K
kwaka
Guest
Border Run 2010 - A Special FarRide
Friday 6th Aug 2010
Departure was 6.36am on a frosty winters morning from the servo. The Oxford HotGrips were paying for themselves and worked all day long. The cloudy sky was already showing dawn and about 15mins into the ride took a few sun up shots.
At the Fruit Fly Quarantine checkpoint at Oodla Wirra, Sth Aust the quarantine officer prodded my shoulder to make sure I wasn’t frozen solid. The temp was -7 an hour before I arrived and was just north of -3 on my arrival. I know it was cold ‘cos it was -5 back 60kms behind me at Yunta. No wonder I was shivering, this has been one of the coldest starts to a ride for a while. It was so cold that my right knee started aching and was quite painful.
Right turn to Peterborough and passing through Orroroo and I see a familiar rider at a servo, Gags99. Cool, I wave and very soon we’re riding together and heading though Horrock’s Pass. I pull into the Cairn for a photo shoot and as I pull up in front of the Cairn, the bike tilts to the right. Uh oh, the ground slopes away and my right leg hasn’t got enough purchase to push up to centre the bike. With the pain, a cramp and the bike getting heavier and heavier, poor old Kwakatoa just had to have a little lie down. Bugger!
It was a real shame seeing the newly repaired side laying face down but hey, a couple of scratches to the Tupperware and it’s now been blooded in! The r/h HID sustained the bulk of the damage but nothing that good old duct tape couldn’t fix!
Looking west from the Cairn
All’s good
Thanks for your help Gags
Thankfully Gags was there to help me, his main concern was my leg ‘cos I kept complaining I was in pain. No, it wasn’t from the bike falling on me but from the cold ache pain and cramp. Very soon we have the bike on the stand, take some pics and we’re off again. We pause quickly to locate the banner shot marker and fuel at Port Augusta. Here I lost Gags as I was to learn later he was having some fuel issues.
The weather warms up the further west I travel and by Wudinna it was warm enough to have the HotGrips on the lowest setting. Here I fuel up and have a bite to eat. As I’m about to getting going again I see Gags ride past and so, we travel together again.
Mr Plod has made his presence felt on this ride but no probs so far. He was again waiting for us at Penong but we didn’t play his game and we didn’t bother the scorers. Penong for fuel and off again into a setting sun where we finally had to stop for a few minutes as it was smack in front setting into the road. Temp starts to drop as the dark envelops us.
Last of Friday’s sun.
It’s not as cold as the morning and a lot more bearable. Nullarbor for the last fuel up before the run into the Border Village, Gags chats with some riders there (Guy and Bruce??) and soon we are off again. Bugger all wild life and Gags is enjoying following me as my HID’s cause havoc with the semi drivers dipping their lights two hills away. For those who’ve travelled out on the Nullarbor would know, that’s a hell of a long way away!
In the chill we roll into BV around 9.40 BV time, fuelled up for the end receipt, force of habit, and soon we’re chatting with Peter (Reader57), Phil (RoadBandit) and Muttley. A few sherbets and a feed then it was time to hit the hay in the room I shared with Peter.
Saturday 7th Aug 2010
Early Saturday morning and I mean early, Peter has to leave as pre-arranged and I witness his SS1600K attempt. He rides off into the cold misty fog. My knee aches incessantly and this is the excuse I need to have a late start to the day in readiness for the fun and games to come.
A fine mainly sunny day greets all riders as they ride in, some stay within the confines of the Border Village, others head for “Camp Davo” and yet others wait for check in to open before heading off. Non FarRiders comment on the number of ‘orange caps’ and 1400GTRs dominating the Run this year. FarRider One would have been chuffed to see that.
JefferZZR opens check in and the frenzy starts, so much so that Jeff forgets to clock in himself. Luckily that was noticed before check in closed. During the day I received an SMS from Peter saying he had to can the IBA attempt as his bike was overheating. He would make his way to Adelaide instead of back home in Swan Hill. Bummer Peter, hope you get it sorted buddy.
