the route...

The route has been worked out!

I will be departing from Melbourne on the 22nd of March, returning on the 2nd of May, 2010.

I’ve decided to spend the most time exploring Tasmania - I’ve never been there before. Perhaps the chances of me returning for a second visit would be less likely than returning to see other places on the mainland a second time.

From what I’ve been reading, at that time of year, anything can happen, weather-wise, in the southern parts of Australia - particularly so in Tasmania… For those of you who know me, you’ll know that I’m not a fan of riding in the rain. I can do it, just don’t like it and get awfully tired white-knuckling until I get to a safe place. But hey, I figure, what with my plans to ride up and down South America and make it to the Tierra del Fuego (right at the bottom tip where it’s supposed to be coooold as), better I get practice in inclement weather on home soil before exploring those “horizons unlimited”… :)

I have pored over my RACV maps, checking the legends to see which roads are sealed or unsealed... Yes, I am a big chicken about unsealed roads - my skill level isn’t high enough yet, I don’t think. Plus, being disabled and slightly less agile from my 2001 motorcycle accident, I really don’t want to put my poor, damaged body through that kind of stress and strain. Besides, I don't think my cruiser could take TOO much rough terrain! However, if another, more suitable, bike is supplied, this could change dramatically… I’d be far more open to suggestion… :)
*still praying and praying that one bike company will come through for me*

So… *taking a deep breath* Here are the locations I’ll be covering:

Devonport --> HEADING WEST TO:
Ulverstone, Penguin, Burnie, Somerset, Boat Harbour, Stanley, Smithton, Marrawah

From Marrawah --> HEADING EAST TO:
Smokers Bank, Irishtown, Eurebia, Edith Creek, Roger River, Trowutta, Nabageena, Lileah, Alcomie, Mengha, South Forest, Forest, Wiltshire, Black River, Mawbanna (to Dip Falls and Giant Eucalypts?)

From Mawbanna --> HEADING NORTH TO:
Black River / Sawyer Bay
Then --> EAST to:
Cowrie Pt, Crayfish Creek, Edgecumbe Beach, Hellyer, Rocky Cape, Sisters Creek, Myalla, Milabena, Meunna (unsealed road), Preolenna, Moorleah, Flowerdale, Wynyard, Seabrook

From Seabrook --> HEADING SOUTH (on Route B26) TO:
Lower Mt Hicks, Yolta (joining the Murchison Hwy (A10)), Henrietta, Hellyer Gorge / Parrawe, Take Ridgley Hwy to Warratah (Route B23), Warratah Falls, Liuna , Savage River - Options at this point: Unsealed road (C247) to Corinna (River cruises there); C252 to Reece Dam; C249 to Zeehan

From Zeehan --> HEADING SOUTH (on Henty Rd, Route B27) to:
Strahan, Queenstown, Anthony Road (B28), Tullah (A10), Rosebery, Renison Bell, Melba Flats, Queenstown, Gormanston
Then --> EAST past Nelson Falls Nature Walk
Donaghys Hill Lookout, Franklin River Nature Walk, Derwent Bridge (Visitors Centre), Bronte, Ouse, Lawrenny, Ellendale, Fentonbury, Westerway

Then --> RIGHT onto Route B62
(Something Wild & Horseshoe & Russell Falls), National Park, Tyenna, Fitzgerald, Maydena
(Can take unsealed road to Junee Cave from here), Gordon River Road (B61), Scotts Peak Road (Creepy Crawly Walk; Lookouts to Mt Solitary, Edgar Dam and Scotts Peak Dam)
AND/OR
Continue past Mt Wedge, Teds Beach, Strathgordon, Ending Gordon Dam Lookout

Return same route back to Westerway (B62), Karanja, Glenora, Rosegarland, Hayes, Lawitta, New Norfolk - Can go SOUTH to Brookside, Lachlan (see Lachlan River) or EAST (Midland Hwy) to Sorell Creek, Malbina, Molesworth, Glenorchy, Collinsvale (Collins Gap)

