The first thing that seven guys on a 17 day trip through the bush will learn about each other is that some snore and some dont think they snore. After eight hours on a bike, a good feed and a few beers you can bet that the dingos were scared last night.
First night on the swags and there were some campers whom were not as happy as 12 hours ago. It seems that some of the guys thought they’d be as comfortable as in inner spring mattress and we all had to hear about specifics while the blueberry pancakes were on the plate. Luckily we had a sat phone and Hollywood Norris made a mercy phone call to his lovely for a warmer sleeping bag to be shipped to Uluru (age must soften men?). Troy was so disgusted with his choice of pillow he actually burnt it and we all tried to show a mediocre amount of compassion. Let’s all hope Wiluna doesn’t have pillows!!!!Troy also found that the 2 second Quecha tent he bought from an Indian telemarketer was about 12 inches shorter than his swag. More compassion, my heart nearly skipped a beat for him………..”just sleep in the fetal position”
We all had a great ride, lunch at Sandstone, give Statts bike a splash of fuel and we are bound for Wiluna.
Back onto a few kms of bitumen and we in the thriving metropolis of Wiluna! Fill the bikes, the jerry cans, the cars and then over to the hotel for some fresh supplies. Troy just happened to find the new owners of the Wiluna supermarket at an opportune moment and they somehow gave him their own pillow, AWESOME and Troy had a smile back on his dial.
We looked at the map and noticed the Gun Barrel Grapes Winery, so the thirsty car drivers left us in the dust and headed for the resort hoping to get a cocktail and watch the sun set over the wet edged pool………..Only short distance off the Wongawol Road we were welcomed with a magnificent crop of weeds and thistles where the grapes once grew. Things didn’t get any better as Troy asked about the facilities. We all broke traction and couldn’t get out of there quick enough. A few kms down the road and we found a perfect campsite and the icy beer once again just rolled out of the ever trusty Engel fridges.
Statt once again punched above his weight (all 109kgs) with evening meals which always started 4pm and ended well into the night with Cadburys favorites. Maybe his saggy outback conquering 400EXC should have received some of the attention he put into organizing the catering.
After the first night of the worst music we had ever heard, Matt finally accepted defeat and turned of "Show them to me" and we had Midnight Oil bashing out the all-time favorite “Gun Barrel Highway” and got us ready for the next 2 days.
A small amount of bike maintenance, mainly checking for loose spokes and looking at Stats bike to see if anything had fallen off. Robbo's front sprocket seal was leaking a lot so he replaced the seal for good measure. (it leaked for most of the trip and it wasn’t until the last day he actually found out why - he is a crap mechanic)
Shaymo is so in love with his steed, we can actually remember this quote like it was yesterday “I just love her to bits” Red wine does strange things to grown men. (The quote is the same in 3 days times, he just adds a bit more detail). This is where the Tenere excelled, long open roads. Just don’t add corners, sand and corrugations!!!!!!!
Bikes: Getting into 400 EXC country now and loving it. Shaymo on board the Tenere is like watching the Ballet if they covered the stage in drawing pins, refined-precise-confidence inspiring.
690’s, still loving life although market value will be seriously decreased for Hollywood’s after tomorrows day on the Gun Barrel
530 and 400, need not say any more, simply awesome (just need more paper to wipe up the oil leaks)
Cars, Good thing Tony and Matt are great mates. We think that Tony will take to Matt with a shovel if he doesn’t stop snoring.
Nissan two camp with Tony's swag
Matty taking care of Pancake Business, awesome
Time for the boys to check in at the Sandstone General Store, pies and phone calls for everyone
Camels and Motorbikes
Robbos bike decided that it had too much oil in it (so he says) and started to spray it everywhere. Seal change and he was all good
How Lovely
Nissan Two with Tonys Swag
Pope Well Camp Site
Pope Well Camp Site