The day rolls on with sherberts flowing and riders coming and going and again all too soon, it’s meal time. I had planned to don my loud shirt for the evening meal but time seems to vanish at most FarRider events. After dining with fine company aka Malcolm, Patricia and Linda and fine food, the ‘pudding’ makes an appearance and the photo sessions start with great aplomp.
Next years badge orders
Saturday night I share a cabin aka donga with Ben and Lance (PomonaBandit) and as Lance wanted to get an early start well that suited me just fine. I bid adieu to all and sundry and set the alarm for pre dawn.
Sunday 8th Aug 2010
We’re up and on the road just as the sky starts to lighten up in the east. No pics this time but we did stop once the sun was in our eyes to don the day eyewear. We make Nullarbor about 8.30am and make tracks for Penong where we stop for a fine country roast beef meal. From here I ride by myself as Lance is in no hurry to get home. I tell Lance my next fuel up would be Wudinna and I might see him there.
Again the road tax collectors were out in force but I didn’t trouble the scorers and as I near Wudinna I even get a friendly wave. Taking these pics, Lance arrives and we shake hands and wish each other fare weather on our rides. Not long after I encounter wet roads and the odd downpour or two. Again more tax collectors but alls good into Port Augusta.
Iron Knob
Yet again, more road enforcers as I make my way to the Banner Shot but I pass the test with the controllers, lucky me! I take a few pics and have a bite to eat then off through the pass, reminiscing on Kwakatoa’s little lay down as I pass the Cairn.
Wilmington, Orroroo and at Peterborough, my bestest friends were waiting at the eastern end of the city limits. I passed muster and as the sky turned to night, it was pleasant to ride and not cold.
Around Yunta the HotGrips went to flat out as the temps started to drop and after fuelling for the last time at Yunta, I made good time with the HID’s making night riding an absolute pleasure. One of the best investments I’ve made LD farkle wise. Highly recommended if riding in roo country and certainly a lot less stressful to ride through, not that I saw any live ones! Home after 2716kms and a heck of a good time again on the Border Run!
Friday 6th Aug 2010
Departure was 6.36am on a frosty winters morning from the servo. The Oxford HotGrips were paying for themselves and worked all day long. The cloudy sky was already showing dawn and about 15mins into the ride took a few sun up shots.
At the Fruit Fly Quarantine checkpoint at Oodla Wirra, Sth Aust the quarantine officer prodded my shoulder to make sure I wasn’t frozen solid. The temp was -7 an hour before I arrived and was just north of -3 on my arrival. I know it was cold ‘cos it was -5 back 60kms behind me at Yunta. No wonder I was shivering, this has been one of the coldest starts to a ride for a while. It was so cold that my right knee started aching and was quite painful.
Right turn to Peterborough and passing through Orroroo and I see a familiar rider at a servo, Gags99. Cool, I wave and very soon we’re riding together and heading though Horrock’s Pass. I pull into the Cairn for a photo shoot and as I pull up in front of the Cairn, the bike tilts to the right. Uh oh, the ground slopes away and my right leg hasn’t got enough purchase to push up to centre the bike. With the pain, a cramp and the bike getting heavier and heavier, poor old Kwakatoa just had to have a little lie down. Bugger!
It was a real shame seeing the newly repaired side laying face down but hey, a couple of scratches to the Tupperware and it’s now been blooded in! The r/h HID sustained the bulk of the damage but nothing that good old duct tape couldn’t fix!
Looking west from the Cairn
All’s good
Thanks for your help Gags
Thankfully Gags was there to help me, his main concern was my leg ‘cos I kept complaining I was in pain. No, it wasn’t from the bike falling on me but from the cold ache pain and cramp. Very soon we have the bike on the stand, take some pics and we’re off again. We pause quickly to locate the banner shot marker and fuel at Port Augusta. Here I lost Gags as I was to learn later he was having some fuel issues.
The weather warms up the further west I travel and by Wudinna it was warm enough to have the HotGrips on the lowest setting. Here I fuel up and have a bite to eat. As I’m about to getting going again I see Gags ride past and so, we travel together again.
