The final ride of my Husky Strada

A group of us, including 3 Stradas, went on a ride from Melbourne to the Dig Tree in outback Queensland in early May. Not too hot/not too cold/wet, a week off work plus 2 weekends, a bit under 4000kms of riding on a mix of tar, gravel, dirt & sand.

If you’re not familiar with the Dig Tree and the role it played in the tragic story of early Australian explorers Burke & Wills, Wikipedia does a reasonable summary - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burke_and_Wills_expedition




Packed the Husky with enough stuff for self-sufficient outback camping throughout – a lot of freeze-dried meals & muesli bars - and extra fuel containers for the longest no-fuel stretch of 460km along the Strzelecki Track –




Setout in the rain –




By (kanga)Roo O'clock, we were close to Mildura so found a bush camp next to the Murray River at Colignan –






Plenty of firewood -




New day, sunshine & an early start -




Into NSW then onto gravel on the High Darling Road –




Not far in, leading the group, I came over a small rise at 80kph to find ~30m of unsighted deep sand. The Husky went into an immediate & full-blown tankslapper lasting about 3 terrifying seconds. The sand ended, the tankslapper continued, the bike highsided, I was ejected and the bike (according to the guys behind) somersaulted twice before landing square on its back.

My mates did a great job gathering all my luggage & bits of the bike, which were strewn everywhere, then cable tying & rox-strapping the bike back together.

I was in no state to help -



The Husky, although a bit bent & busted, fired up first go. No leaks, motor fine, clutch fine, gearbox fine, brakes fine.

I pulled my head together, got back on & rode slowly to the next town (Pooncarie) 100km along the way.

Pooncarie's part-time ambulance officer checked me over – banged up & pretty sore but vital signs OK.

One bent Husky -







Then onto Menindee & camped by the Darling River –




More to come ......

Next morning, travelled on deserted tar for a while –


And got to Broken Hill where I visited the chemist to stock up on painkillers & anti-inflammatories. Continued north up the Silver City Highway, where we saw lots of beautiful empty nothingness –








Husky 1 - emu 0 (Mick's Strada, high speed, a very lucky man ..... ) -






Then more gravel -




Detoured off the ‘Highway” to Milparinka, a ghost town but with a working pub, where we stayed the night in a proper bedJ–







But not before a stunning sunset & night sky -

Next morning, north through Tibooburra & the Sturt National Park –





Through Warri Gate, which doubles as the Dingo Fence and the border with Queensland –


Getting remote now -




Deep sand returned, on the Santos Road –



More remote junctions -



Big vistas –




Then finally the Dig Tree –









And another night’s camping -

Next day, battling a freezing and howling westerly, got into Innamincka to fuel up to the brim (while keeping whirling sand out) –






Then on and on down the Strzelecki. And on ..... and on ...... –




After many hours of not much – other than a couple of heart starters at roadworks, where water trucks had turned stretches of clay into oiled-ice-rinks - we came to Mt Hopeless and the turnoff to Arkaroola –




It got beautiful again, this time tinged iron-ore red –







Ran out of daylight so camped at Paralana Creek, camping for kings –

Thawed out the next morning using natural resources - fire and espresso coffee -




Then juggled /siphoned fuel (some of us were very low) before continuing. The Husky is running fine, just crooked, like me –






Reached Arkaroola –




The group split here. A couple (including Captain Emu and his Strada) headed home via lots more nothing on the Yunta road –




While the others (inc me) travelled via Leigh Creek –




and back onto tar, leading eventually to the Hawker pub for the night –







Next morning, back to rain –




And civilisation –




including a civilised motorcycle museum, at Peterborough -




Before crossing the Murray again, at Cadell –




And eventually another royal campsite on the Murray, this one just inside the Victorian border at Lindsay Point –

Fiery & freezing dawn –



To start the day, we got a bit lost in the Murray – Sunset NP –






We eventually emerged to gun it down the slab ; many hours later, back to Melbourne & home, ending a fabulous week-and-a-bit's riding

Fuel economy - for around 3700kms the Husky averaged 4.9l per 100kms, which is pretty good considering the extra weight & wind resistance, the sand riding and the press-on pace on the straight tar sections. My Husky’s power/drivetrain is completely standard, other than a Unifilter and Karoo3’s.

Stripped of all its luggage & stuff, the Husky showed just how battered & bent it was –





So it got taken off to the insurance assessors. Last week they confirmed it has a bent subframe as well as heaps of panel/bar/etc damage, so it's a statutory writeoff. So ends its short life.

(If interested, there's a more complete set of photos and words here -http://www.austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5492 )


As for me, I visited the local hospital’s A+E the next morning.
They found 5 broken ribs, a punctured lung, ligament damage from a dislocated thumb (pulled back in on the spot at the crash site) and, more recently identified, a torn shoulder rotator cuff.
My wife suggested I need writing off too, but there’s more life to be had yet .

Holy crap man what an adventure. I've always wanted to visit Australia. Your trip confirms my suspicions though....everything there is trying to kill you!

Thanks for sharing

epic twowheeler!......didnt see many bent roads, but I guess the sands make up for that, not!

Awesome trip mate. They breed 'em tough Down Under!

Not everything. Possums are pretty harmless.

Bad luck about the Strada mate, but I dips me lid to you finishing the ride. Well done & thanks for the pics.

Man, I could not tell who's tougher, you or the Strada. Great great pics, sure the trip was worth the while.

Twowheeler, glad you made it back OK. I am not fond of sand. Took me out awhile back and finally getting back to normal.

Let the insurance buy you out, buy it back and keep the ole girl. She's proven to be a workhorse you can depend on. And you have a "special" relationship.

Bend the frame back, put on a single can exhaust and off you go.

That's one tough bike and rider

I can attest that must have been one hell of a put down. I've came off mine pretty damn hard and have had nothing bend besides handlebars. I've had to readjust the forks a time or two,but damn that's impressive.

You on the other hand are the man. Way to finish it out with broken ribs!

You and your Strada must run on scotch. So much badassery in one post.

Erik
Italhusky.com

That got my adrenaline pumping just reading! Thanks for the post. Are you planning on another bike? Or some time off? Rest well, in any case - rotator cuffs are slow to mend.

I can vouch that it was heck of a tumble. I was riding behind Pete when it happened and looked like a kid tossing a ragdoll in the air. But he got up (after a while...), mounted his scuffed, battered and bent bike and rode for another 6 or so days! Sorry you'll be leaving the TR behind...

Thanks mate - I could not have done it without your help (DeLewis picked my bike up in a couple of subsequent low speed drops, 'cause I couldn't).