T
Thommo
Guest
The big day had arrived, Monday 23rd of April, This was the day that I was heading off to Darwin on Eddie, my FJR. Things were off to a bad start, I had intended to leave by 6am and ride to Winton to meet up with fellow riders, but I didn't leave until just after 6:30am ( The bad start was just an extension of the bad lead up to the trip). I headed off into Rocky to fill the main tank up and head for Emerald, the plan being, stop at Emerald, fuel both tanks up and head straight thru to Winton, no stops. That was the plan, as with most plans, they never seem to go to plan. After fueling both tanks up at Emerald, It was time to make miles and head for Winton. About an hour out of Emerald, I turned the aux. tank tap on and kept that black thing on the right handle bar twisted, which was all good until after I passed thru a small town called Alfa when I looked down at the fuel guage and noticed it was dropping at it's normal rate, somthing was amiss. The aux. tank wasn't feeding into the main tank.
So, I decided that stopping and finding out what was wrong was the order for the day. Fuel tap turned on... check. Fuel in the tank... check. Fuel line connected to the main tank.... check. Ummm... Fuel going thru the fuel filter... no check. Fuel was there alright but not flowing, a bit of wriggling and tapping and in general a bit of swearing and cursing and still no success. Did I mentioned that I had only fitted the aux. tank a few days before, and that it had never had fuel in it or even tested to make sure things were going to work for the trip? Well, I just did. ( the prototype worked just fine in simulated tests) Usually when I make somthing it works spot on first time round, so confident that I am in that regards. I thought I had made, at that point in time standing by the road, a fatal mistake thinking I can make somthing that works first time round.. Where had I made that mistake and why? These thoughts and many calculations were worked around in my head whilst heading for Barcaldine for the now compulsuary fuel stop, I made it after been on reserve for only 15km, a splash and dash there and off to Winton, As I arrived in Winton mid afternoon, i looked down at the Gps for a look see at the stats for the day and they were: 881Km @ avg spd. 111Km/Hr. Not too shabby.
I pulled up outside the Northern Gregory hotel and decided that the first thing that need to be done as a get a drink, as it was defiantly beer o clock time. Halfway across the room to the bar, this voice yells out out "Hey Thommo", I figured they had to be calling me so it was "Yo" as I turned around. Turns out it is a fella from rocky. With drink in hand i wander over to say g'day and have a chat and the first thing he says to me is, "you don't muck around do you?, rum and coke straight up". Hey, Thats me. He tells me that he recognised the bike from various pics on the net. After a few drinks, I decided that it be best that I move the bike round back before I get too pissed, roll the swag out and find out what why the hell the aux. fuel tank wasn't doing it's job.
To access the fuel lines under the tank, it's a simple matter of removing one of the panniers and pulling the fuel line out to see the fuel filters etc. Well i could see fuel in both filters, and then just after I moved the lines, bloody fuel started flowing thru! A bloody airlock, well didn't I say a few words at that, and then went back to the bar for another drink to calm my shattered nerves! The rest of the night was spent meeting up with the various people who were doing the ride. Next morning I was up early before sunrise packing the bike and having breakfast. I had enough food and cooking gear on the bike to last the whole trip.. almost.... I was carrying all that stuff as I was on a tight budget. Some legal issues in the fortnight leading up to the trip very kindly took the entire budget set aside for the trip. I left home with 350 bucks cash and $1932.40 in the bank, with bills to be taken out of the account and pay day not until friday, the same day we were to arrive in Darwin.
The Day’s run only had us going to MT Isa, a place that I have been to once or twice, and it was only roughly 470km for the day, a very easy run. A few stops here and there on the way. A stop at the Blue Heeler Hotel and than a bit further up the road for the stop at McKinly, the pub that resides there is a rather famous, most people have heard of it. It’s called Walkabout Creek Hotel. From there to Cloncurry was pretty easy and nothing to worite home about, espeaillly those city slicker who don’t appreaciate the outback or even begin to understand it, which suits me just fine, as those lovely little spots that are simply georgous remain unpolluted, perhaps one day I’ll take the odd close friend to some of these spots.
