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#51
All Events Calendar / Re: FarRoad Victoria
Last post by ZigZag - Jan 20, 2026, 07:13 AMGreat little pub this one. Hopefully they will let me stay again given last time I rode off in the early hours with my room key in my pocket. 
#52
All Events Calendar / Re: Race the Overland
Last post by ZigZag - Jan 20, 2026, 07:11 AMI'm keen to have a second go at this one. The ride from Southern Cross station to Geelong on the first attempt was hairy, heavy rain and zero visibility. It improved from there but when I got home I realised I'd ridden the day ignoring what I thought was a mild cold but in hindsight was quite nasty. It was a good days riding other than that.
#53
General Discussion / Re: From the Library
Last post by Biggles - Jan 20, 2026, 12:23 AMThe boy said goodbye and I waved as he vanished into the traffic.
This was it. I rode Panther slowly towards the gates, savouring the last 100 metres of our journey, stopping only when I felt the front wheel bump against the gates and knew I couldn't go an inch further.
"We've made it, Panther," I said out loud, leaning over the handlebars. "We've bloody made it."
A group of Japanese tourists stopped photographing the Palace and looked at me.
I didn't want to get off my beloved Pink Panther. I couldn't believe we'd actually done it. For ten minutes I just sat there, staring at the white facade, smiling, savouring the moment. Six weeks, three countries, 2,000 miles, four engine rebuilds and one hell of an adventure later, my Ho Chi Mission was finally over.
A Short Ride In The Jungle Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent p339
This was it. I rode Panther slowly towards the gates, savouring the last 100 metres of our journey, stopping only when I felt the front wheel bump against the gates and knew I couldn't go an inch further.
"We've made it, Panther," I said out loud, leaning over the handlebars. "We've bloody made it."
A group of Japanese tourists stopped photographing the Palace and looked at me.
I didn't want to get off my beloved Pink Panther. I couldn't believe we'd actually done it. For ten minutes I just sat there, staring at the white facade, smiling, savouring the moment. Six weeks, three countries, 2,000 miles, four engine rebuilds and one hell of an adventure later, my Ho Chi Mission was finally over.
A Short Ride In The Jungle Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent p339
#54
General Discussion / Re: From the Library
Last post by Biggles - Jan 19, 2026, 01:40 AMThanking her, I kicked Panther into life. But the kick-start sputtered and popped. The engine remained silent. I realised what had happened at once. In my anxiety to find my way and reach the Palace in one piece I'd entirely forgotten about petrol. Now, 5 miles before the end, I had run out of fuel. What an idiot! As luck would have it, there was a petrol station less than 400 metres up the road. I wheeled Panther there along the pavement, laughing at my ineptitude.
Now it was truly the final furlong. We inched towards the finish line, pulled along in ten lanes of traffic, a tiny particle in the city's endless two-wheeled cavalcade. Half an hour later the New World Hotel rose up on my left. I must be close. Outside it, the traffic lights turned red and I stopped in the front row amid a battalion of revving mopeds.
"Does anyone speak English?" I asked, addressing neighbours.
"I do!" replied a teenage boy, leaning over the handlebars of his moped a few rows away.
"Brilliant! Do you know where the Reunification Palace is, please?"
"Yes. I'm going that way, follow me." What a stroke of luck.
The lights turned green and a hundred tiny engines thrummed into life, leaping forward; the charge of the Honda brigade. The boy ducked and dived through the streets, past grand French buildings and down leafy boulevards. Every time I thought I'd lost him I caught sight of his brown helmet, bobbing like a cork on the sea of traffic. Then, there they were, the grey iron gates of the Reunification Palace, the same ones the NVA tanks had surged through on 30 April 1975.
A Short Ride In The Jungle Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent p337-8
Now it was truly the final furlong. We inched towards the finish line, pulled along in ten lanes of traffic, a tiny particle in the city's endless two-wheeled cavalcade. Half an hour later the New World Hotel rose up on my left. I must be close. Outside it, the traffic lights turned red and I stopped in the front row amid a battalion of revving mopeds.
"Does anyone speak English?" I asked, addressing neighbours.
