Notices by Dave Heinemann 🇦🇺 (dheinemann@fosstodon.org)

Australian wildlife is not to be underestimated! 🦖

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While in Bright VIC, I explored the Porepunkah area and Mount Buffalo.

Everything outside the High Country was bone dry, brown, and hot. But it cooled down a lot as ingot higher, and everything turned green. It was almost like Atherton in Queensland, but with different trees.

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One week to go before my biggest motorcycle trip yet.

I bought a touring bag that straps to the sissy bar. Now I have more luggage space than ever! I've also added a Sena 60S intercom to my Arai XD-4 helmet.

Not looking forward to the heat though. My route will take me through areas that have recently reached 40°C (104°F), and it isn't even Summer yet. 😬

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One month to go before my biggest motorcycle trip yet! 😁

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Don't see these around so much these days.

The big banana at Banana, Queensland.

Day 1 is done and dusted. Just under 500 km (310 mi) in just under 6 hours. Beautiful day for riding, but saw very few other riders about.

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The Big Yabbie at Moonie, Queensland.

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The Big Bell at Condamine, Queensland.

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Day 2 is done. 518 km (321 mi) in around 6 hrs 40 m.

I'm travelling down the Leichardt Highway. It's mostly straight and would be perfect for cruising if it weren't so bumpy and full of potholes. On the upside, there's been basically no traffic.

Peak temperature of 37°C (98.6°F) was really toasty, but at least the humidity is just 35%.

Best part - I'm getting 4.5 L/100 km (52 mpg) fuel economy - much better than usual.

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012345 🎉

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So I woke up yesterday and found my Harley like this.

I saw something black underneath and thought the sump had been punctured, but it was actually a sinkhole that opened up right under the jiffy stand!

Besides scratching up the engine case, it ripped the jiffy stand spring apart, leaving it unable to retract without flopping back down.

But worst of all, the hazard lights turned on and flattened the battery overnight, leaving the bike unable to start.

1/5

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Day 3 is done! 479 km (298 mi) in a bit over 6 hours.

I almost thought I wouldn't make it to my motel tonight.

You're not gonna believe this, but when I woke up in Goondiwindi QLD this morning, my Harley had fallen over in a sinkhole! 😬

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Thomas Lee Harley-Davidson at least explained how to jump start the Harley: connect postive using a screwdriver to reach the terminal, then connect negative to the frame.

"It's not the right way to do it", they said, but it's the easiest way considering how difficult it is to reach the battery.

And it worked! We got the Harley started, so I zip tied the jiffy stand up, threw on my gear, and hit the road, trying to make up for lost time.

3/5

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I bought roadside assistance from National Motorcycle Alliance just two weeks ago, so that was lucky.

Unluckily, they didn't know how to get to the battery to jump start it because it was buried under the shock and a bunch of cables.

Meanwhile, I called Thomas Lee H-d in Moree, 90 m away, to see if they could fit a new jiffy stand spring, but they wouldn't be able to get one until tomorrow.

This was starting to look like a significant delay to my schedule. 😬

2/5

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After getting my Harley fixed up, I made a beeline for my next stopover, Dubbo, New South Wales.

Here's the view from the Newell Highway between Moree and Narrabri, one of my favourite stretches of road. It's straight, in great shape, and the surrounding are flat. You can just sit back, cruise, and enjoy the view.

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In the end, I was only delayed a few hours and was able to get back on schedule for my accommodation that night.

Thanks heaps to Thomas Lee Harley-Davidson in Moree. They were awesome.

Here are some photos of a sick custom they had on the floor.

5/5

But I noticed the check engine light was now on, and I was worried maybe the battery wasn't charging and could leave me stranded again.

Thomas Lee Harley-Davidson was on my route, so I dropped by to see if they could check my bike out.

Not only did they check the battery and glue up my torn throttle grip, they also pulled a spring from another bike to install for me... all in under an hour! The engine light was just from being jumpstarted, they figured.

4/5

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Mendooran to Dubbo has this 50 km (31 mi) stretch of road that's almost straight if not for the rolling hills.

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Green trees, red dirt.

I love a sunburned country.

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