Hmmm…things don’t look too good for that bullet-proof BMW rear-end “she’s barely run in at 140.000k’s, mate!!” Hamilton proves the end of the road for Derek and that R11GS.
(and to use his own words: "SHE'S FA&%ED)
It’s a sad end for all, but Crusty in particular.
Despite the joys of a quick and comprehensive rescue (flown the same night out to Melbourne with a cab to the front door and the bike pickup and transport organized) it’s a major blow to lose the dry wit, and questionable jokes
, for the 2.half of our journey.
Just look at that face…he’s already dreaming of getting home and back to work again…yeah, yeah!
A last look over the shoulder at a lonely red ‘n white BM and the sad wave of that “Supersoil” cap and we’re out of Hamilton, south into Bushy Park for the short dogleg down the Derwent towards New Norfolk again.
There’s a wide-arc bypass to the west of Hobart via Feilton and the Plenty River into Judbury and Huonville, a logging road for access to the huge pine plantations of the SouthWest.
Near Feilton….a paddock full of huge “mole-hills”.
The majority proves a fairly rough and corrugated bush-road which could be anywhere in Australia... the fun bit finally starts on the descent into Judbury, with the views opening up towards the Hartz Mountains in the south.
Plenty of visitors on the new caravan park just outside Huonville where we finish up after a fruitless search for some pub-beds, not realizing that it’s a public holiday long-weekend and “we’re only 20 mins from Hobart CBD, mate”
The “foghorn-triplets”…. Christ, can those buggers make a racket, or what?
It's an early night, trying to catch up on a bit of lost sleep over the last few nights...let's see what the morning brings.