HOBART
Fern Tree, Neika, Longley, Sandfly, Lower Longley, Huonville, Ranelagh, Judbury, Glen Huon, Huonville (Huon Hwy A6), Franklin, South Franklin, Castle Forbes Bay, Port Huon, Geeveston, Scenic route to Arve Forest Drive & Tahune Forest Air Walk, back to Geeveston, Cairns Bay, Waterloo, Surges Bay, Glendevie, Walpole, Dover, Harvey Town, Raminea, Strathblane, Southport / Hastings (Thermal Springs, Hastings Caves)

Back to Dover and Huonville - Channel Hwy (B68)
Woodstock, Cradoc, Cygnet, Garden Island Creek, Verona Sands, Gordon, Middleton, Flowerpot, Birchs Bay, Woodbridge, Kettering, Snug (Snug Falls), Electrona, Margate, Howden, Blackmans Bay, Kingston, Taroona

HOBART
Tasman Hwy to Sorell, Lewisham, Dodges Ferry, Connellys Marsh, Dunalley, Murdunna, Eaglehawk Neck, Penzance (Tasman Blowhole, Tasman Arch & Devil’s Kitchen), Taranna (Chocolate Factory), Tasmanian Devil Park (Route B37), Koonya, Premaydena, Nubeena, Port Arthur (Remarkable Cave), Oakwood

RETURN to Sorell
Richmond, Grasstree Hill, Risdon Vale, Old Beach, Bridgewater (Midland Hwy 1), Pontville, Mangalore (Chauncy Vale Wildlife Sanctuary), Bagdad, Dysart, Kempton, Melton Mowbray

Jericho --> RIGHT on Route B31
Colebrook, Lowdina, Campania, Enfield (Return to Tasman Hwy A3), Runnymede (Brown Mountain?), Buckland, Orford (Turn offs to: Shelley Beach, Spring Beach, Louisville), Double Creek , Triabunna, Little Swanport, Lisdillon, Swansea, Cranbrook, Bicheno, Douglas River, Seymour, Chain of Lagoons (Route A4 through Elephant Pass), Gray, St Marys, Scamander, Beaumaris (Turn-off to Parkside, Pamella, Stieglitz & Akaroa), St Helens (Turn-off to Bayview & Binnalong Bay), BAY OF FIRES ( Walk to The Gardens? )
** St Helens to Priory (unsealed road to Poole)
Weldborough (investigate surrounds – rideable?)
Derby, Branxholme, Tulendeena, Tonganah, Scottsdale, Bridport, George Town (East Tamar Hwy A8)

LAUNCESTON

(West Tamar Hwy A7), Legana, Lanena, Gravelly Beach, Hillwood Beach, Deviot, Sidmouth, Beaconsfield, Beauty Point, Illfraville, Greens Beach, Beaconsfield, Exeter, Glengarry (B72), Westbury, Perth, Sheffield, Latrobe

DEVONPORT
SPIRIT OF TASMANIA
Arrive in Melbourne on 5^th April, 2010

MELBOURNE
Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat , Ararat (B180), Dunkeld (C216), Halls Gap (C222), Horsham, Nhill
Western Hwy A8

Bordertown (SOUTH AUSTRALIA)

ADELAIDE
Port Augusta, Ceduna
Eyre Hwy (A1) across the Nullarbor

Border Village / Eucla (WESTERN AUSTRALIA), Mundrabilla, Madura, Cocklebiddy, Caiguna, Balladonia, Norseman, Coolgardie, Southern Cross, Merredin, Kelleberrin, Cunderdin, Northam

