Labour Day Weekend

For a complete change of pace, the weather finally came good on a weekend, and not just for a couple of days, all three days. So this is what summer's like?

Saturday was a bit of a warm up for Mondays trip. Set off for Yallourn North, then Willow Grove, Hill End, Noojee, Yarra Junction and then down to Pakenham where I had lunch at Subway. As I got off the bike I noticed that my registration sticker on plastic container had parted company from the bike. Just before Hill End, I noticed in the rear view mirror a four-wheel-drive vehicle flashing its lights at me. Maybe the driver was trying to tell me something? Graeme and Pam from the Tassie trip were already consuming their Subway meal, so that was good and we exchanged stories.

Set off for Koo-We-Rup, Lang-Lang and ended up at Phillip Island. Cowes was full of tourists so I didn't even stop, just did a U-turn and rode to The Nobbies. Ah, less people and a glorious view of the sea with not a cloud in the sky.

Rode home via Wonthaggi, Leongatha, Mirboo North and Boolarra. The road between Mirboo North and Boolarra used to be it a bit of a challenge in my car days, so I used to avoid it. Not so now, very nice going through the curves.

Sunday I was up at 6:00, had breakfast and I was on the road. Stopped at Sale to fill up with petrol. I'm glad I fixed up the double glazing on my helmet visor as there was fog all the way to Bruthen and about 10 km after. No internal condensation at all. Then the sun kicked in and more of that blue sky.

On to Omeo, Mt Hotham and stopped at Harrietville for another petrol fill. On to Mount Beauty, Kiewa and then stopped at Corryong for another petrol fill. The attendant told me to be careful going over as the police are active. A biker on the other side of the pump told me the same thing except he had first hand experience, he was booked, he wasn't happy about it.

On to Khancoban, Thredbo and then stopped at Cooma for more petrol. I must say that I was disappointed with that section of the ride, not very satisfying at all. All of those 80 and 60 speed signs sure muck up any attempt at enjoying the ride. I far prefer the Mount Hotham crossing. Near Geehi I spotted a couple of trailer towing bikes coming the other way and very close behind was a police car, obviously closing in for the kill.

The weather gave me some cause for concern as there was a large thunderstorm to the north and east of Cooma. I caught a few big drops which helped me clean some bugs off the visor not much else. Between Bombala and Cann River there was another storm and yet again just picked up a few drops.

Filled up at Cann River and drove to Orbost, Nowa-Nowa and then stopped at Bairnsdale. The sun was down, I hadn't had lunch yet and Pinky's Pizza looked inviting. As I was eating I noticed the staff putting the chairs and tables away. I asked if I was in the way. "No, no, finish your meal!" The rest of the tables are taken out, the plastic fly-keep-out device is removed from the door, the sign brought in and the door is shut. "You sure I'm not in the way?" "No, were just preparing for the floor cleaner, he'll be another half an hour!" Off go the lights. I finish up and head for home.

Just past the last speed sign out of Bairnsdale, I turn on my fog lights to give me some more light on the road and am taken by surprise when I lower the headlights for an on coming car and the fog lights go out as well. That's a neat trick, must be a fuse.

Some stats. I researched distances and times using the RACV trip planner and that worked pretty well. They predicted a distance of 1,212 km and a travel time of sixteen hours and ten minutes. The speedo said 1,260 km and a travel time about an hour less. I know the speedo reads a little high, so I can accept that, but, the time difference seems a bit too much. As you know I don't speed, so I'm not sure how I saved a whole hour.

Actually I have a confession about not breaking the speed limit. As I was slowing down to the 60 kph limit at Nimmitabel I slowed down by easing off the throttle. I was doing about 75 when I reached the sign and who should be coming the other way but a police car. I was expecting a U-turn and flashing lights and was quite relieved to seem him not deviate from his course..

A most enjoyable weekend.

Postscript - The fog light failure

I replaced the fuse and promptly blew it again when I turned on the fog light switch. I had replaced the fog light bulb the previous Friday and everything seemed to work just fine. The highest probability of the cause of the problem was the last repair I performed. I removed the new bulb from the fog light, put in a new fuse and tried again - no problems, the other fog light came on and no blown fuse. I then touched the frame of the bulb to the frame of the fog light assembly and again no problems.

Time for some detective work, what could cause a short circuit? The only thing I could see that could cause a problem was the positive female connector that accepts the male flying lead from the bulb. The back of the connector was not covered but exposed the back of the female clip. My guess is that the back of the connector some how touched the earth connector at the top of the bulb mounting assembly. I covered the back of the female connector with some gaffer tape and all seems well. I guess time will tell. I wonder why the back of the female connector isn't covered?