tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89183577751236530102024-03-20T19:11:23.836+11:00Australian Motorcycle DiariesTheo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.comBlogger417125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-36373425098466790312017-12-30T16:00:00.001+11:002017-12-30T16:06:11.747+11:00 30 December - DargoIt's nearly the end of 2017 and a time to reflect on a difficult year from a motorcycle point of view.<br />
Being struck by a car while walking in the town in March, and the resultant repairs to my tibia put an end to walking for some weeks and to riding for some months. On 1 July, three months after the accident I tentatively (jump) started both my bikes and took them for a short ride to recharge the batteries and to see if my leg was strong enough to hold the bikes up. Mainly due to an unusually wet winter it took a while to extend the rides to test my endurance and I've found that the Honda, being a cruiser, places less strain on the knee than the BMW. I've definitely found that, for me anyway, regular riding is needed to keep the skills and confidence at the required level and was glad to be able to fit in a few short to medium trips.<br />
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In recent weeks I rode to Warburton to stock up with baked goods from the excellent bakery there at the same time achieving one of my favourite mountain forest rides. Also managed a ride to Cowes on Philip Island with my son in law Zane a couple of weeks ago. Despite the many months of inactivity and some loss of muscle tone all went well and more importantly, I still found riding to be very enjoyable.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUWDNi0PqJevG7Ra9mOHZoeSekYn-BlCqErqAXvCpPJq6f_vSqKN4z12WqMFbf7dzTA6w9Ds_C4o-JEzviCwDuflFBLTWKujqFOvLr9NwM97ERaKu_piVgJP0SANou8g2URj9jHIp_0Y/s1600/Dargo+Pub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1600" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUWDNi0PqJevG7Ra9mOHZoeSekYn-BlCqErqAXvCpPJq6f_vSqKN4z12WqMFbf7dzTA6w9Ds_C4o-JEzviCwDuflFBLTWKujqFOvLr9NwM97ERaKu_piVgJP0SANou8g2URj9jHIp_0Y/s400/Dargo+Pub.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Today I undertook quite a long ride to Dargo, which is located in the foothills of the Australian Alps and the 'high country' made famous by the legendary cattlemen described in Australian classics such as 'The Man from Snowy River"<br />
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As it is summer holiday season here the town and surrounding area was packed with holiday makers camped along the Mitchell River and all coming into town for supplies. The famous Dargo hotel looked very busy and we steered clear, choosing instead the equally famous, and nearly as busy General Store.<br />
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I was joined on this ride by my brother Luke and my son in law Zane, and despite warnings of possible rain, for the most part we rode through this magnificent country in brilliant sunshine. It was only on the way back when we got close to home that the storm clouds gathered. Fortunately there was very little rain and I'm happy to report that I finished the year on a high with a magnificent year.<br />
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Total Distance 350 kmTheo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-89111212458271767522017-11-05T20:09:00.000+11:002017-11-05T20:10:22.681+11:005 November - LicolaWoke to a mild and sunny day today and thoughts turned to motorcycling. Rang brother Luke - he was free and we decided to ride to Licola - a beautiful winding mountain road between here and this little town which lists its population as 21 (including the surrounding areas).<br />
Licola is nestled on the banks of the Macalister river in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. In times past Licola was a stop on the difficult road to various goldfields and also home to a timber mill for many years. In the 1960's Australia's Lion Club organisation bought the town and turned it into a Youth Camp complex. Today was part of a 4 day long weekend. Tuesday is Melbourne Cup Day, a public holiday and many people take Monday off to create a 4 day weekend.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUhUvhhN_7j7YQj-xU1xLxzP864RcT9dH0WdN782Tw2cd5Zu7OeVuejuuFxQm2dDgLbhzAAF8ju-LXvCITFHM0FzOc9f4UDzc8XOuJh108FyHJSl3jIj42my8LrTHTSTeaXXBj9s84-Q/s1600/Flowering-Gum-2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="734" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUhUvhhN_7j7YQj-xU1xLxzP864RcT9dH0WdN782Tw2cd5Zu7OeVuejuuFxQm2dDgLbhzAAF8ju-LXvCITFHM0FzOc9f4UDzc8XOuJh108FyHJSl3jIj42my8LrTHTSTeaXXBj9s84-Q/s400/Flowering-Gum-2017.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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We found campers everywhere in the town and on the river banks. The spring weather has caused the flowers and blooms everywhere including the iconic flowering gums. After a look around and an ice cream, it was time to head back. It seemed that it was actually getting warmer on the way back - very pleasant conditions.</div>
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Total Distance 172 km.</div>
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<br />Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-15173547997084738422017-10-07T22:08:00.000+11:002017-10-07T22:08:08.526+11:007 October 2017 - First Stop CastlemaineLeft this morning just before 9 am. Beautiful clear day and all went well. Our route took us up the Calder Highway and past Mt Macedon. We decided to spend the first night in Castlemaine. Luke and I overnighted here on our last motorbike trip and I was impressed with this beautiful old mining town. We set up in the Big 4 caravan park here which is located right next to the Castlemaine Botanical Garden.<br />
