Riding Down Under - Tropical Cairns Australia

[MacDoc]

Kid is fine and awake and back in the ward.
Tried to get to Chillagoe again but they still have not finished the final bit past Almaden Was just an annoyance on the KLR...a near impossible on the CB300F.
Should have stopped here for lunch ...cost me a $50 KFC pig out that I am still munching on.

This causeway would have been impassable the day before ( foot of rain )




was a gorgeous billabong - still chasing those closer photos - somewhere on the cards.

was using the telephoto lens and managed to catch some dragon flies doing insect Mile High Club whoopee. Ambitious spider.

 

[MacDoc]

Too hot for anything ...spent most of the night cooking and bingeing and it's still sitting at 31 on deck at 5 pm.

 

[MacDoc]

Still too warm to ride - 31 and sunny at 9 am.
Finally caught Kinga at the beginning of a trip in Canada ....she's a bit of a goof but this was interesting to see the pick up and uncrating.

 

[DownUnder]

Kid is fine and awake and back in the ward.
Tried to get to Chillagoe again but they still have not finished the final bit past Almaden Was just an annoyance on the KLR...a near impossible on the CB300F.
Should have stopped here for lunch ...cost me a $50 KFC pig out that I am still munching on.
View attachment 59816
This causeway would have been impassable the day before ( foot of rain )
View attachment 59815


View attachment 59787
was a gorgeous billabong - still chasing those closer photos - somewhere on the cards.
View attachment 59788
was using the telephoto lens and managed to catch some dragon flies doing insect Mile High Club whoopee. Ambitious spider.
View attachment 59817 View attachment 59820

Baby orbweaver? Had a seven legged one almost the size of a dinner plate make a web from my house across to the neighbours (12' span) on the second floor. Was dating the missus at the time and she'd run when going under it incase it fell on her

 

[ToSlow]

Still too warm to ride - 31 and sunny at 9 am.
Finally caught Kinga at the beginning of a trip in Canada ....she's a bit of a goof but this was interesting to see the pick up and uncrating.

I've followed her complete North American series so far, She has a great time traveling the roads

 

[MacDoc]

I've become accustomed to her goofyness and she can ride. My frustration is getting the episodes to line up and play in order.
ie - I just finished an episode in Que and it switched to Swartberg Pass
Good riding days ahead.

 

[MacDoc]

Escaped the heat ...just gorgeous up at Lake Tinaroo - 28 and a nice breeze off the lake.
Sitting in the shade at the picnic table and wih good wfi
Tinaroo was so built up since I've been I got lost ....will go back again soonish. It's a huge manmade lake for power and irrigation. Very full at the moment. Apparently good barramundi fishing. Really under crazy development.
Will come back and visit the dam next time.



Got pulled over by a cop part way up the Gillies much to my surprise - case of mistaken identity for which he apologized but he gave me a breathalyzer anyways ...guess he had a quota. - no harm - jolly older guy.
Managed to turn off my audio book smoothly...he had a strong accent and I had a problem understanding what was going on.
Was quite tired getting home at 3.30 pm very light showers and dodged most..not enough sleep...no surprise there watching back to back music movies.
Napped until 6 which was good.

 

[MacDoc]

Noraly sure trusts her Honda - she's in the area of the older Paris Dakar Rally.

Kinga exploring outport Newfoundland. √

Bingeing media again - 29 on the deck at 10 pm - too hot to sleep.
Took another celebrex today as sore from the ride ...getting old...what else is new.

Nice to see the Sea to Sky Highway again. Good memories

Seems a trend on long legged blondes to do motovlogs.
She'll keep her day job I'm sure but just nice to see parts of BC I'll not get to.

 

[MacDoc]

Caught up on some sleep and now it's a enervating 34 on the deck at noon.
No riding today but sorting my TPMS later in the day.
Have two to try.

Gozens 26-80psi TPMS Tire Pressure Monitor Valve Stem Cap Tyre Sensor Indicator 36 PSI - that's enough for the Honda CB300F. $12 and it's a quick look​

I get a very quick visual check
••••
Will see with that ....this is the fall back and this time I bought one with 4 in case a sender fails which is a current problem. $36 for four which is less than most of the motorcycle ones with just two senders. Amazon Best Seller too.

