For years now, whenever my wife has asked me, “What would you like to do; what’s top on on your “bucket list”?” the answer has always been the same. Ride around Australia.
Well, while we were having a very pleasant lunch in town yesterday the subject came up again and, suddenly it seemed to spring into focus like never before. Suddenly, for no discernable reason, it switched from being a “possibility” to a “probability”; from a “would like to do” to a “must do”. After all, here I am, 61 years old (nearly) and a surely finite number of years left in which I will be able to ride and to achieve the goal. As I said, it all suddenly shifted from being something that was ethereal and in the undefined future into the present and the possibility of being achieved soon. Don’t ask me why.
Anyhow, with that in mind, and with the idea that some serious planning is definitely required, I sat down last night with a calculator and my good friend google maps and did some computations. Around Australia, keeping pretty much to Highway #1 which is sealed for the whole distance, is approximately 14000kms. Working on averaging a fairly conservative 500kms per day, that works out to 28 riding days, or close enough to a month.
So, I figure that if I allow 6 weeks I will have plenty of time to stop and smell the roses along the way, see all the “must see” tourist highlights, have plenty of non-riding rest days and maybe even a chance to do some fishing along the way (always fancied a bit of barramundi fishing in the Territory).
I plan to stick to my usual touring routine, stay at country hotels wherever possible, have a big breakfast after doing a couple of hundred k’s early in the morning; a light lunch in mid-afternoon and a sensible dinner. Since I don’t drink alcohol at all I don’t have to factor that into my calculations; a camel back and lots of water should both enhance hydration in the tropics and keep expenses down.
Now, a bit of preliminary costing indicates that this trip will need to be a “once in a lifetime” one, because it could easily cost around $7000 when all the potential costs are added up.
A thorough check-over of the bike and fitting harder “touring” tyres instead of the softer “sports” tyres that are my usual fare should also see me being able to complete the full lap without having to change tyres. Likewise a new chain and sprockets before leaving should also take those components out of contention for the whole journey. Since Highway #1 is now fully sealed for the whole lap, dirt/gravel riding is also pretty much out with the consequent saving of wear and tear on vital components.
Now, for the intriuging bit. I am actually thinking of taking the Kawasaki rather than the VFR!! Yes, if it scrubs up OK and the resto gets it back on the road and in good shape, I might take it instead for a number of reasons, some of them logical and some of them quirky. Firstly, it will keep the k’s off BBII. Yes, I know that VFR’s will do hundreds of thousands, but I’m hoping to make BBII last for a long while and not riding it on the lap would be a big step in that direction. But mostly I figure that it would be a buzz to ride a 24 year old bike on an adventure like this. The Kawasaki is solid, reliable, has around 100bhp, so plenty of power, relatively unsophisticated, and can carry a decent load without wilting. The jury is still out on this one, but it is an interesting idea and worth pursuing.
Anyway, that’s the plan so far. Projected date? July 2010. So I’d better stop typing ans start getting ready. Watch this space.
sanoptic says
Hi,
I can’t remember the year but there was a tv show on a guy doing the round Australia record on a Honda CB750 in the days i believe before the Nullarbor was fully tarred,it was very interesting just as your [non- record] trip will be.
As for choice of bike i would choose the one with less knee bend & vibration as 6 weeks on the bike will take its toll even if it’s just 500k per day.
Still it’s a once in a lifetime trip & i wish you all the best on your journey.
cheers
admin says
Craig Brown was the guy you’re thinking of, (I think)