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Touring
Steve - Darwin to Sydney via the West Coast
Follow me as I blog from Darwin through The Kimberley
to Broome, along the West Coast to Port Hedland, a ride through The Pilbara,
back to the West Coast at Exemouth, Monkey Mia, Denham, Shark Bay, down to New
Norcia, Perth and Margaret River. I then ride east to Esperance for a trip
across The Nullarbor leading me to and through the wine regions of SA before
heading back to Sydney via The Great Ocean Road to Melbourne as I point north
for the final leg!
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Touring Steve –
Riding TheNullarbor
ATT: ULYSSES AGM
RIDERS...
Watch for the release of my Ride Guide 'Riding the
Nullarbor' anticipated late January 2010.
Click here to Subscribe to get an eMail notification of its release.
This is a Blog by Blog description as I ride the
Nullarbor Plain. My trip began in Esperance WA and the Nullarbor leg ended at
Streaky Bay in SA. It is designed for those who travel
in either direction.
If you think the Nullarbor is nothing but a long 2700 KM straight road (unique
in itself) through a desert plain ... well you'd be only part right! The
intrigue of the Nullarbor lays in the many attractions and interesting
phenomena you travel through both natural and man made.
The Nullarbor also has its own very special
history!
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Contemplating a
trip?
We did it, so you likely can too.
1. We are not enduro riders seeking to push the
endurance envelope. Any healthy couple with the time, some savings and 2-4
wheels, can do this or another type of trip. Two wheels or four. Any
good touring bike and riders can do this trip, or variations thereof. It's
called Wheezy Rider partly to make that point.
2. Hotels, 1-star or 5-star is fine, mainly we just want
a clean room & bed, hot shower, plus safe bike parking. We avoid
the big name-brand chains – that's hardly like leaving home is it?
We generally try for 'mid-to-upscale local' to experience the 'local'
part.
Sometimes we go way downscale, usually it's a fun experience.
3. 'Wheezy Rider' name chosen because of the
obvious Easy Rider movie pun, with irony. We're not riding a chopper,
nor am I an athlete, although not quite 'wheezy' ... the point being:
Any guys/gals in half-decent shape can do this
trip; Just need to re-arrange your life for a while, then do it. Even for a few
weeks or months.
4. Two-up: For both of us, the first long time/distance travel with
another; No problems encountered, we get along great, share similar humor, and
have no disputes on destinations or travel style.
5. Money:
You do not need to be rich. On this specific
blogged trip, we stay in hotels, probably averaging US$150/day all-in per
couple (visas, gas, maintenance, souvenirs etc included.) C$ versus US$ in this
blog makes little difference, most prices are ballpark, are seasonally
variable, and currency rates change constantly.
A similar bike trip could be done for US$50/day if the travelers live modestly
and get through Europe quickly, or skip it altogether. The sky's the limit if
you prefer to go high-end. It depends on your tastes, budget and most important
– where/how you travel.
In much of Asia, $50 a day/couple is living really well for example. That's
about $20,000 a year folks; it costs more than that to live at home! That's
what we mean when we say 'you do not need to be rich.' See blogs for various
country prices.
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Graham
Routledge - Intro
As I eased the clutch, gently twisted the throttle,
and cautiously placed my feet on the foot pegs of the Honda SL100, I had no way
of knowing, at the age of 12, I was starting an obsession which would stay with
me all my life. A quick lesson on my big brother’s mate’s bike changed my life
forever.
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