Amazon Sign In

Good fit where I thought it might work and on off button is accessible.
We'll see if the solar keeps the unit charged. I tend only to check on startup but will run it full time for a bit ...makes a decent noise with pressure drop but not likely audible over wind.
Reads a bit low against the compressor which showed 33 and 35 but that's okay. The other unit read low as well tho not that much ...have never bothered with the stem locks.
$38 in Canada and over 60% 5 star reviews.

https://www.amazon.ca/Pressure-Monitoring-Wireless-Waterproof-Temperature/dp/B08CZT8Z2Y/ref=sr_1_1?crid=LT6JOIO6BQMH&keywords=TPMS+Solar+Tire+Pressure+Monitoring+System%2C&qid=1678850942&sprefix=tpms+solar+tire+pressure+monitoring+system%2C%2Caps%2C704&sr=8-1

 

[MacDoc]

Moved this over to keep track of it as it is looking very feasible.
Good find...I think I could swing the money. I have a little flex on the way over tho not much. I leave for Japan only 3 days after getting back from New Zealand and have currently 4 days available leaving for Canada on the 5th which I do not want to change.

Moto Tours Japan

Offering motorcycle tours all over Japan. Incredible range of bikes and options to make your tour memorable.

www.mototoursjapan.com

That includes the bike and accommodation ( sharing - not a problem ) and some food.
I tentatively booked for my time in Japan in June...since I would need accommodation and food anyways the the incremental price is reasonable.... I was figuring $5-600 for 4 days with accommodation and food.
I've been several times so will not be entirely foreign to me.

Covers off Mt Fuji

Store is an hour from the AIrport. If I go for a P4 bike it will cost about $1000 with any of these bikes ...Vstrom 650 I'd be okay with or the NC750x DCT tho I'm thinking I'd be fine with a smaller bike. Surprised the G310GS is in the more expensive column.
These are $100 more for the 3 days. Japan drives on the left which is what I'm used to now.
I'd rather have a familiar bike or a maxi-scoot.
MT-09
NC750X
NC750X-DCT
MT-07
VULCAN S
V STROM650
CB400SB
CB400SF
Z400
G310GS

There is an xMax and a Vstrom 250 available for $100 less total for the three days...the small Vstrom might be the ticket. 31" seat height on the little Vstrom.
The xMax tho has storage which is useful and I'm fine with a scoot.

Temps in mid 20s in Japan in June.
Since I'm riding kid's eScoot when I get to Canada will bring helmet and gloves and knee pads with me anyways.
Still this looks fun too but I thnk the mid-sized maxi makes more sense.

 

[MacDoc]

On Her Bike - Kinga got a very nice response from the riders in Halifax to the theft of her camping gear.

Wet season fading...gorgeous morning ..up early and well rested this time.
Head to Hasties Swamp and Herberton.

 

[MacDoc]

As nice a day as could be wished for - mid 20s -little wind...no birds tho

On the positive side my fav coffee spot/motorcycle memorabilia is open.


$10 large flat white, scones, jam and cream is still alive on the outer edges.
Need to save my shekels for the Japanese adventure.

gotta love having the Gillies 20 min away,
19km of perfect pavement climbing up through the rain forest. - 1,000 m rise 260 curves.


Debating the way home ...likely the Palmerston since it is early - only 10.30 ...was good to get out early today.

 

[MacDoc]

Went th shorter route and home by 2.30.

Watching Noraly in a wet desert. Very odd to see. She bent her key for no good reason but unlike the naifs in S America had a spare at hand. 640 km ride ...that's pretty impressive. Notice she has some sort of Garmin satellite emergency device clipped on. Excellent idea given her choice of places to ride.

On to the 2Up wanderers in S America. 16k MILES on the original tires on a well laden Vstrom1050!!!
Dunlop TrailMax - Impressive.

Nother pretty Nordic girl on her mcycle camping in Iceland. Nice to revisit it. Highly recommended as a destination.

 

[MacDoc]

Japan trip - partner is on side √ and I've been in contact with the supplier.
One wrinkle tho is my credit card supplied medical has we think a 200cc limit on the size of machine.
THAT might be a problem. Waiting to hear from the tour operator. - it's not..they have a CB190x

Current thinking is. Arrive Narita, train to near the provider ( 1 hour ) and leave the next morning. Cab to the store ( 10 min ) and ride away.
They will store my suitcase at the store til I return.
Yeah this works. Same weight as mine, little bigger tank, less HP but not a big deal...insane fuel mileage.
40-45Km/Liter.

Comes with the luggage too...
That's well over 500km range,

Trip is booked and this hotel with breakfast $81 cdn all in. 10 min taxi ride from the tour provider.

