Riding Down Under - Tropical Cairns Australia

[MacDoc]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

And then there is the 91 year in a caravan in Bowen....dead centre

THERE’S not much that can scare Keith Hills. And that’s lucky, because Cyclone Debbie is headed straight for him.
The 91-year-old Tamworth man lives in a caravan at Queen’s Beach in Bowen and says he’s seen his fair share of cyclones.
But whether his portable home and its tarps can withstand the Category 4 storm is another question. Regardless, he says he’s staying put anyway.
“I’ve got plenty of supplies,
I’ve got enough tucker,” he said.
“I’ve got bread rolls, milk and butter.
“Me daughter this morning, she said ‘you right dad?’
“I said yeah, if it’s gonna kill (me) I’m meant to go that way.”
Forecasters say Bowen is right in the path of Cyclone Debbie, which is expected to make landfall later today, and the town is expected to cop some major damage.
Despite a population of 10,000, there is room for only 800 people in Bowen’s cyclone shelter.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/e...n/news-story/90cd351704706191a816b26f32202b95

 

[MacDoc]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Don't know what happened too the old codger.....he was ground zero.

What a mess

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-29/cyclone-debbie-aftermath-gallery/8395494

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-...rade-fears-mount-for-queensland-towns/8393914

Iffy for my ride to Brisbane

It's not entirely over as some areas are getting immense rain ...640 mm....two feet+.

 

[MacDoc]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Still deciding on the Brisbane trip...

This kind of flooding ( this is the main highway ) will be in place all the way to Brisbane and not sure if it will recede by Monday ( it's Thursday here now )

The water shown is about a foot deep ....easy enough for the KLR but there are so many flood areas and some will be far deeper.

more coverage
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-29/flooded-roads-limiting-access-to-cyclone-ravaged-towns/8398454

Got my shifter sorted finally ... nice to have a patient friend who likes maintaining the KLR.

Partner is agitating against it tho I'd dearly love to take some of my own photos...might have to just go to Townsville and do an out and back to Bowen and a bit further south...it's only 200 km south of my first scheduled over night.

The path further south is getting drowned...

 

[1mototc]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

X

Sent from my SM-G903W using Tapatalk

 

[MacDoc]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

??

••••

Sunny days up here north of the carnage ....still doubtful for the ride south as the devastation is continuing with heavy flooding.. Been very hot tho here ...every day high 30s as the cyclonic winds come in off the interior tho a few Tstorms have helped. Too hot to ride other than early in the morning.

Odd road hazards....a bull shark stranded in a puddle..

the sucker is dropping buckets of rain to the south right along my intended ride path

hehe

I somehow don't think this is going to be cleaned up in 3 days...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-30/cyclone-debbie-storm-continues-along-east-coast/8402528

But might be fun to play in the water a bit

 

[MacDoc]

or not ....they are evacuating the town part way down ...I just cannot justify travelling through an active disaster area. Maybe next year.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/e...s/news-story/b52c213335abdfefd8edf1f227effd1f

Queensland weather: Rockhampton braces for 100-year flood after Cyclone Debbie
AAP and Tom Snowdon, The Courier-Mail
April 1, 2017 11:56am

Queensland weather: Rescues as Logan waits for peak
Queensland floods: Four missing after Debbie flooding

RESIDENTS in low-lying parts of Rockhampton have been warned to prepare for what could be the biggest flood to hit the central Queensland town in almost a century.

I'll go north and maybe get some fresh croc photos at Hartleys and cross the Daintree for lunch

Lovely ride up to Cape Trib ....bike felt good and vry planted in the odd fractured pavement up there. Speed bumps were hilarious ...they are vicious up there to save the cassowaries that roam across the road.. KLR of course you don't even need to slow.

Speaking of cassowaries .....finally saw a male and his chick up there today ...no picks as they disappeared into the bush.

Alsoa sizeable goanna running across the road..

Some rain.....buy mostly sunny ....just enough to make me cool. enjoyable ride ....nother 60k to home and errands. Nice 280 km out and back .......and FINALLLY starting to cool off...only 30 today.

 

[MacDoc]

Finally a small adventure

ACCESS VIA MOUNT GARNET AND VIA KENNEDYOn December 6, 2014 the Cardwell Shire Council reopened the Kirrama Range Road from the intersection with Kennedy Creek Road to the Shire boundary, a distance of approximately 18kms. As a result, visitors will be able to access Blencoe Falls, Girringun National Park, from both, Mount Garnet and Kennedy. For further information contact the Cassowary Coast Regional Council on 1300 763 903. BLENCOE FALLSLocation:112 Km from Mount Garnet Post OfficeThe sign shown below is located on the Kennedy Hwy four kilometres from the Mount Garnet Post Office, at the Gunnawarra Rd turn-off. Please note camping booking details.

