Ride down the South East

[steveler]

Had a fone call from Des , A Ex Mitsubishi Work M8 . He asked me if i wanted to go for a ride to Mt Gambier , I thought why not , Ive got a few days off work,   and the Mrs and Daughter over visiting her Mum, no excuse to hang around home , So got the Gear sack and Oxford tank bag , out the shed , loaded a few bits and pieces into it, and we was off to Strathalbyn and then to the Wellington Ferry, where we had a backlog of traffic trying to use the Ferry , due to School holidays. So we indulged in a Pasty @ the CourtHouse Cafe, whilst waiting for how turn to Board the Wellington Ferry,







After waiting 30 minutes in the , Far  Que    , we crossed the Murray River, and rode toward Meningie , The ZRX was in need for a fuel, so we stopped  refueled and had a  look @ Lake Albert , the Water level was looking a bit sad, Hopefully the Governments can sort out the Water Allocation issues  there Quibbling about, ,and let sum Water flow down into the Lower Lakes



After leaving Meningie we got pulled up 5 kays out of town, by the Highway Patrol ,Licence Check Rego Check, blow in the bag etc , After a brief conversation with the Police Officer , we was on how Way .



A quick stop for fuel and a few pics @ Kingston then off towards Millicent for a Counter Lunch



Arriving @ Mt Gambier we decided to have a look around the Blue Lake





We parked the bikes and decided to walk off a bit of lunch, Des knew about a  walking track near Valley Lake , quite a nice walk which i never knew about .



Whilst walking on the Suspended boardwalk ,We seen a Red Belley Black Snake below having a snooze in the Grass, I wouldnt like to get a  bite  of one of these Snakes



.

Found a hotel room in town $40 a head @ the Federal Hotel , Had a counter meal and few beers , Great way to cap of a great days riding.



Next day rode back home refueling @ Millcent Kingston and Meningie ,Fuel consumption was averaging near on 8 litres per 100kays , The ZX9 was a shade over 6 , Was a bad head wind blowing around the Coorong.  Stopped @ Meningee for a bite  of lunch , then rode of to the Wellington ferry where once again there was another bottleneck to cross the Ferry







Great weekend ride, a shade under 1000 clicks for the Weekend ,Fuel consumption was  near up there with the  car    Non the less had a great time , and the 2 Kawakas went flawlessily as they alway do.

Regards Steve

[rusjel]

Cheers for the report Steve, love the side of the old courthouse. SA has so many beautiful old buildings.

Is the Murray flowing to sea at all, static pods or dry riverbed? A worry none the less

[RoadBandit]

Nice writeup Steve   must admit I'm not real keen on them joe blakes though ...  

[Gags99]

Great pic's and write up Steve, the blue lake is something amazing 

[steveler]

The Blue Lake  is awesome indeed  , a true work of nature how it turns Blue this time of Year. Said to be 80 metres deep or so , The whole area is covered in Sinkholes Caves and Ponds etc.

Im diving Ewen Pond again @ Easter . 3 Crystal clear Ponds about 7 metres deep in places  linked by channels . Hope to have a Underwater camera housing by then , so will post up pics in Off topics .

http://www.underwater.com.au/article.php/id/1551/

As for the Murray River its level has dropped @ Wellington . A ferry in the area has been closed down, due to low water levels . The Building @ Wellington area are very Historic , If your riding or driving through the area stop in and take look .

[fzIan]

Good weekend Steve 

[TOURA]

Great way to spend a weekend mate 

I gotta get down and have a look at that lake - been through several times - always at night 

[pacman57]

thanks for the report & photos 

[Clintsc9]

Gees mate, even the Wing gets under 6 L/100k headwind or not - unless I get up it.

Great report and photos.

[Tackleberry]

Xcellent Steve.  If you want any water mate come up here.  The Burdekiin Dam overflow runs at the volume of Sydney Harbour every week at this time of the year. 

[freighttrain]

Well I thought seeing as how I got made redundant and Centrelink only want to pension me off.
That I might as well go to Nambucca and keep going. And get another job when I get back.
So hopefully ( Old injuries allowing) I am on my way around Oz.
The Freighttrain is booked into ProMecha in Melbourne for a suspension refresh and then it's off to see what all the fuss is about from the Pilbarra to the Curry, because I have done the rest before.
So here's hoping the body allows me to camp out cause that is the only thing that will stop me.
And I am taking a camera so hope to have some piccies to post when I get back.

Can anyone tell me if the road from near Cloncurry to Normanton is bitumen and from Normanton to the Mt Surprise.
Last time I went to croydon my landrover fell into a bulldust covered pothole and damaged the nearside wheel so bad it had to be replaced. Any info appreciated.
Be good to meet a few faces at Nambucca.
Stay safe

[ZRX1200R]

Steve great write up.  I have a zero gravity touring screen but yours looks a bit bigger than the ZG.  What brand, where did you get it etc.

Thanks

[steveler]

Got it from Eaglescreens in Western Australia.