Tassie 2003

It was a really mixed group of Clubman and Honda V-Twinners, roadies and chookies, people from NSW , Victoria , Qld , city and country. Everyone got on really well and we all have some new friends.

The plan was to head off in different groups and meet up at the boat terminal in Melbourne. I was leading a group of chookies down to Melbourne and I had a great trip planned of some great tar and dirt roads but the elements conspired to make it more challenging than I had hoped.

Rob (Dero), Me (Africa Twin) , Steve (XLV750) , Gilles (Dero), Ali (F650) , Mark (1150GS) , Mac (Dero) met at McGrath's Hill , it was a bit overcast but pleasant. We headed down the freeway to Marulan then we took the back road across to Tarago for our 1st bit of dirt which was a hoot, the clouds were building up to the south but it still looked okay. Around through Queenbeyan and into the southern suburbs of Canberra and the clouds to the south get darker. Finally onto the great tar and dirt road through Namadgi National Park and of course it starts to rain as soon as the corners start. Still it was fun and the dirt to Adaminaby wasn't too slippery. Lunch and a dry out at the Adaminaby pub then its out into the rain and mist again up the Snowy Mountains Hwy to Kiandra and then over the top to Cabramurra and Khancoban, it was pissing down and cold but I still enjoyed the ride. Then it was a double back to McPherson's Plains on the Elliott Way. We had to take the long way round as the top end of the Elliott Way was shut by a landslide, and yes it was still pissing down. The 2km driveway to McPherson's is dirt and normally no problem but it was so wet it was very slimy, I fell off and Ali fell of in sympathy behind me, the worst bit was I was covered in mud, uggg. Finally we arrived and started to unpack and dry out, Craig on his Transalp was already waiting for us.

We had a good feed and contemplated the weather as it was still pissing down and everyone was nervous about going back out the dirt in the morning. We all managed to make it out to the tar with no crashes excellent !!. We headed through Tallangatta to Myrtleford and it was still pissing down. From Myrtelford the plan was to head via the dirt to Whitfield , Rob and Steve piked out and headed for the Hume Hwy. The dirt was actually pretty good, not slippery at all and even Gilles found it OK on the Dero. The Tar from Whitfield to Mansfield is a hoot, make sure you do it one day !!. Everyone was tired but it was only 120km to Woods Point where we arranged to meet some other tassie trippers so we headed out and it was still pissing down. The last 50km was dirt and it started raining harder as we hit it, not too slippery but boy was I glad to finally arrive and start to dry out again. Paul and Tamsyn (Transalp) and Daniel (Transalp) met us at the pub and a good night was had by all.

Sunday was an easy 180km into Melbourne, the 1st 60km or so was dirt , it was a bit gravelly but mostly OK though Mark had a small crash, and it was still sprinkling. Finally it was back onto the tar and a run down the Black Spur to Healesville for lunch where the sun finally came out and then into Melbourne. We had a real treat in Melbourne as we visited Ian Drysdale (of V8 bike fame ) at his factory and got to check out the Africa Twin he is converting to 2WD, several V8 engines and a completed sport version also a couple of specials he is in the process of developing, a 1000cc Enfield V-twin and a 500 V-twin Quad.

We made our way to the boat terminal and gradually everyone rolled in, all had stories of a crappy wet ride to Melbourne. Boy there certainly were a lot of us when we all got together. It was exciting loading the bikes onto the boat and we all realized our tassie adventure was really starting.

Some other highlights of the trip for me were;

- on arriving in Tassie we all went to a chocolate factory for brekkie !! Thanks Cathy
- The publican at Weldborough telling me he had seen a Tassie Tiger cross the road in front of him but hadn't reported it as he was pissed !!
- The Scallop and Chicken and Camembert pies at Coles Bay- it made me feel really decadent
- Meeting Nigel's mob in Hobart, we had about 40 bikes parked in the Hotel parking lot
- the ride from Hobart to Strahan, finally on my 4th trip to Tassie I got to ride this great road in the dry.
- the accom in Strahan at Sailors Rest, the friendliest hosts I've ever met, they even had bits of wood ready for everyone's side stands !!!
- fanging round the sandunes near Strahan on quad bikes, 45 minutes has never gone so fast
- Daniel crashing my AT on a dirt road right in front of me on his bike, I thought he had saved but fell over at the last minute, just a few more scratches on the hand guard. Daniel said " shit I've crashed the boss's car"
- My aunt and uncle moved to Tassie 2 years ago and I visited them at their place, absolutely stunning, an 1850's stone and wood place on 1 acre of gardens with a view over the ocean, they paid $250,000 for it, bastards !!! , although all the locals told them they had done their $$$ by paying far too much.  

There are a couple of people who deserve a special mention;

  Everyone on the trip for making my job easy and organizing yourselves everyday, I'd travel with you all again anytime !!!  

  Very special thanks and congrats to my roommate for 2 weeks, Craig Sinclair who somehow managed to put up with my snoring and stays chirpy for the whole trip.