PERTH

RETURN
Fremantle, Rockingham, Mandurah, Australind, Bunbury, Busselton (to Cape Naturaliste), Caves Road (through Margaret River), Augusta, Brockman Hwy (10) to Nannup (scenic route to Balingup, Bridgetown, Nannup, Pemberton, Manjimup, Walpole, Denmark , Albany, Mount Barker, Jerramungup, Ravensthorpe, Esperance, Norseman

NULLARBOR BACK TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA (same route - no choice there!)
Border Village / Eucla (WESTERN AUSTRALIA)

Nundroo (South Australia), Ceduna, Flinders Hwy (B100) to Streaky Bay, Port Kenny, Talia (Anxious Bay), Colton, Eliston, Sheringa, Mount Hope, Warrow, Coulta, Wangary, (Turn-off to Point Avoid & Coffin Bay), Coomunga, Port Lincoln (Lincoln Hwy (B100)), Tumby Bay, Port Neill, Arno Bay, Elbow Hill, Cowell, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie

ADELAIDE (Riding in the Adelaide Hills?) - Princes Hwy (M1)
Kingston, Mt Gambier (cross the SA/VIC border)

Portland (VICTORIA), A1 to Port Fairy, Warrnambool, B100 (Great Ocean Road), Port Campbell, Apollo Bay, Lorne, Anglesea, Torquay, Geelong

MELBOURNE - FINISH!

==========

Believe it or not, this is a “rough idea” of where I’ll be going! As I mentioned, I want to do Tasmania in far more detail than any of the other states. I've been reading posts about great Tassie rides on the ADV Rider forums as well as any other places I can find such information. I have also been reading about some great rides in the south-west corner of Western Australia, and those have been included in my route also.

Now comes the detail… I’ve got to look up the locations I’ve listed in Tassie, and see what the attractions are (if any) in each place, make notes and try and visit them on my way through. It’s gotten to the point where one questions how MUCH organising and detail is needed in order to enjoy this experience… “Being organised” is a huge part of my everyday job - aren’t I trying desperately to get away from all that?

(By the way, it should be noted that I started to add this route to Google Maps - I’m sure there are some of you out there who would prefer a visual of where I’m going. But guess what? That ended up in the “too hard” basket! Too much work, can’t be fu*ked, etc. Sorry!)

In all honesty, I feel pressured by this fund-raiser… My natural instinct is to just go and see where I end up. The fact that I have to be in certain places for media relations and promotion by certain dates goes against my preferences. I’d much rather be a nomad for six weeks… and see whether or not I actually make it to the destination I thought I would get to. I take comfort in the fact that my future ride of the continent of South America will operate this way - with no deadlines, no set route, no need to return, even!

Perhaps all this work and discussion is irrelevant? Maybe I don’t even make it on board the Spirit of Tasmania for the first leg of journey! Now, wouldn’t that be hilarious?

N.B. If anyone reading this has been to one/some of the destinations on my route, please feel free to comment or email me with some tips or words of advice!
bikiechic@gmail.com

P.S. To other matters… I have made a new video. It’s in the editing suite and will be posted here as soon as it’s complete. Hopefully, this next one will be far more “artistic” and fun for the whole family… :)

my first photos...

I rode from Melbourne to Canberra on Thursday, 5^th November, 2009.

It was an adventure and a test of my endurance – I had never completed such a long ride before. Yes, I took the boring route to Canberra – straight up the Hume Highway from Melbourne, turning onto the Barton Highway before hitting Sydney. But, because I was expected in Canberra on the Friday to attend a conference (of sorts), I thought it best to take the most direct route there.

I don’t like Canberra. Every time I go there, I feel like I’m on one giant roundabout. So, my time there was not exciting in any way. Even the motel I stayed in was way over-priced and I was abhorred by the few discoveries I made in my room whilst I was there. Anyway... yadda, yadda, yadda... the best part was when I LEFT Canberra on Saturday, 7^th November...