The beauty of Blencoe Falls was probably one of Queensland’s best-kept secrets until most of the second series of American reality television ‘Survivor’, was filmed on its location.

The following description at the entrance anticipates what you will see for yourself: Blencoe Creek plunges 90m to the pool below, before cascading a further 230m to the base of the gorge. This is Blencoe Falls, one of the most stunning waterfalls in Australia.Blencoe Falls is a section of the Girringun National Park, part of the traditional lands of the Warungnu Aboriginal people, who hope you will enjoy visiting, being respectful of the fact that this is their sacred place.The entire landscape is magnificent, with the hoop pine rainforest valley below. Those who have camped in the area have found it great for bushwalking, mountain biking, swimming, kayaking and fishing.

http://www.mountgarnet.org.au/blencoe.html


The Kirrama Ramge road is a great ride but it's a fairly full day. Couple of hours down to Kennedy then west from there. Another four or five hours through the back country ( light dual track ) before coming back via Ravenshoe.

 

[MacDoc]

Ugh ...full day understatement .....ride was fine tho 180 km off pavement a bit much for old bones....couple of tense moments in sand remembering to stay on the throttle..enough washboard for while. New tires went where pointed ...couple of fun water crossings but generally was not slick and not dusty and not hot and that's unusually good weather.

This was pretty typical ...from rough
This would be the roughest

..you just had to pick your line and mind the occasional ute.

to good dual track ..just had to pay attention to varied surfaces - hard to see with the shadows ..speeds 15 kph to 80+ tho the 80 plus threw up some gotchas with hard to see sand and gravel pockets.

Paddled part way across this then rode the rest ....didn't take a pic today ...

this was 9 years ago ...it's deteriorated

Was doing okay for a 500km day then on the 170 km pavement ride home the niggling chain sprocket issue which we could not identify turned into a major issue that was not safe to continue.
Parked inside a Honda shop - will fetch it in the morning and sort it.

Sweet lady at the Puma gas station fed me coffee and chocolate biscuits.

So long day?? - yeah 14.5 hours. Partner picked me in Atherton and ride down the range road was different at night. Good for her handling the 210 turn Gilles after dark.....

 

[MacDoc]

Re: The Gillies

15 months later ....sigh
Finally getting some riding in. KLR is running like a charm but owner a bit dodgy. Heading down for a run to Etty Bay with a riding buddy and a swim and perhaps some cassowaries

New chain and well maintained bike ...just a treat. Trying to ride every other day for the next few weeks. There are not a lot of choices but always nice to visit in the dry season.

This is dangerous behaviour ...they are not afraid and they can hurt you badly with those raptor feet.

[video=youtube;W-xvBsaZex4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-xvBsaZex4[/video]

The birds at Etty Bay are pretty acclimatized to wandering around humans.

Riding with Burgman 650 buddy.

easy 100 km down and it's a gorgeous day.

 

[AllistonGT]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

??


Odd road hazards....a bull shark stranded in a puddle..

Not going to see that around the GTA! haha!

 

[MacDoc]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Geez creaky achy pair tho I think Bruce got the worst of it as he's not been riding at all and had an additional 120 km to go.

Used the padded motorcycle shorts and I'd say sucessfully. ( MotoSkivvies ). Bike is running very well..Mitas 07s and new chain makes the bike quite eager to go +100 kph comfortably where the old chain and 606s were only civilized 80-90.
Verra noisy above that tho I adored the 606s in soft going ...goes where pointed.

Pioneer Rayz made the ride very civilized so listened to audiobook both ways.

Bruce brought down the Scalas so job tomorrow when there is good light is to get it attached to the convertible helmet.

Generally an enjoyable ride tho points out how out of riding shape I am.

 

[MacDoc]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Bloody hell.....14C !!!!! I'm supposed to be in the tropics.

Hoping it warms up a bit as want go up to Kuranda and refresh my Anzac biscuit supply

Anzac biscuit. ... Anzac biscuits have long been associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) established in World War I. The biscuits were sent by wives and women's groups to soldiers abroad because the ingredients do not spoil easily and the biscuits kept well during naval transportation.

Partner is away for a week so lots of riding time available and the bike is running very well...not so sure about the rider

Since the house has no heat I'm already layered so likely stay that way and wait till it gets a bit warmer around 10 am.

Getting there ...nice sun and weather network says 19 but feels chillier. Will wait a bit.

 

[MacDoc]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Pure serendipity

This is the kind of stuff the Gx1 can do. Riding up The James Cook Highway north of Cairns and spotted a raptor fish feed.

two adults feeding two hungry chicks.

never even got off the bike. Made my day as the ride was an errand to find lost glasses. As it turned out tho got terric pics and the glasses turned up back at home.