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Everywhere you look here it is obvious this was once a very busy and prosperous town - lots of old factories some of which are being converted to cafe and art precincts.</div>
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We're spending two nights here and will probably take a drive to Bendigo tomorrow. Then on Monday we'll continue on to Mildura. Hopefully we'll find more sunny weather.</div>
Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-49960981368252988812017-10-03T18:37:00.001+11:002017-10-03T18:40:09.684+11:003 October, WalhallaWoke up this morning to an unfamiliar sight - blue sky and sunshine. It was so pleasant we managed to have breakfast outside. By noon it was getting positively pleasant so I fired up the Honda (luckily it started first go) for a ride into the mountains to Walhalla. Given the fine conditions, I was hoping to get a few photos. The light around noon was a bit harsh but with a bit of searching I found a couple of shots worth taking.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu8yWDGi8ysHisTWrj4wx3tBSOrOU4mOonOD4N21KK2fXsSElPTI9YqC5dpUWa9DUOxceJ8BEJKoI1J7G3UrITBVRMnkRe9IavuL7aeKm7ZGtdjR16gH5BWZvnZIyW3H8Us4oBr-t2Fc/s1600/Daisies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu8yWDGi8ysHisTWrj4wx3tBSOrOU4mOonOD4N21KK2fXsSElPTI9YqC5dpUWa9DUOxceJ8BEJKoI1J7G3UrITBVRMnkRe9IavuL7aeKm7ZGtdjR16gH5BWZvnZIyW3H8Us4oBr-t2Fc/s320/Daisies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As this is the second week of school holidays here in Victoria it was a bit busy but I eventually found a coffee and a bite to eat before continuing on with a search for photos.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUUMZMXomUIw59zYPglwJcPF1mw5PXuxBkhQ4sAmK_lmZMJqILNbvunP9kp88edah8C_7dEW2D9NbYBmhx-z-1T6nyy_Zb2vux5Pgf6ShfhXcMGqDIrz6qU3gwmmr-TY-BbM8Q1S7GLk/s1600/The-Magic-Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUUMZMXomUIw59zYPglwJcPF1mw5PXuxBkhQ4sAmK_lmZMJqILNbvunP9kp88edah8C_7dEW2D9NbYBmhx-z-1T6nyy_Zb2vux5Pgf6ShfhXcMGqDIrz6qU3gwmmr-TY-BbM8Q1S7GLk/s400/The-Magic-Tree.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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After a really pleasant time watching families looking for gold in Stringers Creek, it was time for the return trip.</div>
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Enjoyed a wonderful leisurely ride home through Erica and Yallourn North. It was great to get back on the bike.</div>
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Total Distance 120 km</div>
Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-66749285763516068772017-08-20T16:58:00.001+10:002017-08-20T16:58:16.558+10:0020 August - Spring is in the Air<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfGEMdBgEFASSm4RKlp-7Cu2Ima0DF-LSbaRABSLhz48U1m7dWhRhYlNP1x7tUk6JiCUdIcJwpGxkLT1gPsReFxBN2HHefXufkVPAs3_c3C3JfMqYjH9_BXY5Y2nE42oc_cgGg8tocMs/s1600/Spring-is-in-the-air.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfGEMdBgEFASSm4RKlp-7Cu2Ima0DF-LSbaRABSLhz48U1m7dWhRhYlNP1x7tUk6JiCUdIcJwpGxkLT1gPsReFxBN2HHefXufkVPAs3_c3C3JfMqYjH9_BXY5Y2nE42oc_cgGg8tocMs/s400/Spring-is-in-the-air.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
After a few days of rain and some more cold nights, this morning actually looked pleasant enough to go for a ride. As I was deciding between going for a ride and cleaning the garage, the phone rang.<br />
It was my son-in-law Zane wanting to know if I'd like to join him on a ride - that decision was made in a micro second! Zane has recently acquired a new adventure bike, a Kawasaki KLR 650.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZLGrK9dNUbcOb9jmDk2jY5PdQSdYlGBniZcBaMX0fA_kuKRjYJL2p76xoUgEvIK9lR1rhujjDzys4OLXOHWQFeToDqBXC6Dd7AFZnzjMe5nDezXA-ccDfsmBzTwaKnz7Ajh9n9cZ6w4/s1600/Zane%2527s+New+Bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZLGrK9dNUbcOb9jmDk2jY5PdQSdYlGBniZcBaMX0fA_kuKRjYJL2p76xoUgEvIK9lR1rhujjDzys4OLXOHWQFeToDqBXC6Dd7AFZnzjMe5nDezXA-ccDfsmBzTwaKnz7Ajh9n9cZ6w4/s400/Zane%2527s+New+Bike.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our plan was to follow one of my favourite rides - the South Gippsland Highway via Yarram, Port Albert and Mirboo North. We rode off under a brilliant blue sky and with the aid of a set of brand new thermals, and the grip heaters blasting away you could actually convince yourself it was a nice day. Our first stop was in Port Albert for Zane to deal with his 'fish and chips' fix and a chance for me to take a few photos.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6SkUNAGzxsuzZjm5pIquVe7tbkD-9gjU6sy67oVD2x-Gfh2Kjncy0019JYnVwNT6Y7XyDMo90z-s7W2jdfX7e-ApQDhPMd081v6QdzrgMDfzGJDDAyYkKHklYzHX-4cRwFW30P_ib7w/s1600/Port-Albert-20-8-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1447" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6SkUNAGzxsuzZjm5pIquVe7tbkD-9gjU6sy67oVD2x-Gfh2Kjncy0019JYnVwNT6Y7XyDMo90z-s7W2jdfX7e-ApQDhPMd081v6QdzrgMDfzGJDDAyYkKHklYzHX-4cRwFW30P_ib7w/s400/Port-Albert-20-8-17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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From then on it was actually getting quite spring-like as we cruised along the South Gippsland Highway. Then it was time to head back into the hills for a coffee at the In Line 4 cafe in Mirboo North. By the time we finished the coffees the temperature had started to drop again and it was time to head for home. A great day out.</div>
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Total Distance 230 km.</div>