A short stop at Cloncurry and a yack to some of the early riders coming thru, and then onto Mt Isa. After setting up camp in the caravan park just after lunch, I proceded to wander around the town for a bit, just to see what had changed and what hadn’t. Lots hadn’t changed one little bit. Brought some KFC for dinner and wandered up to the lookout and took some sunset shots before heading back to camp and a few rums from the tankbag with another tourist before hitting the sack latish that night.
The next morning I was up well before sunup and after I had breaky and finished loading the bike back up, I headed back up to the lookout point to take a few sunrise shots. I took a few quick shots and then headed for Cammoweal, the last place before crossing into the Northern Terroritory and also a quick fuel stop to top the main tank up, the last fuel stop i was going to make until hitting Tennant creek. The last time I had went to Cammoweal, the road from Mt Isa to Cammoweal was an absolute nightmare of a road, and I was pleasantly suprised to find that the whole road had been done up and it was like a superslab just begging for double ton speeds. I passed one bike on this leg, a blue cruiser and a woman riding it. A quick fuel up in Cammoweal and then onto the obligortory photo stop at the border only a few km further on. The Cammoweal to Barkly Homestead leg is a 270 odd km stretch with no fuel availble in between, for some, they had to carry extra fuel, for me, no problems even on the stock fuel tank. Along this leg are a number of rest areas that are actually water bores, and as i rode past the first one, i saw 2 bike parked in there, so apon chucking a u turn, i find that these 2 BMW riders had a smal fire going and all, they were having a breakfast/smoko. The 2 gentleman were quite nice chaps, they offered me breaky and all, tho i politely declined, (made a mental note to do the same shoudl the tables be the reverse.) I could feel the call of the road beckoning, whispering to me, I had to keep moving.
At the next bore/rest area i felt the need to do somthing that i do almost reglisouly on every trip i take out west, and that is to pull up along the road and go for a walk. I take my jacket and such off and leave it all on the bike and go for a little walk only about 20 ro 30 yards into the scrub, and just absorb the atmosphere, the peacefullness, leaves rustling in the wind, and depending on where i am at the time some of the rugged beutness of the country side as well as reflect on the history of the area, what some of the very first explorers went thru. Tis a moment of reflection before continueing on my way.
Obligatory stop at Longreach
About halfway between Longreach and Winton
Heading towards Kynuna
Blue Heeler Hotel at Kynuna
Walkabout creek hotel at McKinlay
looking towards the mine from the lookout in Mt Isa
sunset:
I got some nice shots up there whilst having kfc.
Breaking camp the next morning.
So, I decided that stopping and finding out what was wrong was the order for the day. Fuel tap turned on... check. Fuel in the tank... check. Fuel line connected to the main tank.... check. Ummm... Fuel going thru the fuel filter... no check. Fuel was there alright but not flowing, a bit of wriggling and tapping and in general a bit of swearing and cursing and still no success. Did I mentioned that I had only fitted the aux. tank a few days before, and that it had never had fuel in it or even tested to make sure things were going to work for the trip? Well, I just did. ( the prototype worked just fine in simulated tests) Usually when I make somthing it works spot on first time round, so confident that I am in that regards. I thought I had made, at that point in time standing by the road, a fatal mistake thinking I can make somthing that works first time round.. Where had I made that mistake and why? These thoughts and many calculations were worked around in my head whilst heading for Barcaldine for the now compulsuary fuel stop, I made it after been on reserve for only 15km, a splash and dash there and off to Winton, As I arrived in Winton mid afternoon, i looked down at the Gps for a look see at the stats for the day and they were: 881Km @ avg spd. 111Km/Hr. Not too shabby.
I pulled up outside the Northern Gregory hotel and decided that the first thing that need to be done as a get a drink, as it was defiantly beer o clock time. Halfway across the room to the bar, this voice yells out out "Hey Thommo", I figured they had to be calling me so it was "Yo" as I turned around. Turns out it is a fella from rocky. With drink in hand i wander over to say g'day and have a chat and the first thing he says to me is, "you don't muck around do you?, rum and coke straight up". Hey, Thats me. He tells me that he recognised the bike from various pics on the net. After a few drinks, I decided that it be best that I move the bike round back before I get too pissed, roll the swag out and find out what why the hell the aux. fuel tank wasn't doing it's job.