Before I go on, I had planned to take the “scenic” route back to Melbourne – going south through the Namadgi and Deua National Parks to Cooma, then going through the Yadbiliga National Park to Bombala and finally, through the South East Forest National Park, over the border again into Victoria and through to Orbost.

But, on my way TO Canberra, I managed to burn my right leg on my pipes...
Since my motorcycle accident in 2001, my right leg (which was quite severely damaged) has trouble “feeling” things. One of those “things” is extreme temperatures... LOL

This is the second time I’ve done this, by the way. I stand too close to my bike when taking a break, my right leg touches the HOT exhaust pipe, and I don’t notice my skin burning until the damage is done.

The point of this story is to explain WHY I didn’t take that scenic route back to Melbourne from Canberra as initially planned... My leg was hurting. I thought it best to get back to Melbourne as soon as possible to treat it with ointments, dressings and antibiotics – none of which I had thought to bring along with me on this lengthy trip. What a genius I am. So, on Saturday morning, I left Canberra bright and early at 8am, heading back via the Hume Highway once more...

Or so I thought...

I rode and rode... I saw signs saying that Melbourne was 500+kms away...
Then, I got to the Wangaratta exits... I needed petrol! I was almost empty!

The first exit to Wangaratta was a little confusing – I thought it was saying that a petrol station/road house was coming up just AFTER the exit – this was not the case, and on I went down the Hume, praying that the next exit would sort me out. Exit number two... Wangaratta to the right, Myrtleford and Bright to the left...

I thought Myrtleford would have been closer to where I was – I was wrong! I must have travelled another 30kms at least before I found a petrol station. I’m happy to report that I made it to the petrol station on empty, thank goodness! I’m not sure how long I would have lasted before arriving by foot to Myrtleford!

After being mistaken for a guy by the petrol attendant who happily filled up my tank whilst admiring my “not-black-enough” beast, I decided not to return to the Hume, despite my leg needing medical attention.

I returned to my original plans, which was to stay in Lakes Entrance on Saturday night, before returning to Melbourne on Sunday. This meant that I had to get through Bright and Omeo before reaching Lakes Entrance. That’s what the map I printed from Google Maps said anyway...

One thing Google forgot to mention in their map was a little thing called MOUNT HOTHAM. I’ve never been there... didn’t even know I was near it, until I hit Harrietville and saw signs telling me that Mount Hotham was in front of me – I HAD to climb it to get to Omeo, it was the only way!

When the roads started getting more winding and narrow, I started to get nervous. I was gripping my handlebars tighter, white-knuckling a lot of the way up. It was quite disconcerting to see a cliff face dropping to my left... less than a metre from the road... Nevertheless, I pressed on...

I let the SQUIDs overtake me... I wasn’t going to race them... I took it nice and slow, stopping every now and then for a magnificent photo opportunity... The higher I climbed, the colder it got, the more confident I felt. Finally, I reached the resort at the top. Of course, it was practically a ghost town. Very little snow visible, no skiers and holiday-makers to be seen. So, I kept going... down the other side... which, I have to say, was far more enjoyable than the climb! It wasn’t as steep, and was far more relaxing for me to ride as a result.

Before I go on, it must be noted... despite this hair-raising experience, the Great Alpine Road has to be one of the most beautiful rides one could experience in Victoria. The scenery is astounding, the photo ops plentiful and the places you could stare at and get lost in your thoughts surround you at every turn. It truly is an inspiring part of the state.

I hit Omeo... got petrol again, and went from there down another gorgeous route to Lakes Entrance, passing through Swifts Creek and Bruthen. The Tambo River runs alongside the road on this stretch and was quite pleasant to see whilst tackling the winding roads through the hills here.

Hopefully, the photos I have selected, which were all taken with my mobile phone, will illustrate some of the beauty I got to see on my trip through to Lakes Entrance. If you haven’t completed this ride, what are you waiting for? Amazing, scary, beautiful, awesome, picturesque and mesmerising all at the same time... I’d happily do it again... :)