Round oz calling in on Bandit owners

First topic message reminder :

Had an idea after chatting with Reddog and Gus. On my round oz trip I'll keep in touch with all you guys(and girls?) on here and call in if invited. Might be a while before we get over to the east coast though. Heading north first to the Pilbara and Kimberleys. I'll post up here where I am and see if anyone wants to have a beer with me.

Well we spent 6 months in Kununurra and have been back in the road since the end of april. A quick flight back to Perth for a wedding in may and I picked up my bike from the shop as it hadn't sold. So now my bro is looking after it. We are now in Katherine NT for a couple of days and then heading for darwin. Any bandits there?

Hi Whitey sounds like a great trip, certainly taking your time to see everything.

Check Peter's (Re-Cycled) map on Google, you might be able to use that to make some contacts:

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whitey1 wrote:Well we spent 6 months in Kununurra and have been back in the road since the end of april. A quick flight back to Perth for a wedding in may and I picked up my bike from the shop as it hadn't sold. So now my bro is looking after it. We are now in Katherine NT for a couple of days and then heading for darwin. Any bandits there?

G'day Whitey, yes I'm in Darwin (well actually about 30k south of, in the rural area). Great weather for bikes here at the moment as you'd well know being in Katherine town and Kununurra at this time of year.
There are a few Bandits here but not many lurk on this forum.

Give us a hoy when you want.

At this rate, by the time you reach the Eastern States, I'll be in a home and all the Bandit riders will have defected to bikes with tuning forks and ones with on-board microwaves.

Yeah I know, I'm taking it slow but I do need to stop and work occasionally to pay for my travelling. Might even have to get a few weeks work in Darwin yet. Be a week or so before we get there NTBill, going via Edith falls and Litchfield and Pine Creek.

I might have to take on a second job too to afford a new toy... 1972 CB750 sidecar

Can't go taking money out of the Malaysian MotoGP fund.

So hows the trip so far Whitey1??

whitey1 wrote:
Yeah I know, I'm taking it slow but I do need to stop and work occasionally to pay for my travelling. Might even have to get a few weeks work in Darwin yet. Be a week or so before we get there NTBill, going via Edith falls and Litchfield and Pine Creek.

No worries catch you when we catch you. Have a look as you cross the Edith river bridge on the main highway (Stuart Hwy) and picture the bridge well underwater. Give you some idea of our wet season flooding. 3000mm of rainfall over a 6 month wet season in 2010 and it took the rail out (as train was crossing) last year. Gets tedious on a bike I can tell you! 0409888681 is the number.

Shouldn't have a problem getting work in Darwin at present.
Bill.

Well, I'm in Darwin a bit early. Sherron really needs to see a chiropractor and I need to see a GP about my neck. So we bypassed Litchfield NP and drove straight here. Talk about busy! We were lucky to get into a caravan park. And we've gotta move tomorrow! So I guess I may as well start looking for a little work for a month or so. I'm sure I saw a couple of Bandits on the roads today.

whitey1 wrote:Well, I'm in Darwin a bit early. Sherron really needs to see a chiropractor and I need to see a GP about my neck. So we bypassed Litchfield NP and drove straight here. Talk about busy! We were lucky to get into a caravan park. And we've gotta move tomorrow! So I guess I may as well start looking for a little work for a month or so. I'm sure I saw a couple of Bandits on the roads today.

The dark blue GSX FA with the soft motodry panniers was me.
Welcome to Darwin!!

Well I got a job today. Start work tomorrow at Coonawarra panel beaters for a month or so. All set up at KOA caravan park in Malak.
Wish I had my bike here.

Being able to pick up work on your way round is a bonus when you've got a trade isn't it

paul wrote:Being able to pick up work on your way round is a bonus when you've got a trade isn't it

Yeah sure is. I went into 7 places today(4 panel shops) and was offered a job at 3 of them, start ASAP! The other 3 places I tried were ARB, TJM and Opposite Lock, cause I thought I might get a cruisey job fitting accessories but they didn't need anyone.

whitey1 wrote:Well I got a job today. Start work tomorrow at Coonawarra panel beaters for a month or so. All set up at KOA caravan park in Malak.
Wish I had my bike here.

