It all started here... Part One of the 2014 Sydney Perth Sydney run

It all started here...

In early 2013 the lads and ladies of the Australian Boulevards website decided to make a run to Bright in the gorgeous state of Victoria for some riding in the mountains followed by the traditional sharing of a few beers (Not together of course!).

On the first night we were there, after the mandatory checking out each others bikes over a few beers, a friend of mine named J.R looked around and in his quiet, but carrying voice said: "I've been talking to the boys in WA and I'm going to ride over there".
Before I even had a chance to think about it, I had not only volunteered to come along but to help organize the ride as well.

At first glance, this is an insane plan. I had just decided, without any thought at all, to ride an M109 or a C109 Boulevard (The two bikes I owned at the time) over 5000km from Sydney to Perth across the Nullarbor Plain. In the background as I was talking to J.R about this I could hear my wife chiming in "I'm in!" So we were both committed to this ride. As we were chatting, we worked out a date about 15 months ahead, in September. The WA guys had communicated that this was the best time to cross the Nullarbor.

So September 2014, the date was set and quietly announced. Now don't get me wrong, I had some idea of what I was in for. I have done quite a bit of what most people would consider long distance motorcycle riding.

Sydney to Broken Hill is 1100km, Sydney to Mildura is 1000km, taking the coastal route, Sydney to Victor Harbor is 2000km, all of these rides I have done, some multiple times. A day ride to me is 500ish km.

Now I was volunteering to ride over 5000km in one direction, along some of the straightest roads in the world, and back.

I had to ask myself why and over the next couple of months the answer came down to 2 things.
1. I will probably never get another chance like this again. Being able to do an organised ride across territory that is still widely considered dangerous, with other riders as support, was an opportunity not to be missed
2. I've always wanted to be able to say that I have ridden all 6 states of Australia. Technically I consider it 7, NZ just needs to actually join the Federation. The chance to do the kind of kilometers I needed to do, to be able to get to cross the WA border comes along very, very rarely and I wasn't going to miss it.

The Build Up

So over the next several months we started to get organised. JR and I set up a separate section of the ozboulevards forum for the trip, we worked out the route, the stops, the accommodation locations, we did our research on the trials and tribulations of crossing the Nullarbor and generally started to get our shit together.

At first, lots of people were enthusiastic and wanted to be involved. As time went past and the enthusiasm waned, more and more dropped out, until it was clear it was just going to be me and JR. We were chatting on the phone one night and committed that no matter what, no matter who else wanted to be involved, even if our wives backed out, he and I would make the trip. We had started this thing 18 months out from takeoff so all we could do was start to prepare.

The Route

JR and I agreed that I would organize the route and accommodation stops from Sydney to Victor Harbor in SA and he would do everything west of Adelaide. Basically I was looking to re-do the big ride that the M109 forum did in 2009 for a couple of reasons.

Firstly the wife was coming this time, she hadnt been on the 2009 ride, on that ride we had seen some spectacular scenery and I really want to show her more of Australia. In 2009 The Great Ocean Road was smashed by the biggest storm to hit the Melbourne coast in 40 years. On that day we rode through what was effectively a freezing hurricane. On that trip all I remember of the GOR was it was freezing fucking cold and keeping the bike on the road was incredibly difficult due to the horizontal wind and rain.

After such a crap experience on what is supposed to be one of the best motorcycle roads in the world, I really wanted to take the opportunity to ride it again and ride it in decent weather.

So the route I was planning followed the coast along Sydney - Eden - Torquay - Mount Gambier - Victor Harbor and after that we would follow JR's Route.

The Bike

When we first decided to do this ride, we were in Bright on my Suzuki Boulevard M109R. Normally we would have been on the Suzuki Boulevard C109R which is our long distance bike. So initially the planning for the trip was all about being on a Boulevard. Over the next 18 months Jick and I decided that we really needed to change bikes from the C109. Its a great bike, but its big, its heavy and it corners like a petrol tanker. If you are spending a lot of time on freeways or really good quality B roads its a great bike, but it really doesn't suit the kind of riding we like to do.

Jick and I like to get out into corners, out into the back roads and countryside of Australia. We also really like getting away for weekends or more.So over time we started to look for what is termed a Sports Tourer. Something that is designed to do long distances in great comfort but is also agile and corners really well.

So after much looking around we went for a test ride on a BMW K1600GTL.