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Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-83976547436523318802017-08-02T20:33:00.000+10:002017-08-02T20:34:12.358+10:002 August - South Gippsland Circuit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2W2wigTqitWxvIxIm24oJ6GolU9hGt-Jb3Hs0rMZgzm0FoDMR7lX2jlUMhRE80Fb5j9ZropJA9lIVFbUuYn7fDb7Cg8FEwWTzt5j6fblwkwOk_O6-TOS3kiO-rcmKYEfAybvDTelJ5ws/s1600/Waiting-for-the-Sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2W2wigTqitWxvIxIm24oJ6GolU9hGt-Jb3Hs0rMZgzm0FoDMR7lX2jlUMhRE80Fb5j9ZropJA9lIVFbUuYn7fDb7Cg8FEwWTzt5j6fblwkwOk_O6-TOS3kiO-rcmKYEfAybvDTelJ5ws/s320/Waiting-for-the-Sun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This winter has been one of the coldest and driest I can remember. Most morning start with heavy fog and hopefully by 10 am or so the fog has lifted and clear skies emerge. Not keen on riding a motorcycle in the fog but I have been venturing out on four wheels to capture a few foggy landscape images.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiePylDVW142VQmZM-kHHVkpsJhIW7wwK7VOC14e0s6e8SOJNZqNRj7CFoc_b_i-LVSxV5nO6Yk9fiEjcwuLdMcx5nRvpy-7ulGmw8qvo7zG6g88LdvIJLQkXD9lEgP0jSwCy8jVgvvPI/s1600/Willow-Weep-for-Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiePylDVW142VQmZM-kHHVkpsJhIW7wwK7VOC14e0s6e8SOJNZqNRj7CFoc_b_i-LVSxV5nO6Yk9fiEjcwuLdMcx5nRvpy-7ulGmw8qvo7zG6g88LdvIJLQkXD9lEgP0jSwCy8jVgvvPI/s320/Willow-Weep-for-Me.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I find most 'fog' pictures look best in Black and White but I did like this one in colour.</div>
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This morning followed the same pattern. Heavy fog well into the morning but by 11 am a chilly but bright sunny day emerged. Took the BMW for a trek over the Strzelecki hills for a coffee and lunch at Mirboo North. My usual motorcycle themed cafe (InLine 4) was closed so had to make do with the local bakery which is pretty good. From here I carried on through Dunbalk and Meenyian and then turned East on the South Gippsland Highway to take the return leg home via Yarram. With the grip heaters on full power and thermal underwear I managed to avoid hypothermia with temperatures varying between 9ºC to a balmy 13ºC. </div>
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My right knee (the one with the screws) functioned fine but it did ache a bit in the cold weather. Altogether though a very enjoyable ride.</div>
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Total Distance 220 km.</div>
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<br />Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-50381216303268928572017-07-11T18:28:00.001+10:002017-07-11T18:30:08.421+10:0011 July - A Honda ride to Port AlbertPort Albert is one of my regular rides and this afternoon, although somewhat wintery, seemed a good opportunity to continue my re-familiarisation with the Honda.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpy-myZvXLLv8XRgaaOVZPYOQ7SnjSkEONg0KpOPXY8Zu1EqdWYeGJe6em1NgGLg1rX4hijC3R0aNDj_iVlqwhG5WbrCbh3aPhewq60aFIcLuUyi-Vd2pqZeAEa30RBK-gL0LyxtfGlVY/s1600/Overnight-in-Port-Albert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpy-myZvXLLv8XRgaaOVZPYOQ7SnjSkEONg0KpOPXY8Zu1EqdWYeGJe6em1NgGLg1rX4hijC3R0aNDj_iVlqwhG5WbrCbh3aPhewq60aFIcLuUyi-Vd2pqZeAEa30RBK-gL0LyxtfGlVY/s320/Overnight-in-Port-Albert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Port Albert, established in the 1840's is the oldest port in Victoria. These days it is a mecca for fisherman and a safe harbour for the occasional coastal traveller. Being a week day it was fairly quiet and the late afternoon light and the spectacular clouds made for some interesting photos.<br />
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Later in the afternoon the temperature was dropping quickly so time to head for home, after an invigorating ride.<br />
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Distance 160 kmTheo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-89494484713768175142017-07-01T15:39:00.003+10:002017-07-01T15:39:43.072+10:001 July - Oh Frabjous DayToday, a day I thought would never come, and three months after being struck down by a careless driver, I had my first motorcycle ride - two rides in fact.<br />
Following the surgery and the insertion of two stainless screws in my right tibia, recovery has progressed steadily and for the past six weeks ago I have been walking, initially with the aid of a walking stick, and although there are still some aches and pains, I thought today was the day.<br />
Both bikes had to be jump started, not surprising after three months, and the tyres pumped up, but then it was time to get the Beemer out on the road for a 60km ride and a celebratory lunch and coffee. No problems there and when I got back the sun was still shining (temperature 11ºC) and so I took the Honda Shadow for a 50km ride in the opposite direction. In both cases it was encouraging to find the leg was fine and that I don't seem to have lost too much of my riding skills.<br />
So, on reflection I have a lot to be thankful for. I turned 73 a couple of weeks ago and after a difficult few weeks I can still ride my bikes.Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-50139593713097843642017-04-11T13:44:00.000+10:002017-08-20T17:28:34.362+10:001 April - No motorcycling for a while.A few days ago, while walking in my home town, I was struck by a car driven by a careless driver who reversed out of a parking bay without looking. The result was a cracked right tibial plateau and two screws to put it all back together again.<br />
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I was fortunate that the operation went well and I've suffered very little pain, but I am not allowed to place any load on my right leg for at least six weeks. Like all things you only really appreciate when they are lost, the loss of mobility and dependance on crutches and a wheelchair has reminded me of the simple pleasure of enjoying unrestricted movement. Riding a motorcycle is out of the question of course, and even after I can use the leg I expect it will take some time to regain the strength required to hold a bike upright. So in motorcycling terms all that is left to me at the moment is reminiscing about recent great rides and of course the most recent was my very enjoyable day outing with my brother, which included two of Victoria's 'great' roads - The Great Ocean Road and The Great Alpine Road. During this trip I did manage to catch some footage on my action cam, and the final edited version is now published on YouTube and also repeated here.<br />
