Adventure Film Festival

Just a quick write up on The Australian Adventure Film Festival.

I was lucky enough to be in Bright, Victoria last weekend for the Film Fest. A small but growing festival covering all corners of adventure. Wether it was motorcycle travel, four wheeled journeys, or a walk from Perth to Sydney in a storm trooper suit. You were bound to find something to inspire you to get out there!

I was able to meet and talk to a whole variety of over landers from across the world. Sharing stories of there journeys through crazy countries I would never even think of travelling to.
The films were epic, most being low production, low cost clips filmed with hand held action cameras and edited by the journeymen them selves.

I need to give a few people a big shout out for having me along to be part of such an awesome event! I could write a whole list of names but ill concentrate on a selected few that helped me out and inspired me to keep documenting all my travels through words and images.

Rupert Shaw and lez (unable to retrieve last name). These two guys were just a couple of the main organizer’s of the festival. They welcomed me with open arms, hooking me up with a weekend pass and invited me to put the Mule on show in the festival grounds!

Rowan Sked. What a guy! Being a fellow bike rider, we got chatting and had a bit of a ride into the mountains together. After I told him that both my cameras had failed me and stopped working. He was kind enough to lend me his Drift HD Ghost camera for my journey. Such an overwhelming gift from someone I had only met days earlier! Cheers Rowan!!!

Adrian Podlich, one of my best mates I haven’t seen in about 7 months. AJ made the trip down from the coast to catch up for the weekend after just returning from Canada a few weeks back. A few stories were exchanged over a few to many beers. I was lucky enough to show AJ some of the incredible places the high country had to offer.

Grant from OffTrack motorcycle adventures and rental. Grant hooked me up with a new tyre for the Mule and even let me bunk under his Marquee for a night at the festival.

A last big tanks to all the other organizers and volunteers of the Film Fest and Our little drinking posse. It was a great weekend, hanging out with like minded people and sharing experiences and stories!

I suggest you pencil in the weekend of the 14th, 15th and 16th of February 2015. Get down to Bright and check out some of the activity that the Film Festival Has to offer.

ATFF Homepage

Keep Trippin!!
Billy.

Mt Kosciuszko

Well, I made it! To the top of the highest mountain on Australia’s mainland.

After spending Thursday and Friday nights relaxing by the Murray river, enjoying the surrounding wildlife reserve and the odd swim in the river I decided to make the short trip to climb Mt Kosciuszko.

Saturday was early start, out of the tent and all packed up not long after sunrise. I headed to the town of Corryong to fill up with fuel. I followed a track on my maps device which was supposed to take me over a small mountain and into the lower end of Corryong. It was a warm morning and I was feeling pretty good about my chances to make it to the summit of Kosciuszko by lunchtime. Unfortunately the track that was to bring me into town was non-existent. I followed a small trail which was heading the wrong direction but looked promising to bring me out into some sort civilised area. After about an hour of descending down a newly created and very sandy track I found my self at two gates both leading onto locals property’s. The option of going back wasn’t really one I was keen to take. So I headed through the gate that looked the most used, after about 15klm of dodging cows and there freshly laid patties, I came to the house of who must be the owners of the property. Sneaking past there wasn’t any signs of movement in the homestead and I spotted the front gate which led out onto the tarmac road. Just as I was shutting the gate, a car came along the road and pulled up by the mail box. Asking me if I was lost as I was on his property I told him what I was up to and the farmer was happy enough to tell me the more convenient route to town.

I finally made it into Corryong, topped up the Mule with some much-needed petrol and set off for Kosciuszko via the Pinnibar Track. a fellow in town told me that the Pinnibar track was freshly grated and it would be possible to get a two-wheel drive car through to Tom Groggin.  It was good news, I could make up some time and get to Tom Groggin before it got to hot. That didnt happen, the track was rough, I don’t think a grater would even make it up to the to of Mt Pinnibar, let alone getting down the north side. After some good events trying to get the fully loaded Mule over some fallen trees and an intense hill climb which had me lay the bike down once I finally made it to the Mt Pinnibar trig point.

By this time it was starting to heat up and my visions of being at the summit of Kozi by lunch time were looking pretty slim. I started to descend down the north side of Pinnibar, things got pretty hairy! it was steep, loose and very unforgiving. My breaks were getting hot and hadn’t changed out of first gear for at least 12klm. I was starting to think the worst, “what if the track doesn’t go through? I will never get back up what I just came down”. Or if my breaks burn out, “I am going to end up engraved into one of the big gum trees on the side of the track”.

Just as I was starting to stress my self out a bit too much, the track let up and I was making some ground in the right direction. I stopped to clear my head and give my wrists a break to find I had lost one of my shoes, my leg rope had fallen out of my failing board cover, spun itself around the rear wheel and snapped. There was no chance of going back for the shoe, so I carried onto to Tom Groggin. A few river crossings and meeting a posse of four-wheel drivers along the way I finally made it to Tom Groggin where I planned to start my trek to the summit of Kosciuszko.