"I do!" replied a teenage boy, leaning over the handlebars of his moped a few rows away.
"Brilliant! Do you know where the Reunification Palace is, please?"
"Yes. I'm going that way, follow me." What a stroke of luck.
The lights turned green and a hundred tiny engines thrummed into life, leaping forward; the charge of the Honda brigade. The boy ducked and dived through the streets, past grand French buildings and down leafy boulevards. Every time I thought I'd lost him I caught sight of his brown helmet, bobbing like a cork on the sea of traffic. Then, there they were, the grey iron gates of the Reunification Palace, the same ones the NVA tanks had surged through on 30 April 1975.
A Short Ride In The Jungle Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent p337-8
#55
Far Road Rides / IRode Tassie #9 Saturday 31 Ja...
Last post by Carsten - Jan 18, 2026, 06:21 AMVenue is Carrick Inn Hotel, 46 Meander Vallery road, Carrick.
03 63936143 -41.53155 147.00817
Aim is to be there between 12 to 12.30 pm on Saturday 31st Jan 2026.
Cheers, Carsten
0418920355.
03 63936143 -41.53155 147.00817
Aim is to be there between 12 to 12.30 pm on Saturday 31st Jan 2026.
Cheers, Carsten
0418920355.
#56
General Discussion / Re: From Beyond the Library
Last post by Taffey - Jan 18, 2026, 02:37 AMCHAPTER SIX
Heinrich Arrives, the Llama Chooses Violence Again, and Constance Makes a Decision[/size]
Heinrich arrived precisely as Heinrich always did: loudly, unnecessarily, and convinced the world had been waiting for him.
He came down the ridge on a mule that looked faintly ashamed of its role, wearing knee-length leather shorts, woollen socks pulled to the knee, and a hat with a feather that appeared to have been won in combat. A pair of binoculars bounced against his chest. A yodel echoed triumphantly behind him, as if the mountains themselves were applauding.
"ARCHIBALD!" Heinrich boomed, dismounting with theatrical flourish.
"I knew I would find you here! I felt it in my sternum!"
Sir Archibald groaned.
"Good Lord. It's you."
Heinrich swept his hat off and bowed deeply to Constance.
"And this must be the famous Lady Lydney-Farrar! Ach! Photographs do not do you justice. They never do."
Constance inclined her head politely, suppressing the urge to apologise on behalf of civilisation.
"And you are?" she asked.
"Heinrich Vogel," he declared.
"Explorer. Alpine survivalist. Ethnographer. Occasional lecturer. I once crossed the Dolomites with nothing but a compass and a wedge of cheese."
Tom muttered,
"Tragic."
Heinrich's gaze snapped to him.
"Ah. The estate man. You have the shoulders of a peasant hero."
"Thank you," Tom said flatly. "I think."
Heinrich clapped his hands.
"Now, Archibald! I hear you are chasing a frog."
"A very special frog," Archibald snapped.
"Which I would have secured by now if it weren't for llamas, storms, time travellers, and general incompetence."
At the word llamas, the Altar Llama — who had been standing nearby with the quiet patience of a being waiting for its cue — lifted its head.
Its eyes locked onto Heinrich.
"What," Heinrich said carefully, "is that?"
"Sacred animal," Tom replied.
Heinrich beamed.
"Ah! Wonderful! I once wrestled a sacred goat in Nepal."
"No," Tom said firmly. "You absolutely did not."
Heinrich stepped forward anyway.
The llama lowered its head.
What followed was swift, decisive, and deeply humiliating.
The llama charged.
Heinrich yelped, attempted a heroic sidestep, and was promptly launched backwards into a stack of firewood, where he landed in a heap of lederhosen and dignity.
The llama snorted once and returned calmly to its original position, as though nothing of consequence had occurred.
Tom nodded.
"That went about as expected."
Heinrich sat up, blinking.
"That animal," he said weakly, "is deeply spiritual."
Sir Archibald rubbed his temples.
"I need a drink."
As the household descended into controlled chaos — Heinrich's pride being tended, Archibald's nerves fraying — Constance stood slightly apart, Noraly's book Free Ride still tucked beneath her arm.