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Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-34056772717640523792017-03-23T22:01:00.000+11:002017-03-23T22:01:18.447+11:0020 March - Day 4 - Porepunkah Home over Mt Hotham.Had a pleasant evening last night. Dinner at the Punkah Pub and a quick catchup with family. Our only concern was the weather forecast. Today's route would take us over Mt Hotham, a ski resort in the winter, and the forecast was for rain and thunderstorms. When we looked up at the mountain it didn't look too threatening and the rain radar showed no sign of rain. On that basis we decided to have a quick breakfast at Harrietville, at the foot of the mountain, and if the radar was still clear to make a quick mountain crossing and try to beat the bad weather. After donning our wet weather gear we set off. Very little traffic going up the mountain and just a little fog as we approached the summit but apart from that all was well.<br />
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Against all odds our luck held out and we saw no rain. After a quick leg stretch in Omeo we continued on the 90 km to Bruthen for fuel. From then it was just a routine run home and I pulled up at my place not long after 3pm. I think we were pretty lucky.<br />
Altogether a very enjoyable motorcycle experience which covered two of Victoria's 'great roads' the Great Ocean Road and the Great Alpine Road.<br />
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Total Distance 400 km<br />
Total Distance for the trip 1324 kmTheo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-56165885347840919022017-03-19T20:45:00.000+11:002017-03-23T21:48:09.073+11:0019 March - Day 3 - Castlemaine to Porepunkah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Left our beautiful 'home away from home' in Castlemaine this morning after a makeshift breakfast at around 9:30. Our aim was to reach Porepunkah and spend the evening with the Thomas's, and after a few wrong turns we eventually turned on GoogleMaps to guide us. After navigating a few back roads and some parts of Victoria we didn't know existed we eventually joined the Hume highway at Seymour. From here it was just a boring grind with lots of traffic. A bit of a break at the Avanel Roadhouse for fuel and re-hydration and then on past Benalla before turning of the highway just after Glenrowan towards Milliwa. We stopped at Taste of Italy in Millawa for a wood fired pizza which was great. We were now wishing 40 minutes of our destination and soon after we rolled into Porepunkah for a very enjoyable reunion with family and friends. Dinner at the Porepunkah hotel which we could walk to so a couple of drinks were in order. After our great run with good weather it looks like tomorrow we are due for a change for the worse. Looking at the forecast we have a four hour window to get over Mount Hotham before thunderstorms set in so the plan is to have a quick breakfast in Bright and then make the run over the mountains and into east Gippsland and then home tomorrow evening.<br />
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Total distance 315 km.Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-33135288520275357822017-03-18T22:35:00.000+11:002017-08-20T17:23:28.044+10:0018 March - Day 2 Lorne, Apollo Bay, Castlemaine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Woke up in Lorne this morning after a great night's sleep. Breakfast at the bakery in the main street and checked out of our motel right on 10 am. Another fine, clear day with a maximum temperature forecast of 29ºC. Our trip today would include about 50km of the best scenery along the Great Ocean Road (GOR) so I spent a bit of time making sure my helmet action cam was set up properly to capture all the action. It was nearly 10:30 by the time we hit the GOR and the traffic was light. We mostly encountered cyclists. The GOR is fairly winding with fantastic views on the left side so it is quite a challenge to take in the terrific views and keep an eye on the road and traffic as well.<br />
We made several stops for photo opportunities along the way and all to soon we were on the outskirts of Apollo Bay and time to turn North towards Ballarat.<br />
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Initially the road winds its way way up through the Otway Ranges before flattening out as you approach Colac. The ride through the mountains was fantastic, hardly any traffic. Refilled our tanks in Colac and then pushed on to Ballarat where we had a quick bite for lunch. As it was still relatively early we decided to continue to Daylesford where we quickly discovered that there was no accommodation available, so then we pushed on the extra 50 km to Castlemaine. I had never been here before and was very impressed with this city and really hoped to spend the evening here, but once again accommodation was proving difficult until eventually we rang a place suggested by one of the other motel owners and struck it lucky. A twin room in a beautifully restored old mansion for $115/night. We quickly changed out of our bike gear and walked into town for a beer or two or three. Also found a great Indian and Malaysian restaurant and after a nice evening walk to check out the town we sat down to a great meal. We have just walked home, had showers and are busy recharging all our cameras, phone etc.</div>
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Total Distance 300 km</div>
