Riding Down Under - Tropical Cairns Australia

[MacDoc]

Tossed and turned all night. The heat at night is really sleep zapping.
And the lowballers on the bike are annoying.
Two more days and my attitude may improve.
Then again that ain't lookin to rosey neither. Maybe midday Thursday for a short ride

ugh

UPDATED 7:00AM AEST​

27.9°

FEELS LIKE​

33.5°C <<<<<<< and it does.

I relate to this ....fortunately the Pacific Ocean limits the temperatures ( but increases the humidity ).

Australia’s deadliest natural disaster you’ve never heard of
By Jo Lauder, Tyne Logan, Fran Rimrod, Alex Lim and Stacy Gougoulis for ABC Climate
Topic Disasters, Accidents and Emergency Incidents
This is not the start of a post-apocalyptic movie.

Actually, it’s Melbourne in 2009.

In the last week of January, a heatwave settled over Australia’s south-east, locking in endless days and nights of soaring temperatures.

What unfolded over the following two weeks was the deadliest natural disaster in Australia’s recent history. Yet, most people don’t know the full scale of what happened. It was overshadowed by another catastrophe hot on its heels.

good read

Australia's deadliest natural disaster flew under the radar but killed hundreds

Public life ground to a halt, many lost power, and scores of people died behind closed doors. What sounds like the start of a post-apocalyptic movie is in fact Melbourne in January 2009.

www.abc.net.au

 

[MacDoc]

It's trying to storm ...pretty intense up the range.

Timed it okay ...got out in a break and rode up the range and onto the Barron River flood plain.
Got a tiny bit of sand and washboard to give the bike a taste. Since we are a floodwatch now it would all be submerged soon enough



Stock muffler improves the look...sound sucks but quieter than the bashed thrid party exhaust.

Windscreen looks good and tho have not tried at higher speeds...it work.
So this is the rig I'll have for the wet season short rides. Tank bag is waterproof and I put the laptop in a plastic bag and then in the sleeve which stays in place. No problem getting on and off. Glad it was low the causeway is narrow to tun around and quite happily paddled a 5 point+ turn.

 

[MacDoc]

I am stuffed from the Bowls Club holiday feast. Still ugly hot in the house at 10 pm despite pouring rain.
25 feels like 31. Was crowded and noisy when everyone of the 100 piled in. Good food and I for once was hungry.

Bingeing media time. Not looking great for a ride tomorrow,

Still have a gnarly word puzzle to beat

Is this the world’s toughest word search? We dare you to try it

We challenge you to find the scientific terms in this monster of a puzzle – and we’re not even telling you exactly what they are

www.newscientist.com

 

[MacDoc]

Weekend looks a complete write off. Guess I will cover the bike and tweak my ads for various and sundry bits I'm selling. Possible I could ride up the range and look at the Barron tomorrow around 7 am - a little window. Would enjoy that.


In the category of "careful what you wish for"

sinus headache now transformed to low pressure tstorm version

 

[MacDoc]

Think I have scored a Shad 34 for 1/2 price close to me.

That universal mount will fit the rack on the GS. Waiting on reply
That's a good size for me. I had a 39 and it looked oversized on the CB300. Lots of room for me to mount the bike. With the bigger windscreen and smaller Shad 34 should be presentable. This is GS I have and the case will be smaller.

Morning ride looking good before deluge starts again.

Weather gods smiling. Case will fit and weather clear enough to fetch it. √

 

[MacDoc]

Done deal. Final config

Pissing down rain - lucky I got out.

Barron River will be crazy high - but Monday and Tuesday should work to get out to see. The Barron Falls will be spectacular.

Barron River is on a flood watch.

 

[MacDoc]

Might get a ride in tomorrow if I get some sleep.

really need some saddle time and with the top case storage sorted entirely for the wet season. Will switch to the larger tank bag for the Dry.
It's a lovely 26 on the deck - bingeing Faraway Downs.
Conflicting priorities. Enjoying the series.
Rain has gone - a Winter Solstice ride today and a Santa ride on the 25th

Storm system has moved offshore

Merrie Solstice

 

[MacDoc]

Not enough sleep and while a ride in the morning would have been maybe okay ....not now.

Of course I get it completed and have two people interested.
One guy from the tableland is coming tomorrow - weather too bad today. Was happy for the sleep

 

[MacDoc]

Now have to figure where to go from here. Tempted by this - the model gets glowing reviews.
High mileage but that never scares me if the price and condition is right.
Been recently inspected and no issues found. Could use the extra cash.


2005 vtr 250 $1800 - hard to find classic model and has roadworthy.
Guy is leaving jan 1 - if my bike sells then won't leave him hanging bartering...$1800 is fair but going to check around. Good thread on the VTR series. https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/honda-vtr250-intercepter-thread.777133/page-10

 

[MacDoc]

Pretty nice days lined up now the depression has moved offshore.

 

[MacDoc]

Ho Ho from down under just past midnight on the 25th.​

No snow, no fireplace, no chimney so I played Santa to myself and had an Anzac bickie and a glass of milk in my festive Swedish cup complete with reindeer.​

gotta get me one of these​

​

 

[MacDoc]

33 feels like 38 at 10.30 am - heat wave in progress.
Hiding out in the AC room....contemplating

3011 pc holiday gift

The ships tender was very easy and very cute
Partner at the Lego again - Shackletons life boat. The full ship up next....this little guy took her an hour....maybe a week for the big one or more.

 

[MacDoc]

Noraly sez weird video
Yep......somethings with her choice of bike and orginal mechanic all paid off....

