The following sample videos were taken with my new Drift HD Ghost. All but the last 2 are taken following the same route near my home and last approximately 2:35. While each is not “exactly” the same, the similar route and time of day should provide a reasonable basis for comparison.
Category: On Two Wheels
Not looking forward to the ride to work tomorrow morning
Overnight Ride to Eat (RTE) to Moora – June
The local WA chapter of OzSToc (well, about 8 of us) is saddling up again and heading to Moora in early June. My plan is to take off mid-morning on the Saturday, stop off at New Norcia and Bindoon, and camp at the local caravan park in Moora.
On Sunday, no plans yet – I expect a ride will eventuate to make the trip home interesting through to York if nothing else is arranged with the group.
View Moora overnight RTE in a larger map
I’m not fully committed to an overnight stay yet since if I do I’ll want good weather for pitching the tent. It’s not worth the effort (me thinks) if it’s bucketing down.
I hope I do camp though. I’ll be using my new Drift HD Ghost (which I don’t know I’m getting for my birthday – wink) so the more I can use it the better.
York Motorcycle Festival
Every year this festival is held in the historic town of York. This was my first visit.
The primary purpose of the trip was to look at the Drift HD Ghost POV camera as they had a stall. I had some taxi duties back in Perth so I wasn’t able to stay long – just enough to check out the camera and have a quick look around.
First off was a friendly getting from Yorkie from OzSToc – he’s part of the staff helping out. Obviously from his name he lives close by.
Anyway, …
The festival: really well organized with demos, displays, competitions, and exhibitors.
“Trials” were being demoed by Neil Price (WA champion and national rep) – this is like acrobats for bikes. They’re not dirty bikes that race, but rather modified bikes that conquer seriously difficult obstacles.
I watched from a distance (the Drift stand) si didn’t take any photos, thinking I would wait for the next show. Strike while the iron’s hit they say… I’d have to wait for another hour and I just didn’t have time.
Lots of stuff in display:
I had run out of time to see the rest (minicarna, show and tell, etc.) so this will be a definite all day event next year.
Drift HD Ghost…
I want one. Bigger than some but still manageable for the helmet with a lot more features. A birthday present me thinks.
Mumballup Run
A great day on the bike. It was a little wet until we reached Serpentine, but after that it was dry. Quite cloudy which helped keep the temperature down in the humidity.
Our ride leader had a little fright. Riding second behind him, I saw Turtle managing a rear wheel lockup in a moment of panic when 3 dogs appeared at the side of the road. Luckily I’d seen them early (‘cos I was riding to the left of the lane and had better vision up the verge).
200 km and we reached Mumballup. It’s really just the pub and a postcode.
I had to scarper once I’d had a rest and a drink as I had another 4 hours of riding to do. Most of the others stayed for what I heard was a very nice homemade burger.
The road on the way into Mumballup and the roads west of Boyup Brook were very nice to ride on.
A little gravel in some places but Ok. I did have one moment though: it was mostly 80 zones with lots of twists and turns, & peaks and gullys. A brief lack is attention had me entering a turn a little too “hot”. Luckily there wasn’t anyone else around otherwise it would have been instant crash-test dummy as I crossed to the other side is the road under heavy brakes. A puckering moment.
A quick stop to drop off abandoned Easter chocolates in Busselton and then back home.
Surprisingly, the calluses I’d built on the trip to SA (only 3 weeks ago!) had all gone. After 600+ KMs my bum wanted off.
Mumballup RTE
RTE == “Ride To Eat”.
Organized by Turtle. I’ll be detouring via Busselton to drop some stuff off at Hope’s on the way home.
This Sunday….
View Mumballup RTE in a larger map
3 Dams
Went for a ride visiting 3 dams in Perth with some fellow OzSToc members:
We left the highway in Serpentine at around 8:45 in almost perfect weather.
Fridge Magnet – crap!
Stinky helmet
Bug splattered and full of stale sweat from those horrible hot days on the Rally.
I removed the cheek pads and then discovered everything else is glued in. Ellie found a way of washing it… just drown it in a bath of shampoo.
It’s now drying… hopefully I’ll be able to where it on Tuesday when I go back to work.
I’ve done it
I finally arrived at 4:00pm. First thing was a shower. Tonight it’s my own bed and pillow. Yay.
Total distance…. drum roll please…
Before
After
7,551 km.
Will I do it again? Yes. I loved every minute of it. Next year OzSToc will be held in Ballarat – only 600km further than Middleton. Unfortunately I don’t think I’ll have the leave available.