It was well after lunch, and pushing 35 to 40 degrees. Such an eventful morning had me drained and I wasn’t positive about the 18klm trek. I cut my losses, rode into Thredbo and forked out the cash to ride the chair lift up the mountain. Turning the 18klm trek into a 13klm stroll. It was beautiful up the top, although it was a great day the wind chill took the bite out of the sun as I strolled along the steel grated path to reach the summit. To my surprise it was quiet busy, foreign people wearing platform shoes on guided tours, locals going for a romantic picnic on a Saturday afternoon and guru hikers carrying enough gear to make the Mule small. The view from the top was very magnificent, but I think some of the other summits I had reached on previous days such the Blue Rag were much more stunning. But it was definitely a one time feeling being the highest person in Australia at 2230 meters.

It was late in the afternoon once I had returned from the top, I didn’t have much choice but to camp in the Kosciuszko national park and pay the fees that come with it. Luck was on my side though, I got into the camp ground late and left bailed early the next morning dodging the Ranger and the fees.

life on the road Is all about budgeting, and if you can skip small fess like this. It makes a lot of difference down the track to push through an extra couple of weeks without having to look for work.

Keep Tripping!

Billy

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This is Australia

We definitely live in a lucky country, although my journey is still only just beginning. I am continually being blown away by all the beauty Australia has to offer!
From sneaking through locked gates to get a free nights sleep, to the vast amount of legal free camps there are on offer. There is no excuse for anyone with any mode of transport to not get away and enjoy a part of it.

I feel like I have been held captive by the Victorian high country. After spending some time on the coast around Merimbula and the Ben Boyd national park I made my way up the Snowy River towards Delegate, into the Snowy River national park. Trying to stick on the dirt roads all the time isn’t always possible. But its amazing what you find when you jump off the beaten path! As I headed for a camp by the name of Willis, which is situated on the banks of the Snowy River on the Victoria and New South Wales boarder. I routed a path along McKillops Road. A tight winding dirt track through the Alpine national park with severe cliffs faces on the right and plundering drops on the left down into the gorges below, it was like something out of a National Geographic magazine. Crossing McKillop bridge was an experience., the existing bridge was built in the early 1900’s and it definitely feels like it when your riding over it!

Heading towards Willis, I was lucky enough to spot a herd of Brumbies on the road, something I had never seen before which was amazing. A swim in the bath warm water of the Snowy River was good to wash the dust off!

The following day, I rode into Omeo and treated my self to a beer at the pub which went down a bit too well and had to be chased by a second.

Hearing news that my sister and her partner had bought a bike from Bairnsdale. Which was only a few hours ride away had me head back to the coast to catch up with them for a night at Lake Tyres as they headed back to Sydney with their fresh new steed. I managed to get some fishing in and spend some time at the beach.

Still with the high country on my mind, I couldn’t resist it for too much longer. I shot north-west again and made my way up through Dargo and over the range toward Bright. The Dargo High Plains Road had a lot to offer and led me to a track that I’ve always been curious about, called the Blue Rag track. A steep loose fire trail heading west leads out to a trig point. With views over the mountains for as far as the eye can see, this place is more than magnificent.

Rolling onto tonight’s camp at a place called Smoko river, I found a nice shady spot by the cascading river. Half way through writing this post I hear what sounds like a Lada Neva running on two and half cylinders making its way towards to me, it’s just a friendly farmer on his tractor letting me know I’m camping on his land, but is more than happy to let me stay a few nights.

Plans for the next week or so are to give the bike some much-needed attention, a new rear tyre, fork seals and an oil change are high on the list. Then hopefully heading up to climb Kosciusko and spend some time on the Murray River before heading down to Phillip Island for the World Super Bikes then over to Tasmania on the 24th of February.

Many more good times to come and so much more exploring of this wonderful country of ours!

Keep riding.

Billy

Benny’s Worlds Greatest Shave

My best mate Benny, hasn’t had a haircut for two years! He has made a noble commitment to shave his head in the name of the Leukaemia Foundation, on the 14th of March, 2014. The Leukaemia Foundations acts in providing practical and emotional support to people with blood cancer, as well as investing millions in research.

This is an inspiring decision made by a dude who is always there to help out a friend or anyone in need. I am sure that every one in the world knows someone who has, or has them self battled a fight with the evil cancer. This post is dedicated to those people, and to help out Benny achieve his goal of $500. He has already raised $210!! I think that if enough people go with out that coffee on their lunch break tomorrow, or that extra schooner down at the pub next weekend. Benny will be able blow his goal out of the water! It only takes five minutes and you can donate as little or as much as you like. Every cent helps!

Jump on this link to donate to Benny and help out those in need! https://secure.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?RegistrationID=518598#&panel1-5

THANK YOU! GO BENNY!!!!

Billy.