Wife's first 1000 kilometre day.

[HACKLE]

     Saturday last was the last FarRide on the east coast in Australia for 2018. At the start of the year when the years rides became available my wife [Elwyn] said she might do this with me [pillion].
      We had discussed this at length and decided that the normal start time of midday on Friday wouldn't work as she doesn't finish work till 3 pm. She also added that we still had to ride home from the finish/luncheon venue, the small fishing town of Eden on the south/east coast of New South Wales. So we might just as well do the whole ride on the Saturday, up and back. 1000 kms. in the day.
       Up early [4.45 am] we had our starting docket, from the local ATM, at 5.45 am. My plan was to give Elwyn adequate rest stops both ways. The first stage was 160 kms. to our first rest/fuel stop in Bairnsdale. Via the Princes Hwy. and a couple of minor roads we arrived 15 minutes prior to my ride plan. All good. We had been joined by another couple who live about 25 kms. from us.
        With the extra time up our sleeve I stuck to the schedule leaving at 8 am. Now with 170 kms. to Cann River via the twisty Princes Hwy. again we picked up 15 mins. The final 110 kms. to Eden had us arriving at about 11.15 am., 15 mins. prior to book-in time opening. The Victorian part was in glorious sunshine but 30 kms. into NSW we had to contend with rain. I was glad I'd fitted new Michelin PR4 GT's on the Monday prior.  Half the ride completed, now the interesting/hard part, the longer return home. We left Eden at 12.45 pm. for the afternoon's ride.
         Because of the extra kms. to be done on the return, the route had us leaving the Princes Hwy. and heading to the coast to Cape Conran then Marlo before rejoining the Princes Hwy at Orbost. We'd already had a rest stop at Cann River and the next one was once again at Bairnsdale for fuel/rest/snack break.
         The Bengworden Rd. led us out of Bairnsdale [we'd ridden this road on the morning stage] before Elwyn and myself bade goodbye to our friends and continued south into Sale and  joined the South Gippsland Hwy. This road goes through a lot of forest and pine tree plantations, favourite areas to encounter kangaroos. Thankfully it was still daylight and none were seen.
         I stopped at the tiny town- garage, hotel and a few houses- of Woodside to give Elwyn a chance to stretch her legs and get a bit of "circulation" flowing through her backside.  Also an ice-cream was enjoyed as a sugar fix.
         From Woodside we only had about 130 kms. to our finish. As the light was fading I was concerned about wildlife between here and Loy Yang Power Station as the road passes through more bush and plantations. No problems apart from the setting sun for the westerly run up to Loy Yang. I hate riding into the setting sun, even with the tinted visor down on my Shoei Neo-Tech helmet.
         Rejoining the Princes Freeway at Morwell put us back into the 110 kilometre per hour zone [Australia'n highways are 100 kph. unless otherwise posted]. The problem of distance for the ride now reared it's ugly head. FarRides are a minimum of 1000 kms. and we would have to ride past home-Trafalgar- to get the distance.
         So waving goodbye to home we continued westerly to Warragul before retuning home. The finishing distance being 1004 kms. Enough to be recorded as a FarRide. I was extremely proud of the good wife, having sat behind me on the normal heated Trophy saddle [she doesn't want it altered or an AirHawk fitted] without complaining [not much anyway] for her first 1000 kms. day. 

[atrophy]

Congratulations  to both of you!!

[cecilt]

Congratulations to your wife, and respect for you
I detest being the pillion - and only do it if it is really essential. I'm also a bad passenger in a car (especially if my wife is driving....)
It does sound attractive to be able to know that you can comfortably do 1000 kms in a day, but I have no desire to try that in our beautiful but crowded island. Our "miles"  take much longer to complete than your "kms", our roads are getting worse and more crowded, and our drivers are less disciplined than what I can remember from driving in Australia. I find 350 miles a day on a bike is comfortable, but then I am one of the poor souls who likes to get to the destination, rather than take all day to appreciate the route....("hurry-up and wait" was drummed into me in the army!)

[Clarky]

Hi Hackle

A bit late for a reply mate, but wow!     yes that's a good read enjoyed it I have passed it on to my wife Michelle to read.
Maybe it will spark an interest and inspire her to do some "long distance riding" with me 

But yea 1000 km in a day for a pillion that's impressive congrats to you and especially your wife Elwyn.

Cheers
 

[Travelling2bob]

G'day Hackle, Great write up and congratulations to Elwyn. Bengworden road is the preferred route to Bairnsdale to avoid the boring as batsh#t Princes Highway.

The South Gippsland Highway is a Mecca for macropods and other native wildlife. Riding back from Port Albert on Melbourne Cup Day we encountered a good half dozen Eastern Grey's and a couple of scrub wallabies. All in pouring rain in the day.

[Clarky]

Well, the response I had from my wife was ,  Are you mad??  are they still married??

Oh well I can only but try 

[HACKLE]

Clarky, you can tell your good wife that Elwyn and I are definitely still married. She did say at the start of the year when the ride calendar came out, that she'd do one with me. Eden presented itself as the closest with the out and back opportunity. She also said, many, many times she'd do one. At the end she reminded me that she had done one and that was it. I don't care if she doesn't do another. Her new FarRide number is 1122, and, as I've said I couldn't be happier.
  My mates wife has finished more FarRides behind Michael than I can think of. She also has three IBA 50CC rides [coast to coast in under 50 hours] plus one 100CCC [coast to coast to coast in under 100 hours] as well. They just about live on their BMW R1200RT.
   Last weekend myself and another six of our number did SS1600 IBA rides [1600 kilometres in 24 hours] to Canberra for the Centenary of Armistice celebrations. The celebrations were very big and were enjoyed by all of us. I might add that the majority of these IBA [Iron Butt Association] rides are done solo, not with other riders.
   It's easier for fuel, feed and rest stops when you don't have to factor in other riders with different tank sizes and individual needs.
    As you will have realised Elwyn doesn't accompany me on these long rides. She is always along in spirit. Cheers. All the best in whatever distance you cover. Were all individuals and enjoy the benefits of motorcycle riding/touring. 

[trophied]

  Congratulations to her!