Yeah the weather is real good at present. Enjoy it while it lasts, it all turns to muggy crap around late August early Sept as the humidity returns and the buildup begins. It's downhill from there till the Monsoon kicks in around late Jan early Feb.
Was around 10 degrees on the GSX for the daily commute from the rural area this morning tho. Warms up to around 14 near the coast (7am) for a max 28. Firkin FREEZING!!!

Didn't think you'd have a problem finding work. Darwin is a job seekers market at present - specially with a trade. If you drive trucks you'll be in high demand soon - particularly MC licenced.

After spending about 7 or 8 weeks in Darwin(including a side trip to Bali) we meandered down through Litchfield NP, Mataranka(nearby Bitter springs is much nicer), devils marbles and the Davenport range to Alice Springs staying off the main highway as much as possible. Out to the east Mac ranges and down to Mt Dare and Dalhousie springs, Oodnadatta track and Parachilna gorge to the Flinders ranges to catch up with other Prado owners for a Pradopoint.com get together. This took us through the Flinders and then down the Border track to Beachport. After that wound up we decided to catch up with an uncle of mine who lived in Upper Fern Tree Gully. turns out he was just getting on a plane to go to Fiji for a week or so but we can house sit for him while hes gone. Sweet. Now we've both got bad colds and feel like crap but at least we've got plenty of DVDs to watch on a big projector screen! Went for a drive up into the Dandynong ranges today, nice roads for a bike!
Be here for a few more days and then were off back west again to be home for Xmas. Hope it gets warmer.....BLOODY COLD here at the moment!!!!

whitey1 wrote:After spending about 7 or 8 weeks in Darwin(including a side trip to Bali) we meandered down through Litchfield NP, Mataranka(nearby Bitter springs is much nicer), devils marbles and the Davenport range to Alice Springs staying off the main highway as much as possible. Out to the east Mac ranges and down to Mt Dare and Dalhousie springs, Oodnadatta track and Parachilna gorge to the Flinders ranges to catch up with other Prado owners for a Pradopoint.com get together. This took us through the Flinders and then down the Border track to Beachport. After that wound up we decided to catch up with an uncle of mine who lived in Upper Fern Tree Gully. turns out he was just getting on a plane to go to Fiji for a week or so but we can house sit for him while hes gone. Sweet. Now we've both got bad colds and feel like crap but at least we've got plenty of DVDs to watch on a big projector screen! Went for a drive up into the Dandynong ranges today, nice roads for a bike!
Be here for a few more days and then were off back west again to be home for Xmas. Hope it gets warmer.....BLOODY COLD here at the moment!!!!

That's sounds like a great trip, you're still too far from me. 2WA has just opened a seaside resort in Golden Beach

That's sounds like a great trip, you're still too far from me. 2WA has just opened a seaside resort in Golden Beach

Yes mate if you head a bit further east you can help me unpack boxes
The Bandit is in the bew garage but the FZ1 is still at the old place. It was a tough choice

Well we're back home again after only seeing half the country. Might be here for 12 months before we hit the road again as my dad is pretty crook with cancer so I want to hang around and spend time with him and mum. They need some support. So no more travelling around for the moment.
But on the bright side, I'm back on my bike again! I really missed her.
Unfortunately I never actually caught up with any other forum members. Too busy doing all the touristy things or working. Sorry guys.
Catch you on the roads.

Welcome back mate. Glad you enjoyed it. Back in time for summer riding

Welcome back. Glade to hear that you had a great trip. Sorry about your dad. All the best.

Bad news about your dad whitey1...............how far did you get around to ?

Sorry to hear about your dad mate. Best Wishes from here.

Just the western half of Aus. Round to Darwin and down to Melbourne. The east will have to wait for 12 months.

whitey1 wrote:Just the western half of Aus. Round to Darwin and down to Melbourne. The east will have to wait for 12 months.

It will still be there for you ................family first