Holiday Pictures

Two weeks and 2789 miles (4462 kilometres) from Brisbane to Phillip Island for the Australian GP. Straight there down the M1 to Sydney then to Melbourne via the Hume highway (Dume highway) then to Cowes at Phillip Island. 2 bikes, my wife Toni's 2006 S2R 1000 Monster and my '77 Mk3 Interstate. Both bikes didn't miss a beat, except for the Norton spitting the left exhaust thread just as we started to return north.
The trip back was extended by doing as many twisty bits as the weather permitted, and the Nortons exhaust issue.

We left in the rain and travelled most of the way down in the wet. At Grafton for fuel and some plastic bags over dry socks, inside our wet boots. This works well to keep the cold out.



Goulbourne NSW, still raining.



Near Yass in Victoria, drying out wet tools and lunch



Next stop was Phillip Island where we shared a house with friends with 2 Ducatis (ST4S and ST2)





Then the GP, which was wet Friday and some of Saturday but Dry and cold for Sunday's race.





Did I mention it was bloody cold? And muddy?
The start of the GP





There was also some interesting things there for the classic races, like the Irving Vincent.

Then north via the coast, some very nice roads and country.

Then the Nortons decided to spit the left exhaust thread.



Some fencing wire through the head and twisted tightly, and a stay from the header to the front engine mount.



Then carry on to Batemans Bay.



Then the boring bit around Sydney and north to Nabiac bike Museum then Taree over night.
Then to Warchope and inland on the Oxley Highway to Walcha. A magnificent road that is mile after mile of scraping fun.



Then from Walcha to Glenn Innis in the rain for an overnight stop.





Then north to Tenterfield, then east again to Casino for more fun.
Then Lismore, the back road to Bangalow, then north up the boring highway to Brisbane and home.



I would do the trip again tomorrow, but the Nortons head has to come off and the threads redone first. (and I have to go to work on Monday)
Both bikes performed admirably and the Norton is the most comfortable long distance bike I've ridden.
Take lots of tools, good luggage, wet weather gear, and enjoy some fantastic roads. Shame the weather didn't allow the Snowy trip but we had a ball anyway.

graeme

Great to see a Norton getting proper use, well done that man. Good to see a wife who shares the riding bug as well.
6 of us leapt the ditch and were at Philip Island for the weekend, a great weekend as always - despite the weather.
Had the unusual experience at the track of buying a hot soup instead of a cold beer at one stage :shock:

Ian, were you one of the poor brave souls who camped? We rented a house in Cowes and that was cold. We had mates who were camping who we offered a bed to, but they were happy enough with rum and early nights. Went to NZ south island in May for 2 weeks, that's a place I'd like to have my bike! Graeme. ( also forgot to mention the Throttlemeister cruise control, they are easy to fit, don't take up any grip space, easy to use, safe and save your right hand and wrist from fatigue)

Graeme,

we are a bit too soft for camping these days, we had a house as well but in San Remo - with log burner and plenty of wood fortunately Still had to get up on night 1 and put a few more clothes on to keep warm in bed.
If you do get back over this way there is plenty of good riding in the Nth Island as well, but mostly off the main roads and the scenery is not a patch on the Sth Island.
Iain

Wondered if you were going to post something up Graeme. (Sorry, I'm a bit slow on the uptake.) Sounds like a memorable ride, even if the weather was a bit dodgy. That's Melbourne in Spring for you though. I've got the traditional Two Wheel Xmas Partee early December - a big loop up to Merimbula and Adaminaby and back over three days. Having read your story I'm sorely tempted to take the Norton instead of the TRX...