Tom approached quietly.
"You all right?"
"I think so," she said. "I'm just... seeing things more clearly."
He waited.
"All my life," she continued, "I've been told what sort of woman I am. Explorer's wife. Companion. Observer. Never the point of the story."
Tom said nothing.
"Then I come here. I cross an ocean. I get chased by a llama. I catch a frog no one believes exists. I meet women who ride across continents and don't ask permission — not even from time itself."
She looked at him.
"And I realise I've been living as though the most interesting parts of life were meant for other people."
The lantern light flickered across Tom's face — admiration there, and restraint.
"Constance," he said quietly, "whatever you decide—"
She raised a hand.
"Let me finish."
"I don't know yet what my life will look like when I leave this place. Or who will be in it. But I do know this."
She met his eyes.
"I won't go back to being invisible."
Across the courtyard, Heinrich groaned loudly as a poultice was applied with unnecessary enthusiasm.
Sir Archibald called out,
"Constance! Tomorrow we resume the search for the map! And the frog! And possibly Heinrich's dignity!"
She looked toward her husband, then back to Tom.
"Tomorrow," she said, "I'll help you find the map."
"You will?"
"Yes. Because it's the right thing to do. And because I want to see where those old paths lead."
The Altar Llama emitted a low, approving hum.
Tom smiled.
"Then tomorrow, everything changes."
Constance looked up at the Andes — vast, dark, and full of improbable promise.
For the first time in her life, the uncertainty did not frighten her.
It thrilled her.
Heinrich Arrives, the Llama Chooses Violence Again, and Constance Makes a Decision[/size]
Heinrich arrived precisely as Heinrich always did: loudly, unnecessarily, and convinced the world had been waiting for him.
He came down the ridge on a mule that looked faintly ashamed of its role, wearing knee-length leather shorts, woollen socks pulled to the knee, and a hat with a feather that appeared to have been won in combat. A pair of binoculars bounced against his chest. A yodel echoed triumphantly behind him, as if the mountains themselves were applauding.
"ARCHIBALD!" Heinrich boomed, dismounting with theatrical flourish.
"I knew I would find you here! I felt it in my sternum!"
Sir Archibald groaned.
"Good Lord. It's you."
Heinrich swept his hat off and bowed deeply to Constance.
"And this must be the famous Lady Lydney-Farrar! Ach! Photographs do not do you justice. They never do."
Constance inclined her head politely, suppressing the urge to apologise on behalf of civilisation.
"And you are?" she asked.
"Heinrich Vogel," he declared.
"Explorer. Alpine survivalist. Ethnographer. Occasional lecturer. I once crossed the Dolomites with nothing but a compass and a wedge of cheese."
Tom muttered,
"Tragic."
Heinrich's gaze snapped to him.
"Ah. The estate man. You have the shoulders of a peasant hero."
"Thank you," Tom said flatly. "I think."
Heinrich clapped his hands.
"Now, Archibald! I hear you are chasing a frog."
"A very special frog," Archibald snapped.
"Which I would have secured by now if it weren't for llamas, storms, time travellers, and general incompetence."
At the word llamas, the Altar Llama — who had been standing nearby with the quiet patience of a being waiting for its cue — lifted its head.
Its eyes locked onto Heinrich.
"What," Heinrich said carefully, "is that?"
"Sacred animal," Tom replied.
Heinrich beamed.
"Ah! Wonderful! I once wrestled a sacred goat in Nepal."
"No," Tom said firmly. "You absolutely did not."
Heinrich stepped forward anyway.
The llama lowered its head.
What followed was swift, decisive, and deeply humiliating.
The llama charged.
Heinrich yelped, attempted a heroic sidestep, and was promptly launched backwards into a stack of firewood, where he landed in a heap of lederhosen and dignity.
The llama snorted once and returned calmly to its original position, as though nothing of consequence had occurred.
Tom nodded.
"That went about as expected."
Heinrich sat up, blinking.
"That animal," he said weakly, "is deeply spiritual."
Sir Archibald rubbed his temples.
"I need a drink."
