I'm going to pre-apologize for a lack of track logs and pics in this RR. Brand new camera shit itself the day I left, and the GPS logger got left behind the the rush. Might be able some from a travelling companion in a week or so. (every now and then I'll steal a pic from elsewhere!)
So, this all came about in October last year after a few too many bevvies around a fire with Roger and a bunch of grey nomads:
Roger: "So, waddya reckon we ride to Finke next year for the race?"
Me: "Silly bloody question - of course it's a good idea!"
Me 3 weeks later: "Hmm.. Wa-ay too much on between now and then to get organised properly. This could be one of those trips"..
The rough plan was to ride up the back way to Finke/Alice Springs, crash with a mate in Alice Springs and watch the race, and come home again a slightly different back way. Sounds easy if you say it fast.
Roger was prepared well and truly before I was - new tyres, servicing done, panniers packed and repacked, test rides, etc etc. I got as far as "Must get to Pablo's and get new tyres"..
Somewhere along the line there somewhere, Roger's mate Chris was invited to come along too. As his bike wasn't really cut out for the ride up and back (YZ250), he was going to bring the Amarok ute and cart all the booze that'd be required for a trip of these proportions.
About a week before my departure date, I was finally ready:
New tyres from Pablo's (Mitas e07's), new earplugs from Andy Strapz (You can only sing to yourself in your helmet for so long), new swag tiedown straps from Andy Strapz, a spare rear tube (normally only carry a front), and a spare pre-oiled air filter (Been up there before - I know what the dust is like!)
So, this all came about in October last year after a few too many bevvies around a fire with Roger and a bunch of grey nomads:
Roger: "So, waddya reckon we ride to Finke next year for the race?"
Me: "Silly bloody question - of course it's a good idea!"
Me 3 weeks later: "Hmm.. Wa-ay too much on between now and then to get organised properly. This could be one of those trips"..
The rough plan was to ride up the back way to Finke/Alice Springs, crash with a mate in Alice Springs and watch the race, and come home again a slightly different back way. Sounds easy if you say it fast.
Roger was prepared well and truly before I was - new tyres, servicing done, panniers packed and repacked, test rides, etc etc. I got as far as "Must get to Pablo's and get new tyres"..
Somewhere along the line there somewhere, Roger's mate Chris was invited to come along too. As his bike wasn't really cut out for the ride up and back (YZ250), he was going to bring the Amarok ute and cart all the booze that'd be required for a trip of these proportions.
About a week before my departure date, I was finally ready:
New tyres from Pablo's (Mitas e07's), new earplugs from Andy Strapz (You can only sing to yourself in your helmet for so long), new swag tiedown straps from Andy Strapz, a spare rear tube (normally only carry a front), and a spare pre-oiled air filter (Been up there before - I know what the dust is like!)
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