will you explain to el boss?
 

why I can't come to work???

love to go, but unless it rains a lot and jobs get cancelled my arse will be Newcastle working....

My next trip is the "Rocket Run 2012" (maybe in April or May planning in progress).

woomera rocket range (just to see it) and ground zero at maralinga then back again via great ocean road

Oh yeah it's sits a fair bit higher, when I take it off the centre stand it doesn't drop much now (just the right amount). I would guess it's about an inch taller maybe, the front forks play a big roll in that.

I put Wirth progressive fork springs in (I think these would be perfect with a big tank) and the rear Ohlins is tuned to my riding weight and style.

Bike rides grrrr-ate now, for a while there I thought they fixed all the roads up here :042: (yep that good):toothy5:.

Mate, like others here I am familiar with the country you intend to ride through. Please be aware that at that time of the year it's not uncommon for temps to be in the mid to high 40s. Believe me, this is not fun. I was a contract musterer a couple of years ago around Glendambo and there was a two-week heat wave in November that nearly flattened all of us. That was the fifth year in a row that we were heat-waved in November.
If you absolutely must do it, my advice is don't anyway. But as long as nothing goes wrong, you will probably be ok. But if it does you will wish you'd waited for cooler weather.
Good luck, whichever way you decide to go.

I should agree with 66T really, it can be done but it is bloody hot out there.

Other things to contend with are possible grass fires at the moment (they can move quick and there's nowhere to run), possible dust storms (which can make it very uncomfortable), big distances with nothing inbetween (can be a real mind game for some), lack of places to cool off.

It is beautiful out there but not for everyone.
Years ago we took some mates out to the corner country through Qld to Innamicka they back to Tibooburra, Bourke etc. They were mentally stuffed half way through and have never been back.

It can be done in the summer months (not really recommended) but you have to have it together, the right gear, the right mindset and carry lots of water. For example I have a 3ltr camelback plus I carry 6lts or more extra water depending on where i'm going out there and top up every chance.

There are also predictions of a wet summer, if that happens then you can't move out there, roads are shut fast and fines are big.

So best advice I could give is to have very felexible plans, reserch and don't be disappointed if you can't get out there this time.:tear:

Thanks for the info guys.

Im aware that it can get really effing hot, dusty and wet out there at tht time of year. My plans are very flexible. Thats the beauty of an adventure, plans are made then you have to change them and sometimes you end up somewhere great that you never planned to go.

Im going to keep an eye on the forecast each day, if it looks like it will dump down with rain or be 40+ then plans will have to change. There is plenty more of this amazing country to see without havingto perish in the desert to see it. Its not worth it if I dont make it home.

I will be taking plenty of water for sure.

From the way you plan to come up there are plenty of great parts of the country to see anyway, sort of makes me jealous.

I will be in central N.S.W. mid to end of Oct getting in some warm weather practice hehe.

Anyway it's still sounds like fun to me.

Yeah I agree that it would be good fun if the weather holds. I love that country, as I grew up on a sheep station north of Port Augusta. Only trouble with checking the forecast is that you might already be there, and there's nowhere to go to get away from the heat except through it. Still, if you've got plenty of water and shelter you should be right.

Hows the planning going - have your plans firmed up yet. Got the bike fully sorted ?

We've just returned and had a great time !!! As you know it's bloody HOT up there at the moment.