#gssafari

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This spring fed oasis almost felt like a hallucination as it had been so long since we had seen any body of water on the 2019 BMW GS Safari event. This beautiful spot appeared in what felt like the middle of nowhere, between Oodnadatta and Mount Dare on our penultimate day. Had to stop for a photo, gee the flies were friendly! This is known as Eringa Waterhole in the outback area known as Marla. It was originally part of Eringa Station which was established in the 1870s before being purchased by Sidney Kidman in 1899. Station buildings are now derelict and the land is now part of the greater Hamilton Station. Others that passed through when we did said they had never seen the waterhole that dry and that it normally stretches right out to the dip in the road we traversed through Witjira National Park through to Mount Dare. Was a truly magical contrast after miles and miles of largely nothing to have this amazing gum tree ringed waterhole appear out of the dust. #gssafari #r1250gs #outback #eringawaterhole #specialplace https://www.instagram.com/p/B2VC66sg_7r/?igshid=1f2zss1iejgh2

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#gssafari Day 5 Port Macquarie to Forster

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GS Challenge & the loop.

Well day 4 started out with the GS Challenge.  GS Challenge is a concept used by a few countries to pick a team for GS Trophy (http://goo.gl/u8rc9).  Well the GS Safari crew scaled it back to turn it into a fun morning of low speed skills tests.

I didn't do any of the tests as a lot of it was stuff we'd done on the training course a few days before and at day 4 I was in energy conservation mode :)

After GS Challenge there was a loop out through Wauchope to Comboyne then back to Port Macquarie.  And what a loop!  An amazing climb out of a valley on a switch back gravel track was like a scene from Tour de France, with bikes zig zagging their way up the hill.

Then parts of the journey were the tress have grown over the road and formed a tunnel plunging us into darkness, brillant :)

So much fantastic riding meant I forgot all about taking photos, so not much to show from the day.

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This is #gssafari - What to say about the ride on day 3... stunning!

Setting out from Armidale on a beautiful morning with Craig, Steve and Adam, the first bit of bitumen made me hope that something better was in store, and it was.

The gravel roads into Georges Creek were epic.  Beautiful rolling stuff across farm land then, tight technical stuff into the forest before arriving at Georges Creek and rolling in there to join the hundred or so other riders already there.

Miles got all the riders together for a group photo and then I had to take my bike down and across the river as Adam wanted one of each model bike (GSA, GS, F800GS & Sertao) to do an interview with Miles.

This meant I got separated from the guys and rode the gravel out of Georges Creek heading to Kempsey by myself.  I was great fun getting loose out of corners and playing around then backing it off and taking in the view whenever I felt like it :)

I rejoined Steve at Bellbrook and rode with him through to Kempsey where he was meeting his brother Andy to hand over the GS he's been riding.  So now Steve's back to work at Ballina Motorcycles and Andy takes his place on the Safari.  It's been a great 3 days hacking around with Steve and trying to keep up.  I look forward to catching up with Steve on next years Safari!

The final part of the day were some very fast gravel roads into Settlement Point to catch a ferry.  What a great way to finish the day and arrive at Port Macquarie.

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Cold - #gssafari Well heading into the McD's carpark on the morning of day 2 to have the breakfast of champions (2 hash browns and a small hot choc in case you're wondering) it's cold.

The bike is showing 7.5C but I'm sure it's colder which is my excuse for having the heated grips on max heat :)

Heading out of Glenn Innes on bitumen is a nice way to warm things up on this cold morning. Steve, Jeff & myself are back together again and by the time we get to gravel I'm not thinking about being cold I'm thinking 'F#*k me these roads are wicked!'.  The 3 of us are just having to much fun and before we know it 2 hours has past and we're at Ebor.

We spend some time having a look at the scenery from the various lookout points in the area. Some more bitumen and gentle gravel roads and suddenly we're at our destination of Armidale.

