Well 5298.4km by car and 2370.2km later we all made it home safe, in one piece and richer for the experience.
Living in one another’s pockets for 2 weeks was always going to be a struggle but most of us became more than riding buddies we became mates.
Left Perth on time bacon and eggs at Dave’s place final pack and off we go. By the time we got a couple of hundred kms down the road realised Dave’s car was using a lot of fuel towing the trailer so we keep the speeds down to 100kph.
Made Norseman by about 4pm staying in cabins in the caravan park.
Left early approx 6am headed for Ceduna. Road from Norseman to Ceduna was really bumpy Mario’s front strap broke ending with his rear tail resting on the mesh of the box trailer. Used new strap all good got to Ceduna about 9pm. In cabins at caravan park.
Early morning bacon, eggs, pies at bakery leaving about 9am heading for Adelaide arrived approx 8pm stayed at Dave’s mates place on beds, bunks and mattresses. Went out for a feed and a few beers in Glenelg most of us just wanting to get an early night due to a long day on the bikes to come.
Packed up bikes left Adelaide approx 8.30 after Macca's brekkie headed into the Hills for some awesome twisties and some flat out 272kph fully loaded flat sections.
Loaded bikes onto a cable driven barge to cross a river and headed on towards Port Campbell in Vic on the great ocean road.
Vic roads speed limit is 100kph and not long into Vic 1st of many unmarked cop cars go by no worries all sitting on 100-110. Start of the great ocean road was not what I expected there was no ocean and I would not call it great. The great was still to come.
Some awesome scenery 50kms out of port Campbell, London bridge, cliffs and bays were huge. Cabin accommodation in port Campbell fish and chips beer bourbon and look at video taken so far. There was so much shit talked most nights the sewerage system was in for all sorts of problems.
Left Port Campbell still on the great ocean road where the road went through hills, forests and cliff edges withe 35kph sections where one corner is just the start of another. Take obriens road make it tighter twistier put a shear cliff wall on the left and a shear cliff drop with blue ocean on the right and that is what we did for 150kms. 3/4 down the road one of us had an accident but was lucky to walk away. The boys rallied together put Kelvin on the back of my bike while Mario and Stuart took his gear.
Rode onto the ferry which takes cars, bikes and caravans from Sorrento to Queenscliff 45min trip $25 about 80 bikes all heading in our direction.
Tried to take a shortcut Naths family had told the boys last year but got lost asked for directions and got into Sanremo about 5.30pm. Jarrid Breanne and Doug were already there and half cut by the way.
Dinner drinks in Sanremo in our Cabin accommodation Kelvin going to bed early with a swollen and sore leg from his off earlier.
1207am dead asleep with ear plugs in feel something touching my leg (thought Stuart was trying to crack onto me) Was Kelvin in immense pain with a thigh that was twice the size as his left. Woke Breanne who had a hire car took Kelvin into Cowles hospital only to find it was a nursing post so drove 50km to Wonthaggi to the hospital there. 3 hours later we left knowing the Ambulance was on the way to take Kelvin to Dandenong hospital Due to probable Compartments syndrome (use Google I'm not explaining it.)
3 days of going to track watching and hearing motorbikes go around seeing the local pits where Leroy and the other locals were. A local precession of bikes entering the parking areas constantly all day there were thousands of em. No rain at all sunburn yes walked around the entire track and picked turn 11 to watch on Sunday.
Got to the track at 6.30am gates opened at 7am sat right on the fence unobstructed view with big screen TV in sight.
Leaving the track after the last moto gp race was an experience 20,000 and 20,000 bike trying to exit down a 2 lane road was an eye opener the bikes made it 6 lanes wide.
Quiet night at local Chinese restaurant early night ready for big ride next day.
Left Phillip Island at 8.20 am trying to do in one day what we did in 2 on the way there was never going to happen I got a speeding fine in Vic $210. Near the Vic/Sa border lost Dave at 7pm Mario, Stuart and myself stopped at Kingston SE for the night not prepared to travel at night on unfamiliar roads after already doing 850kms.
Got word from Dave he made it to Adelaide safe. We left Kingston SE at 6.00am got into Adelaide at 11.00am loaded cars and trailers and Stuart and I had left by 1.30pm for Ceduna leaving Mario to come home with Dave whilst Kelvin was flying home after his 3 day hospital stay.
For whatever reason Mario Flew home and Dave drove the following day.
Stuart and I got to Ceduna at 7pm motel room and T-bone steak at the roadhouse left at 5.30am headed for as far as we could get which was Coolgardie at 8pm at night. Left Coolgardie at 05.30am arrived Perth at 11am unpacked cars Mario picked up his bike my wife picked up my mates trailer talked some crap and all went home.
On reflection to have a true holiday a bit more time was needed but we were there to see the Moto GP. I'm so glad I did it but will not be doing it again on the bike. Next year flying and VIP tickets for sure.
All in all it was an awesome trip with some good mates with both low and high points funny and sad moments but the positive by far outweighed the negatives 10 to 1.
Edited to add large pics



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