doherty.net.au

So I managed to set off almost on time, everything was loaded on the bike and Megan, Maarten & Aldo came to see me off.
Of course the one thing I forgot, was my helmet, so back into the house to collect that essential item.
So to hugs and waves from the departure party I set off, first stop, the Shell on Epping Road. The new super silicon earplugs purchased from the US wouldn’t stay in, so they were dumped in favour of the traditional safety plugs.
Once I reached Bells line of Road the fun began, not much traffic and fabulous views. Stopped just before Bell to take some photos and admire the view. Up over the pass and into Lithgow it got a bit cool, 16’C and the jacket was all zipped up.
Once down the other side, the smells of the country became evident to my pleasure, the scent of livestock, sillage and growth all so pleasant.
On reaching Bathurst I thought it would be a good idea to do a lap of Mt Panorama, which was fun, so I did it a second time and had a chat with an old lady who took my photo.
The track is much steeper and narrower than it appears on TV, hairy stuff at speed I imagine, even at 60kmh it was daunting.

Then made haste for Orange, where I stopped for lunch, parked the bike and went off to a cafe. Halfway through my sandwich I realised I had left the keys in the bike. Dumbass.
After lunch headed to Molong and decided to take a detour via Yeoval on the backroads, turned out that the bridge after Yeoval had been washed out. There were a couple of guys drinking UDL who I asked how I could get around the river. They pointed out that they could help me cross by carrying my panniers to the other side while I road the bike through the gap of remaining road. So obstacle was overcome.
Road into Dubbo where after a good feed, crashed at the caravan park. Dubbo is still blockaded due to the floods a damage. The whole place smells like a muddy river, and alot of damage to buildings, roads and trees.
Feeling pretty good, not too sore (yet) aside from some sunburn on my neck (the only thing exposed) must visit Target Country tomorrow to get a bandana to cover it.
Tomorrow towards Cobar…

So here it is.  I’m off to ride the F650 and see how far I can get with a few spare parts, a tent and some food.

You can track my progress here:

and also on the Moblog for more interesting photos: http://doherty.net.au/wpress

I’m growing a Mo for Movember, in order to raise funds for Mens health; specifically prostate cancer and depression in men.

You can donate to my Mo, through: Donate to Luke’s Mo

Many people don’t appreciate that close to 3,000 men die of prostate cancer each year in Australia and one in eight men will experience depression in their lifetime – many of whom don’t seek help.  It is facts like these, that have compelled me to get involved and I am hoping that you will support me.

To sponsor

my Mo, you can either:

• Click this link http://au.movember.com/mospace/171563/ and donate online using your credit card or PayPal
• Write a cheque payable to ‘Movember Foundation’, referencing my Registration Number 171563 and mailing it to: Movember Foundation, PO Box 292, Prahran, VIC, 3181

Remember, all donations over $2 are tax deductible.

If you are interested in following the progress of my Mo, click here http://moblog.doherty.net.au

Thanks for your support.

I recently took a few days off work and went to relax on Bintan Island, Indonesia.

It was a very enjoyable break, just laying under a tree sleeping, a bit of sailing, snorkelling, jetskiing

and some good eating too!

You can find the photos here: Bintan Photos
And moblog shots here: Indonesia Moblog

Comments Welcome 🙂

Just returned from a little more than two weeks in Shanghai, China
Was an interesting trip, plenty of sights and smells to take in.

You can find the photos here: Shanghai Photos
And

moblog shots here: China Moblog

Appreciate any comments 🙂

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I’m back from my stint in Tokyo.