TOKYO INN (AU$81): 2024 Prices & Reviews (Japan) - Photos of Hotel - Tripadvisor

From AU$81 per night on Tripadvisor: Tokyo Inn, Ota. See 118 traveller reviews, 29 photos, and cheap rates for Tokyo Inn, ranked #28 of 67 hotels in Ota and rated 3.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor.

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HONDA CB190X Test Ride Review! The Best Value for Price!! [Webike Motoreport]

The CB190X is a small adventure motorcycle sold by Wuyang-HONDA. It was previously sold by China HONDA under the name CBF190X, but it has been reintroduced with a model c

japan.webike.net

To bad it's not available in Australia...pining for an off pavement ride.

 

[MacDoc]

Talk about localized rain,
Supposed to be none but also no sun. Not inspired to go riding tho last dry day for a while. Meanwhile in Japan....riding near Fuji looks daunting.

I come in from the s east - a lot of those switch backs are walking paths which I will not be wandering.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

goo.gl

Booked an okay hotel 15 min taxi from the bike pick up point. $80 Cdn with breakfast

https://www.expedia.com.au/Tokyo-Hotels-Tokyo-Inn.h1139312.Hotel-Information?gclid=Cj0KCQjwn9CgBhDjARIsAD15h0DapUQG2ppfhlZ_0hAUQcQ_P5c_DULLfGbgEVw3Da84coTdNjQOz-oaAshZEALw_wcB&semcid=AU.UB.GOOGLE.PT-DSA-c-EN.HOTEL&semdtl=a113551942459.b1129042677732.g1dsa-1313286865907.l1.e1c.m1Cj0KCQjwn9CgBhDjARIsAD15h0DapUQG2ppfhlZ_0hAUQcQ_P5c_DULLfGbgEVw3Da84coTdNjQOz-oaAshZEALw_wcB.r1.c1.j19069101.k1.d1528327163637.h1.i137817999993.n1.o1.p1.q1.s1.t1.x1.f1.u1.v1.w1

 

[MacDoc]

Good day to watch sailing.

 

[MacDoc]

Riding window opening up tomorrow ....cooler day, sunny - no rain forcast, fingers crossed. Feeling cooped up.
Took the bike over for the LCD refit - dodged massive rain.
Now have to pick it up.
Meanwhile 300 km into Noraly's desert trek it is lunch time

crazy girl √
••••••

and in S America ....800m to 3200m climb



Discovered the dealer has a used CB190x I can try.....but not today.

 

[MacDoc]

Finally a mostly rain free day. Very nice ride up the range road to Mareeba then around to the Rex...having coffee at Origins....yum. too expensive....too tasty to resist. They really know how to do a coffee. We use a small Nespresso at home which works okay but .....once in a while a top notch coffee out is worth it and these guys are as good as I've had anywhere.

ORIGIN ESPRESSO PORT DOUGLAS - Updated 2023 Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

Origin Espresso Port Douglas, Port Douglas: See 651 unbiased reviews of Origin Espresso Port Douglas, rated 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #7 of 83 restaurants in Port Douglas.

www.tripadvisor.com.au

 

[MacDoc]

Lovely day forecast - cooler and good wind pattern ..will try for Mission Beach early.
Might even take the swim suit since there is a stinger net.
Just a a terrific day - got to Mission just after 9 ....balmy winds. Beachcombers picking off fallen coconuts...right out of Survivor....



Huge beach goes on for miles.....ack retirement is hard at times


Bit ironic sitting on a tropical beach with top notch internet watching Survivor.

Technology is wonderful at times. The other aspect is seeing a pre-covid world as a reminder of what has changed.

Some very good news too...my son feeling well enough to go back to work.....complete surprise that. We'll know more after his scan and once visit later this week.

 

[MacDoc]

Done with Survivor for a while.
These guys are in one of the areas of Chile we enjoyed.

They are climbing up from the coast ..will see how they go with altitude if they are going to Bolivia. ( we were a few KM from the border but was not on the agenda.
I could just drive and get out of the car but not much more. Tough to sleep. Just at 4500 m at Lake Chungara permanent snow was near eye level. I took a few shots leaning on the car and partner drove back down to Putre. Lots of wrecks along the road.


Bit muggy for a ride today, 33 at noon, and had an extra morning sleep which was needed tho it was an easy ride yesterday ....stayed up too late watching Survivor 40 which started pre covid as a massive production and ended with the host working the finale from his garage via zoom.