- Wheels left on bike: 2 (Excellent)
- Freshwater crocodile sightings: 7 (Good)
- Saltwater crocodile sightings: 1 (Good)
- Fingers remaining: 10 (Excellent)
- Toes remaining: 10 (Great!)
- Arms remaining: 2 (Spot on)
- Legs remaining: 3 (Fnaar!)
- Max number of rivers crossed in one day: 9 (Damp)
- Number of rivers I dropped the bike into: 0 (Mad skillz!)
- Number of working cameras in posses ion: 0 (Not photogenic)
After soaking up the tropical atmosphere of Broome for a few days, and kitting the bike out with a few bits and pieces (front sprocket, rear tyre and an oil change); it was time to get cracking on the Gibb River Road. "Oh no you bloody well don't!", cried the forces that were beyond my control. Turned out that due to a very wet last fortnight of the rainy season, a big chunk of the track was (and still is) closed. A big washout along the track, rivers running high and a closed roadhouse (read: no fuel), meant the only way to get along said track would be to overdose on Red Bull and grow wings.
Nadgers
Not being able to afford enough Red Bull, I decided to go around instead. This detour did mean that I got to experience the fun track into the Bungle Bungles National Park. The 50km long track into the park took about three hours to traverse, taking in all manner of hazards; including various river crossings. A chap watching me cross the 'Frank River' on the way in, managed to capture it on video, so hopefully I'll be able to upload that at some point!. It went surprisingly well, with Gosling 1 proving she has a submarine somewhere in her genetic makeup.
Getting out of the park didn't go quite as smoothly as going in, but I managed to make it with no major dramas. I only had to go with my emergency plan of "open the throttle and hope I fall off on dry land" once, and even then we managed to stay upright. Safely on the opposite bank I let the engine steam itself dry, as I emptied the rather concerned looking fish out of my boots. That's one of the problems with waterproof riding boots; they're fine as long as you don't have water up to your armpits, then they just tend to collect the damn stuff!
Squelched back onto the bike, and rode the final few kms out of the park feeling as though I'd conquered the world. (Which is next on my list, so watch it)
So I'm currently in Darwin having a bit of a break from the road, and waiting for a part for the bike to come in. The nut that holds the front sprocket has disappeared somewhere along the way, I blame the knobber that put the new front sprocket on. Methinks I should've checked his handywork more closely, but I was busy battling with the rear wheel at the time. Long story short, the only thing holding the front sprocket on, was the tension in the chain and a whole lotta luck.
Will get that one sorted out asap. and I'll do it myself this time! Not too many pictures this time as my camera is buggered (official technical term used by the bloke in the camera shop), so these were the ones I could salvage.
The mighty, sloshing Pentecost River at the end of the Gibb River Road
Champagne Falls near El Questro Station on the Gibb River Road
That sounds like a very soggy adventure... if you were a proper biker you would have built ramps out of tree trunks and flown over the rivers like a huge roaring dragon (with wheels instead of legs, mind).
ReplyDeleteOh well, at least you're still in one piece even if the bike nearly wasn't! A bad workman blames his tool. At least that what the missus always says to me anyway.
Now, what about those viking horns for your helmet? Oh go on, please, it would look so awesome...
Viking horns eh, I'll have a hunt around the outback and see what I can come up with. :-D
ReplyDeleteYou write very well.
ReplyDelete