Places to tour

Discussion in 'Australian Motorcycles' started by Andrew Price, Jan 10, 2009.

  1. Andrew Price

    BS Guest

    I remember it being that wet because I remember making exactly that
    comment (ie. raining every 2-3 days for about 2 months) to mainland
    relatives at the time. I don't have figures to back it up myself, and
    perhaps the total rainfall wasn't that great, but the time of rainfall
    was certainly quite extensive.

    I was there for a bit over 5 years myself, and that was by far the
    wettest of the years I experienced. Compared to your 25 years in the
    same location, it is entirely possible that it was nothing more than an
    anomaly.

    Either way, it was still one of the best places I've ever lived, and the
    only place I still want to go back to. Maybe one day it will actually
    happen!
     
    BS, Jan 17, 2009
    #21
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  2. Did a leisurely lap of the island yesterday. 1010 km and 14 hours
    including stops. It was 7 degrees C when I left at 6 am. Was still
    registering 7 between Burnie and Queenstown at about 8:30. With
    thermals, flannellete shirt, polar fleece vest, riding jacket with
    thermal liner, and wet weather outers, I stopped shivering about 9:00
    am. I think we nudged 19 or 20 around St Helens in mid-afternoon.

    Spent the Christmas and New Year break at Lake Pedder. In 6 days, I saw
    sunshine for about 20 minutes. Temps never got above 12 the whole time.
    It snowed on Scott's Peak on NYE, and hailed and sleeted NYD.

    Counter all that with last Wednesday, when it got to 38 near Epping
    Forest about 49 km away.
     
    Peter Cremasco, Jan 17, 2009
    #22
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  3. I didn't have to buy wet weather gear til I moved to the mainland . .
    .. although that probably was more due to not having to travel as far
    to get where you wanted and you put up with a bit of water.

    Especially Sydney. I remember 1988 when I was living in Chatswood and
    working in French's Forest which from memory was about a 40 minute
    ride peak hour. It got to a point where I just put my wet weather gear
    on every day as 4 out of 5 days it would start raining, ven if it was
    bright and sunny when I left home. It was just easier to assume it was
    going to rain. It was an insane year. Around 7pm every day for most of
    that year a thunderstorm would roll in from the south-west. I love
    thunderstorms so we'd sit on the front porch and watch them. But after
    a while the amount of water being dumped on me got boring.
     
    Kevin Gleeson, Jan 17, 2009
    #23
  4. Best I've managed was when we were doing a spec ride for Australian
    Motorcycle Week. Headed up over the highlands. I was wearing thermals
    under my leathers plus wet weather gear. Heated grips, waterproof
    boots plus high quality winter gloves. When we crested above Poatina
    it was basically a blizzard. Didn't like the concept of heading back
    down the zig zag so pushed on. The other two guys were on road-trails
    with knobby tyres, but I was on a Hayabusa. I was getting battered by
    strong crosswinds that had snow attached to them. There were
    log-trucks coming the other way, so to get traction I'd go onto the
    wrong side of the road and ride in their wheel ruts until I could see
    another one coming towards me then cross back onto the snow on my side
    of the road. Eventually the blizzard slowed to sleet and the road was
    just wet, the nasty stuff was just on the edge of the mountains. I was
    able to open up the busa and catch up with the other guys. We stopped
    at an intersection and my mate looked at me and said "Kev - slap your
    chest". I did so and all these chards of ice fell off me onto the
    tank.

    Later we stopped at Bothwell and I made the mistake of leaving my
    gloves on a table outside the pub. When we moved off again it was
    still too cold for the heated grips to overcome the now waterlogged
    gloves and the airflow over the gloves was cooling them even more. I
    was ending up in real physical pain to the point where I had to stop
    at Melton Mowbray, take the gloves off, put them on the exhaust and
    hold my hands directly on the the heated grips until I could feel my
    fingers again.

    But it's all relative. 1987: riding from Sydney to Port Macquarie at
    night mid-winter. Kerry and I froze. Not as bad as that Tas trip as I
    had prepared better. We were staying at a friend's holiday home there.
    The bugger when we got there was that we hadn't counted on the power
    being turned off so no hot water for a shower. Turned power back on
    and went to bed and found another way to warm us up :)
     
    Kevin Gleeson, Jan 17, 2009
    #24
  5. Andrew Price

    theo Guest

    I never go on a long trip without three pairs of gloves.

    Theo
     
    theo, Jan 19, 2009
    #25
  6. Andrew Price

    Boxer Guest

    I never go on a long trip without three pairs of gloves.

    Theo

    Agreed, a winter gortex lined waterproof pair, a long summer leather pair
    and a short BMW airflow pair. (and sometimes a pair of rubber washing up
    gloves for really rainy weather) not to mention 3 sets of disposable
    surgical gloves in my firt aid kit.

    Boxer
     
    Boxer, Jan 19, 2009
    #26
  7. Andrew Price

    mrhankey Guest

    Interesting
    What clothes do you carry/wear on a long trip (riding and non riding)?

    Mr H
     
    mrhankey, Jan 19, 2009
    #27
  8. Andrew Price

    Boxer Guest


    Depends upon the season, in cold weather a Aerostich Roadcrafter suit (one
    or two peice) http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Roadcrafter-p-1-c-249.html
    thermal underwear t-shirt and electric jacket liner.
    http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Aerostich-Kanetsu-WINDSTOPPER-Electric-Liner-p-18922.html
    ..Gortex Boots

    In warmer weather a BMW Airflow suit, gloves and boots, or BMW off road suit
    depending what bike I am riding at the time and where I am going, Jeans and
    sneakers with a t-shirt and lightweight jacket for lounging around the pub
    after the days ride.

    Boxer
     
    Boxer, Jan 19, 2009
    #28
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