Dugie’s Pensieve

I have the itch for another road trip on the bike, and those on MSN or Twitter have probably picked up on this :)

This year I plan to jump on a bike head, and ride into the great outback – off to a place called Cameron Corner (check the trip in Google Maps). The idea of riding to the single point in Australia that joins Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales has always appealed to me. …more so after watching “The Long Way Down” on DVD.

I’ve bought myself a Sat Nav, the Tom Tom Rider and I’ve been really impressed with it.  I’m in the process of playing interop with my camera, blog, and phone.  It’s going pretty well.

So I guess the next step is a new bike. I thought I wanted to upgrade my trusty TransAlp to the latest model, but finding somewhere to do that is just a little to hard at the moment.  So for a while now I’ve been struggling with the decision between the Ducati Multistrada, the BMW GS or the Triumph Tiger.  Oh the decisions you have to make in life =)

Anyway, so whilst I decide on which bike I get, I’ll leave you with this funny youtube clip, sent to me by a mate:  Got the wrong Bike.

Last weekend, I took the bike for a ride out past Cunningham gap.  There were a few deviations from the map that google won’t let me plot :)

Overall, it was pretty much perfect weather for a bike, and the piccy below says it all:

…and I made the most of it, and camped the night at a friends property.  They made me cook, so I took the campoven and cooked shepards pie for dinner.  everyone was impressed, so looks like I’ll just have to go back again :)

Anyway this post is about the ride.  So if you’re interested the more photos below and blog post below.

Weekend on the Bike, continued…

This bike ride, really hit a “warm fuzzy” spot for me.  I worked pretty hard to make sure “all the work stuff I needed to do“, was documented and written down, so when I hit the road Saturday morning, there was nothing to think about for the whole weekend.    …and it worked well.  I took a notepad and pencil with me, “just in case “, but didn’t need to use it at all.

The ride out was great.  Lots of open roads, different scenery, and as always a few twisty corners.

It’s amazing how much difference riding on the open road makes.  I chose to stay off major highways where I could.  That way I could spend more time looking at the road ahead, and less time worrying about the silly car drivers in front.  Not that all car drivers are silly, it’s just the two are mutually exclusive:  If there are no cars, there are no silly car drivers.  :)

I also used the opportunity to check out all those rarely used roads and dirt tracks.  I’d often thought “Well I wonder where that road goes…“, well now I know.  Can I say, how much I love my Transalp!

I also unplugged for the whole weekend.  I wore regular ear buds under my helmet, rather than ear phones for my MP3 player. 

This also meant I was paying more attention to the bike and how she handled.  I’ve been trying to find the perfect suspension setting for a couple of weeks now.  Funnily enough there is only ¼ of turn between too spongy and too firm.  But I think I got it nailed nicely.   Side note:  It doesn’t help when you have a 80 kilo pillion for a week, throwing all your settings out :)

Now this post has a Part II coming up.  In a couple of weeks I heading back out.  The boys enjoyed my campoven cooking so much, we’re all going back out.  I’m designated cook for the weekend.  Let’s hope it doesn’t hail like my last camping trip.

TechED in Australia is only a couple of weeks away (maybe even less).  Since TechED is literally ”just up the road at the Gold Coast” I’ll be taking the bike.

I’ll be taking the extended detour though, and using the opportunity to go via Mt Tamborine, over the NSW border through  Murwillumbah, back via the old Coast road to the Gold Coast — turning what is a 80km trip into about 400 km;

….and the perfect chance to enjoy some beautiful scenery, twisty roads, and stop at one of my favourite little coffee houses, just outside a town called “MooBall”.

If you do own a bike (or you are dreaming of owning a bike), check out Roudy Bob’s posts.  Bob took the time out and rode to TechED USA — about 1900 km (about a scenic trip from Melbourne to Brissie):

• Roadtrip 2007 - June 1, 2007
• Roadtrip 2007 - June 2, 2007
• Roadtrip 2007 - June 3, 2007
• Biking to TechEd 2007 - Update
• Roadtrip 2007 - June 8, 2007
• Roadtrip 2007 - June 9, 2007
• …tbc?

One of the parts I enjoy most about riding a motorcycle is what I call the “zone”. Especially when navigating a road like this one where it is a seemingly endless series of curves and switchbacks, you get to a point where you are almost completely focused on the motorcycle and what is going on in front of you. You’re mental focus shrinks to what could and will happen in the next 30 seconds rather than what might happen later in the day, next week or next month. The brain and the body have to let go of all of those other thoughts because it takes every bit of their power to process the information the brain is getting and to make decisions about what the body needs to do to avoid becoming a pile of broken bones in the ditch. Checking speed. Making a decision about the gear you should be in. Calculating the appropriate amount of braking. Positioning the motorcycle in the right place to enter and exit the turn. Applying enough throttle to accelerate out of the turn. Watching for oncoming cars.

