T
o plan or not to plan? A question that has divided
the ‘adventure’ sector for a very long time.
There’s those of us that look at a map, decide on
a destination and head in that general direction,
then there’s those that need to know where they
are going, how they will get there and what to
expect when they are there.
A recent short ‘expedition’ of Australia’s island state
was one occasion when planning came to the fore; maps
were needed, suggestions taken and destinations planned
(within reason). Thankfully a copy of Brigit Hallam and
Alan Cox’s Throw Your Leg Over: Tasmania, The Ultimate
Motorcycle Touring Guide had been slipped over the
Traverse desk just a few days earlier.
Picking up a couple of Harley Davidson’s from
Southern Riders Tasmania was a perfect start, we set
out from Hobart with the Throw Your Leg Over guide in
hand, south we went.
The first route, that started in a similar direction
was #6 Huon Valley. Using the route notes within the
guide and GPX track provided using the books route
specific QR code we found ourselves following the coast
along the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. The guide was
succinct yet accurate and provided great information
for accommodation and other must do's. The suggested
time needed was a shade under 3 hours for the 145km
however, we did find this to be very optimistic especially
when stopping to enjoy this very beautiful part of the
world.
We found this to also be the case for the next route
chosen; north-west to Strahan from Hobart; less than
5 hours was never going to be the case to explore the
315km route. It mattered little, we weren’t here to race.
Throughout four days of ‘exploring’ Tasmania the
routes provided by the Throw Your Leg Over: Tasmania
guide were a perfect way to start, especially given such a
TRAVERSE 108