Being able to reach out and get exciting shots in confidence is the reason I got off lower end point and shoot. The camera and lense weighs less than 2 Lb slips into my jacket or shirt pocket.

Having lunch on a ride a couple years and stopped at fav coffee shop and this hard to photograph species decided a mating display was just the thing to entertain me

 

[MacDoc]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Yay got my Australian drivers licence ...open class. I could continue to ride on the Canadian licence indefinitely but having the licence gives me some additional ID for bank accounts etc.

 

[Mad Mike]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Yay got my Australian drivers licence ...open class. I could continue to ride on the Canadian licence indefinitely but having the licence gives me some additional ID for bank accounts etc.

Did you go through as a new rider (graduated) or did you use the Canada-Australia interchange?

Here are a couple of tips from someone once burned:

If you used the exchange route (i.e. you got your AU lic based on the type of CA licences you have), your ON licence will be cancelled once AU reports the exchange to Ontario -- even if AU allows you to hold 2 licences. This has implications when you return, particularly with respect to auto and bike insurance -- your auto insurer likely cancel insurance immediately and I doubt any of them will reissue insurance if you don't have a current ON licence.

Next, if the rules change OR you require your ON licence back, your ON reissue is under the graduated system conditions (M1/2 G1/2) if your AU licence and abstract doesn't show 2 full years experience.

This happened to me. I did my exchange at the CA DMV, they reported the exchange to Ontario who cancelled my ON licence (can't hold an ON licence with a licence from another jurisdiction) -- I never knew. When I returned, only the G got converted back -- CA had different qualifications for MC which were too light for ON -- ON made me restart at M1.

 

[MacDoc]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Good info ...we will head to the local dept of transport and find out.
He did not seem to indicate it would impact as I specifically said I drive and am licenced in both countries but worth checking.

This is a new issue of an open licence not a transfer so maybe that's the difference.
Thanks much tho

 

[MacDoc]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Travelling for a week in southern Australia north of Syndney and over to Canberra via the Blue Mountains which would be a wild place to ride.

We flew to Sydney then hired a car to travel to the Blue Mountains. 3 Sisters was a forest walk ( highly recommended )
https://www.scenicworld.com.au
and a very lovely new species

Eastern Yellow Robin ...new one for me ...so friendly but flitty so kept coming inside the focal range. Lovely bird,.

Nother new one - in the Jenolan Caves area
http://www.jenolancaves.org.au
- after a 7 km trudge around the 3 Sisters area including 17 stories up and down according to the iPhone health program of course we tackle caves the next day. :roll:

currajong ...cheeky jay analogue ...neat sound

unknown parrot patrolling for food scraps ...totally ignored humans.

I wimped out on the second cave

... calves were/are in lockup mode so wandered the grounds of the Cave centre and photographed the birds.

A bee in the pond made interesting water patterns

The carnage along the Great Western Highway was epic dead roos of various flavours and decay, wombats, an Echidna, some cattle and even one huge goat with twisted horns :scratch:

Rarely see vehicles without bullcatchers.

Renting a motorcycle in Australia is straight forward and your Canadian licence is fine.

Lot's of AirBnb and camping is a national pastime here.

Flights from Toronto can be as low as $1600 return to Sydney.

Driving on the opposite side of the road take a little time to get used to but if you remember your shifter is on the curb side I find that makes it easier.

You do have to mind speeds ...cops not so tolerant as in Ontario and you don't want to be riding at roo-oclock or sparrows.
But roads are generally good and lots of back roads for ADV exploring.

Australia is the size of continental US with 5% of the population so you pick and choose your spots ...and the time of year.

Right now where we are it's a bit chilly for riding ....think March.

Where we live in Cairns in the tropics tho it's perfect mid teens at night mid 20s during the day and zilch rain.

 

[MacDoc]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Went into the MOT here and just checked that my spanking new Queensland drivers licence did not somehow cancel my Ontario licence and found there is no connection at all so one mild concern put to bed.
The QLD licence just arrived today one more step on the immigration road

 

[MacDoc]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Had a very lovely 250 km ride today up the coast road ans across the Daintree. Mid 20's light winds and low humidity plus had good sleep the night before.

Only 3 weeks till I get back for my fancy new CB500x in Sauga and need to get in some riding here.

Meanwhile

Amazing what shows up on occasion in our rather open to the critters home

No fear

and the ultimate secret wings

 

[MacDoc]

Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Had to wait a bit for weather and drive way but had a lovely all day ride today. 32 and was supposed to be dry but got damp the last 10 minutes.

Couple of nice days coming up.