Summary:

• Over 150 pairs of disposable chopsticks used (apparently from Chinese forests)
• Approx 120 bowls of rice consumed, but only 3 potatoes (this ratio would normally be inversed)
• One very sore head http://www.doherty.net.au/wpress/?p=375
• 2 Earthquakes
• Completed disaster training at the Bosai Kan (firefighting, escape from smoke filled building & earthquake simulator)
• Managed to down raw chicken sashimi
• Got lost on numerous occasions
• Caught the metro during peak hour (very, very squishy)

Photos from Japan can be found in the Gallery here
There are various sections: Niseko, Kyoto, Tokyo, Kamakura, Karuizawa, Hakone
(Note: Click into each album to view the entire album)

Wow. What can be said about Niseko that isn’t all good?

– Some of the best powder snow in the world, and certainly
the best in Asia
– 3.6M snowbase with regular top-ups daily!
– Great quality & affordable Japanese food & beer
– Decent length & huge wide open runs
– Skiing between the trees
– Skiing view a view of an active volcano (Mt Yotei-san)
– Making first tracks

The snow absolutely dumps on Niseko, really DUMPS. This is due to super chilled air that blows off the Siberian plateau, picks up moisture over the Sea of Japan and then falls in buckets as fluffy white powder, all over the mountains of Niseko.

On a Friday afternoon we headed out to Tokyo’s Haneda airport for the flight up to Japan’s largest northern island of Hokkaido.

Two silly gaijin (foreigners) and 300 or so Japanese packed into a Boeing 747 like sardines for the 60 minute flight north.
After landing at Sapporo Chitose airport, we had 2 hrs to kill before our bus departed for Niseko. Dinner at a noodle bar, before jumping on the bus for the 2.5 hr ride up to Niseko.

The entire 2.5 hour trip we were driving through snow. Deep enough snow to require the roads to be cleared, we passed through intersections where we could’t see around the corner for the height of the snow, and were weren’t even on the mountain yet!
We arrived in Niseko at around 11:30pm, and straight to bed. We woke on Saturday morning to a light dusting of snow, and reports that the previous 2 days skiing had been knee-to-waist deep powder.

We skied hard all day Saturday, apart from a short break for lunch, skiing opposite an active volcano was a real sight to see.
At the end of the day we headed to an Izakaya for beers and

a feed that could not be beaten.
Hokkaido is known for it’s love of good food and commonly referred to as the food bowl of Japan. In particular the humble potato takes pride of place in Hokkaido, even the logo of Niseko is a potato on skis!
After dinner, we visited an Ice Bar.  Yes, it was cold. The vodka came served in a ‘glass’ made of ice.  The walls, table, chairs, made of ice illuminated by lights internally.  It was quite an experience. (at a price to match)

Day 2 and we were up early and first 2 skiers on the lift, which meant first tracks through fresh powder down the mountain. Skiing that morning was unlike anything I have ever skied before. So deep, snow so dry & light, making wide fast turns down the mountain devoid of any other skiers.
Of course there were a few huge falls, goggles lost, skis all over the mountain. 🙂 but thats all part of the fun.

Sunday afternoon had us skiing the Hanazono ski area, on the Strawberry Fields run through the trees. Again, amazing deep snow and tight turns through the trees.
At the end of the day, as the snow continued to fall, we made a visit to the sento (public bath) to soothe those tired leg muscles before back on the bus, and sleep for 2 hours before boarding the flight back to Tokyo.

Photos from Niseko can be found here in the gallery and the moblog.

This morning I climbed out of bed

at 9:45am.

I walked into the dining room to investigate some creaking noises coming from the kitchen.  I felt strangely dizzy and had to stop taking forward steps. In my semi-awake state, I noticed that the lamps were swinging from the ceiling.

Only then did it occur to me that we were having an earthquake in Tokyo, and the creaking and clicking I could hear was the building flexing and swaying with the seismic motion. (I’m on the 33rd floor of a highrise tower)

As it turns out, the quake was a magnitude 7.1, and centred a few hundred kilometres north-west of Tokyo.  This was the second quake this week, after the little shudder (4.2) we had in the office on Thursday morning.

Quite an experience and somewhat disconcerting to know its such a long way down to the ground.