Weekend Escape to FNQ

As we exit the airport my sunnies fog up instantly as we hit the wall of heat and humidity. Welcome to Far North Queensland. I don’t often fly domestically as I usually ride or drive, so it’s a bit disorienting as I don’t quite have a sense of how far north we really are. Cairns is 2,500km north of Canberra via the most direct route, or 2,900km if you follow the coast.
This is a quick weekend trip to visit friends who recently relocated to Cairns for work and to pinch one of his bikes to see some of the sights and ride some of the roads I’ve heard so much about.

New Sled in the Shed

Following our Yellowstone / Canada EagleRider tour in 2018 it was clear we would be doing a lot more of this style of touring. We followed that with a week touring Switzerland on a bike in 2019 with friends we met on the US/Canada tour and that just settled it. We were going to need a more tour friendly bike that we could both enjoy.

We have now sat on and ridden many different bikes. Our prefence was the BMW K1600GT that we rode in Switzerland but even an early model one is about double our budget. We both loved it, it has an amazing motor with huge amount of torque and all the mod-cons. One day. But for now we have to settle on something a lot more affordable.

But what.?!

Review: Helinox – Chair and Table

For a number of years I struggled to find a camp chair for motorcycle camping that was small, light and comfortable. No you don’t need a chair but its nice to sit and have a cuppa at the end of the day. 

I remember when I finally threw out the tripod chair in disgust and hit google trying to find a suitable option.  My requirements, small, light, it had to have a back, and it had to be comfortable. This is when I found Helinox.

I love my Helinox chair.

An appropriate sign on a Saddlesore 1600 ride with 1400GTR and ZX14R

Saddle Sore 1600

While I’ve completed a few of these rides now, I wouldn’t say they are easy, just that our approach to them is more casual. We know what it takes. A ride like this is not about speed it’s about consistency. It’s spending time in the saddle not in the cafe sipping your latte.

The Saddle Sore 1600, or 1600km in 24 hours. The minimum endurance ride certified by the Iron Butt Association (IBA).

Camping with zx14r

Camping in the Snowies

This weekend wasn’t about a big ride. It was a chance to simply get out for a ride in the mountains, do some camping, and just hang out with a couple of mates. A chance to escape the city and just be in the moment. Enjoy the scenery, the road, and the angry growl of a 14 echoing off mountain walls. Just enjoying being alive.