<br />Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-42228483086145940392017-03-17T20:49:00.002+11:002017-03-23T21:33:09.862+11:0017 March - Motorcycle trip Take 2 - Home to Lorne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After our aborted ride a couple of weeks ago we set off again today in anticipation of fairly decent weather for the next few days. This time though we headed West, through Melbourne, past Geelong and on to the Great Ocean Road. The weather was perfect, although a little windy when we hit the coast.</div>
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We met this morning at the Trafalgar Service Station and after refuelling the bikes we were off into the wild blue yonder. Stopped for morning coffee in Officer and then immersed ourselves in the Melbourne traffic which was quite busy.</div>
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We interrupted our trip at Aireys Inlet to have a look at the magnificent Lighthouse on top of a hill there.</div>
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We arrived in Lorne in the early afternoon and after a quick walk around managed to find a good room at the Lorne Bayview apartments. After a restful afternoon of catching up on email and recharging all our stuff we walked down the main street to find a place to eat. Found a great little Mexican cafe. Very tasty food, not sure what I ate but it was great.</div>
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Tomorrow we continue our way down the Great Ocean Road as far as Apollo Bay and then turn north towards Ballarat where we will spend the night.</div>
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Total Distance 305 km</div>
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<br />Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-39471736001396352882017-03-04T12:05:00.000+11:002017-03-04T12:05:11.424+11:003 March - Listen to the Rythm of the Pouring RainWoke early this morning to the sound of pouring rain. A quick check of the weather reports told the sad story. Storm and flood warnings lasting a few days centred on the area we were riding into. This left us with four options:<br />
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- ride on into potential floods and storms<br />
- wait in Mallacoota until the weather improved<br />
- turn North and cross the Great Dividing Range and hopefully outrun this system<br />
- head back home and ride another day.<br />
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On the basis that we didn't need to be anywhere and that the prospect of 2 or three days in Mallacoota in the rain didn't appeal, we reluctantly decided to return home and ride another (more clement) day.<br />
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We donned the wet weather gear and started riding home. Initially the rain was quite heavy but eventually as we rode west it cleared to patchy showers and the last 100 km were in fine conditions.<br />
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After a quick coffee we arrived home around 2:45. We'll now look out for a 5 day stretch of good weather to try again.<br />
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Total Distance 365 km.Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-1024548475190764552017-03-02T19:35:00.001+11:002017-03-02T19:37:28.983+11:002 March - Day 1 of 7 Day MC Tour - MallacootaLeft Traralgon this morning with brother Luke on a 7 day motorcycle trip. Our intention is to travel up the east coast of Australia until we reach Batemans Bay and then head inland over the mountains to the national capital Canberra. From there our journey will take us through Cooma and then on to the Snowy Mountains. Our exact itinerary will be determined by the weather on a day by day basis. We left this morning just after 9 am and our first stop was Bruthen for fuel and coffee.We then continued east via Cann River and arrived here in Mallacoota at 1:45 pm where we booked into the local hotel. The place is surprisingly full of holiday makers and the caravan parks look pretty full.<br />
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Found a great Asian restaurant and booked a table for 6pm and then went for a walk.<br />
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Mallacoota is based on an extensive lake system which connects to the sea and I would imagine that it would be a paradise for fisherman and recreational boating.</div>
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After a 360 km ride it was certainly nice to change out of our motorbike gear and relax with a couple of beers. Dinner was terrific and followed by another beautiful evening walk along the foreshore.</div>
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Time for a shower and a fairly early night. Tomorrow we ride to Batemans Bay.</div>
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Total Distance 361 km.</div>
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<br />Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-67115540002495662302016-12-15T23:30:00.002+11:002016-12-15T23:33:21.246+11:0012 December - New shoes for the HondaOn Monday I was lucky that great weather co-incided with a ride to Bairnsdale (130km) to get the Honda serviced (36,000km) and new tyres fitted. There was still a fair bit of rubber on the tyres after 18,000 km but they wouldn't have lasted another 6,000 km when the next service would be due. This way I got everything done at once. As I've indicated in a previous post the level of service I have experienced with the Bairnsdale Honda dealer has been so superior to my local one, that I ride a 130km past it, confident that I'm being looked after by the professional crew at Shields and Doyle in Bairnsdale. I dropped the bike off just before 9 am and wandered into town for a leisurely breakfast in a nice cafe, then amused myself by a slow walk around the shops. The bike was ready around noon and on the way home I called into the excellent bakery in Maffra for a light lunch and a great coffee. Altogether a pleasant experience.<br />
