if you're looking for a tale of man and machine braving the elements and all the world can throw at them you'd best move along.

To add to the insult, all photos were taken using my mobile, with varying results.

This story is a bit more genteel......but I did ride........

On Sunday(Mothers Day) I headed down the Goat Track, refuelled at Canungra and headed west along a back road to Beaudesert, turned south through Kerry along the road signed "This is not the road to NSW", past Darlington to Lost World......

The carparks are in the middle of nowhere:



This is the place.....



......so in we go......



....people on the edge of the grove are painting.......



....but we go deeper into the olive grove........



....where there is more activity......



There are stalls everywhere here selling art, food, running workshops, childrens storytelling.......







Bookbinding workshop:



Needle felting:


(actually took this photo when I saw the penguins on the table, only found out whatthey were doing later)

Definitely some monkey business going on:



Tamborine Mountain Arts Collective is working on setting up an artists centre on the mountain:



TMAC, felting(wearable art!) and jams.....



We pass through the grove and we see this fellow:






Facepainting and bands are near the food stalls.......



But there's more over the creek bank!

River sculptures.......



Bad landing?



Fabric painting, Batik and Basketweaving:




And a bridge across the creek.....



The weather was great for kids playing in the creek, they seemed to enjoy it almost as much as the junk orchestra....


(the sound didn't let up the whole time I was there and seemed an unholy fusion of "Another one Bites the Dust" and the theme from Pink Panther)....

More workshops on this side of the creek.....

Stone carving:



Blacksmithing:



Kite Making:



Here they have wood fired pizza and gelato!



Eventually the shadows lengthen and and the carpark empties out......





.....it's time to go home in the last rays of the sun........



By the time we get to the hanggliders lookout on the Mountain the last colour is draining from the sky as Venus glows brightly.........



Arts in the Olives is held each year on Mothers Day and has many more workshops, stalls and activities than what I've covered.....



Cheers! ]]> Out and About penguineer http://www.austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4060 http://www.austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4059&goto=newpost Mon, 14 May 2012 11:41:28 GMT No pictures of bikes in this ride report and not much in the way of interesting roads, but just a little momento of a night out.....not too much... No pictures of bikes in this ride report and not much in the way of interesting roads, but just a little momento of a night out.....not too much distance either in the few hours I was out, but you might enjoy the views....


Felt like a bit of a night ride, meet a few people, try out my new heated vest and take a few photos of the night lights.

Left home at about 20 past 5 to get to Yatala by quarter past 6 to meet a few people at Subway before they went to the drive-in......

Only really remarkable thing to happen was the sight of a car wrapped around a tree - I must say I have been expecting this for some time, but still.....no need to stop as it was already wrapped with safety tape so not that "fresh".

Made it in time and chatted for a while before they headed off to join the lengthening queue for the drive in.

Now I just make it up as I went along.

Since I was so close and had never been there, headed out to Jacobs well for a bit of a look around.

The ride out wasn't that interesting apart from the 90 degree corners that seem to be the standard for cane fields - any view of the surroundings was obscured by the sugar cane itself.

The Well itself was rather quiet with the only real activity being a couple of die-hards and their tinnies at the boat ramp.

A quick loop around the car park and a comfort stop and I was off to Pimpama to get onto the highway again. For some reason I always end up doing loops around the new estates at Pimpama and wasting time AARRGGGH!

As it wasn't too late I did a loop around Nerang Maccas carpark to see if there was anyone else about - if there had been they were long gone by 8pm.....but Bunnings was still open.......

I went in intending to pick up a packet of picture frame hangers.......



.....ooops......

From there it was back towards the hills....until now it had been too warm for me to turn on my vest but I must have bumped the on switch......yowee! That's some heat......pulled over and turned it off again....

From Gilston Road I turned up The Panorama to catch the night views and attempt some photos of the Gold Coast.

Looking towards Surfers and the southern part of the GC:











Not too bad, but my camera is a bit behind the times and could do better.

I thought about stopping at a second place but there was already a car parked there with the lights off.......wandering around with a camera might be a bit of a mood killer so I kept going....

Back to Nerang KFC, using the service roads, for one of the "supercharged" zinger burgers for dinner - seriously I can't tell the difference......



By now it was a bit cooler so I turned the vest on, it was still too hot until I got to top of Henri-Robert Drive and was home at about 11pm.

Only about 120km over the course of the evening, but a few good views made it worth while! ]]> Out and About penguineer http://www.austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4059 http://www.austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4051&goto=newpost Tue, 08 May 2012 10:45:14 GMT Hello Everybody! Just in case you missed it on advrider. We grow in strength as legend of the Tiger Squadron spreads throughout the land. ... Hello Everybody!

Just in case you missed it on advrider.

We grow in strength as legend of the Tiger Squadron spreads throughout the land.

Welcome to the latest of our ongoing adventures, this time to the VIC/NSW advrider gathering at Jingellic.

Not a lot of time this ride for me to take pictures on the road, hopefully some of the gang will post up their video and happy snaps.

Another early departure.



A great variety of bikes/riders from the latest farkled out beasts to Liam’s old school single which has been round the clock once or twice.

I think Liam invests all his love and polishing time into his Harley…



The initial ten departed for a slippery and very cold climb up Mt Donna Buang.

Mr Chris was rather proud of the new lights he’s installed on his Tiger.



A fallen tree hiding around a blind corner provided a little excitement but otherwise a blissful ride playing catch me in you can with David on the DR650 along the Acheron Way.

Some were surprised at the lack of kamikaze kangaroos through the forest. They were reassured that clearing the way was all part of the service, my snarling Tiger had sent seven of the fury buggers scarpering into the bush.



We met up with Mr Pete, Captain Triumph and Fossilator (fresh off the boat from Tassie) for morning-tea at Henry VIII Manor (pancakes) at Narbethong.