It’s not uncommon to forget entirely that you’re even on a motorcycle. Man and machine become one for a split second in time and you can physically feel the pull of the road and the momentum created as you navigate through the turn. You don’t have time to think about e-mail or voicemail or to-do lists. You can only exist both physically and mentally in that one moment in time. It’s a lesson I should learn to try to apply to the parts of my life when I’m not on a motorcycle. Be right here. Right now. Because that’s the only thing that actually exists. The rest of it is farther down the road and there’s no guarantee it’ll even happen….

Nailed it nicely Bob!  Couldn’t have said it better myself.

I got my baby back today, she went in for that big service, ouch.  Although I shouldn’t complain.  My bike is only a baby (650 cc) so a full service with spares costs about the same as a rear tyre for Chuck’s YZF 1000 or Kleefy’s Ducati 748 — and I get a new rear bundled in the price as well :)

Speaking of which, for those interested I really like the Bridgestone Trail Wing.  On the bitumen, it handles well, quite smooth with little noise.  Good in wet weather too, which is good, because it’s pouring down rain here in Brissie today.

…and on those days I do decide to take the bike on a dirt track to the middle of nowhere I can get out and enjoy the trip.  I don’t tend to do too much serious off-road work as it just hurts me, and the bike.

Anway, the guys in the workshop did some valve work, suggested I try some different spark plugs, and made some general timing adjustments - and phwaaaar! 

My baby’s got boot again!  I only had just under an hour of daylight yesterday to go for ride, and it feels gooood.  There’s something you’ve just gotta love about a v-twin.  I didn’t get too excited with a new rear tyre, but I did take the chance to rough it up a bit - that and stairs.  I like stairs

That’s about it really. I’m a very happy man.

It was a long weekend here in Brisbane, so I took the opportunity to get out on the bike.  It was the perfect day for a ride.  here in Australia we are in late Autumn — which makes it cool enough to appreciate leathers, but not cold enough to make it unpleasant.

I’d promised a couple of guys I would take photos for them on my next trip.  So I this time took particular care to pack a camera! 

Anyway, these pictures are dedicated to those who are crazy enough to write drag-n-drop code on a dare (Mike that would be you) — or anyone who wishes they got out more on the weekends :)

 
ABOVE:  Cedar Creek; Heading up Mt Glorious

 
ABOVE: Stop for Coffee and Email Mitch, Paul &  Kleefy; The trip down Mt Glorious

 
ABOVE: Follow an old bush track and creek for a bit

 
ABOVE:  The old abandoned Dayborough dance hall; An unusual sign on the way to Petrie

A couple of weeks ago, I bought me a new helmet.  Haven’t had time to post a piccy - so here it is.  It matches the bike nicely.  The helmet is a nice fit, doesn’t let too much noise in, I think I’ll still use ear plugs or earbuds for long trips though.

Anyway, I rode out to a friends “weekend shack” at Goomburra (about 130 km from Brisbane). 

Nice trip, lots of open road, pretty scenery.  There’s about 20km of really twisty, bendy country road.  It’s a tough job, but someones gotta do it — oh well guess I’ll volunteer then   :)

Stopped for breakfast at a little sleepy town called Allora.  Had a great meat pie from the bakery.

I am sorry I didn’t get any decent photos.  But I really need to get back on the bike and unwind real soon, so it I’ll have another trip and get some photos this time.

I’ve just made a fresh cup of coffee and sitting in my comfy chair at home.  So I thought now is a good time to let everyone know what I’ve been up to.

• Just finished fixing the fuel cap on my bike this morning.  Some rotten sod tried to pry it open.  Chuck if you’re reading this, the good news is it’s all fixed, and I don’t have to get a second key!!
• While I was tinkering I also got a chance to fix the scottoiler.  It wasn’t really broken, I just wasn’t happy with the way it was performing
• Other than driving to work this week, I haven’t been on the bike (at all!!!) in nearly a month month now
• Planning to get out on the bike tomorrow, not sure whether to head towards the coast and visit Hinze Dam or go inland out past Wivenhoe Dam
• On a side note, I probably spent waaaay to much on duty free scotch back from Seattle.  Oh well damage is done, guess I’ll have to drink it :)
• If you haven’t heard already the, Australian government is moving to ban incandescent light bulbs.  For a chuckle read this interesting article Banning Incandescent Light Bulbs

Anyway I have to go and play home handyman today, or I won’t be allowed to go out and play tomorrow :)

Firstly, I’ve never been a big fan of the word “goals”.  I love and embrace the concept, just not the word — so I prefer to think of them as ‘challenges’.  …and New Year’s Resolutions always have that overhanging stigma of “it’s ok to break them, because everybody else does”.