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Total Distance 260 km.<br />
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Well, it is that time of the year when people are busy stressing their credit cards to bursting point for the Christmas season. I try to avoid as much of that as possible and try to catch up with friends and pass on the usual Christmas and New Year wishes. Over the past year we have drastically cut back on sending actual cards (you know, the ones made from trees) and send electronic versions instead. We design a new one each year and they always get a good response. So, for any visitors to this site, what ever your views of Christmas are, may I wish you all the best for the season and success and safe riding in 2017.<br />
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<br />Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-49391395534878015612016-11-21T11:16:00.002+11:002016-11-21T11:16:36.625+11:0019 November - Walhalla<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The past few months here in Victoria, Australia have been quite discouraging for motorcyclist. Rain and wind and low temperatures have all conspired to keep the bikes in the garage. I braved the weather a couple of times out of sheer desperation for short trips and one more adventurous outing to Warburton through Noojee and Powelltown. Today the forecast was for fine weather with promised temperatures in the low 20's so it was time to fire up the Honda for a quick trip to Walhalla, one of my favourite short rides.<br />
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Those of you who have visited Walhalla will know that the first sight to greet the visitor on entering the town is the railway station which these days is the terminus for the Goldfields Railway, a tourist train operating from the Thomson River station on the tracks of the original railway. Tucked into a hill right behind the station was the famous Walhalla Log Cabin, a beautiful and cozy structure which attracted many visitors to an overnight or weekend stay in Walhalla. Earlier this year, this wonderful old building burned to the ground, fortunately without loss of life or injury - it was unoccupied at the time. I hadn't been to Walhalla since that event and I wanted to see and photograph the site.<br />
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Sadly, the devastation is complete. By the time fire services arrived from Erica the structure was totally ablaze and as shown in the photo all that remains is the chimney, which is always the way. According to news reports there were no suspicious circumstances. The owners, who only took over the property around two years ago are hoping to rebuild but the cabin is situated on crown land and I think there is a lot of 'red tape' to be navigated before building can commence.<br />
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Anyway, apart from this melancholy experience, it was a fabulous day in Walhalla with lots of visitors enjoying the sunshine. After a great lunch I headed back home through the state forests.<br />
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Total distance 105 km.Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-15341821202377225122016-10-19T11:20:00.003+11:002016-10-19T11:20:57.253+11:0019 October - Cafe Riverstone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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No ride today (weather is still discouraging) but a recommendation for a great cafe in Gippsland.<br />
During a couple of recent visits to Briagolong in the past week or so, I've had the opportunity to eat at Cafe Riverstone in Briagolong. For any riders visiting this part of Gippsland (Maffra, Sale) can I recommend first the ride through some pretty quaint villages such as Newry, Boisdale and of course Briagolong but also a great destination for light meals and great coffee. The cafe is open every day and on the few occasions I've ridden or driven through there are alway a few motorbikes parked in the main street visiting either the Briagolong pub or this terrific cafe.Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-47004548289085718742016-10-15T16:20:00.003+11:002016-10-15T16:27:00.069+11:0015 October - BriagolongOn a beautiful morning I set off on the BMW to ride to Briagolong, a small farming community located about 80 km East of here. This little town has a very active art gallery, and one of my photographs is on exhibit there and I thought I would check it out<br />
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The photo (The Cocktail Hour) was accepted as part of an interclub competition and has been on display with entries from all Gippsland photography clubs, for some weeks. The exhibition standard was very high and it was quite exciting to see my entry alongside so many excellent photographs. The photo can be viewed by clicking <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vanderimages/24601259064/in/dateposted/" target="_blank"><b>here:</b></a></div>
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Followed up the gallery visit with a great coffee and muffin at the excellent cafe across the road before riding back via Stratford and Maffra.<br />
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Total Distance 160 km.Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-83539711313819354252016-10-08T18:09:00.000+11:002016-10-08T22:31:39.247+11:008 October - Home in TraralgonWe left Apollo Bay this morning at 08:00. Our intention was to travel the Great Ocean Road back to Melbourne. We were aware that the GOR has been closed between Separation Creek and Wye River due to a landslide but the locals at Apollo Bay assured us that a bypass around that area was available and would not delay us much at all. This information was completely wrong - the roadblock was immediately east of Apollo Bay and our only option was to divert into the Otway ranges via Forrest and this diversion would take us all the way to the very beginning of the GOR in Torquay. At this point we abandoned the idea of riding the GOR (another ride when the road is fixed perhaps?) and we continued on through Winchelsea and Geelong and then on to Melbourne.<br />