We both LOVED it. She loved the comfort, the head whip, the agility, I loved all of that plus the sheer balls to the wall power of the thing. We took it up the Old Pacific Highway to our regular coffee spot at Kulnura. I got off it and the first thing I said to Jick when I got off "That's a license loser" (Remember that statement for later)

We both loved it, the problem was the price. Out of the box the K1600GT are nearly 40K Aus$. 40 grand in Australia will buy you a very decent car, so to pay that kind of money was just unheard of for a bike. So after a lot of debate we both agreed it was off the table.

So over the next several months we looked at and tried a whole bunch of different bikes
Triumph Trophy

Honda F6B

Victory Vision

Kawasaki 1400 GTR

and I even manged to get Jick on a Goldwing.

Each time we would go out and at the end of every ride or trial, we would start to compare the bike against the BMW. Each time the trial bike would come up short. The BMW had become the "Gold standard "against which we compared all other bikes.

The BMW K1600GT has every luxury and every bell and whistle that BMW is capable of throwing at a pair of wheels. A brand new flat 6 cylinder engine, ABS, electronically adjustable shock profile, blue tooth, electric wind shield, independent grip/seat heating, stereo, more torque than a tractor yada yada yada. When it was released the critics struggled to find new superlatives and to define a category for this bike, in the end it was decided that although its primary target was the Honda Goldwing, a luxury tourer, this bike truly fitted into the "Sport Tourer" category.

After all the debate and testing in November of 2013 I bought a 2014 Suzuki M109R BOSS. To be honest I wanted a Ducati Diavel, but at the last minute I had a panic attack when I was considering not having an M109 so I bought another one.

As part of the gift with purchase of the BOSS, I received a gift certificate to have a professional photography session and to get a free framed photo at the end of the session.  We decided it sounded like fun and they said we could bring the bike, so we booked a session of photography for us and the new M109R.

On the day we were at the studio, waiting for the photographer, we were having coffee with another couple who were also waiting and talking motorcycles. The chap I was talking to was also interested in the BMW K1600 and was saying he had seen a ridiculously cheap one for sale at Procycles in St Peters. We chatted about this bike for a while and then went into our separate photography session.

Then one day about 3 weeks later we were on the other side of the Sydney Harbour bridge from home, something we rarely do, and we decided to stop in at Procycles St Peters and say hi to one of the sales guys there and see if the previously discussed bike was around. We walked in and waved at Kerrod as he was busy and wandered about the shop. There was a very nice K1600GTL up on a stand and we stopped in front of it. Jick and I we were chatting about it when we were approached by a Spanish chap who asked us about our interest in the K1600.

We explained we loved it but the price for new was just too steep. He asked “ever thought about buying used?”

I said I would consider it and he ushered us over to a silver grey 2013 K1600GT on a stand. After some discussion we discovered:
This bike had the following mods – full Arkapovic exhaust system, GPS, K1600 GTL top box, K1600 GTL windscreen and a high mount stop light.
The bike belonged to the Spanish guy we were talking to, who worked for BMW.
It had 12 months warranty still on it
It had just been serviced (In fact it had been over serviced in its lifetime)
The Spanish guy looked after this bike like it was his first born child.

This was about 16000$ worth of mods. If you added that to the 38K for a new bike and you were looking at a $55,000 top of the range motorcycle. I simply couldn't resist it. Originally when we were trying out bikes I had been looking at the K1600GTL, ultimately I came to be very thankful that I bought this K1600GT.

I handed the man 1000$ and said this is mine! no one else can have it! I organised a trade in on the C109R and the following week, Easter long weekend 2014, I walked in and rode the BMW away.

That weekend we went on a long ride. We decided to head out to Denman up the Old Pacific Highway. We stayed overnight at the Denman pub and then headed west along the Bylong Valley way, which if you live anywhere Sydney, and you haven't done it, you are an idiot.

By the end of the weekend were both completely in love with the bike. Over the next 7 months we put over 7000km on the BMW. Riding up to birthdays at the Oxley highway, up and down the coast from Sydney, weekends to Oberon and across the Bells line of Road.

We had a blast each and every time and we were out every single weekend practicing our long distance riding skills.

The BMW was definitely the right bike for us and I was more and more convinced, the right bike to take on the trip to Perth. 

