awesome, how much do you think this trip is costing you? I am tempted to come but saving really hard for my trip in the americas... though it sounds like alot of fun!

$2000.00 tops inc bike, rego, setup costs and fuel. Good cheap fun, they are the wildest things to ride. You just can't get the smile off you face!

3 weeks of riding, drinking and lots of laughs, can't beat that can you?

Our regular rides are a ZX12R (Aunty Jack for obvious reasons) , and 2 x DL1000 Vstroms, so it is a major step down in HP.

There is always part 3 mid next year, as yet it is a little up in the air where it will go to but it will start in Cairns if these bikes are still useable :scooter:

Going Back a lot o years...
 

Loxie...your post brought back lots o memories. I taught school at Bamaga from August to December 1974...almost 35 years ago...I was a newly graduated teacher from Alberta Canada and thought I'd take on an adventure....and what a welcome to Oz it was...

While there are probably lots of people who have pics from the era, I don't recall seeing many on the HUBB....so excuse, please my nostalgia...

While you spend time at the 'top' and if the school is 'in' see if you can get some songs from the students...ask for the 'The Melbidir Sails' ... I can't recall more stunning harmoniesfrom students who took the boat from the islands into Bamaga for school. Ask also for 'Kite Kite epod has his kite and he all time play his kite" Some memories have grown a little dim, but some shine on so brightly as to illuminate every day-even here in the great white and long day north!!

I so envy your plans...so many place names of significance....make sure you read Percy Trezize book ' The Quinkans' before you go, so you are prepared....and maybe throw in a few of Chatwin's 'Songlines'...O what a Lucky Country indeed!!

Posties Bikes and adventure rule...Best of Luck to ya...and say hi to everyone in the Deep North!!

I look forward to seeing your ride report. And, if you do stop in Gordonvale, stop at at 31 Church street and give Kevin Murgatroyd a 'G'Day' !!!

(I had my Kombi Van burn up on the road down from Little Mulgrave Pub in 1975 as I was dropping kids off after soccer practice....neat place)

Here's a few really old time pics...

A successful arrival at the Cape (on foot) a hike from Bamaga...December 1974


Mau Tom - Grade 11 (I think)


Girls Being Girls in Bamaga in 1974!!


Playing Frisbee in the Rain at Red Island Point - December 1974 (The white guy is me!!!)


The Magic Honda MT 250 (Elsinore) - 2 stroke - Bassani/Bassini exhaust--a real runner, for 1974-75!!! Pic taken in Gordonvale N.Qld- early 1975)


Stephen Golub
Red Deer Alberta

Hey Stephen, so classic pics you've got there. You gotta love those old helmets! Sounds like you enjoyed your stay here experiencing it all, Kombi included, a true classic vehicle. I lived in Cairns as a kid from '70 to '74, my first question to my father was "Why are the gutters so deep here dad??". I soon got to find out when it pissed down rain for over 4 months straight and filled them to overflowing and small crocs were swept up the drains.


Looks like we have both spent time in each others backyard. I spent some time in Canada & USA in '06 when I shipped my CBR1100XX over the pond for a little ride around. Like you, I have some fantastic memories of your country and the warm hearted people we met. :thumbup1:

Which part of Canada are you from???

Glen

Classic Times in OZ!
 

Glen...I live in Red Deer Alberta. Been here since 1982 after four years in Oz(Holloways Beach - teaching school in Gordonvale (75-79) and Bamaga 1974 and - loved loved loved OZ - still gots lots o friends in Gordonvale/Brisbane) and 1 year in Nelson NZ. Am now waiting for Trevor and Rachel Skipsey from Carins to show up here ...they apparently are Gold Winging around the west here...I've looked at the Posties tour in southern OZ and think that would be a blast...what you have planned is way more 'Bush Tucker Manly' ....the rewards are gonna be unbelievable.....had an opportunity to go to Horn Island when I was there - a somewhat sacred site if I recall - shell beaches--also took kids to TI for swimming competitions - and lots of camping on the beach at Jardine etc. ( I remember the salt water crocs who came up on the beach while we were sleeping to sniff our toes) - also ate turtle, barramundi, etc. Stayed at the Bamaga Hotel - Mrs. Bosun and Mrs. Phineasa- I hear things are a little different there now as behaviors have moved toward more extreme.....we used to have open air movies in the park just north of the hotel.....also used to show lots of National Film Board of Canada shorts....Neighbors, Paus Des Duex, ZOOM, Paddle to the Sea etc.... Was a wonderful time....red soil, Quinkans, Torres Strait, Gum Trees, Jardine River...Also lived in Gordonvale and Holloways Beach - Sundays riding up the Coast to Palm Cove pub were fun...not to mention Kuranda, Gillies, Pete's Falls, Babinda, Nerada Tea Plantation etc.....I really should get back
Anyway....you've got a great trip planned - would love to see the pics in some future post.....where were you in the GWN?

Stephen

those pics are absolute classics.... you should do a very late ride report

So that's why I can't contact Rachel in Cairns eh! Have some other friends riding around Canada and USA at the moment on a Wing, Bob & Sandra, just about at the end of a 3 or 4 month trip now. Latest update is they are in Halifax.


