Perth West Australia - Shipping the bike

On Tuesday, Aaron from KTM got a mate of his to sort out my side stand problem.. I didn't get to meet him, but his name is Barney, and he owns Parnaby's Welding in Perth.  Barney Parnaby!  (I don't know how the name works out that way, but I like it!)  He was wonderfully kind, a Harley Rider, and did the work for free in support of my journey.. Thank you Barney!  What a good man..

Finally on Wednesday we are ready to put the bike in a crate and take it over to Dangerous Goods in prep for shipping on Qantas Airlines to Tokyo.

Panniers off, and handlebars, but all else is in tact.  They had a new crate just in from a shipment from Ducati, and it fit perfectly! (the extra bags you see around my bike is just gear, boots, helmet, etc.)

I'd like to add that Aaron treated me extremely well in the billing department too.  They did a heck of a lot of work for me (I was impressed with a bill a lot less than I expected), gave me a crate, and took it over to shipping for me in their ute.  I didn't have to do a thing!  I'm feeling a bit special and spoiled...
;-)!!!  Very unexpected!!

Load him up and take it away!

On the road again... (Willie Nelson), I just can't wait to get on the road again... in a box!

Off we go to Dangerous Goods.. which was quite simply just a form we filled out and paid $125.. nothing inspected which surprised me..

Then over to Qantas, with all the info they needed, we could finally book a spot on the plane to Narita Airport.  I was booked for June 18, but the bike could not be booked.  The system is to just turn it in and wait for an available space for cargo that large.

She didn't know my flight details, but said, "Well, the next available space we have is June 18 on QF 79"  That's my flight!!  Ha!  Even they said I am extremely lucky to get my bike on the same plane as me.

I'm scared to put this in words as I don't want it to jinx me, but everything is working out perfectly!!!

Perth - West Australia

Well I have to say I had a wonderful time in Perth!  I was there for a whole week.  I'm glad about that for a few reasons..

When I looked at what I needed to accomplish to get the bike ready for overseas, I knew if I didn't make it to Perth on the Friday, then everything would be closed Saturday and Sunday, and I would be stressin'..!

So, arrival on Thursday night you have seen.. on Friday morning first thing I was at Causeway KTM at Victoria Park.  Walked in there complaining about my side stand as you know, but then while I was at it, also needed to have a good service done.

First one I met was young Aaron, and you could tell he was thinking.. "holy hell, crazy lady with too much sh_ _ on her bike!"

He had a quick look, didn't pay attention to anything I said about the stand, he went straight into, "You need a stronger spring".  Obviously my bike is carrying more than the average 690 Enduro owner would, so even though I knew this before, I agreed to the work.

I hung around for the part to be delivered at noon. . They got into it and discovered it was a tougher job than anticipated..

3 pm, Service done, side stand and spring NOT done.  What's a motorcycle rider to do?

Rent a car!  Well, if it had to stay the weekend at KTM in pieces, and I was due to deliver bike to Qantas on Tuesday, then even if they finished on Monday, I would have only had it for hours before I delivered it back for the crate ordeal.

Since last November, I have been in full on preparations for this trip.  Getting the bike, gear, planning, working, house remodeling, tenant preps etc etc.  Now, I don't have a house, a bike, everything needing to be planned is planned.. Heck - now what do I do???

Young Robert, my house host sorted it ALL out for me.  That was quite a change for me, didn't have to THINK about anything!  I traveled along while did grocery shopping, rock climbing, lunch, and finally a movie... I saw a movie!!  It's been many months since I stepped foot in a theater!  (We saw the A-Team, I really like it)

But I think the wind down caught up with me, and I was bottoming out... not hardly a speck of energy in me, and I couldn't work out what the problem was.. I was worried until Rob put into perspective all of the above mentioned planning, plus an exhausting 10 days riding just literally caught up with me!

On Sunday I came good again, thank goodness.. Again the House Host/Planner had every detail to the day sorted, and off we went for him to show me around Perth.

Started at Fremantle in the morning, markets, coffee, etc..

Then on to Cottlesloe Beach, where Rob went to take a photo, until this man pulled up on his bike.. Rob was about to tell him he was in the way, but I thought the picture would be far more entertaining with this guy in it!

That big building in the background houses the restaurant called "Indiana".  Where I am from!  I thought that was cool, and what a great name Indiana is!
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Lastly over to King's Park.  A great view of the city of Perth from the park.. grass was so green and perfect as a gold coarse.  So many people just having a soak up of sun, and enjoying their families on such a beautiful day!  So much so, just the look of them all relaxing has an effect on SOMEBODY...!!

I won't hold it against him.. I do know what hard work it is showing somebody around.. gave me an opportunity to have a wander, and watch...  like this young boy, so intently seems to be paying his respects to those fallen for our country..