Empty Tank = Empty Head!

[MIXR]

Ok - No insults about the empty head!

I planned a day on the bike about two weeks ago, but the weather has been pretty crap lately, and today (a Public Holiday) started off cold and wet, so I figured it just wasn't going to happen. As it turns out, the day cleared enough to get the bike out, so I burned a small hole in the ozone layer by chewing up a tank of gas. Did close to 300 kilometres after lunch, even though the ride temperature was only 10 degrees C.

It was just a few hours to clear the head in preparation for another week of ................. work. Don't you just hate those four-letter words!

I hit the back-roads, and ended up way down south in Namadgi National Park. The sealed road becomes dirt in the Park, but it's a very nice ride even if you have to turn back. One of the good things about where I live is how close I am to some great motorcycle roads, so I stopped for a few pics along the way.

When you have roads like this, it's so hard to stop for photos!


This is the view in the other direction.


Taken from one of the higher ridge roads that overlooks another 'dead-end' but interesting road.


Nice smooth tarmac with good radius corners, and nice scenery if you are game to have a look.


A lot of it is much tighter than this, but too risky to pull up for photos. You can just see the 'Kangaroo' sign further up. The next bend got very interesting as a large Grey came across the road in front of me. He skidded. I skidded. He fell over. I hit his leg, but didn't fall over. We both needed a change of undies! Only a coincidence with the sign. We have so many roo signs that we ignore them anyway.


Heading out of one of the many small valleys. Nice to see some green after the dry of the drought.


And a lucky-last shot of the types of hills I ride through.


Anyway - That's a quick tank of gas gone on a bleak and cold afternoon. Put in 17 litres when I got back and have a clear head for the week. Pretty tough living here, isn't it!

Cheers all, Mick.

[DJ Downunder]

Great pictures Mick...You were very lucky with that roo...both of you..

It still looks very dry...for Winter...Have you seen any white stuff yet?

DJ

[MIXR]

Light snow flurries on the Brindabella Range last week, and damn near snowing today! Just a few sleet flakes floating about down towards the Shannon's Flat end of the Park. Didn't go too far on the dirt because I could see the storms coming. Bad road for the bike when it's wet.

Hate the roos DJ - Far too many around here at the moment. I might give one of those roo whistles a go. Should mount up ok on the beak, either side maybe. Not sure they really work, but I'll try anything. The roads in the hills are pretty narrow in places, so there just isn't anywhere to go to get out of their way if they come over the armco or out of the bush. I was lucky my speed was down having just left the photo stop. Otherwise .............

[GypsyRR]

I was lucky my speed was down having just left the photo stop. Otherwise .............

See.......... stopping to taking photos can save your life (or the life of a 'roo').

The thought of a kangaroo skidding across a road is almost cartoonish in my imagination. I know they are a real danger to motorcylists though, so I'm glad you were able to stay upright. And I'm glad you didn't take a photo of an injured roo.

You had some really nicely framed photos in your report, MIXR. Thanks for taking the time to stop for photos and writing a report. Nice.

[mnnden]

Great pictures, I really like the landscape, I do a little hiking and your area looks so inviting, Are the Kangaroos more active durning the day or are they more active at night? (or does it matter) also, do they pose a problem to hikers?. Here in MN we have a deer problem, and although they can be active at anytime, they are more of a nocturnal animal, so much so that I rarely ride at night. Thanks again, Den

[MIXR]

To answer a few questions.

The roos are very unpredictable. The only ones that are likely to cause hikers a problem are the ones that frequent the picnic areas and pick up scraps. No feeding them - It encourages the behaviour (like bears and deer and moose I suppose). Same with emus.

Lovely area for hiking. One of the main activities. Our Rangers are always looking for lost hikers! Roos will tend to sleep and feed during the day. Most active at mornings and evenings. That's when they seem to move around to feeding areas versus sleeping areas. And they feed overnight as well. It's mostly sunrise and sunset that's the danger period when they are moving, but ............... Who knows?

The roo bolted. They are pretty tough, but when they skid and fall, it is very comical. Arms, legs and tail flailing everywhere. Just not funny on the bike!

Far as I can tell, I only ran over a foot. Maybe a tail - I really wasn't looking that hard! That's two 'roo' stickers I need now. Another three and I'll be an 'Ace'. Like I said - It was a scare, but not quite a near-death experience. That comes when you know you're going to hit them full-on! I was lucky. No skill involved at all. Happens all too fast.

Cheers. Mick.

[iowabeakster]

Thanks again Mick, I love the reports from you guys Down Under.

Did those crazy storms hit you? I thought I read that the storms were north of you. Your pictures are certainly drier than the pictures in the news.

Good news on the Roo incident. 2 skids, 0 injuries.

[MIXR]

We had the wind and some light rain. Storms were on the coast about 4 hours drive north east from me. North of Sydney, and along the coast as far as the QLD border. Not good.

[scottybooj]

I dunno....I would propose that had you NOT stopped for a photo, this would not be an issue as you would have been ahead of the roo.

I did, however, enjoy your pics. Thank you for risking life and limb(and the roo's limb) for the post!

[Ian]

Namadgi National Park - hey Mix, where is that, i am down on the South Coast and that looks like an interesting run!!

U where lucky to miss the storms the other day - i thought my roof was going to end up in the next doors pool!

[MIXR]

Hi Ian,

Namadgi is south of Canberra, past Tharwa - If you hit the dirt and keep going for about 30 klms, you end up back on the black stuff at Bolaro Station, not far from Adaminaby. It's a pretty good run, but definitely not when it's wet as there are some serious clay patches. Also snow this time of year! It's my 'short-cut' to get to Eucumbene for trout fishing.

Any time you're up this way and want some new ride country, let me know. The crowd I ride with from Sydney often have us down in Kangaroo Valley, or Macquarie Pass/Jambaroo Valley, so we aren't far from you. And if you haven't done the run along Elliot's way, or Tooma Dam, or the Alpine Way ................ Great roads. Always a bed here. We take in strays!

Cheers, Mick.

[Rog(UK) - Yorkshire Dales]

Great pics and report, Mick. Glad you only clipped the 'roo and were OK. All these ride reports and beautiful pics from around the world are making me think it is about time I got off my backside and actually went to see some of them.

Thanks, Mick.

Rog

[Ian]

Any time you're up this way and want some new ride country, let me know. The crowd I ride with from Sydney often have us down in Kangaroo Valley, or Macquarie Pass/Jambaroo Valley, so we aren't far from you. And if you haven't done the run along Elliot's way, or Tooma Dam, or the Alpine Way ................ Great roads. Always a bed here. We take in strays!

Cheers, Mick.

Thanks Mike - will do.
If ur down this way - let me know and we can meet up!
If u are using the Passes - be careful, 7 bikes down in 3 weeks due to heavy diesel spills......
Done the Alpine - fanbloodytastic - its aprt of a yearly run down that way!