Greetings from Down Under

[TireSmoker]

Well, I finally made it down here. I landed in Melbourne at around 8am local time. We are at GMT +10 here, for a 14 hour difference from Tiresmoke central.

A few things I've noticed in my brief time here (aside from the fact that they drive on the wrong side of the road -- weird!)

1) Ute's -- el camino style vehicles, are clearly popular here. They seem to come in different sizes, too. Even saw one of those bad-ass Maloo's.

2) Motorcycle are clearly popular here too. I'm pretty much in the central business/tourist district and they are all over the place. All the major motorcycle dealers (including Harley & Triumph) are within 2-3 blocks of my hotel. But the dealers don't seem to rent.

3) Most motorcycles seem to be under 700 cc. I've seen a couple SVs like mine, but lots of 125, 250 and even some 400 cc bikes. Seen a few 1000 cc Gixxers and Ducati's, but the 125/250s are definitely most prevalent.

4) There is supposedly a good public transportation system here. I suppose it'll get the job done during the week. *yawn*

5) That flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne is LOOONG. Painfully long. Just awful. Of course, I was in the middle seat. The other people in your row will make or break it for you. Luckily, I had good people, but it was still loooooong and cramped.

More to come..

-Dave

[markss327]

Cool.
We want pictures. Can never have enough pictures...
Cars, with steering wheels on the wrong side, and then, driving on the wrong side of the road...

I feel for ya about the flight... I generally take a nap.

[TireSmoker]

It's really hard to sleep in the middle seat. I think I slept, at most, 2 hours, despite my best efforts.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source= ... =UTF8&z=13

That's not far from here.

-Dave

[TheRookie]

Good on ya, mate!

Seems more expensive that a car to rent, but doable.

http://www.garnersmotorcycles.com.au/

Friggin insomnia.

[TireSmoker]

Well I bit the bullet this morning and went to Garner's Motorcycles and rented myself a bike. Unfortunately, their SV650 (which is what I own) was unavailable as it needed maintenance/repair. So I saved a few bucks and took a little 250cc Honda. Not a bad little bike, but way down on power compared to what I'm used to. However, it's shorter than mine and I can almost flat-foot both feet.

City riding around here is an adventure, and that's where I had to start. Riding on the wrong side of the road is only half the battle. Sometimes, when making a right hand turn (crossing the opposing traffic, like making a left back home), you have to get in the left-most lane, wait for all the traffic behind you (thats going straight) to clear the intersection, then make your turn. It's very bizarre and not intuitive at all. I found it easiest to just follow other people. I rode around the city for about an hour just feeling everything out.

I came back to my room around 10:30-11 and parked the bike. Oh yeah, that's the best part -- you can just park them on any sidewalk! Usually people park right along the curb, but anywhere that doesn't impede people walking seems to be acceptable. So, I can park right out the front door of my building, literally.

I got some lunch, did some Google Mapping, talked to the folks in the hotel lobby and went on my way around noon-ish. More city riding to my first freeway, the M1. Within the first 15 kms, I had to go over this big suspension bridge. I don't like tall bridges when I'm riding. Height anxiety coupled with being out in the open. Blinders on, look straight ahead. It was a couple years before I stopped being tense going over the Valley View bridge on 480.

The destination was a place called Anglesea, which is at one end of the Great Ocean Road. On my way there, after getting off the M1 and sitting at a light, I saw a right-hand drive '65 Impala go by, along with a couple normal '57 Chevys behind it. Wish I could've gotten pictures of that. I also saw a right-hand drive 64 or 65 Mustang earlier in the day, but again, couldn't get a picture. All of them were mint.

After getting out of the city, riding on the wrong side of the road is not nearly as difficult. A little strange, but I got used to it pretty quick. Being on a bike (and not the wrong side of a car) probably helped. It was kinda funny that they had these signs reminding you that Australia drives on the left hand side of the road. You wouldn't have made it to where these signs are if you had driven on the right!

The views were just beautiful all along the road. It's really a sight to be seen. Within the past year, between the Tail of the Dragon (aka US 129 in TN/NC) and the Great Ocean Road, I've ridden 2 of the best roads in the *world*. Pretty awesome.

Photos here: http://photos.studly.net/v/Dave/Melbour ... OceanRoad/


-Dave

[MostMint]

Maybe the SV650 needed valve adjustments and carbs rebuilt?

Do you need an Australian drivers license or any special permits to drive there?

Seems like the long flight is already worth it.

[TireSmoker]

Their SV650 is a 2nd gen, which is EFI. 1st Gens like mine are carbed.

"Badges? We dont need no stinkin badges! No special permits needed. The Australian govt recognizes and accepts the driver training from a host of other countries, United States included. The guy at the bike shop did check my license for motorcycle endorsement, though.

Yeah, today made up for what has otherwise been a lousy week. I'm in the heart of downtown, which I don't care for, and all the places to eat around here are Asian -- thai, korean, indian, vietnamese, etc. Or American fast food -- McDonalds, Subway, even KFC. For a country that is allegedly proud of their steaks & BBQ, it's impossible to find within 6-7 blocks in any direction of where I am.

-Dave

[TireSmoker]

I meant to post this last weekend but forgot -- I saw this place right around the corner from the motorcycle rental place. They weren't open, so not sure exactly what kind of place it is, but it looks like it has been around a while.

-Dave

[Basement Paul]

I'm surprised I'm the first to reference this:

"Last of the V8 Interceptors"

-BP

[TireSmoker]

No one can tell me where the Thunderdome is, though.

[VeeDub]

[MostMint]

"If it's all the same to you - I'll drive that tanker" - Mad Max

You find any swap meets or car shows there yet?

[Basement Paul]

There's got to be some cool Aussie only cars sitting around somewhere. Get out the camera and go on a hunt.

-BP

[TireSmoker]

I can tell you that Aussie police ride BMWs.

[MostMint]

So the other day tiresmoker himself called me from down under with an important question: In the movie Mad Max, what tune did the little music toy play (from the dead guy in the Mack truck)? He was them at a flea market and wanted to get one as a souvenir.

I had no idea so I had to check the movie. Any guesses?