As the household descended into controlled chaos — Heinrich's pride being tended, Archibald's nerves fraying — Constance stood slightly apart, Noraly's book Free Ride still tucked beneath her arm.
Tom approached quietly.
"You all right?"
"I think so," she said. "I'm just... seeing things more clearly."
He waited.
"All my life," she continued, "I've been told what sort of woman I am. Explorer's wife. Companion. Observer. Never the point of the story."
Tom said nothing.
"Then I come here. I cross an ocean. I get chased by a llama. I catch a frog no one believes exists. I meet women who ride across continents and don't ask permission — not even from time itself."
She looked at him.
"And I realise I've been living as though the most interesting parts of life were meant for other people."
The lantern light flickered across Tom's face — admiration there, and restraint.
"Constance," he said quietly, "whatever you decide—"
She raised a hand.
"Let me finish."
"I don't know yet what my life will look like when I leave this place. Or who will be in it. But I do know this."
She met his eyes.
"I won't go back to being invisible."
Across the courtyard, Heinrich groaned loudly as a poultice was applied with unnecessary enthusiasm.
Sir Archibald called out,
"Constance! Tomorrow we resume the search for the map! And the frog! And possibly Heinrich's dignity!"
She looked toward her husband, then back to Tom.
"Tomorrow," she said, "I'll help you find the map."
"You will?"
"Yes. Because it's the right thing to do. And because I want to see where those old paths lead."
The Altar Llama emitted a low, approving hum.
Tom smiled.
"Then tomorrow, everything changes."
Constance looked up at the Andes — vast, dark, and full of improbable promise.
For the first time in her life, the uncertainty did not frighten her.
It thrilled her.
#57
All Events Calendar / Race the Overland
Last post by Taffey - Jan 18, 2026, 02:03 AMFarRoad Encore Ride – Race the Overland (Melbourne to Adelaide)
So... a small confession. Coleraine may have been billed as the finale, but there's an opportunity too good to ignore — particularly for South Australian–based riders. FarRoad is putting on a special Encore Ride: a return challenge to race the Overland train from Melbourne back to Adelaide. We only just beat it last time, with the train in front of us for much of the ride in 2025 — which makes this the perfect question to ask: can we pull it off twice in a row?
This will be a single-category ride only: 800 km in 12 hours, using a proven route. The ride will be conducted as a group, with disciplined pacing, clear decision points, and no deviation from FarRoad principles — this is about precision, planning and execution, not speed. It's a shared challenge, a nod to last year's effort, and a fitting way to close the book on the 2026 calendar. If you were there last time, you'll know why this matters. If you weren't — this is your chance.
So... a small confession. Coleraine may have been billed as the finale, but there's an opportunity too good to ignore — particularly for South Australian–based riders. FarRoad is putting on a special Encore Ride: a return challenge to race the Overland train from Melbourne back to Adelaide. We only just beat it last time, with the train in front of us for much of the ride in 2025 — which makes this the perfect question to ask: can we pull it off twice in a row?
This will be a single-category ride only: 800 km in 12 hours, using a proven route. The ride will be conducted as a group, with disciplined pacing, clear decision points, and no deviation from FarRoad principles — this is about precision, planning and execution, not speed. It's a shared challenge, a nod to last year's effort, and a fitting way to close the book on the 2026 calendar. If you were there last time, you'll know why this matters. If you weren't — this is your chance.
#58
All Events Calendar / FarRoad Victoria
Last post by Taffey - Jan 18, 2026, 01:52 AMFarRoad Coleraine – Western Victoria Finale Ride 2026
Coleraine, Victoria will host the final Standard FarRoad ride for 2026, using the familiar FarRoad format with the usual meeting point, check-in window and verification procedures. This is a classic sealed-road FarRoad event — structured, achievable, and open to riders choosing the distance category that suits them. Whether you ride in solo or arrive with others, the focus remains on good planning, good documentation, and good decision-making over the distance.
This ride also provides an opportunity to support rural communities, particularly those across Western Victoria that have been impacted by recent bushfires. FarRoad acknowledges the resilience of these communities and the ongoing challenges they face. Choosing to ride through, stop in, refuel, eat and stay locally is a simple but tangible way to show support and contribute to regional recovery.