The Build-up

So we started to get ready, we were updating jackets, booking cats into cat accommodation, buying extra thermals and new socks, getting new rubber and having the bike serviced.

Constantly explaining to people we were going to ride across the Nullabor actually never got old. I never got sick of seeing the expression on peoples face when I told them I was going to ride across Australia. No one could believe it. So the weeks crawled past, we organised things at work so they wouldn't miss us, told people where we were going, exchanged emails and PM’s with the people we were going to meet up with, watched the weather, cleaned the bike and took our last training weekend ride. 

Suddenly it was time to go. Saturday September 30th 2014 was here!

Sydney Mardi Gras

Ive heard about the Sydney Mardi Gras for the last 20 years or so. The circles I used to travel in it was considered a big deal and one of the best parties in the world. Having now seen and experienced the Mardi Gras I have to say, Aucklands Hero Parade was better.

Sydneys party is definitely bigger, involves more floats and more people both in the crowd and involved in the parade. However it seemed to me that the Sydney parade handed out the right to join the parade if a GLTG person had walked past your offices in the street. What the fuck does the RTA have to do with Mardi Gras or gay rights?. No idea, but they had a float.

Hero was LOUD, I mean really seriously fucking loud. You couldn't have a conversation with someone standing next to you at any level below a shout. The music and light shows on each float were awesome. Because there were a lot less floats they tended to be of better quality both in presentation and enthusiasm. The Hero parade was a lot less political than Mardi Gras seemed to be and the participation of those in the parade a lot more enthusiastic.

Hero was a lot more sexual. Lets face it, the various Gay parades around the world are at the end of the day about a choice which involves the loins. Celebrate that fact, flaunt it in the citizens face, get RUDE!.

Maybe if I was circling the parade on pills it would have been a lot better. Maybe if I had any gay friends in Sydney and had been invited to a party it would have been more enjoyable, I don't know. I just wasn't that impressed.

PS: Bobby Goldsmith Foundation I am not paying you 130$ for a seat again. The seats were bloody uncomfortable, too small and didn't at all feel safe. Charging 7$ for what was effectively a 1/2 glass of beer and 10$ for a sausage roll was also well on the nose.

Guys I understand it all goes to charity, but that doesn't give you the right to rip people off.

Say Goodbye to New Zealand (Part 3)

I am loving Australia, I really am and to be honest I cant see us going back to New Zealand in the foreseeable future. Its possible that Sydney may not remain home forever, but I think Australia will be. Don't get me wrong, I love NZ, its a beautiful country and has a lot of really good things going for it, but at the moment we just cant afford to live there. I'm not pointing the finger at any one political party or politician as the blame needs to be laid across all of them.

For the last 20 years, pretty much as long as I have been working full time, all I have heard from NZ politicians is that we need to keep wages low to compete with Asia/keep inflation down and that the "Trickle down" theory will work, we just have to let corporations make even bigger profits. Now like me you can probably see the holes in this argument.

1. Corporations don't pass profits down to workers. They just don't work that way.
2. Even if corporations wanted to raise the workers wages (this will occur when the snouted ones become airborne) the government has a policy of keeping wages low. Corporations cant raise wages as it will lower profits and raise inflation.

To make a long story short, this has led to en extended period of New Zealand workers getting the shaft. If you are getting a wage rise which simple grants you cost of living increases you are doing really well. On top of the wages issue is the problem of massive immigration and a large immigrant student population fuelling a house prices boom. So the NZ worker is making very little money to allow NZ to compete with Asia. Meanwhile the Asians are moving into NZ in huge numbers and bringing all their money with them.

So now NZ workers, whose real wages have risen something like 20% in the last 15 years cannot afford to buy property in their own country as property prices have increased on average by 200%. Meanwhile corporate profits have increased 300% and politicians salaries by 100%. The cost of living in NZ is massive. They have screwed up, they have created a system whereby they cannot raise workers wages, but if they don't raise wages they will lose all their educated, experienced and skilled workers to other countries.

Ignore all the politicians and accountants and what they will tell you; this is my experience as a New Zealand worker.

