Riding Down Under - Tropical Cairns Australia
- Thread starter MacDoc
- Start date
Re: The Gillies
Between finding a new place for home and biz and visiting relative in Brisbane the poor KLR has been lonesome.
Took it for a spin up the Kuranda Range road to reload on Annabels Anzac cookies.
discovered a tiny German food place in Kuranda and free wifi
Has crocodile and emu sausage as well....$11 and I'm stuffed and by Aus standards thats super cheap. Prices are all in and no tipping
Was stuffed even without the carroway rye.....which I'm currently munching on with coffee at Annabelles
Loaded up on her Anzac cookies ( biscuits or bickies here ) which are rock hard and yummy concoctions that were originally sent to soldiers - designed not to crumble in transit.
They were perfect for travel and then dunk in tea to soften ..good travel snack
Many variations now....I like the ones I get in Kuranda ...$4.50 for 5 - great to have in the top case.
Might get a decent ride in tomorrow. Buddy with the Burgman is on sick leave for a few weeks so offered it to me ...bit longer legs than the KLR and the KLR needs a front tire.
Between finding a new place for home and biz and visiting relative in Brisbane the poor KLR has been lonesome.
Took it for a spin up the Kuranda Range road to reload on Annabels Anzac cookies.
discovered a tiny German food place in Kuranda and free wifi
Has crocodile and emu sausage as well....$11 and I'm stuffed and by Aus standards thats super cheap. Prices are all in and no tipping
Was stuffed even without the carroway rye.....which I'm currently munching on with coffee at Annabelles
Loaded up on her Anzac cookies ( biscuits or bickies here ) which are rock hard and yummy concoctions that were originally sent to soldiers - designed not to crumble in transit.
They were perfect for travel and then dunk in tea to soften ..good travel snack
Many variations now....I like the ones I get in Kuranda ...$4.50 for 5 - great to have in the top case.
Might get a decent ride in tomorrow. Buddy with the Burgman is on sick leave for a few weeks so offered it to me ...bit longer legs than the KLR and the KLR needs a front tire.
Re: The Gillies
Not getting out on the bike much with holidays and organizing the move remotely despite lovely and unseasonably dry weather.
Did get an hour at the local small lakes ....
A few kids throwing bread brought the dinosaurs of birds in close.
New one for me Magpie geese....odd bill.
Not getting out on the bike much with holidays and organizing the move remotely despite lovely and unseasonably dry weather.
Did get an hour at the local small lakes ....
A few kids throwing bread brought the dinosaurs of birds in close.
New one for me Magpie geese....odd bill.
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Pretty sun lizard stayed still long enough. Some are so small they are transparent.
Odd twist of events put me back on the a Burgman 650 for the duration of the trip this year. Riding buddy can't ride for a few weeks and wants it used. KLR needs a new front tire which I really did not want to put on then leave it for 9 months.
So nursed the chunky 606 to Port Douglas and swapped bikes,
Enjoyed the smooth power and easy handling...not so much ucky suspension and short range....enjoyed the brakes coming down the Kuranda range road.
Thought I was getting skunked for photos but then Mareeba delivered with a few mobs of roos grazing the golf course.
the mob boss..
nice in flight shot I don't get too often.
not sure who was having more fun - the groundskeeper or the roos.
Odd twist of events put me back on the a Burgman 650 for the duration of the trip this year. Riding buddy can't ride for a few weeks and wants it used. KLR needs a new front tire which I really did not want to put on then leave it for 9 months.
So nursed the chunky 606 to Port Douglas and swapped bikes,
Enjoyed the smooth power and easy handling...not so much ucky suspension and short range....enjoyed the brakes coming down the Kuranda range road.
Thought I was getting skunked for photos but then Mareeba delivered with a few mobs of roos grazing the golf course.
the mob boss..
nice in flight shot I don't get too often.
not sure who was having more fun - the groundskeeper or the roos.
DownUnder
Well-known member
Dont forget Pineapple if your making it a burger with the "works".
Got 660 k in today on the Burgman - nice to back on a road bike - we swapped bikes today - BMW 650 and the 100km on that was gruesome only for lack of any throttle relief.
Strong return spring ..even buddy knows he should have something on it but rarely does distance,
Perfect day and we had fun on the Cook Highway ( think 144 with traffic ) along the Pacific and Range Roads - Rex and Kuranda.....
Road to Cooktown a bit boring with a few fun stretches - big sweeps with elevation changes (9% grades with sweeps )
Long run to have coffee but also caught the museum... 3rd time lucky... it was open this time.
Some pics coming.
Felt okay and that would be a typical day for the upcoming trip. The seat on this Burgman is not as good as the Daylong on mine or ( I hope ) the one I picked up for the Vstrom.
