The Road To The Phillip Island

I intended to write something in the lead up to the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island this October (2013) but I already realise this post will likely be more of a “here is my route, and here is my recap” kind of deal… Who cares!

Most of the group from last year at Ye Olde Bicycle Shoppe in Bundanoon

Looking at the annual pilgrimage ahead, our crew has selected an amazing looking inland route down to the island this year – opting to push the path further inland from last years Yass, Cooma, Bombala, Orbost, Lakes Entrance, etc. This year, the road we’ll be taking incorporates many famous (and infamous) Australian roads and should prove to be quite an incredible trip. We’ll be pushing off, out of Sydney on Wednesday 16th October and sticking to the following route:

Day 1 [Sydney to Tumut]

– Katoomba
– Oberon
– Goulburn
– Crookwell
– Boorowa
– Cootamundra
– Gundagai

Day 2 [Tumut to Mansfield]

– Batlow
– Tumbarumba
– Jingelic
– Granya Gap
– Tallangatta
– Yackandanda
– Beechworth
– Milawa
– Whitfield

Day 3 [Mansfield to Phillip Island]

– Bonnie Doon
– Alexandria
– Tagerty
– Buxton
– Marysville
– Warburton (via Acheron Way)
– Warragul
– Wonthaggi

At the end of all those legs, two things will be for sure. Firstly, I’ll be walking like a cowboy, and secondly, very many assorted bugs will have perished at my hand.

The R1 acts as a remarkably good fly swatter!

My visor aka insect guard.

The return trip is not yet planned, and will likely remain unplanned until we’re all drinking beers on the island (as is tradition). The return journey home is always a special one, and while the riding is more relaxed in parts, it really feels like the trip down and the weekend at the island were an accomplishment. An inevitable truth of the trip is that stories are made – good ones, and bad ones that turn good with age.