You really should get back hear, and soon, time is passing us by, too much to fit in and so little time. Give me a yell when you decide to come back so we can catch up and tell tales of the Cape.

Our trip of Canada & US of A started in Vancouver, then an anti clockwise loop of the Rockies, Calgary, Saskatoon (very forgiving police you have there, clocked me at 150kph no fine, that would never happen in OZ), a sprint across the top of the Great Lakes, Toronto, down to Niagara (what a let down), Milwaukee, Crazy Horse (mind blowing, gotta get back there one day to see the progress) West through all the Northern States taking in Snake River, Yellowstone, then back up to BC, North to Bella Coola and then the most spectacular Ferry ride down the Coast to Vancouver Island.

Good times that's for sure


Glen

Cheap runner alright
 

Hey there
I can attest that posties are indeed the cheapest form of travel, the costs are almost halved again if you ride 2-up like us.
We set out from Perth some 3.5months ago on our standard postie. It has an extra 7L tank from a chinese MotoXer so we have about 12L in total. On our one month journey from Perth to Darwin it cost us a total of Au$240 in petrol... Au$120 each!!!! We were constantly shocked at what other peoples costs were along the way.
Petrol was a lot more expensive in East Timor the 3weeks we were there, we spent a bit on petrol but considering the miles we did and the condition of the roads(read goat tracks) we came out in front of the huge slow trucks everyone piles into over there.
Now we are in Indonesia, been over a month island hopping. Because the postie is small like all the bikes here it can be loaded on small boats (and canoes) for often no extre charge. On land we have worked out that we are travelling a LOT cheaper than a local could by Bemo/Bus. A little cheaper than a local could on a motorbike because we are 2-up.

The bike is running fine but we are packing VERY light.
We are splurging a little here on accom cos we camped all the way through Australia. Its still cheap though, each we are paying about Au$5 a night. We save again by buying veggies at markets and cooking dinner in our room, we like to eat local food for lunch though.
We are about to head into Java then Sumatra... Our visa is running out and have to soon cross to Malaysia.

It can be done and the bike will still be there begging you to take it out on a long journey again. Be careful of the clutch though, nice crisp gear changes and oil changes every 1000kms will make it last longer.
We got a new one fitted in Broome.

Good luck.
Nathan and Akiko.

Two up on a Postie, you are a very brave man. They certainly are tough little bikes though. I can't begin to picture where you are putting your luggage, there is so little room even solo. You make me look like an amateur!
Enjoy the ride, keep us Posted

Glen

Couple more old timers....
 

A couple more pics from the classic days ('74)...sometime that you might be able to reproduce in your upcoming trip....there's actually a book here where a photographer tried to set up in the exact spot that many old time photos were taken to show the then and now....

Glen...if Rachel contacts us here, I'll pass on your plans and comments...

Cheers
Stephen

The Street of Bamaga---Mrs. Phineasa and Mrs. Bosun - they ran the hotel..


The Bamaga Hotel - luxury on the Cape....


End of another School Day - North OZ 1974 Style


Just north of the Hotel....park on left is the then movie theatre....open air!!

Loaded postie
 

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...nder-small.jpg
Heres our beloved postie at the Overlander Roadhouse near SharkBay.
Our setup has evolved a little since this pic was taken. We no longer have our tent and sleeping mats with us so the front rack just holds our cooking gear. Ive actually found it handled better with the extra weight on the front, especially on the rough stuff, tougher on the arms though. The tank panniers hold our food. The rear panniers hold our 2changes of clothes, my GFs girly stuff, spares and tools, chargers, mosquito net and 2 boxes of japanese organic mosquito coils(very good). Also 4litres of water in 2 bottles are strapped to the back with elastic. My pillion also wears a small day pack with our maps/snacks/toilet paper(very important here!!!)
We just arrived in Java today. Found this great hotel in Probolinggo. Bromo View Hotel. Paying Aus$ 8 for the room including towels, linen, hot water, free WIFI AND breakfast. Thats 4bux each!

Nathan and Akiko

Hey Richard, what date are you expecting to be in the Top End?? We have a 650 Dakar rider tagging along 'til about Cooktown, you are welcome to join in!

Glen

Dont have,ta be.
 

Nope---I,m not a vet & they wee pretty friendly to me. Had to ride qute a way over the ford though---maybe 10--15 kms,Seemed a long way.
CHEERS AL.

Postie pic
 

Here's a pic of one of the bikes at a freight forwarders in Brisbane ready for the short trip up the coast to Cairns :scooter:
Orange panniers just click onto the racking and I have an Andy Strapz "A" bag to strap on top of the rack.

I am leaving Sat week myself to fly to Cairns.

Any more spots/tips would be much appreciated

Glen

Bamaga School 1974
 

Glen...sorry about not replying sooner. Been in the mountains. Here's a pic of the Bamaga School circa late 1974 that may be of interest to current Staff and Students.

Would be cool if you could take a shot from the same place when you get up to the Cape.

Best of LUCK - laboring under correct knowlege- on your trip!!!

Stephen