Guys back home tell me it's way good and others in group buy like theirs
Strong return spring ..even buddy knows he should have something on it but rarely does distance,
Perfect day and we had fun on the Cook Highway ( think 144 with traffic ) along the Pacific and Range Roads - Rex and Kuranda.....
Road to Cooktown a bit boring with a few fun stretches - big sweeps with elevation changes (9% grades with sweeps )
Long run to have coffee but also caught the museum... 3rd time lucky... it was open this time.
Some pics coming.
Felt okay and that would be a typical day for the upcoming trip. The seat on this Burgman is not as good as the Daylong on mine or ( I hope ) the one I picked up for the Vstrom.
Guys back home tell me it's way good and others in group buy like theirs
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Serious spider ....
Would not want a face full of that riding in the boonies.
Lovely tho....at a distance
In the "I can't get no respect" ugly bird category ...the winner is.
The Bush Turkey....all dressed up for courting...catch that vertical tail fin and stylish yellow ruff
Runner up for ugly...
The Noisy Friar bird
and the Northern Cassowary came third tho the judges were terrified.
Rainy night in Cairns...25 degrees and working on line.
Would not want a face full of that riding in the boonies.
Lovely tho....at a distance
In the "I can't get no respect" ugly bird category ...the winner is.
The Bush Turkey....all dressed up for courting...catch that vertical tail fin and stylish yellow ruff
Runner up for ugly...
The Noisy Friar bird
and the Northern Cassowary came third tho the judges were terrified.
Rainy night in Cairns...25 degrees and working on line.
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big goanna wandering about. Down at Etty Bay which is pretty reliable for cassowary but the male lost his chick a week ago so has not been around as much
SO waited for a couple of hours - reading and working on line, no cassowary and 120 km to home.
Geared up, music on, just pulling away.....someone points...
got my fill of cassowary photos today.
Should have taken the helmet off to concentrate a bit but hey...
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Back in Canada now after a wonderful last week in Western Australia - bit of a shocker to be back in GTA traffic after 6 days in true wilderness.
After a long and rather eventful drive to Kunuara from Darwin in Western Australia north - complete with purpose lit fires
maybe got a tad close to this ....you can see the heat ripples...
Bestest job in the world setting these fires from a helicopter with incendiary bombs the size of a golf ball.
Fire devices now and then - our guide said a pair of aborignals working together could start a fire in one minute with fire kit tho the incendiaries would be more fun
BTW our aboriginal guide demonstrated their lethal weapon ....the woomera which is an 8' spear launched with a throwing stick. I was shocked when he tossed it 100 yards across the river and certainly would kill anything on the receiving end.
Our rented Panjero was welcome for the 500+ mile hike south to the Kimberleys.
Nailed a young roo on the way. - GF was driving and upset about it but hey - 80 mph and he jumped out. Panjero didn't even feel it tho we heard it.
Fortunately got into clearer weather further south when we flew into the Bungle Bungles....the stars at night were superb...it is one of the darkest places on the planet....
This was the hilghlight of the my three month stay this time. A world heritage region called the Bungle Bungles in the Kimberley Moutains of Western Australia. My GF had wanted to see it all her life and we got the window for a few days of many jaw dropping sights including two days or very long ( and expensive ) drives tho the drives both directions were wonderful.
This is what we went for.
These were once ( 360 million years ago ) mountains that were higher than Everest....a mile higher at over 30,000'.
Worn by time and weather, rain and wind to these fantastical shapes
Elephant rock for obvious reasons
We had the place to ourselves with our guide.
heat was in the 85-90 degree range and VERY dry. Yet only a few weeks ago this area would have been impassable with water everywhere.
this would have been a raging torrent
millions of years of this annual cycle of torrential monsoon rains then desert dry heat carved the canyons and the strange banded mounds.
This is the trail into cathedral canyon where we ate lunch ( about 1.5 miles each way )
On the way end there is this section that cuts across the canyon on the both sides ....it has been traced to a meteor impact - geologists have located the giant crater that shattered the cap rock
The trek was worthwhile....impossible to capture the scale of this carved canyon - every year a torrent pours in - you can see the lip of the waterfall above.
There are thousands of canyons and the entire area can go under 4 meters of water ( 17 feet ) ......the high water marks are along the highway. Lot of carving power.
No one gets in or out in the wet season. Not only due to the flooding itself but the area has thousands of crocs.
This is a small "freshie" which came up to the camp for a snack each evening
now this ( not my photo ) is a large scale version of the salties that lurk in the rivers - not doctored ...yes they get that big and even more
add in the top poisonous snakes in the world and you want to be very careful.