The surrounding region offers some of the best and least-ridden touring roads in the state, with outstanding approaches through the Western District, the Grampians fringes, volcanic plains, and sweeping agricultural country. As the finale ride for 2026, this one is not to be missed — a chance to finish the FarRoad calendar properly with good roads, good riding, and a destination that matters.
Coleraine, Victoria will host the final Standard FarRoad ride for 2026, using the familiar FarRoad format with the usual meeting point, check-in window and verification procedures. This is a classic sealed-road FarRoad event — structured, achievable, and open to riders choosing the distance category that suits them. Whether you ride in solo or arrive with others, the focus remains on good planning, good documentation, and good decision-making over the distance.
This ride also provides an opportunity to support rural communities, particularly those across Western Victoria that have been impacted by recent bushfires. FarRoad acknowledges the resilience of these communities and the ongoing challenges they face. Choosing to ride through, stop in, refuel, eat and stay locally is a simple but tangible way to show support and contribute to regional recovery.
The surrounding region offers some of the best and least-ridden touring roads in the state, with outstanding approaches through the Western District, the Grampians fringes, volcanic plains, and sweeping agricultural country. As the finale ride for 2026, this one is not to be missed — a chance to finish the FarRoad calendar properly with good roads, good riding, and a destination that matters.
#59
All Events Calendar / A South Australian SaddleSore
Last post by Taffey - Jan 18, 2026, 01:45 AMCome and Try a SaddleSore 1600
This event is designed to support riders attempting a SaddleSore 1600 for the first — or near-first — time, using recognised Iron Butt Association (IBA) standards. An entry fee will apply to cover certification and patches, with full event and registration details released closer to the ride date.
This is not a race. It is a structured, supported opportunity to learn the process, understand the discipline, and experience what a genuine 1,600 km ride within 24 hours involves.
Support, structure, and a proven route
Riders will complete a set course with designated check-in points, gathering evidence along the way through photographs and maintaining a ride log in accordance with IBA requirements. Participants may ride independently or join a group supported by an experienced SaddleSore rider, offering guidance on pacing, documentation, fatigue management, and decision-making.
The route has been carefully designed to balance flow, safety, and logistics, starting and finishing in Tailem Bend, SA. The concept is simple — three loops (north, south, and east) totalling approximately 1,625 km, all returning through Tailem Bend. This central hub allows riders to manage progress, take rest breaks, or finish early if required, without creating logistical challenges.
Loop 1 — North
Depart Tailem Bend via the SE Freeway to Adelaide, loop around the city parklands, then join the Northern Expressway and head north along Highway 1. This opening loop is planned for night riding, using dual carriageways and consistent traffic flow to help minimise wildlife exposure. Turning at Crystal Brook, riders return via the Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills in emerging daylight, completing approximately 580 km.
Loop 2 — South
Heading south through Meningie, riders follow Highway 1 towards Mount Gambier before turning back via Naracoorte, Keith, and the Dukes Highway to Tailem Bend. This stage adds around 690 km, bringing the cumulative distance to roughly 1,270 km — leaving just 355 km remaining.
Loop 3 — East
The final loop — and often the toughest — is a 355 km run to Loxton in the Riverland, returning via Swan Reach and the Murray. On paper it looks straightforward; in reality, it will test fatigue management and focus. Take your time, ride within yourself, and make clear decisions about your limits. There is absolutely no shame in choosing not to continue beyond Loop 2.
At the completion of Loop 2, riders will have an opportunity for rest, recovery, and refuelling before deciding whether to proceed. Many first-time participants treat this point as a successful learning finish, gaining experience for a future attempt — often the one that earns certification. The course is designed as a rider support tool, not just a distance challenge.
Long-distance riding done properly — supportive, disciplined, and confidence-building.
This event is designed to support riders attempting a SaddleSore 1600 for the first — or near-first — time, using recognised Iron Butt Association (IBA) standards. An entry fee will apply to cover certification and patches, with full event and registration details released closer to the ride date.
This is not a race. It is a structured, supported opportunity to learn the process, understand the discipline, and experience what a genuine 1,600 km ride within 24 hours involves.
