Part 3
A day of R and R at Scone and in the evening "that weatherman" is on the TV predicting, cold, cold, cold and wet, wet, wet. He's happy about it!!!
Morning arrives. AM around sevenish. Cold, 5 degrees C and wet - overnight rain continues as a drizzle. Breakfast and on with the gear including top and bottom Frog Toggs. I am clothing layered. Pack the bike and I am off. No fuel required until Moonbi, as I fuelled at Singleton on the way back from Swansea.
For variety I decide to travel to Tamworth via Quirindi and Werris Creek. It is actually a little shorter than via the New England to Tamworth. At Willow Tree I take the Quirindi exit. It has been wet all the way with the temperature hovering around 5 degrees. The cruise is wonderful and the UHF CB is having the occasional natter in my helmet speakers.
Quirindi. In my youth a family relative had a market garden at Quirindi. We visited fairly regularly. I have fond memories of the best Apple pie ever, being cooked by my Auntie, using my Uncles apples from his garden. I had a number of "Aunties" and they all "spoilt me rotten". Being in the country they could all cook as well.
Through Quirindi, little has changed over the years and on to Werris Creek (Werris Creek Road). A history of rail is very evident. Werris Creek in its heyday was a rail hub. It is still so today, although on a much reduced scale. Evidence of it's heydays abound even on a ride through the town, as the main road is close to the rail line. Perhaps the proposed inland rail system will revitalise the rail history of this town?
Road works make life interesting around Currabubula, wet dirt, slushy on top but with a solid bottom, the GTR handles it well with a steady throttle and work the body weight via the foot pegs. The reasonably clean bike, a quick tub at scone after the Swansea run, gets a good covering of slush on its lower half. All is well. Get overtaken prior to Tamworth South. A good indication that this road is not regularly patrolled by the NSWHP. A HP (Highway Patrol) station at Tamworth means the New England is well patrolled around and some distance from, Tamworth.
Through Tamworth and a fuel stop at Moonbi. A bowser conversation suggests that it will get warmer the further northward I go. Not before Stanthorpe I think to myself. I have been getting an occasional 4 on the outside temperature readout, as I approach Tamworth and through to Moonbi.
The weather is not improving, so I decide on "no stops" to Stanthorpe run ( a little over 300klm's). Out from the servo, end of the town limit and set the cruise for the 100kph zone. The Moonbi's are "done and dusted" without effort.
Did I mention that the "weatherman" talked about gusting winds to 90 plus kph as well as cold and wet? The gusting winds of course, mainly come from side and are regularly experienced as I run across the "Top of The Great Divide" through Urala, Guyra, Armidale and Glenn Innes. The GTR handles this well. Nothing nasty. Handle bar pressure and a firm tank "knee hold", deals well with the "fast" side winds.
The temperature has dropped yet again and a steady Zero (0 degrees C) has been displayed as an outside temperature for the last couple of hours or so. The Frogg Toggs (wet weather gear) have suffered a failure with a failed zip in the jacket and the bottom seams are leaking giving me a "wet arse". The wool thermals prove their worth (the lower half) and their expense, by handling the dampness well, so that I am not too uncomfortable or cold in the "nether regions".
The Frogg Toggs failure forces a stop at Glenn Innes for some re arranging of gear and an attempt to "stem the moisture attack" to the "nether regions". Proves fruitless. I was in receipt of some strange looks as I made my way to the mens through the eating area at the servo. A dripping "Michelin Man" is apparently not a common site. Then I suppose the "Michelin Man" bit is probably lost on "the yungun's" these days.
At least the DriRider jacket and liners are working fine. My many years old wet weather gloves, have also had a seam failure so the hands are getting a little damp. The heated grips at max, prove a boon. Warm water is better than cold water-ice. Too Stanthorpe I go!
I have been colder in my youth on a motorbike. But I am much older now and it is the 21st century. My appreciation of heated grips is re enforced, as the water soaked gloves, at least stay above freezing. My wet bum has me wishing for the heated seats of my previously owned BMWK1200LT. Oh well!. It's all bearable and manageable with the body performing well, despite the bits of wetness and the freezing outside temperatures, meaning a well below freezing, windchill factor.
The GTR's fairing offer good upper and lower body protection allowing the body to maintain good (stable) core temperatures, with little stress. The Spada body shield is worth every $$$ spent along, with the silk balaclava. The layered clothing keeps me comfortable and worm apart from a couple of damp and wet bits. The gloves are a real comfort issue and I will deal with that when I am back in Brisbane. The Frogg Togg's are in the bin, when I get home.
Cross the border. It is now Queensland. The low fuel warning, flashing, dominates the instrument display about 30k from Stanthorpe. Fuel at the Caltex on the highway. No Macca's visit this stop. Home becon's and I am feeling okay. The GTR rumbles to life after the fuel is payed for and I am off. Outside temperature is now a reasonable 7 degrees C. Much warmer! Engage the cruise and work on warming the hands with the heated grips. Might even dry out the gloves a little as the "wet is less".
On through Warwick. Cunninghams Gap with due caution in the wet, Amberley, Ipswich and a tollway run to home.
The GTR is very dirty from all the rain but has performed perfectly. The MCCruise is worth every dollar and the coms gear works well. The Journey has been cold and mostly wet. Standard stuff (at least the cold) for the New England in Winter.
STATS
Fuel Average 5.62 L/100klm - Distance 1825 klm's (total) - Fuel Costs $167.39 - 118.22 litres of fuel used.
The GTR is due for a service - Next - FarRide #14 Bemm River and perhaps a little more (around 5,000k at the moment, is looking good). A fine tune of some "Farkles" and a replacement of the failed gear. PacFire for some gloves, I reckon. A "look" at the lights? Hmm. Will the weather be better???? Priority - Clean the bike!
Note - The Frogg Toggs were the cheap version. I am assured the more expensive versions work very well. I now use DryRider wets.