Australia is loaded with parrots and this was a new one for me
and these brolga were a treat along the highway
The smoke caught up to us and made for a fine close of the adventure. The camera can only hint at the scale and fantastic variety of the region the aboriginals have called home for 40,000 + years ( latest dating is 57,000 and this is the area where they would have come down from Indonesia.....cave art in the area has been dated to 40,000 years for the drawings themselves.
After a long and rather eventful drive to Kunuara from Darwin in Western Australia north - complete with purpose lit fires
maybe got a tad close to this ....you can see the heat ripples...
Bestest job in the world setting these fires from a helicopter with incendiary bombs the size of a golf ball.
Fire devices now and then - our guide said a pair of aborignals working together could start a fire in one minute with fire kit tho the incendiaries would be more fun
BTW our aboriginal guide demonstrated their lethal weapon ....the woomera which is an 8' spear launched with a throwing stick. I was shocked when he tossed it 100 yards across the river and certainly would kill anything on the receiving end.
Our rented Panjero was welcome for the 500+ mile hike south to the Kimberleys.
Nailed a young roo on the way.
- GF was driving and upset about it but hey - 80 mph and he jumped out. Panjero didn't even feel it tho we heard it.Fortunately got into clearer weather further south when we flew into the Bungle Bungles....the stars at night were superb...it is one of the darkest places on the planet....
This was the hilghlight of the my three month stay this time. A world heritage region called the Bungle Bungles in the Kimberley Moutains of Western Australia. My GF had wanted to see it all her life and we got the window for a few days of many jaw dropping sights including two days or very long ( and expensive ) drives tho the drives both directions were wonderful.
This is what we went for.
These were once ( 360 million years ago ) mountains that were higher than Everest....a mile higher at over 30,000'.
Worn by time and weather, rain and wind to these fantastical shapes
Elephant rock for obvious reasons
We had the place to ourselves with our guide.
heat was in the 85-90 degree range and VERY dry. Yet only a few weeks ago this area would have been impassable with water everywhere.
this would have been a raging torrent
millions of years of this annual cycle of torrential monsoon rains then desert dry heat carved the canyons and the strange banded mounds.
This is the trail into cathedral canyon where we ate lunch ( about 1.5 miles each way )
On the way end there is this section that cuts across the canyon on the both sides ....it has been traced to a meteor impact - geologists have located the giant crater that shattered the cap rock
The trek was worthwhile....impossible to capture the scale of this carved canyon - every year a torrent pours in - you can see the lip of the waterfall above.
There are thousands of canyons and the entire area can go under 4 meters of water ( 17 feet ) ......the high water marks are along the highway. Lot of carving power.
No one gets in or out in the wet season. Not only due to the flooding itself but the area has thousands of crocs.
This is a small "freshie" which came up to the camp for a snack each evening
now this ( not my photo ) is a large scale version of the salties that lurk in the rivers - not doctored ...yes they get that big and even more
add in the top poisonous snakes in the world and you want to be very careful.
Australia is loaded with parrots and this was a new one for me
and these brolga were a treat along the highway
The smoke caught up to us and made for a fine close of the adventure. The camera can only hint at the scale and fantastic variety of the region the aboriginals have called home for 40,000 + years ( latest dating is 57,000 and this is the area where they would have come down from Indonesia.....cave art in the area has been dated to 40,000 years for the drawings themselves.
Re: The Gillies
Let me know, i spend most of my winter months in Brisbane and tag along if schedules work out.
Oh I did Glorious and Mt Nebo...in the back of relatives Honda SUV
No Bike.
Next year is plotted to ship my KLR to Brisbane and spend a week.
Let me know, i spend most of my winter months in Brisbane and tag along if schedules work out.
Add on to the Bungles....
This sizeable croc surfaced in front of the boat just as we pulled away ...I wasn't ready for the shot but GF got it with the wide angle.
Don't be fooled ....he's a lot closer to the guy fishing than it looks and he's a good 4m - all we are seeing there is head and beginning of the back.
Person got taken on the weir right behind the croc - fishing on the rocks in the middle of the river and got nailed from behind....people were yelling but he could not hear due to the water noise.
Got one panicked look behind him.....last thing he saw was something with a lot of teeth headed his way.
On a less bloody note....the cave art was wonderful. Multiple layers dating back thousands of years.
crocs and snakes not the only risk....
got a kick out this tenacious plant stretching the boundaries...
This sizeable croc surfaced in front of the boat just as we pulled away ...I wasn't ready for the shot but GF got it with the wide angle.
Don't be fooled ....he's a lot closer to the guy fishing than it looks and he's a good 4m - all we are seeing there is head and beginning of the back.
Person got taken on the weir right behind the croc - fishing on the rocks in the middle of the river and got nailed from behind....people were yelling but he could not hear due to the water noise.