Support, structure, and a proven route
Riders will complete a set course with designated check-in points, gathering evidence along the way through photographs and maintaining a ride log in accordance with IBA requirements. Participants may ride independently or join a group supported by an experienced SaddleSore rider, offering guidance on pacing, documentation, fatigue management, and decision-making.
The route has been carefully designed to balance flow, safety, and logistics, starting and finishing in Tailem Bend, SA. The concept is simple — three loops (north, south, and east) totalling approximately 1,625 km, all returning through Tailem Bend. This central hub allows riders to manage progress, take rest breaks, or finish early if required, without creating logistical challenges.
Loop 1 — North
Depart Tailem Bend via the SE Freeway to Adelaide, loop around the city parklands, then join the Northern Expressway and head north along Highway 1. This opening loop is planned for night riding, using dual carriageways and consistent traffic flow to help minimise wildlife exposure. Turning at Crystal Brook, riders return via the Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills in emerging daylight, completing approximately 580 km.
Loop 2 — South
Heading south through Meningie, riders follow Highway 1 towards Mount Gambier before turning back via Naracoorte, Keith, and the Dukes Highway to Tailem Bend. This stage adds around 690 km, bringing the cumulative distance to roughly 1,270 km — leaving just 355 km remaining.
Loop 3 — East
The final loop — and often the toughest — is a 355 km run to Loxton in the Riverland, returning via Swan Reach and the Murray. On paper it looks straightforward; in reality, it will test fatigue management and focus. Take your time, ride within yourself, and make clear decisions about your limits. There is absolutely no shame in choosing not to continue beyond Loop 2.
At the completion of Loop 2, riders will have an opportunity for rest, recovery, and refuelling before deciding whether to proceed. Many first-time participants treat this point as a successful learning finish, gaining experience for a future attempt — often the one that earns certification. The course is designed as a rider support tool, not just a distance challenge.
Long-distance riding done properly — supportive, disciplined, and confidence-building.
#60
All Events Calendar / FarRoad SA - Centre
Last post by Taffey - Jan 18, 2026, 01:29 AMInto the north. Onto the dirt
Following strong feedback from riders, FarRoad is introducing an Adventure Ride category, purpose-built for those who prefer their long distance riding served with red dirt, isolation, and a sense of place. Drawing inspiration from the established standards of FarRoad and Farriders, this new format recognises that distance on dirt carries a different weight. For Arkaroola, an additional 800 km ride completed within 24 hours has been set as a new Adventure benchmark, acknowledging that a significant proportion of the route will be unsealed, remote, and technically demanding.
Arkaroola is the destination for a reason.
Deep in the northern Flinders Ranges, Arkaroola offers terrain that rewards preparation, judgement and restraint — qualities that define good adventure riding. The Adventure category sits alongside, not instead of, FarRoad's existing ride categories, allowing riders to choose their challenge: sealed-road endurance, extended formats, or a true outback adventure. Whether you're stepping up from your first serious dirt-based long ride or you're a seasoned outback traveller, this is long-distance riding recalibrated for the bush — structured, credible, and unmistakably FarRoad.
Following strong feedback from riders, FarRoad is introducing an Adventure Ride category, purpose-built for those who prefer their long distance riding served with red dirt, isolation, and a sense of place. Drawing inspiration from the established standards of FarRoad and Farriders, this new format recognises that distance on dirt carries a different weight. For Arkaroola, an additional 800 km ride completed within 24 hours has been set as a new Adventure benchmark, acknowledging that a significant proportion of the route will be unsealed, remote, and technically demanding.
Arkaroola is the destination for a reason.
Deep in the northern Flinders Ranges, Arkaroola offers terrain that rewards preparation, judgement and restraint — qualities that define good adventure riding. The Adventure category sits alongside, not instead of, FarRoad's existing ride categories, allowing riders to choose their challenge: sealed-road endurance, extended formats, or a true outback adventure. Whether you're stepping up from your first serious dirt-based long ride or you're a seasoned outback traveller, this is long-distance riding recalibrated for the bush — structured, credible, and unmistakably FarRoad.