GS OZ Day 50 Standley Chasm etc 324k 8hr

Just back from a loop day. I rode out along Namatjira drive. First stop Stanley chasm then on to Ellery creek and Big Hole where I spent a few hours lazing around and in a cool water hole in the gorge. i then continued on past Glen Hellen Gorge to meet up with Larapinta drive and loop back to Hermannsburg. The last of this consisted of 1.5hrs of corrugated, sandy, dirt and I'm still vibrating. I did get to see Albert Namatjiras house but not much else as the sand was really slow. Finally back in Alice I headed down for roo steaks and a rumbo beside the pool.

GZ OZ Day 49 Alice Springs

Rest day today. First off i found a place to resupply my freeze dried food and also bought some stuff to fix throttle control (friction based cruise control) slipping. In the heat of the day I found some great coffee and lunch at Page 27 Cafe. In the afternoon i caught the movie "Seven Psychopaths" and then popped up to the Anzac hill to see the town in twilight. Alice as the sun goes down is a perfect temperature. So much so that I think camping may be in order over the next few days.

GS OZ Day 48 Alice Springs 345km 4:00hr

Relatively short hop to Alice only stopping for petrol. I arrived in time for lunch and a proper coffee.

I am catching up with a mate Tonight that I met when working in the Snowy Mountains Hydro Authority way back straight out of uni. David and has wife Margaret Hewett live a fascinating life working all over the out back and often leading scientific expeditions into the middle of nowhere. It was brilliant to see David and Margaret after all these years nit much changes really. had s great meal (veggies at last) and a very interesting evening as David had just returned from a scientific expedition gathering Acacia seeds for world vision. Apparently these seeds are extremely high in protein and the theory is if they can find the right sort that will grow well in Africa it will establish a hardy food supply.

GS OZ Day 47 Wycliffe Wells 520km 5:30hr

Hot day down past Tennant Creek and on to Wycliffe Wells road house via the Devils Marbles. There were heaps of Willy Willy's (small cyclonic wirl winds). They look like mini twisters about 20m across sucking dirt leaves etc up a couple of hundred meters. When they cross the road right in front of you need to avoid them as they seem strong enough to upset the bike. I have passed close to a couple and got moved around quite a bit.

Wycliffe is renowned for UFO sightings and consequentially the alien tackiness knows no bounds at this place. It also was a big vegetable patch growing veggies for the troops as they moved north to Darwin during WWII.

GS OZ Day 46 Daly River 530km 6:30hr

The road from Jabiru to Pine Creek is one of the featured motorcycle roads in the Hema Motorcycle Atlas. Great ride not much straight with huge 100k++ (conservative) rhythmic sweepers and scenery to keep you amused. The four trailer road trains are a pain as almost zero overtaking opportunities and because of the undulations they slow to 80k or below. But they help out as much as they can.

From Pine Creek it was sth to Katherine to Daly waters Pub which didn't have any vacancies so on to the Hwy Inn to nestle into my first official Donga (small Atco shed, $80, aircon, bed, fridge, tiny bathroom etc all you need) it's actually the same as alot of the other "motel rooms" without pretending to be anything more

GS OZ Day 45 Gagudju

Rode north to Ubirr this morning. This is famous for its rock art. They weren't kidding this place is riddled with the stuff. Way back in first grade my teacher spent most of the year teaching us about Aboriginal culture (very unusual in those days) and some of the art work I saw in books I'm now experiencing in the flesh, finally, some forty odd years later. Mind blowing.

From there it was south to Gagudju for the night and a evening cruise on the Yellow Waters. This was an awesome experience where seeing hated my first salt water crocs and more bird life than I could possibly name but to name some, Brolgas, Jabiru, Night Heron, two types of Kingfishers(my fav), sea eagles etc etc.

These bloody drinking laws in Kakadu. Just bought a bottle of Squealing Pig sav balanc to enhance the digestion of the Barra. They refused to let me take what I didn't drink back with me. Ie They indirectly command you to drink the whole bottle in sight. No wonder there is an indigenous drinking issue. Bastards!

GS OZ Day 44 Jabiru 450k 5:30hr

Had another attempt at Wangi Falls first thing this morning. However the thunder and lightning started followed by pissing rain so I couldn't be bothered walking down to the falls from the car park probably couldnt even see them anyway. Instead I put on the wet weather gear (a bit late I fear) and rode a few more km's to the Wangi Cafe for a brew and to wait it out. After 4 k's and muddy/slippery spot of dirt I found that it was closed. Bugger this place what hoax.

So I turned the Beemer around paddled back through the mud and headed, in the driving rain, for Kakadu. I did however see my first wild dingo crossing the road right in front of me.

