Air or land? That's the question arises when I signed up for ao coaches conference. 2 weeks before the conference, I if don't do this trip by land, no way I will ride to Melbourne for nothing. So road trip it is. Call jay portbike asking for above 200 cc bike. End up with duke ktm 200. Been a while since last time using manual motorcycle.
Picked up the bike around 11am. Waiting for them shop to open. It was a very hot day. Around 40c. Test the bike around the shop. So weird. Keep telling myself you will be fine. Adik(the mechanic) told me about the overheating. He said it's the nature of the bike. God knows how I felt. Melbourne is quite a distance. I didn't tell him where I am going. Just down to south coast.
Leaving toward Wollongong was so tense looking at the bike temperature. Most of the time at high marker but shot up thru the roof.
I feel better when hearing the radiator fan is functioning every time the temperature went up. Just like my previous bikes
Not an overheating. Just nature of the bike.
First stop is sublime lookout. Somewhere Wollongong. Had a chat with Indian family on vacation. They been here almost 3 months starting from Perth. Indian but from Durban, South Africa. Indians are everywhere. No doubt. They conquering so many industries. For sure patrol station. Most of the stations in Australia 🦘🦘 even the world 🌎 are controlled by them.
Sublime lookout near Wollongong.
Kiama
Basically, I skipped Wollongong. Went a last year during Canberra's trip. Straight to Nowra. My friend Azwan from Shellharbour told me there is last mosque in Oak Flats. Masjid Othman. Stopped for a break and zohor. 40c at that time. So hot. A few people at the mosque advised me to use hiway through Canberra. Shorter. However, I keep coastal route. This is the only time.
Lost track time. Too hot, lost count I stopped for rest and coffee until I reach Ulladulla. Nice town, clean and neat. People walking in the street the sea.
Approaching Batemans Bay, starts to drizzling. A bit colder now. Wind blowing pretty hard. It's a part of the game for riders. The thing is, I don't have a complete riding gear to face different weather conditions.
Ice creamy. That's how they called it here. Whatever mate as long as I get my coffee.
Downtown of Batemas Bay. Mostly the town along the coastal line are fishing town I guess. Have a break here in Pok Nong(alfatihah for pok nong) Batemans Bay. Fish and chips. People are queuing here.
Black clouds getting worst after Batemans Bay. I called Hajar and Mat in Melbourne telling them I can't make it tonight. Too cold and has to overnight here in Narooma.
Hard to find a hotel since I did not have any booking. The plan was to Melbourne.
Finally, I found Eco Hotel. Just before Narooma
Not a good experience at this hotel 😂😂. I left very early in the morning. It was raining though.
Refueled in Cobargo. Talking the store manager from India. Forgot his name. We talked about how he end up here in the middle of nowhere. He said after he finished his master degree while working part time in Melbourne. His boss offered him to handle the station here in Cobargo. He got a good package though otherwise he won't relocate here.
Began Valley lookout
Another stopped. Really lost count. With unpredictable weather make you easily tired riding.
Can't resist not to stop when it's come to bakery and coffee ☕☕.
Lake Entrance. This is earlier plan to overnight. Looks near n the map. LOL actual distance with 2 way lane, makes riding much more slower than expected. Lake Entrance is so beautiful. i wish i can overnight here. more time to look around. at least a cup of coffee at a bakery shop. I wish I had more time to explore.
finally arrived in Dandenong, Melbourne. Mat and hajar house. They had been waiting for for 2 days hahaha. We had dinner, sembang, gelak2 and of course go down to our memory lane in midland. Among the best time ever of our life.
finally at melbourne park. rod laver arena. the first session was in john mc cain arena. we have the TA president for the opening speech and other 2 including dr mark kovacs. to be honest i was here for him. attended a few of his sessions before. he is the serve specialist.
with dr mark kovacs after the on court session.
Gdday..AO mate..
Watching zverev practice session. He is my favorite now. Even he is in 3rd ATP ranking. Lost to Alcaraz in 5 sets semi final.
Next to his court is brettini. His alright. But I am not a big fan of him.
Waiting for courses to resume after lunch break.
Thanks so much. I spent 2 nights at Mat and Hajar house. Dah lama dekat Melbourne. I know this couple in the state during my studies. They have 4 kids, 2 in the us and here in Melbourne. May Allah bless you guys.
I left Melbourne around 630am. An hour after that stopped by a petrol station. Very nice with a small donut shop inside. Clean toilet. Highly recommended. However, I forgot where is at 😂😂
Using the highway in the way back. Mostly flat land with ranches and crops field. 90-100kmh with duke 200. Pretty stable though. Abit chilly until reach nsw border. Getting warmer.
While having ☕☕ look for scenic route. Great Alpine Drive. It's too far inside. At least takes 2 more days if I go. May be next time. Hardly to ride same route again. Maybe skipped.
One of the historical town I stopped by. Mostly historical town a bit quiet. Like a ghost town. But there are people around. Even in the down town.
Approaching Sydney weather getting very cold again. Gotta put on the rain suit again. Raining too. And hungry. Just had a few cups of coffee,bread, banana along the the way.
Try my luck to go to kopi-kopi. Akshah and the gang are cleaning up. I went in and ask if they still open. Still got left over in the freezer. I ate whatever they have. I think nasi kerabu by kak ita. Also a pieces of kueh.
So tired. Have to rearrange with jay to return the bike tomorrow morning. My target is the day I arrived. Portbike closed at 6pm.
Longest solo ride in Australia 🦘🦘 so far.
Where next?