1. The cost of living in Sydney (one of the most expensive places in Australia) is lower than it is in Auckland. I pay less for food, power, transport, petrol, gas, water, clothing, shoes and going out.
2. I get more money in my pocket at the end of the month in Sydney than in NZ. I pay less tax, and what tax I do pay I can claim back and end up with a cash bonus at the end of the year.
3. I make 30% more NET in Sydney than I was making in NZ.
4. One of the politicians arguments for staying in NZ is that its a beautiful country. I can assure you that Australia is also beautiful. we have done a lot of driving in NSW and I can assure you there are some fantastic places to see.
5. The weather. You don't realise just how much it rains in NZ until you don't live there. I hate rain, I love warmth.

I saw a statistic recently that 40,000 New Zealanders a year are leaving the country. I cant believe that the Politicians don't look at numbers like that and ask themselves where they went wrong.

Having said all of that, there is a place in NZ that is my little piece of Heaven. If I had my choice this is where I would love to be.

Manganui Harbour.
'Manganui' is a Maori word meaning "Big Fish"

The view south from the deck at Coopers beach

2 minutes from Manganui.

The view North from the deck at Coopers beach
2 minutes from Manganui.

Coopers beach is my little piece of Paradise and always will be. In order to ever be able to afford to live there, I will have to spend the next 20 years working in Australia. There is something wrong with that.

Say Goodbye to New Zealand (Part 2)

Well its almost over.
We are only 6 days from flying out. As of 4Pm AEST I will officially be a Sydney resident. To be quite honest getting to Sydney has been the hard part, actually being in Sydney and having to find a place to live/work etc is going to be the easy bit. We have both been working enormously hard to get ready to move. If all we had to do was move our stuff to Sydney we would have been easily done in a week or so. However because we own our own house and we are planning on renting it out we have to finish the 2 major projects we started on the house before Jicki was offered the job in Sydney.

Suddenly instead of having 6 months to finish these projects we have only had 6 weeks. On top of both of those we discovered the fence was rotten down one side and large sections had to be replaced. So over the last few weeks we have:

Lifted 2000 bricks from the walkway at the back of our house. Leveled off the walkway so that it makes 3 steps down, dug-in and edged with railway sleepers, dug out several cubic meters of clay. Laid Scoria and sand to provide a bedding, relaid all the bricks.

Dug out 5 fence posts which were rotten, replaced the posts with new uprights, concreted them all in, replaced 10 meters of fence boards which were rotten. Relaid all the earth and planted new flowers.

Completely stripped the all the paint from the wood in the front entrance way. This is 100 years of multiple layers of mostly lead based paint on 4 door frames, kick plates and front door. If you are ever looking to restore wood in a home I can heartily recommend Coopers Wood Restoration System. Well worth the phone call and our entrance looks absolutely fantastic. Its still hard work to do the stripping but you will come up with a finish that will blow you away and best of all, no sanding.

Cleaned all the walls, repainted, removed the doors and had them dipped, we were going to hand strip them as well but we simply ran out of time. To do a decent job is about 6-8 hours per side and we just didn't have the spare time unfortunately. Its taken me about another 2 hours to do a really bad job fixing all the damage to the doors from the strippers. I have to oil and hang the doors and replace the locks that were removed tonight.

Cleaned, de-moulded and painted the front steps.

Organized to actually have our stuff shipped to Sydney. Gave away LOTS of stuff to friends, family and in some cases passing strangers. Sold my Motorcycle (Sob) and did lots of research on living in NSW, figured out how to pay our mortgage from another country (sort of), organized a rental agent to manage and rent our place, quit my job and after nearly 8 years that was a very hard thing to do, made sure I have some form of contact number or email address for all my friends and family, tidied all the gardens, fixed and sold my PC, went on a 4 day holiday, spent a weekend in Sydney on a research trip, thanks to Kez for driving us around all day!, researched the next bike I will buy in Sydney, unless I can get a full license, if so I will buy this beast, oh and we are both still working full time.

So its been a hell of a couple of weeks I can tell you.

What I am looking forward to is being in the same time zone as the rest of Southern Armada. Being able to log on and join up into groups, being able to go along to SA drinks in Sydney. I'm looking forward to a new Job, new things to learn. I really wanted to try and stay within APN as I have very much enjoyed my time here but APN don't have any technical services in Sydney, they are all based north of Brisbane. I interviewed for a job yesterday that I really really want. Its interesting and would give me a very good foothold into a section of the IT industry that I have long held an interest in.

Ah well, the night we get to Sydney we are going to go out to Dinner and get very drunk!.

So farewell to New Zealand for the next couple of years and Hello to Sydney!