Got one panicked look behind him.....last thing he saw was something with a lot of teeth headed his way.
On a less bloody note....the cave art was wonderful. Multiple layers dating back thousands of years.
crocs and snakes not the only risk....
got a kick out this tenacious plant stretching the boundaries...
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Getting ready for my 5th year in Cairns ( maybe 6th ...losing track ).
Have lined up a DR650SE
for about $4k Cdn
One of my friends who rides knows the owner and the nice bit it has two sets of wheels - one with road tires the other with off road.
50 KG lighter than my KLR which is a big plus and better suspension.
Oddly my buddy there also just bought one for the same reasons...lower weight. The KLR is a grunt to pick up.
Have lined up a DR650SE
One of my friends who rides knows the owner and the nice bit it has two sets of wheels - one with road tires the other with off road.
50 KG lighter than my KLR which is a big plus and better suspension.
Oddly my buddy there also just bought one for the same reasons...lower weight. The KLR is a grunt to pick up.
Motorcycle Mike
Well-known member
Nice bike with all the required farkle, and having two sets of wheels is great. I'm considering replacing my vstrom with that same setup, although I could likely avoid the need for two sets of wheels if I just ran heidenaus and avoided mud and deep sand.
The experienced guys on ODSC all say the DR is far superior to the KLR for anything remotely offroad.
The experienced guys on ODSC all say the DR is far superior to the KLR for anything remotely offroad.
Yeah - I figure the lower weight and better suspension will keep me out of trouble and at least I can pick it up when I'm riding solo.
There is a well regarded Sargent seat for it as well and there is a lower version ( I have the same as on the KLR ).
Reading some reviews I'm surprised how many using it purely as a street ride. Must be reasonably comfortable for distance.
I was thinking 400 but weight difference is marginal and my heft can use the extra gurnt.
There is a well regarded Sargent seat for it as well and there is a lower version ( I have the same as on the KLR ).
Reading some reviews I'm surprised how many using it purely as a street ride. Must be reasonably comfortable for distance.
I was thinking 400 but weight difference is marginal and my heft can use the extra gurnt.
Motorcycle Mike
Well-known member
There are a lot of riders who've had both that say the dr is superior to the drz unless you intend to do more serious offroading.
I've never ridden a DR, but the comparisons say the DRZ is more 'twitchy' and like riding on a rail or a fence where they say you sort of sink into the DR.
I've sat on a stock DR... and it does not seem like a big bike at all. I don't think I would need to have it lowered or a lower seat to be comfortable on it. It is also very simple -- air cooled (although has an oil cooler rad), screw adjustable valves, analogue speedo/odo, no tach, just a simple and reliable bike with enough hp and torque to easily do highway and then swing onto a double track trail or logging road easily.
I ride with some very experienced dirt riders at ODSC... all 70+ years old and have been riding for 50+ years and a lot of them rave about the DR. Bob prefers the DR350, but seeing how they stopped making that in 1999 he now rides a newer DR650 during his winters in Arizona. He's had a F650GS, Vstrom, multiple DR650s, multiple DR350s, a DRZ400, a KLR, and many more... #1 to him is the DR350, #2 is the DR650. Bob is the GPS guru at ODSC and is a Brit who has ridden everything and everywhere... a tonne of experience.
His post on ODSC: http://www.odsc.on.ca/.xenforo/inde...400-and-a-dl650-to-a-dr650.22350/#post-144013
And here was what Bob had to say in a personal email:
I've never ridden a DR, but the comparisons say the DRZ is more 'twitchy' and like riding on a rail or a fence where they say you sort of sink into the DR.
I've sat on a stock DR... and it does not seem like a big bike at all. I don't think I would need to have it lowered or a lower seat to be comfortable on it. It is also very simple -- air cooled (although has an oil cooler rad), screw adjustable valves, analogue speedo/odo, no tach, just a simple and reliable bike with enough hp and torque to easily do highway and then swing onto a double track trail or logging road easily.
I ride with some very experienced dirt riders at ODSC... all 70+ years old and have been riding for 50+ years and a lot of them rave about the DR. Bob prefers the DR350, but seeing how they stopped making that in 1999 he now rides a newer DR650 during his winters in Arizona. He's had a F650GS, Vstrom, multiple DR650s, multiple DR350s, a DRZ400, a KLR, and many more... #1 to him is the DR350, #2 is the DR650. Bob is the GPS guru at ODSC and is a Brit who has ridden everything and everywhere... a tonne of experience.
His post on ODSC: http://www.odsc.on.ca/.xenforo/inde...400-and-a-dl650-to-a-dr650.22350/#post-144013
And here was what Bob had to say in a personal email:
