JOHN'S TRIP TO PORT DOUGLAS

John has previously told us about a trip he did in his trusty BMW K1300 to the Snowy region of NSW. (Although the plan on that one had been to go to Tasmania). Well, he's been on tour again, this time all the way from his home in Sydney to Port Douglas, Queensland. A long trip! Once again, the plan had been to go even further, but he rqan out of time. He tells us all about it.

I thought I’d update you on my recent trip aboard the K1300 SE.

Well, John here had a plan. Travel from Sydney to Port Douglas to visit two friends who are struggling a bit. Then if body and mind were up for it, to push through to Kathrine, Broome, Perth and then home.

I’d done the Sydney - PD thing before - 2 years ago. Up the centre. This time I took the route that is New England Highway - Nanogan - Biloela  and up through Rockhampton. I’d also travelled from Alice to Mt Isa previously. So knew what I was up for.

No drama until just a detour from the highway at Mt Morgan (close to Rocky) sent us on a 1 km dirt road. Result – a puncture. Problem was that after the amazing BMW technology told me I had a problem, I figured out what was - a very squishy feeling in the rear tyre.  I cruised to a halt alongside a local farm.  But no probs - I had a repair kit, a battery powered compressor and lots of CO2 in bottles. Problem was that I couldn’t see the puncture. No nail - nothing. But good fortune had struck. I had pulled up beside the property of Roy, an original Gronks patched rider. What a guy. With no nail visible in the tyres I needed pressure to determine where the puncture was. Well, the BMW supplied connection for the power outlet on the chassis failed immediately. Roy had told me he had a compressor, so here was the solution: get some air into that f...ing tyre to work out where the leaks was.

So I wheeled the BM into his shed. Problem quickly solved. We detected the small hole inside a tread ridge, plugged and put the air in. New tyre in Rocky. No problem.

Roy had an interesting story with his life and bikes .... current ride a big Yamaha - the cruiser - not FJR.

Pressed on to Port Douglas. Was more than well equipped to press on but when it was 9k to Perth reality for this 68 y.o. set in. I had said to the beloved I would review at PD. I did! And there was no time to do the rest of the trip.

Back to Sydney and averaged over 500km per day.

So the message is, if you are planning a lap - plan to have time for plenty of breaks. I had thought 6 weeks was enough but on reaching PD I realised this was not enough. I had a deadline to be back in Sydney. Bad mistake.

Back in Syndey the desire to cross the Nullarbor is still there - but I ‘m thinking a R 1200T or my previous bike - 1400GTR.

No on-road drama, apart the standard roos and emus and road kill. One speeding ticket only......

I am happy to discuss other issues with your readers - in particular, the further you move away from the coast the flooding of central Queensland means road subsidence is a problem. Not to mention road trains.

Thanks John. I'm sure you'll make that trip across the Nullabour; and when you do, we'd love to hear about it. 

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