Although the morning had started off cool, it warmed through the day and we had brilliant sunshine throughout. Waved goodbye to Luke as we passed Moe and I arrived home just after 1:30 pm.<br />
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Seeing we delayed the trip to minimise the impact of severe storm weather along our route the availability to check rain radar all through the trip enabled us to minimise the impact of rain. While we experienced a couple of really windy days, in total we only had 60-90 minutes of actual rain. Everywhere we travelled we witnessed the impact of recent and serious flooding in the countryside but this only affected our route once when we had to divert around Shepparton.<br />
Our accommodation plans didn't always work out due to unforeseen events, but we were always able to modify the plan and we enjoyed great accommodation and meals everywhere.<br />
Both bikes performed perfectly with no issues at any time.<br />
In summary, a great eight day ride covering some 2,700 km with a great many highlights, not the least of which was the opportunity to share it with my brother.<br />
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Total Distance today 362 km.Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-15135225047169930242016-10-07T21:00:00.000+11:002016-10-08T17:45:09.385+11:007 October - Apollo Bay When we left Mount Gambier this morning the sky was overcast and it looked like it should have been raining - quite a change from yesterday. The intention was to ride to Port Fairy, a favourite destination for both of us. The ride turned out to be quite pleasant, no rain and not too cold. Our first stop was Portland for fuel and then on to Port Fairy. Port Fairy can be quite busy at times. The town hosts a range of music festival each year and with its historical buildings and great range of cafes and restaurants there is always a large number of visitors in the town. We were out of luck today, the Spring Music Festival was about to get underway and we were lucky to get a parking spot let alone a hotel room. We eventually managed to park the bikes and get some brunch, but no accommodation. As it was still early in the day and becoming quite overcast, we decided to put the rest of the day to good use and cover a few more km's. So, on to Warrnambool, Port Campbell and Apollo Bay via the Great Ocean Road.<br />
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We were lucky, the weather held out with just a few drops of rain as we passed through Lavers Hill. In Apollo Bay we found another great old pub with a cheap double room. A few of the local beers (Otway Pale Ale) whiled the afternoon away and soon it was time for an excellent dinner in the hotel. A short walk down the main street and we found excellent coffees. We returned to the hotel via the beach and the marina.<br />
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It was still quite mild and no wind whatsoever, so after a day in the saddle we were able to experience a beautiful evening to top off another excellent day. Because of the extra distance travelled today we expect to make it home by tomorrow evening.<br />
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Total Distance 371 km.<br />
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Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-35286935313525622592016-10-06T21:40:00.000+11:002016-10-08T17:44:32.825+11:006 October - Mount GambierLeft Hahndorf this morning in brilliant sunshine. Our first run was straight down the highway to Tailem Bend for petrol and brunch. Our original intention was to travel to Robe today, but we changed our mind to go to Mt Gambier instead. This meant travelling to Keith and then leaving the highway to travel through some of Australia's most beautiful wine producing areas around Coonawarra. The countryside is just spectacular with vineyards as far as the eye can see. We saw lots of water still lying around, a sign of the massive rainfalls experienced here a few days ago. After a straight run of 230km we stopped at Naracoorte for fuel and to restore some feeling in various parts of the body. Then on to the final 95km to Mt Gambier. Once again we used the Visitor Information Centre to find cheap accommodation in the city. They pointed us to Mac's Hotel right in the middle of the city. This beautiful old hotel was first licensed in 1864 and has been beautifully restored. At $65/night for a twin room it is hard to beat. Once we unpacked our gear, it was time for a beer or two on the upstairs verandah overlooking the city.<br />
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After our long ride it was very relaxing to have this beautiful verandah all to ourselves. It was also great to experience some warm weather for a change.</div>
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After a couple of pale ales it was time to head down to the beautiful old dining room for an excellent meal. All that was needed now was some great coffee, and so we walked into the city in search of a good cafe and hit the jackpot - a Royal Copenhagen icecream parlour that served great coffee. That's finished the night's activities off nicely. Time to return to the hotel, and prepare for tomorrow's short ride to Port Fairy.</div>
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Total Distance 410 km</div>
Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-57184087060679738232016-10-05T22:05:00.000+11:002016-10-05T22:07:53.719+11:005 October - Hahndorf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today was a rest day in the beautiful village of Hahndorf. This area of the Adelaide Hills was established in the 1830's by German farmers from Silesia and Prussia fleeing religious persecution at home. Today Hahndorf still retains some of the German culture and many of the original buildings established during the 19th century. We started the morning with coffee and apple strudl at the local German bakery cafe which I've been visiting regularly since my sisters introduced me to Hahndorf in the '70's.<br />
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We followed this up with a walk through the town which resulted in an appetite for a German hot dog with mustard and sauerkraut. After a bit of a rest it was time for a motorbike ride through the Adelaide hills in beautiful spring weather. Signs of the recent heavy rains and resultant flooding were everywhere, but the sun was shining and hardly any wind.</div>
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By then it was late afternoon and time for a bit more rest before tackling the onerous task of dinner. A couple of beers whetted our appetite and we were off to the German Arms hotel for steaks and a touch more German beer.</div>
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Our day in Hahndorf was certainly one to remember fondly, as it has been over the many years we've visited here. Tomorrow our planned destination is the coastal town of Robe, a ride of some 300km. The weather forecast looks good.</div>
<br />Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-62428901641558577902016-10-04T21:26:00.000+11:002016-10-08T17:43:52.564+11:004 October - HahndorfWoke up this morning and immediately checked the weather forecast and rain radar for Hahndorf our next destination. Lots of rain coming through and flood warnings for the Adelaide Hills. However the forecast also indicated that these conditions would ease during the day. So we went back to bed for a while and eventually left Mildura at around 9:45. Conditions around Mildura were clear but very windy, and the trip to Renmark was all into a strong headwind. We were glad to get into Renmark and filled the tanks and the tummies. Coffee and pastry at a very busy patisserie revived us a bit. A further check of the weather radar showed that we would encounter some rain so it was time to don the wet weather gear. Sure enough, ten km into the next leg and the sky got very dark and the rain started. For fifteen minutes or so we ploughed on through steady rain and the strongest wind I've ridden in, quite a combination. Then, as suddenly as it had started the rain petered out and a few minutes later we were riding under clear blue sky, it seems that we had just ridden through the very edge of a storm system which had passed through Adelaide. The strong wind persisted though and the rest of the trip became one of the toughest riding days I have experienced.<br />
Finally, after a very tiring day we arrived in Hahndorf to the news that a major flood had gone through the town but had fortunately cleared. If we had arrived an hour earlier we would not have been able to get to our hotel as the bridge leading to the rooms was under water. Great timing as all that had abated when we arrived. It was with some relief we checked into our room at the Hahndorf Inn Motor Lodge.<br />
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After recovering for a couple of hours it was time for German beers at the Hahndorf Inn and to start thinking about dinner. Having dined here previously I was looking forward to the German cuisine and in the end we settled for a shared Wurst Platter.<br />
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German sausages, sauerkraut and potato salad certainly hit the spot. All that was left was a quick walk around the town before settling into our cosy rooms. The weather forecast for tomorrow looks good and as we are here for at least two nights we will organise a ride in the Adelaide Hills.<br />
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Total Distance 427 kmTheo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8918357775123653010.post-7072217506048156542016-10-03T13:31:00.001+11:002016-10-03T13:33:37.036+11:003 October - Mildura - Rest Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcSX7j5p_I6a2acB8pzKlkh3g7xbnHspx_UC0K6K6TpVAgSddG7Y9KKFuXrfftq2XO3VTGKn7sPZ5t2R39Em8Qv6Puibe5Vw9psmbA7EvA2yhbhAAKg4gCMQkqK-BFFDgvBxZfdHj4LM/s1600/Murray-at-Mildura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcSX7j5p_I6a2acB8pzKlkh3g7xbnHspx_UC0K6K6TpVAgSddG7Y9KKFuXrfftq2XO3VTGKn7sPZ5t2R39Em8Qv6Puibe5Vw9psmbA7EvA2yhbhAAKg4gCMQkqK-BFFDgvBxZfdHj4LM/s400/Murray-at-Mildura.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Woke up this morning to a fine but chilly day. Walked into town for brunch and a look around. We found a beautiful old building dating back to 1907 which was originally a library but is now a historical museum of the region. In 1956, the year our family came to Australia, Mildura and the surrounding district suffered a catastrophic flood where the level of the Murray river rose by 36 feet. The Murray/Darling catchment area is larger than France and Italy combined, and that year saw massive rainfalls in Central Australia. Mildura had a few weeks warning that floods were on the way, but no-one foresaw the extent of the inundation which took place. We spent quite a bit of time in the museum viewing photos, maps and videos of this massive event, which was ignored by the rest of the state, because of the Melbourne Olympic Games. On the way home we strolled along the river and took a few photos before going back to our motel to check if our washing was dry. Tomorrow we ride to Hahndorf in South Australia where we will also spend a couple of days before once again pointing the bikes in the direction of home.Theo van der Meulenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06309079857124093536noreply@blogger.com0