Anyway, I’ve been pondering this for a long time now, but when I read Mitch’s post, I really liked his idea of ‘vision setting’.   I realise a lot can change in just 12 months, and having some visibility/reminders out there appeals to me.  So here is some insight to my challenges for 2007:

• Personal, Family and Lifestyle
  • Read more novels, books and ‘regular’ news
  • Take a bike trip from Brisbane to ‘Cameron’s Corner‘
  • Listen to more music and more podcasts.
    • Given I spent a lot of time wearing a motor bike helmet, this is a challenge - but not impossible.
  • Have more Picnics, BBQs and ‘walks in parks’
  • Take more photos
  • Continue my self imposed ban on Live TV
    • Last year my Wife an I agreed to ‘ban’ Live TV in our house.  The results were amazing, so we are going to enthusiastically ‘ban’ it again this year
• Community and Blogging
  • I’m going to keep my blogging style (I liked Franks post immensely, it was an affirmation that really hit home).  
    • I blog here to share my thoughts with others on Virtualization with Windows - not to tell them what to think
    • I will to continue to blog more about my findings, more speedlinking, and keep the noise:signal ratio acceptable  :)
  • Meet more people
    • Not everyone has a ‘thing’ for user groups, this doesn’t mean they are any less exciting - So I’m going to get out any meet more people.
    • Attend the MVP Summit this year,
    • Listen to Bill Gates speak in person — I have always had a burning desire (huge understatement) to hear Bill speak, now I get the opportunity at the MVP summit.
    • Attend at least (but more than) one ‘Wardy Community Dinner’ in Brisbane
  • Understand more about the perceptions of Virtualization out in the ‘field’
    • I’ve spent a lot of time with people who ‘want’ Virtualization 
    • I’d like to spend more time with those who want more from their current Virtualization solutions
    • …but most of all I really want to spend more time getting a solid understanding why some people don’t embrace Virtualization in any capacity
  • Keep the user group lovin’ alive and well with the Brisbane Infrastructure Group .
  • Get the wiki on WindowsVirtualization.com live with some useful content
• Career Goals
  • Find customers who are using technology in exciting ways or using exciting technology  (both is a bonus)
    • Exciting doesn’t always mean emerging, but again it’s a bonus
  • Automate one defined business process that consumes too much of my time,
    • Last year it was the [kickass] automation of timesheet entry from Outlook into Jim2
    • This will give me more energy to focus on ‘finding balance’:
  • Find balance and align my career interests with my vision for long term direction
    • Some of the things that I do, I do incredibly well.  It’s just these things don’t interest me anymore.
    • I want to refine an appropriate level of balance (personal, family, community, career, etc) so I can take positive steps toward my own vision

I imagine this will change the flavour of my blog slightly and increase the number of posts I make.  Maybe I’ll revisit this post with updates?  Maybe not?.  We will see.

If you are here for the Virtualization content and don’t want all the other ‘noise’, you should consider subscribing to only to the Virtualization category (RSS).  If you have already done so, I guess you won’t be reading this :)

I’m looking forward to this year.  I believe it will be a great year full of opportunities and exciting times.  Time to breath deep, and press the ‘Post’ button.

Oh dear, where do I start? At the beginning I guess.

I’m trying to get a 5V 1A USB plug for my motorbike.  The idea is to actively power/charge my KJam and GPS on long bike trips.  That way I can listen to music, record trip times, and stuff.

…So I was trying to wire up a decent headphones into [rather inside] my motor cycle helmet.  I ummm dropped my helmet, on bracket that was holding my Kjam and DC converter.

Everything is more or less ok though.  Busted visor pod on the side of my helmet and the pcb on the converter , the usb plug on the bottom of my Kjam is an odd shape, and I shorted a fuse for the accessories line on my bike.

All up I guess there is only $50 worth of damage, but I think I might have to rethink my plan of attack with some bluetooth headphones or ’something’.

I got my TransAlp back yesterday after her first major service.  She’s all nice an shiny!!  (They washed and detailed her whilst she was in). 

So now everything clicks, slides and rumbles — as apposed to clunks, shudders and rattles :)

If this beautiful weather holds, tomorrow will find me on the bike and touring a back road somewhere.  I can’t wait.