Riding Down Under - Tropical Cairns Australia | Page 17 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Riding Down Under - Tropical Cairns Australia

A DRZ400 would have been the perfect bike for me if I thought I could ride it across the country. Unfortunately they don't make the DR650 anymore so I did not get try that one.
 
Last edited:
Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Even the local riders are complaining of the heat ....working out on the deck last night at 3 am still could not get cool.

Can't figure how to switch to C



Pick up the KLR tomorrow I hope. :D Generate my own wind. Glad of those AirGlide pants.
 
Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Even the local riders are complaining of the heat ....working out on the deck last night at 3 am still could not get cool.

Can't figure how to switch to C



Pick up the KLR tomorrow I hope. :D Generate my own wind. Glad of those AirGlide pants.

Changing to celsius doesn't make it any cooler, heh. Still waiting for good photos of wild budgerigars, if they're in your neck of the woods...err outback?
 
Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

There are thousand cruising the waterfront. Getting into pest status. Next doctor appointment for GF will try and snap a few. New P900 camera gives me a very long reach 24 mm to 2,000 !!!







 
Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

P900 - Nice, I want that camera just for the zoom :)
How is it overall (compared to GX1)?

Have a good time!
 
Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Intend to....KLR arriving in 1/2 hour :D... brutal heat tho going to 34 :(

I bought the P900 for the zoom ...it's not up to the Gx7 for IQ but very easy to use and really is a birding camera.

3 x the range of the Lumix with the 100/300 ( 600 mm equiv ) zoom yet it weighs less and the whole camera costs about the same as MFT zoom alone.

not a bad first go with it

Screen%252520Shot%2525202015-11-24%252520at%252520Nov%25252C%25252024%252520%252520%252520%2525202015%252520%252520%252520%2525203.02.01%252520PM.jpg


this sample shot blew me away



this is a full sized photo if you want to download

http://cdn.shutterbug.com/images/Nikon P900 1.jpg

not too big
maxresdefault.jpg


I bought a vest tho to carry it.
 
Last edited:
Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Ahhh rock nroll music in the earphones loud, a lovely day and twisty roads up and down the range ,......even the dowdy old KLR had fun :D 33 and clear.

Took a look at our maybe new peoperty yesterday....keeping fingers crossed...have to sell our old one first.



Couple of acres on the edge of a rain forest...in Malanda.
 
Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Still not much riding due to a couple of factors, weather, change of schedule and riding but down with some toxic fish poisoning and other riding buddy looking for work..


This is the twisty road up the range I was referring to above

twists.jpg


8 km of glorious fun on the Rex and NO traffic for once. :D

Proof you should ALWAYS take your camera....walking down to the bakery on a very hot afternoon...usually not good birding time...and then this...
These are metallic starlings and the red eyes and the red fruit are just magic. Very happy with the shot and the Lumix X series lens which startles me on occasion. 45-175 and can take spectacular shots when the light is good.

metallic_starlings.jpg


This juvenile female fooled me. Red eye and the habitat got me oon the right track to identify.

youngfemalemetallic%2Bstarling.jpg


and Back to the Future 2016 version

Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-20%2Bat%2BMar%252C%2B20%2B%2B%2B%2B2016%2B%2B%2B%2B2.44.13%2BPM.jpg


Hopefully a few more rides coming now the dry season seems to have arrived.
 
Last edited:
Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Dodging Tstorms in Cairns Australia....taking the KLR to Milaa Milaa today....go for a swim

That's me - couple years back


swimming to this

PMillaaMillaaBz-750.jpg


hopefully a repeat today .... :D

Kid is promising to exercise the Wee this coming week. Would be nice to have here but the KLR does the job for the 3 months I use it in Aus. and little danger of a speeding ticket with knobbies on.
Getting light now so time to gear up and beat the 30 degree heat forecast.
 
Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Yeah and you got another winter storm approaching

aint over yet and no dodging this one for most

map_specnewsdct-84_ltst_4namus_enus_650x366.jpg


https://weather.com/storms/winter/n...ockies-plains-midwest-great-lakes-new-england

•••

The girls got out with the birding weapon last week and scored some pics out in Kakadu National Park

kakadu%2Byellowwater.jpg


what's a fat juicy goose to do with a river full of crocs??

why move to the trees...

gooseintree.jpg


The magpie goose (Anseranas semipalmata) is a waterbird species found in coastal northern Australia and savannah in southern New Guinea. It is a unique member of the order Anseriformes, and arranged in a family and genus distinct from all other living waterfowl. The magpie goose is a resident breeder in northern Australia and in southern New Guinea.

multiplegeese%2Bin%2Btree.jpg


Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-24%2Bat%2BMar%252C%2B24%2B%2B%2B%2B2016%2B%2B%2B%2B9.49.26%2BAM.jpg


Got the P900 back...okay shot at 4 meters

mothsidep900.jpg


Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-23%2Bat%2BMar%252C%2B23%2B%2B%2B%2B2016%2B%2B%2B%2B10.19.03%2BAM.jpg


quite pleased with the Cairns Birdwing at 7 meters or so
cairnsbirdwingP900.jpg


There seems to be a focus limit on zooming at subjects close up ....maybe I can do it manually

A couple of gorgeous Jabiru storks from Kakadu last year.

Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-23%2Bat%2BMar%252C%2B23%2B%2B%2B%2B2016%2B%2B%2B%2B10.33.25%2BAM.jpg


Incredible colour....I'd actually like a car that colour.

jabiru%2Bstorks%2B2015.jpg
 
Last edited:
Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Got a nice 300k ride on Saturday ...not too busy on the long weekend.

Some pics later

outside today

spiderjudes.jpg


Looking like a disembodied earth god....imported water buffalo are a real menace in Australia....

DSCN0670.JPG


happy with this shot of a flying fox...the birding weapon did a nice job

flyingfoxjabiru.JPG


Interesting colouring on this emu

DSCN0666.JPG


and the dino heritage visible...

dinoclaws.JPG


Really looking forward to Yellow Water cruise tomorrow at Kakadu National Park. BIrds and crocs galore

http://www.kakadutourism.com/tours-activities/yellow-water-cruises/

Doing golden hourr cruise at both ends of the day.... :dance:
 
Last edited:
Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

amazing what you find in a tropical bathroom. Trying out my $$ macro lens...having a learning curve as depth of field is touchy

Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-03%2Bat%2BApr%252C%2B3%2B%2B%2B%2B2016%2B%2B%2B%2B10.56.40%2BAM.jpg


Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-03%2Bat%2BApr%252C%2B3%2B%2B%2B%2B2016%2B%2B%2B%2B10.57.24%2BAM.jpg


gonna go back in a stalk his feet for a closer look.

I didn't now cockroachs groomed themselves....

This sizeable guy was busy and didn't notice me...

Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-03%2Bat%2BApr%252C%2B3%2B%2B%2B%2B2016%2B%2B%2B%2B10.53.34%2BAM.jpg


Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-03%2Bat%2BApr%252C%2B3%2B%2B%2B%2B2016%2B%2B%2B%2B10.51.37%2BAM.jpg
 
Re: Down Under on a KLR 650

Rode up past Daintree Village to the begiinig of the Creb Track - a famous off road track to Cape York. Pretty area -mix of weather ... some showers.

P1290927.JPG


P1290928.JPG


Well we thought about it for 10 minutes...

P1290925.JPG


.unusual for the Daintree to be crossable here this time of year. It's about knee deep and gravel, small rocks mix

Eammon no boots...me not having ridden off pavement much at all this year.

Decider was there really was no place to go on the other side except up the Creb track which is like 200 KM to civilization and NOT done ...this time of year.

This is what's on the other side - not suitable for a KLR

It's pretty nice if you are up for it.
313460_10151304828176024_1360385073_n.jpg


Bill-Jim-creek-crossing-4.jpg


CapeYork2014-1200x710.jpg


tbt-2.jpg


Also I'm the only driver in the family just now so playing it a bit cautious.

But we had a good day riding with some off pavement and two range roads for the twists. ( yeah yeah KLRs ) :rolleyes:

Black Mountain Road was a stretch for my rusty skill set but at least I had the correct tires.
Buddy is the better rider but with K60s he was squirming all over. We both made it through the north section ....only one technical downhill I was happy to get through upright

It's mostly easy riding forest track - very pretty

eblkmtnrd.jpg


A few gotchas for the unwary over the 1 meter rain whoops designed funnel water off - kinda fun - you do have to pay attention to your line tho my knobbies made it easier.

Not this year pic but typical - wetter this year

Screenshot2012-02-09atFeb92012100125PM.jpg


more like this -couple years back.



Have a couple days on my own now with partner away so mybe time to fit in a couple more off pavement jaunts.

Of course looks like a cake walk and normally would be but my shoulder is in need of a steroid shot and after a 60 km of forest track was doing more work than just riding....

Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-25%2Bat%2BApr%252C%2B25%2B%2B%2B%2B2016%2B%2B%2B%2B12.48.30%2BPM.jpg


Still...Eammon found it technical as well...more down hill than it looks and lots of rocks wanting to roll this way and that so close attention to the brakes needed.

KLR just idled down at an okay speed...not much clutching involved. Got that copper CSC 250 coming just after I get home so maybe some practice over the summer.

ZTT250-325-T.jpg
 
Last edited:

Back
Top Bottom