 

[MacDoc]

Lazy day - stayed up too late reading.
Changed my avatar pic to that of a Birdwing photo I took in the backyard a while back - the giant birdwings are the size of your palm and on occasion flutter into the house. There are escapes out the the top of the deck roof. Not many showing this year as we are missing the vines they breed on. Botanist partner busy finding some to transpant.

 

[MacDoc]

Have not ridden in a few days since I sort of closed the bike deals...sell and buy. Deposits both ways.
Partly its too damn hot by the time I wake up after staying up way too late.... it's 3 am now....napped til 1 pm yesterday ...I like lucid dreaming and have done for years. I was in a long good one that I kept drifting out and back in for hours all on purpose.
Does not make for good time of day to ride even tho Hungry Jacks is really tempting me.

That's a lot of food for $8. I could bring the cheeseburger home for later and have the Whopper and sundae eating out and reading. It's a nice little 20km there and back to it.
Our regular eating rarely or never includes real beef ( we use BirdsEye fake mince which is good but )so I could get two fixes out of it.
I get a free drink, small diet coke or a decent small latte with it so good value
Relax for 1/2 hour and read and munch.
It's Sunday so traffic should be light ....I'll set alarm for 11 am - give me enough time to get mobile.
I do need to strip down the BMW of a few things not going with it.
I just ate enough carbs from the remaining holiday sweets to make me sleep. Really like the mince tarts.
I have been following some small electric motorcycles coming here that I could live with but will wait til the whole category gets cheaper and better. Range is already improving.

Royal Enfield Flying Flea

The take-up of electric motorcycles is nowhere near what many predicted, which is why Royal Enfield is taking a slightly different approach with its forthcoming EV platform

amcn.com.au

Prototype Himalayan EV getting near production

I would guess it will still be out of my price range but......

o official specifications have been announced, but there’s plenty we can see on the C6 which gives a lot away. It boasts belt final drive, while the motor and magnesium battery case are mounted in a forged aluminium frame. Alvisi told me “the goal is to have something around 100 kilos” and confirmed the girder-style front end was as much a weight-saving decision as it was in helping to achieve the premium feel of the C6.

In terms of electronics, it will no doubt be the most advanced machine ever to roll off a Royal Enfield production line. As well as the ABS rings present on the hubs, an anti-lock braking system, which we’re told will be lean-angle sensitive, the switchblocks reveal the C6 will boast traction control, cruise control and switchable riding maps – the first RE model to include any of those features – while the lightweight narrow wheels are shod with CEAT ‘Energy Ride EV’ tyres, presumably developed specifically for this application, 90/90-19 front and rear. Another sign of just how production-ready the C6 is are the pillion seat and ’pegs, which appeared on one of the display bikes, indicating optional accessories have not only been planned, but already produced.

Royal Enfield revealed it has filed 28 patents “and counting” pertaining to its electric platform.

Sweet looking

 

[GreyGhost]

Have not ridden in a few days since I sort of closed the bike deals...sell and buy. Deposits both ways.
Partly its too damn hot by the time I wake up after staying up way too late.... it's 3 am now....napped til 1 pm yesterday ...I like lucid dreaming and have done for years. I was in a long good one that I kept drifting out and back in for hours all on purpose.
Does not make for good time of day to ride even tho Hungry Jacks is really tempting me.
View attachment 71668
That's a lot of food for $8. I could bring the cheeseburger home for later and have the Whopper and sundae eating out and reading. It's a nice little 20km there and back to it.
Our regular eating rarely or never includes real beef ( we use BirdsEye fake mince which is good but )so I could get two fixes out of it.
I get a free drink, small diet coke or a decent small latte with it so good value
Relax for 1/2 hour and read and munch.
It's Sunday so traffic should be light ....I'll set alarm for 11 am - give me enough time to get mobile.
I do need to strip down the BMW of a few things not going with it.
I just ate enough carbs from the remaining holiday sweets to make me sleep. Really like the mince tarts.
I have been following some small electric motorcycles coming here that I could live with but will wait til the whole category gets cheaper and better. Range is already improving.

Royal Enfield Flying Flea

The take-up of electric motorcycles is nowhere near what many predicted, which is why Royal Enfield is taking a slightly different approach with its forthcoming EV platform

amcn.com.au

Do you still have the ebike or did that get moved along in all of the bike shuffling?

 

[MacDoc]

That got moved along - good month - sold our telescope 590 our eBike 890 and our 50" spare 4k tv 500
bought $400 of lego worth 1000 or so
space station, saturn v, mars lander and lunar rover, no boxes, all the books some cannot get anymore.

Now stuffed... cheeseburger for midnight - like a $20 meal at regular prices
Whopper, cheeseburger, onion rings, small diet coke. $8
I'm such a sucker for a deal and apparently this will be on for months ....it's better for me as the $5 breakfast deals were only up to 11 am.
TOTALLY unhealthy ....love it

 

[MacDoc]

Noraly back on the road with 40% of her voice.

Allergies driving me buggy....ran across Adri on the CB500F forum ...he gets around.
Heat wave warning and annoyingly sticky if I turn off the a/c.

 

[MacDoc]

Our colourful 1,000 pc puzzle arriving today. We're still chasing a few JWT galaxies but $$$!!!

Was inclined to ride today, not enough sleep. Likely won't tomorrow but the 1st to bring in the new year and snag another whopper deal.
My little bike wheel spinner arrived ...will try on the new bike. Actually thought the CB500F might have a center stand but no luck.
This should work for the chain and small enough to throw in the top box.

 

[MacDoc]

Shackleton's boat progressing nicely .... about half way done 95% partner, 5% me.

Looking for a ride tomorrow early if I get sleep.