Australian FJ Anniversary Rally; March 8, 2014

[Bozo]

Any suggestions on the most scenic route from Mildura - Arnie / Pete your the best at this.
john

Here are some choices.  Sorry, there's no good route I know getting across from Mildura to about Wodonga, but most of these stay by the Murray River, and go through Rutherglen (for wine) and Yarrawonga.

http://goo.gl/maps/BMSaL

http://goo.gl/maps/se75u


http://goo.gl/maps/1cVhR

http://goo.gl/maps/nhlsG   If you go this way, check out Mt.Granya
                                       which is a larger monolithic rock than Ularu

Arnie

Thanks Arnie, the first looks like the route we'll take up the hill billy country     Bella (Izabella) had the same idea, depending on what we do on the way back we'll use one of the other routes on the way back.

Hey Arnie you should get the Iron butt award this year because the Queenslanders surely can't count going around pot holes in QLD and NSW adding 1000kms to their trip.

P.S you didn't add a dirt road Aka Pete, in that plan - I hope.

[X-Ray]

No but a few laps around Bathurst on the way there or back sure would, 

[Bozo]

No but a few laps around Bathurst on the way there or back sure would, 

At the speed limit they have posted you'd better plan for an extra days stay for a few laps around - at least the fuel economy will be good.

Be careful the roos (and drop bears) will be going faster and could end up wearing an FJ in their pouch. Maybe they should wear "people whistles"

[Arnie]

Bozo asked, "P.S you didn't add a dirt road Aka Pete, in that plan - I hope."

Not intentionally, but you never know what surprises VICRoads have in store for you. :-)

Actually the "Roads to Recovery" program has improved quite a lot of country/regional roads in the past couple of years.  Even the road I live on has been sealed.  Less dust, but lots more traffic :-(

Arnie

[Stainesy]

Okay, I've now booked/paid room for 7th & 8th March and got a bit of an extra discount because I'm extremely handsome and ride the best model FJ.       And just to throw in my two bobs worth to the AirHawk seat or otherwise discussion, I fitted a medium cruiser poly AirHawk to my work bike (FJR1300) and rode it pretty well 11 hours straight (3.30am to 3pm) for the Gold Coast Marathon on Sunday 8th July.  I did several easy adjustments to amount of air in the first hour or two and then for the remainder of the day it was great and I didn't experience a sore bum like I usually do on this event.  I'm sold.

[Arnie]

This news just in:   
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-26/landslip-closes-snowy-mountains-road/4846742

Now we'll have to see how long it takes them to fix it.

Arnie

[X-Ray]

I fitted a medium cruiser poly AirHawk to my work bike (FJR1300) and rode it pretty well 11 hours straight .

Thank you Kind Sir, I am sold as well. Will be getting one before too long. Did you get the Poly or Neoprene one Leon?

[baldy3853]

Arnie mmmmm thanks for that, hopefully should get it done, but don't know how much they'll be able to do as this Rd is normally closed during the winter, buggar buggar  was hoping to ride that on the rally 
Baldy

[Chromaxe]

Hi All, will get on the phone tomorrow....Hope everyone's well out there in FJ Land..

p.s. Megsy, don't forget that photo...it might be worth your while...

[Stainesy]

I fitted a medium cruiser poly AirHawk to my work bike (FJR1300) and rode it pretty well 11 hours straight .

Thank you Kind Sir, I am sold as well. Will be getting one before too long. Did you get the Poly or Neoprene one Leon?

Poly one, mate.

[Arnie]

Arnie mmmmm thanks for that, hopefully should get it done, but don't know how much they'll be able to do as this Rd is normally closed during the winter, buggar buggar  was hoping to ride that on the rally 
Baldy

Taking another look at the pic of the landslip on the road..... I don't think a bike would have much difficulty getting through there, as long as that's the worst of it.
That road gets a 'lot' of use (by Alpine road standards) and I'd be very surprised if it wasn't repaired way before Xmas.  I think we can be pretty confident of being able to use it in March.

Arnie

[Chromaxe]

Well, that's me booked in - I think I'm in the loft - last room with a view - apparently there is a bunch of motorcyclists taking over the place that weekend!!

Nicky tells me she is cruising to NZ with her girlfriends that weekend. I tell her I'm cruising to Jindabyne on the FJ....

[Bozo]

This news just in:   
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-26/landslip-closes-snowy-mountains-road/4846742

Now we'll have to see how long it takes them to fix it.

Arnie

Just looking at that I thought you were showing us - Putty road or is that one of the tracks you have steered me onto in your road recommendations. With the new RPM shock I should be able to ride through that at 100kph and not feel it 

[Arnie]

Bozo,

I think all the options I sent you included that bit of road. :-)
Be sure to tell us how well the RPM shock handles it.

BTW  From the Vicroads website, ( http://traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/ ) you can see all the roads in Vic that are closed for whatever reason.
Just went to check the URL and they are NOT showing the Alpine Way closed.  Maybe they've already cleaned it up.

[oldktmdude]

Bozo,

I think all the options I sent you included that bit of road. :-)
Be sure to tell us how well the RPM shock handles it.

BTW  From the Vicroads website, ( http://traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/ ) you can see all the roads in Vic that are closed for whatever reason.
Just went to check the URL and they are NOT showing the Alpine Way closed.  Maybe they've already cleaned it up.

Arnie, I think that site only shows roads that are closed in Victoria. The road closure near Thredbo is in NSW. The road is still closed and I havn't heard when it's due to re-open. I don't even know if any clear-up work has even started yet. I'm sure it will be sorted out before the Rally as this is a very busy road during the warmer months. And YES, it is one of the roads I'm planning to use for the Saturday ride of the Rally weekend.   Pete.