Day 2 was a short day for us with the GS Safari team deciding to remove part of the planned gravel route due to the very dodgy weather on day 1 and possible thunderstorms on day 2, with the worry being that this road might become a bit to much by the time 160 odd bikes have traversed it.

Good call I say.  No problem with having an early hot shower and getting to the pub to discuss what legends we are ;-)

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Great Start - #gssafari Day one started dry riding with Craig, Steve and Jeff.  It was a nice relaxing start to GS Safari with a mix of bitumen and gravel roads on our way through to Grafton. After lunch at Grafton Steve, Jeff and myself joined Miles as we set off for Glen Innes via Dalmorton and we all had a great bit of fun on the bitumen on the way out of Grafton :) Off the bitumen and onto gravel, the weather changed dramatically after the Old Convict tunnel on the Old Grafton Road. Lucky a ramshackle old shearers shed was conveniently located providing us with some shelter whilst putting the liners into our riding gear.  After going through all this rigmarole we only get about 400 meters down the road before the rains stops, and I mean stops, line in the road, wet one side, dry the other!  Still it wasn't the last I was to see of the rain :-\ With Miles off doing other stuff, Steve, Jeff and myself continued on down the Old Grafton Road were we stumble upon a fellow GS rider who'd got into a land dispute over the bit of road he was on with a kangaroo.  Unfortunately neither party come off to well.  We helped the rider pick his bike up (he was OK, we did check that first!) and Steve did some road side repairs so he could continue riding when he was ready to. I took this opportunity to take the lining out of my jacket as I was starting to cook, and it was a beautiful day so why would I need it... It was not long after this that the three of us become separated and wouldn't actually see each other again until the riders briefing in Glen Innes.  Jeff had stopped to pick up a part that fell off his bike.  I rode on to try and catch Steve.  The ride up (and I mean up!) on the last part of the road was fantastic.  Very shortly after this assent as I start a gentle decent down the other side, it suddenly gets colder.  Time for the damn liner again!  I got it on just before it started raining, and this time it doesn't stop raining. Off the Old Grafton Road and onto the Gywdir highway for 9km before a left turn onto more gravel for the final run into Glen Innes.  I jump of the bike and wait here (yep still raining) for Steve and Jeff.  After a while still no sign of them so I decide standing in the rain is no fun and I'll head back to Old Grafton Rd where there is a shelter. Now everything is nice and wet but at least I have shelter.  Lots of riders pass by and a few stop and chat, still no Steve and Jeff.  As it's starting to get dark and the riders waiting with me are heading off I decide to join them. At the turn off for the final bit of gravel on a cold and wet evening a bunch of the riders decided they'd prefer to stick to the highway and head into Glen Innes.  Luckily me and one other rider (I don't even know who he is) must have remembered Miles at the riders briefing 'Adventure is discomfort recounted at leisure' and we opted for adventure! Cold and wet my visor so dirty I couldn't put it down as I couldn't see through it meant goggles only... more cold air and rain hitting my face.  At 100 odd kph that shit hurts!  So now I'm riding with one hand covering my face peering in to the darkness as the two of us splash and wiggle our way down the road.  Man I was happy to finally get into town and find the luggage truck.  Me and the unknown GS rider get off our bikes and shake each others hand, and now doubt both of us completely fried from a day of 'adventure', turn and wander off with out saying anything other than 'great ride'.  Who needs names when we all ride GS's.

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Departure #gssafari - at MLB airport waiting for departure :-)

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Packed #gssafari - well the final bit of gear is now all packed ready for departure tomorrow.

A bunch of gear went up strapped on the back of the bike but my BMW Safari jacket was to big with all the armor in it and I prefer to carry my helmet.

I've got a flight out of MLB to SYD then onto Ballina, were I'll be meeting Andy Fisher at Ballina Motorcycles to pickup my F800GS.  Then a ride up to Angourie were the rider training is based.

Over and out until then.