today's ride

[jape]

No-one much seems to bother with these little ride reports but I shall continue in the hope that someone is enjoying them despite the fact they aren't epic trips in a foreign-speaking land and don't get many comments! I am very fortunate that I have many miles of bush tracks all around me and whenever my health permits, I throw the creaking old bones into the saddle and head off. Today was after a week with six inches of rain, I was interested to see what the bush looks like after that, it has been drought stricken for 14 years.

These tracks get maybe two or three walkers or horse riders a month, mainly locals of course and the occasional motorbike when some of the youngsters get permission to hoon off for an hour or two. And me!

Bit wetter than usual ... bog.jpg

I had no idea how to ride this stuff, I thought it would be easy as I knew it was just 150mmm deep - let's just say it took me twenty minutes of wheel spinning, bogging and cursing to get across a kilometer and i found every dip and rut and sunken rock on the way.

[jape]

Well this is the first of half a dozen crossings I had to make ...
hmmmm.jpg
Quite deep in the middle, about 600 to 800mm, thats 2 foot plus. Over my boot tops and the engine anyway! I just went for it, couldn't do much else. Engines smell quite nice when they steam dry afterwards, I decided.

I guessed from the lay off the land which I know, that there would be a few more creeks ahead of me and sort of felt a bit cowardly, exhausted after just two kilometers! Then I looked back ...

slippy_slope.jpg

- and that streaming clay and rock stream was the least steep bit of the slope. I decided to press onwards instead. Two fallen trees to get around (they are shallow rooted and fall easily after flood and storm), some long lengths of very slippery track under shallow water, a couple more creeks and well that was just 10 km believe it or not but quite enough for me. Home, dry feet and a cuppa.

i might try and get some of the more local members to join me on a run or two, it is selfish of me to keep this all to myself!!!!
I should add that so far the Kinlon is very good, puts up with all my mistakes and over-revving and wrong gear choices. Slides all over the place wet or dry but hey, it is fun, if a bit scary, ripping from one out of control front wheel skid skid into another in the opposite direction, narrowly missing trees - somehow keeping its balance -

[slabo]

Mount a camera on your helmet and crash .. That's something too selfish not to share.
Any problems with rust so far?

[jape]

Well I promise if I crash to get it in full technicolour - hopefully that is something I will never have to share! If the camera had been a movie camera not just a cheap stills one, well anyone watching it would have got seasick with all the sliding and wobbling and bumping. I am aching all over from that short ride. Same again soon in a different direction. the Police closed some roads because of flash flooding, I might go and explore them. This is gold fields area, I am hoping to trip over a newly exposed nugget.



Lots of rust, from brake discs to pitted 'chrome' and especially the exhaust which looks like a piece of slag. And one plastic panel which disintegrated into a few bits overnight all on its own. But nothing critical, just looks. Being a bit beaten up and wrinkled myself I don't mind too much.

[euphonius]

Nice to see you getting tons of rain, and hope it sustains for a few years.

I enjoy these little ride reports plenty, and hope some day to slog through those parts with you. What sort of tires are you running? Big knobs?

cheers

[jape]

I didn't know knobs came in different sizes ... I'm sure mine must be big knobs, just a bit worn down perhaps. Could explain why I slide around so much, but then again I should probably go faster for grip, but the ex always said I was too fast so I am confused. You'd be very welcome Jeff, I shall sling another hammock under the verandah or sweep (shovel) a corner of the shack clear if you ever come over this way.