The rain stopped on the Kakadu hwy so I visited frog dam and spotted a couple of Brolga's very spectacular. I did take a video but they were a bit small in that due to helmet cams fish eye lens and also the still camera batteries had conveniently died.

From there it was a shortish ride through the wet lands and monsoonal forest plains to Jabiru where I checked into the worlds most expensive cabin at the caravan park.

GS OZ Day 43 Litchfield

Stayed up till 3am finishing a Tom Clancy, so had a rest day no riding just sleeping and reading listening to the rain

GS OZ Day 42 Litchfield 165km 2hr

Slept in then headed sth to Litchfield National Park. Checked into a cabin then headed out to see some stuff. The magnetic termite mounds were a little disappointing as they are roped off so you can't see them very well. But they are cool looking like a church yard these mounds are all flat to present the smallest cross section to the north so as to maintain there internal temp at 30deg.

Next stop Florence Falls for a dip in the pool under the falls. Crystal clear water with fish. Stayed in there until the storm clouds started building up then I headed off for a few laps of the roads around here. Apparently these are the best (twisty) motorcycle roads in NT and Darwin bikers ride down here just for the curves. At the first spots of rain it was back to the cabin.

GS OZ Day 41 Darwin

Whatched "Intouchables" today to avoid the heat. Pretty good and based on true storey.

GS OZ Day 40 Darwin

Took the Beemer in for its 10,000k service and new tyres at Cyclone Motorcycles. I was very pissed off as they hadn't got the front tyre in that I had ordered nor they call when there was a problem as I'd asked them to (Fuckers). They then tried a few excuses so I started swearing which felt good but was not resolving my issue as I was stuck and waiting for delivery would have now cost an extra $600 accommodation which makes an expensive tyre. So I settled for the rear I wanted and a Mitas E07 front (in the wrong size). I'll put up with this one until I can get what I want.

"Baby got new shoes so daddy got some too" My old boots were disintegrating so I bought a new pair. I got some BMW Saratoga's that are designed for dual sport but not too "Power Ranger" off road looking. These have more protection, Gortex lining, proper grippy sole (had a few slips on my old pair) and these will be a lot less tiring when standing on the pegs on dirt.

While waiting for the bike I visited the WWII oil tunnels. These were built post japanese air raid to supply navy ships with oil that was safe from air raid. However, they took so long to build (pick and shovel style) that the war ended and they were never used (where have I seen that kind of strategy and implementation cock up before mmmm).

GS OZ Day 39 Darwin

Checked out the museum and art gallery which was interesting. A special mention goes to the Cyclone Tracey exhibit where you can stand in a darkened room and listen to a recording of the cyclone as you would have heard it sheltering in a basement. Quite powerful, made one feel a little sick. After this I indulged in a spot of lunch in the museum cafe looking over the bay.

That was it for today as it was then too bloody humid ie shorts a T shirt were the riding gear of choice.

GS OZ Day 38 Darwin 355km 4hr

Cooler after the rain. But I'm heavily sleep deprive after the pissed natives were arguing, swearing and banging on our doors most of the night. Eventually just put the ear plugs in and hoped the lock held. Not sure they thought through the impact of their actions on racial stereotyping.

Consequentially I tried to sleep in before saddling up and heading for coffee and breaky in town.

The ride to Darwin was tedious as the no of road trains has increased so i was often stuck behind one. I rode past the Litchfield national park as I want to return with new tyres and an extra day.

I'm now tucked up in darwin for 3 nights.

GS OZ Day 37 Katherine Gorge 60km

Early start and quick squirt out to Natimilk Nat park to see Katherine Gorge. The light was a little hazy but the gorge was very special. Art on the rocks, orange walls and still deep green waters.

My first thunderstorm tonight. Wow, the lightning and thunder lead the way followed by geckos heading inside, then a bit of wind and now the deluge. I got saturated just running across the car park. It's very special and impressive but I'm sure ill be over it in the weeks to come. For now its brilliant as its the first rain since the Coorong in SA and its is also the Beemers first official wash.

GS OZ Day 36 Katherine 528km 5:55hr

"After 528km turn right" the GPS chimed as I took off from Kununurra. I expected to stay a few days and do a fly/4WD/walk visit to the Bungle Bungles. However as it's nov 1 everything appears to stop today. This is a big disappointment as the weather is still fine (read sunny and 42deg). I expect I'll be meeting a lot of this from here on. Not to worry.... next time.

After a brilliant coffee at the Mango Tree coffee shop I headed out.
Special scenery today red ranges have risen all around me and theres green everywhere (that's not burnt) and wait for or..... bends (yay), big sweepers through the most brilliant country.

Lunch at Victoria river road house where the road crosses the Victoria river. It has been following the road ubtill now.