Mr Plod has made his presence felt on this ride but no probs so far. He was again waiting for us at Penong but we didn’t play his game and we didn’t bother the scorers. Penong for fuel and off again into a setting sun where we finally had to stop for a few minutes as it was smack in front setting into the road. Temp starts to drop as the dark envelops us.
Last of Friday’s sun.
It’s not as cold as the morning and a lot more bearable. Nullarbor for the last fuel up before the run into the Border Village, Gags chats with some riders there (Guy and Bruce??) and soon we are off again. Bugger all wild life and Gags is enjoying following me as my HID’s cause havoc with the semi drivers dipping their lights two hills away. For those who’ve travelled out on the Nullarbor would know, that’s a hell of a long way away!
In the chill we roll into BV around 9.40 BV time, fuelled up for the end receipt, force of habit, and soon we’re chatting with Peter (Reader57), Phil (RoadBandit) and Muttley. A few sherbets and a feed then it was time to hit the hay in the room I shared with Peter.
Saturday 7th Aug 2010
Early Saturday morning and I mean early, Peter has to leave as pre-arranged and I witness his SS1600K attempt. He rides off into the cold misty fog. My knee aches incessantly and this is the excuse I need to have a late start to the day in readiness for the fun and games to come.
A fine mainly sunny day greets all riders as they ride in, some stay within the confines of the Border Village, others head for “Camp Davo” and yet others wait for check in to open before heading off. Non FarRiders comment on the number of ‘orange caps’ and 1400GTRs dominating the Run this year. FarRider One would have been chuffed to see that.
JefferZZR opens check in and the frenzy starts, so much so that Jeff forgets to clock in himself. Luckily that was noticed before check in closed. During the day I received an SMS from Peter saying he had to can the IBA attempt as his bike was overheating. He would make his way to Adelaide instead of back home in Swan Hill. Bummer Peter, hope you get it sorted buddy.
The day rolls on with sherberts flowing and riders coming and going and again all too soon, it’s meal time. I had planned to don my loud shirt for the evening meal but time seems to vanish at most FarRider events. After dining with fine company aka Malcolm, Patricia and Linda and fine food, the ‘pudding’ makes an appearance and the photo sessions start with great aplomp.
Next years badge orders
Saturday night I share a cabin aka donga with Ben and Lance (PomonaBandit) and as Lance wanted to get an early start well that suited me just fine. I bid adieu to all and sundry and set the alarm for pre dawn.
Sunday 8th Aug 2010
We’re up and on the road just as the sky starts to lighten up in the east. No pics this time but we did stop once the sun was in our eyes to don the day eyewear. We make Nullarbor about 8.30am and make tracks for Penong where we stop for a fine country roast beef meal. From here I ride by myself as Lance is in no hurry to get home. I tell Lance my next fuel up would be Wudinna and I might see him there.
Again the road tax collectors were out in force but I didn’t trouble the scorers and as I near Wudinna I even get a friendly wave. Taking these pics, Lance arrives and we shake hands and wish each other fare weather on our rides. Not long after I encounter wet roads and the odd downpour or two. Again more tax collectors but alls good into Port Augusta.
Iron Knob
Yet again, more road enforcers as I make my way to the Banner Shot but I pass the test with the controllers, lucky me! I take a few pics and have a bite to eat then off through the pass, reminiscing on Kwakatoa’s little lay down as I pass the Cairn.
Wilmington, Orroroo and at Peterborough, my bestest friends were waiting at the eastern end of the city limits. I passed muster and as the sky turned to night, it was pleasant to ride and not cold.
Around Yunta the HotGrips went to flat out as the temps started to drop and after fuelling for the last time at Yunta, I made good time with the HID’s making night riding an absolute pleasure. One of the best investments I’ve made LD farkle wise. Highly recommended if riding in roo country and certainly a lot less stressful to ride through, not that I saw any live ones! Home after 2716kms and a heck of a good time again on the Border Run!