Heat & Humidity

[Klavdy]

There's a phenomenon in the Northern Territory of Australia called "The Build Up" , its what happens when the weather "Builds Up" to the wet season.
The Northern Territory up where I've been for the last 5 months is in the tropics too, its damn hot.
The Wet Season.
Near suffocating humidity,temperatures that go between 95-120 degrees, doesn't cool down at night,sweat so much you'll think you are melting, sweaty butt cracks abound.
People go mad from it, known as "Going Troppo".
This goes on until the monsoon and cyclones stop, sometime after May.
I'd been there since October last year.
It was time to escape to cooler climes.

So I did,and went roaming about the countryside.


   

[FJmonkey]

Good for you mate. I dealt with similar issues in the Phoenix Arizona area where I grew up during the monsoon season. You would think that the desert is always dry... But my back east experience with humidity was also a right uncomfortable condition. Good to see you post up.

[Klavdy]

It's a big country, Australia, sparsely populated compared to most, means there's a lot of roads but not enough money or political will to keep all of them up to an acceptable standard, most of our back roads and many of the main ones are hammered , patches on potholes on top of previous patches.

That's why it's always remarkable when you get to a region in our south east known as "The Snowies" it's what passes for mountains in our part of the world, (mind you, Mt Kosciusko , with a height of 2,228 meters (7,310 ft) is but a molehill compared to the Rockies), it's always remarkable to find these manicured ribbons of hot mix blend winding their way through the region.



7,500 km's and a new set  of tyres later, here I am writing about the trip.

We've got ludicrously low speed limits in Australia, with insane fines and penalties, try 30 over ,gets you a $2,400 fine and seven points off a twelve points license.
So, of course, I took a Kawasaki GTR 1400 that's been hotted up , Power Commander, filter and full exhaust system, its fast and powerful.



It's the same bike Bean took on his trip down under.
He seemed to like it.

[FJmonkey]

Keep posting... Looking good....

[Pat Conlon]

Klav, are radar detectors legal?

What are your impressions of the big GTR?

[Klavdy]

Hullo Pat my friend, how are you?
Good to hear from you matey.
Radar Detectors are only legal in one state , Western Australia, it's a huge state too,one third of Australia.
It's so tempting to get one even though the penalties for having one are insane , the penalty unit value in Queensland is $113.85 (current from 1 July 2014).

For example, the penalty for possessing/ using a radar detector is a maximum of 40 penalty units or 6 months imprisonment; therefore the maximum fine for the offence is now $4554.

As to the GTR, it's a wonderful machine,smooth, comfortable, brilliant ABS, shaft drive, terrific aerodynamics and electric screen, reliable.
It took me a while to "Bond" with it, a mate of mine offered to sell it to me a few years ago for a price that couldn't be refused,don't know that I'd have bought one otherwise, now glad I did so.
It'd rock Skaggs Springs, and roads like the Cherohala, struggles a bit coz it's quite large on roads like that part of the 1  from Fort Bragg to Leggett, but no more than a late model FJ.
Come down, take it for a lap of Australia.
You know you want to.
It's fantastic for long trips, the wind protection , lack of vibration and smooth ride are great.    

[Klavdy]

The Snowies is a fantastic destination for a ride, the scenery is beautiful,




and the roads are fantastic,how they rate such an investment is beyond my reckoning but its a bloody good thing.




I met up with mates down there and we stayed for a few nights in a similar set up to a KOA, the Tumbarumba Caravan Park,



The park owners love us, they put on a beaut BBQ supper and breakfast every day,



$75 a night each person, including two meals and a band ,and about 75-80 people from another riding group I'm a member of turned up



It's the same group of blokes who put on the welcoming party for Fluffy when he came down,


I saw a bunch of FJ's heading north as I was going south, they were near Oberon /Bathurst?

[X-Ray]

Klav!!!!!! So that's where you have been hiding.

Those Snowy pics with the lovely roads going through the valleys reminds me of the Jindabyne Rally last year. The weekend wasn't anywhere near long enough to take all of that scenery in around there, will definitely be going back.

[oldktmdude]

I saw a bunch of FJ's heading north as I was going south, they were near Oberon /Bathurst?

Probably me with another FJ and a ZRX1200. Thursday about 12.30-1.30 pm.

[roverfj1200]

Nice one K-man I do love those yellow line roads. Was going that way on my way back from the Island but ran a bit short on time. I did how ever stay at the Tumba pub for a night.

[yamaha fj rider]

Great post Klavdy. What a place to ride! GTR looks like too much FUN. $75.00 a night, breakfast, dinner, a bed and entertainment. We need a place like that over here. Wish I could join you. Speaking about joining. WCR, central rally, can you make it? I hope so.

Kurt

[Mark Olson]

Hey Klavdy ,

good to see you post . Glad you were able to get out for a ride with some friends and enjoy yourself . 

Take care buddy .

MarkO.