Old mate Dennis was in fine form. Big Rob shows his appreciation…



An easy bitumen cruise before the fun began with some favourite short-cuts and diversions through the Strathbogies.

KiwiTiger on the big girlie.



Sysie looking the part on the Tenere.



Mr Chris, Speed Racer and Captain Triumph.



Mr Pete.



Yep, we is goin to them thar hills…



We rode past a big group of squidly sports bikes on our way to petrol in Mansfield. Now I admit it is childish, but I was disappointed in that they settled into lattes instead of taking the lead through the corners. The look of shock at being round-up and passed by a raging hoard of dirty giraffes would have been priceless…

I swapped bikes with Nigel (Celebrity Africa Twin) for the ride down into Whitfield.

After sampling my Tiger, he’s convinced all us Tiger riders are cheats, what with riding bikes that have power and handling and brakes…

Liam stopped for a little tumble. Despite damaging some of his prized racing tape, he didn’t seem too upset.



We suspect that Troy (Speed Racer) runs on caffeine. A double shot latte with a Monster chaser…



Captain Triumph fights his way through a Whitty Burger.



After lunch, Famous Rog and I played flat-track loonies on the way to Lake Buffalo.

Photo at a familiar spot. If our numbers keep growing (three were delayed by random cows), I’m gonna need a wide angle camera…



Running low on cash, KiwiTiger racks his brains looking for a discount in Yackandandah.



The ride through the Granya Gap had us all grinning like loons.

As per usual, we had run late and so raced the setting sun into Jingellic.

Oh well, we had Mr Chris’s new lights so that we didn’t have to pitch our tents in total darkness.

Into the pub for a few beers, dinner and a catch-up with the other advriders.

Sorry Mr Pete, what can I say….



There was a fire.



Next morning.





I really did feel sorry for this chap. He’d set-up camp well away from everyone and woke up surrounded by the Tiger Squadron…





Thanks to Dobbo, we feasted on bacon n eggs for breakfast.

Well I guess it’s one way to stop your Tiger falling over…



Seriously though, a tasty conversion by Tripod Tiger.

I know it’s going to end in blood, broken bones and tears but man it was mental fun two wheel sliding on the gravel next to the river…

Vision, we don’t need no stinking vision…



I think Speed Racer started to understand why I was determined to stay in front.



Famous Rog already knew, but didn’t seem to mind.



There’s a mountain not too far behind the tree…



A little more water than last time at Jingellic in 2010.



Standing room only.



Liam couldn’t help himself and just had to sing a little song…you know, the one about a ferryman…



Well, the operator did say “sit back, relax…”



We stopped for second breakfast at Tallangatta.



A second visit to Lake Buffalo and then into the forest before lunch again at the Whitty Café.

We said our good-byes at Yark.



Thanks to the Tiger Squadron for a brilliant weekend away. Perhaps next time, we pick somewhere a little closer to home so we’re not so rushed…

Trip distance: 995 km (for me). ]]> Out and About Sir Francis http://www.austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4051 http://www.austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4039&goto=newpost Sun, 06 May 2012 05:43:52 GMT Call it a bike show, call it a club meet. Just a few guys and their bikes...every first Sunday in May. Same place, year after year Image:... Call it a bike show, call it a club meet.
Just a few guys and their bikes...every first Sunday in May.
Same place, year after year
















Now, that's a tankshift!





START, YA BASTARD!!



A beautiful 250 CZ





]]> Out and About glitch http://www.austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4039 http://www.austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4032&goto=newpost Sat, 28 Apr 2012 01:31:47 GMT I usually think of Grand Ridge East as being between Mirboo North and Balook, probably due to the seductive charms of the Tarra Valley road or the... I usually think of Grand Ridge East as being between Mirboo North and Balook, probably due to the seductive charms of the Tarra Valley road or the fabulous Traralgon-Balook roads making them the preferred entry or exit points.

I realised that I can only remember doing the section east of Balook in the ol' 504 (considered by some to be the finest dirt road car ever made) which means it was an embarrassingly long time ago.

I decided to use the 250 to document it as the poor little thing has been getting terribly bored in the shed and the wee has been having far too much fun lately!



The Mirboo North-Boolara road



Looking towards Loy Yang from the Traralgon-Balook road



The fabulous Traralgon-Balook road being fabulous



The antenna towers atop Mount Tassie, the source of the ABC emergency broadcasting during the fires, until they were unfortunately knocked out by the fires!



The outkirts of the hamlet of Balook. I know that there is an active cell of Al-Quaeda suicide wallabies around here as one of the little bastards once knocked me off my SV



The start of Grand Ridge (far) East



This section is generally a lot faster than the section west of Tarra Valley road



A rogue horse. Luckily it was not in league with the wallabies so I got past safely



A nice vista



The other end



I know it isn't New Zealand but it aint bad!



Backroading to get to the Foster-Boolara road without using the highway



Wind turbines at Toora. Sorry Ted, I think they're graceful! Check out the bend in the blades.



View from Mount Best Tin Mine Road



I must check out Goat Track some time



The gigantic washaway has been fixed with gabions.



This is how it looked in january



Back on Grand Ridge East. Soon be dealing with that bottle of red!

Conclusions:

Grand Ridge (far) East is a fine piece of road, including single and double lane bitumen and good fast dirt. Far less gnarly than the section between Tarra Valley road and Boolara-Foster road.

The fabulous Tralgon-Balook road is fabulous.

Mount Best Tin Mine road and the Boolara-Foster road are also fabulous.

250 road-trails are fabulous as well.

The entire loop could be done on the wee.


Track and photo locations here:

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewT...03582550460376 ]]> Out and About a86 http://www.austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4032