To access the fuel lines under the tank, it's a simple matter of removing one of the panniers and pulling the fuel line out to see the fuel filters etc. Well i could see fuel in both filters, and then just after I moved the lines, bloody fuel started flowing thru! A bloody airlock, well didn't I say a few words at that, and then went back to the bar for another drink to calm my shattered nerves! The rest of the night was spent meeting up with the various people who were doing the ride. Next morning I was up early before sunrise packing the bike and having breakfast. I had enough food and cooking gear on the bike to last the whole trip.. almost.... I was carrying all that stuff as I was on a tight budget. Some legal issues in the fortnight leading up to the trip very kindly took the entire budget set aside for the trip. I left home with 350 bucks cash and $1932.40 in the bank, with bills to be taken out of the account and pay day not until friday, the same day we were to arrive in Darwin.
The Day’s run only had us going to MT Isa, a place that I have been to once or twice, and it was only roughly 470km for the day, a very easy run. A few stops here and there on the way. A stop at the Blue Heeler Hotel and than a bit further up the road for the stop at McKinly, the pub that resides there is a rather famous, most people have heard of it. It’s called Walkabout Creek Hotel. From there to Cloncurry was pretty easy and nothing to worite home about, espeaillly those city slicker who don’t appreaciate the outback or even begin to understand it, which suits me just fine, as those lovely little spots that are simply georgous remain unpolluted, perhaps one day I’ll take the odd close friend to some of these spots.
A short stop at Cloncurry and a yack to some of the early riders coming thru, and then onto Mt Isa. After setting up camp in the caravan park just after lunch, I proceded to wander around the town for a bit, just to see what had changed and what hadn’t. Lots hadn’t changed one little bit. Brought some KFC for dinner and wandered up to the lookout and took some sunset shots before heading back to camp and a few rums from the tankbag with another tourist before hitting the sack latish that night.
The next morning I was up well before sunup and after I had breaky and finished loading the bike back up, I headed back up to the lookout point to take a few sunrise shots. I took a few quick shots and then headed for Cammoweal, the last place before crossing into the Northern Terroritory and also a quick fuel stop to top the main tank up, the last fuel stop i was going to make until hitting Tennant creek. The last time I had went to Cammoweal, the road from Mt Isa to Cammoweal was an absolute nightmare of a road, and I was pleasantly suprised to find that the whole road had been done up and it was like a superslab just begging for double ton speeds. I passed one bike on this leg, a blue cruiser and a woman riding it. A quick fuel up in Cammoweal and then onto the obligortory photo stop at the border only a few km further on. The Cammoweal to Barkly Homestead leg is a 270 odd km stretch with no fuel availble in between, for some, they had to carry extra fuel, for me, no problems even on the stock fuel tank. Along this leg are a number of rest areas that are actually water bores, and as i rode past the first one, i saw 2 bike parked in there, so apon chucking a u turn, i find that these 2 BMW riders had a smal fire going and all, they were having a breakfast/smoko. The 2 gentleman were quite nice chaps, they offered me breaky and all, tho i politely declined, (made a mental note to do the same shoudl the tables be the reverse.) I could feel the call of the road beckoning, whispering to me, I had to keep moving.
At the next bore/rest area i felt the need to do somthing that i do almost reglisouly on every trip i take out west, and that is to pull up along the road and go for a walk. I take my jacket and such off and leave it all on the bike and go for a little walk only about 20 ro 30 yards into the scrub, and just absorb the atmosphere, the peacefullness, leaves rustling in the wind, and depending on where i am at the time some of the rugged beutness of the country side as well as reflect on the history of the area, what some of the very first explorers went thru. Tis a moment of reflection before continueing on my way.
Obligatory stop at Longreach
About halfway between Longreach and Winton
Heading towards Kynuna
Blue Heeler Hotel at Kynuna
Walkabout creek hotel at McKinlay
looking towards the mine from the lookout in Mt Isa
sunset:
I got some nice shots up there whilst having kfc.
Breaking camp the next morning.