My ride to Mt Buller.

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 6:12 pm

Sorry pics have been deleted to make way for more.

DJ

Boxerboy · Post by **Boxerboy** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 7:17 pm

That must've taken you all day...the amount of times you stopped!

Great pix.

DJ, the day they do that road up from Eildon to Jamieson we'll be there. It's the obvious route for the the Dinner Plain ride, but we don't expect it to happen. If it gets wet, the clay becomes very, very sticky. DAMHIK.

Who told you it was sealed?

Other points of interest:
The Buxton pub has a bike up on the wall in the LL. Not the usual pub decor. Stop in for a snap next time.
The Kevington Hilton
The Eildon houseboat moorings.

Post by **taosports** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 7:37 pm

DJ,

If you were still shooting film, you'd be broke! Glad that you're not...great photos once again.

Post by **LonestaRR** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 10:37 pm

Very nice pics. Your country is beautiful. What kind of camera/lens are you shooting?

Also, did I see an empty coke bottle on the ground next to your bike in the 7th & 8th picture??????

Post by **1MPH** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:15 am

DJ Downunder wrote:

I saw this on the side of the road..anyone know what it is?

Yes I know..just a big kid.

Do they hold sand in the winter for motorist? Maybe they're Roo traps.

Thanks DJ
As usual outstanding ride report and pics. Nothing like an Alpine Village in the off season.

Post by **bimrluvr** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 1:22 am

Great pics as always, DJ. Thanks for sharing!

Any idea what the Blackspot Motorcycle program is?

Boxerboy · Post by **Boxerboy** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 6:37 am

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/VRNE/vrn ... 29CA0?open

Or, in other words, make the riders pay.

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:19 am

Very nice pics. Your country is beautiful. What kind of camera/lens are you shooting?

Also, did I see an empty coke bottle on the ground next to your bike in the 7th & 8th picture??????

Kristi the camera is a little canon ixus 40 (4 megapixal)..I just point and shoot..I set it on small size and low quality to make downloading easy.

Yes..that's a plastic coke bottle in the gutter...No..it's not mine..

...I hadn't noticed it..I was too busy looking out for cars coming around the bend.

DJ

Post by **Boxer** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:24 am

I saw this on the side of the road..anyone know what it is?

DJ! THAT'S A WILEY COYOTE BOMB! GET OFFA THAT THING!!!!

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:25 am

Do they hold sand in the winter for motorist? Maybe they're Roo traps.

Thanks Jack...I don't know what it is...no it's not a roo trap..

...I was thinking maybe an old mine...

Very funny Boxer....

DJ

Post by **toner87** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 1:39 pm

You were near some lakes... Could it be some kind of over sized buoy? I know... it's a stretch... Great pics as usual, DJ!

MIXR · Post by **MIXR** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 10:31 pm

DJ (et al),

I saw a similar steel ball in my younger days out in the mallee. Gets connected between two large bulldozers with big ship's anchor chain and is used to clear swathes of mallee scrub or forest. Is that what it was? (is).

MIXR · Post by **MIXR** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 10:40 pm

Knew I'd recognised it!

This 5 tonne steel land clearing "high Ball" was constructed from 19 mm mild steel plate in 1953 by Hume Steel Pty. Ltd. It was brought to the Heytesbury Forest in 1956 and was employed in all timber clearing operations on the 50,000 hectares project until completion in 1971. In operation the ball was pulled by two, 180 kw tractors one attached to 60 metre chains on either side. A tree pusher tractor followed to assist the pulling of larger trees.

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:09 am

Thanks Mick (MIXR) you got me thinking....

You're right about that big ball...

This 5 tonne steel land clearing "high Ball" was constructed from 19 mm mild steel plate in 1953 by Hume Steel Pty. Ltd. It was brought to the Heytesbury Forest in 1956 and was employed in all timber clearing operations on the 50,000 hectares project until completion in 1971. In operation the ball was pulled by two, 180 kw tractors one attached to 60 metre chains on either side. A tree pusher tractor followed to assist the pulling of larger trees

When I saw it it did look very 'agracoltural'..as in farming....and that's what it is for...Clearing the land for farming....It's called the "High ball".

They used to (in the old days) get two big tractors and have a big chain between them with this big metal ball in the center..and drive through the bush (scrub) and the ball would just roll and the chain would pull down the trees,tree stumps and bushes.

FIGURE 13. - The high-ball.

The object of the high-ball is to keep the chain well off the ground and so obtain a greater leverage on large trees. With this device, trees up to 100 feet (30 meters) high have been removed. The high-ball, however, has some disadvantages. The initial cost is quite high owing to the great strength that is required. Also its weight makes it difficult to transport from one area to another. Experience has shown it to be costly equipment on all but very heavy timber covering land of high production value.

It's not just a crazy Aussie thing either... http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:4_k ... clnk&cd=10

It appears they use bigger balls in the US...8' balls....that's a big ball..

The two contractors started their new sections in May 1950. They used tractors to pull eight foot diameter steel balls attached by cables through the trees and brush. Workers used the balls to keep the cables clear of stumps left from logging operations. The balls also prevented the cable from sliding up and over small, more flexible trees. Workers soon nicknamed the process "Operation Highball". The two firms' combined acreage to clear a total of 14,695 acres. Both firms continued clearing operations through 1951, closing down in October for the coming winter with approximately 15 percent of the work left to accomplish. Wixson & Crowe finished the work September 25, 1952, and Trisdale completed his section September 30.(18)

I know you guys were dying to know what is was...well now you can sleep well knowing what it is...and that it's not a bomb...

btw...My first attempt to climb on top failed...the timer (on the camera) went..tic,tic,tic...Click!..(as I was sliding back wards down the ball)..

DJ

houndog · Post by **houndog** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:25 pm

btw...My first attempt to climb on top failed...the timer went..tic,tic,tic...Click!..(as I was sliding back wards down the ball)..

DJ

That was a riot DJ.

You have excellent comic timing. You ought to consider a career.

Thank you for bringing us some wonderfull mind candy on this beautiful day that I am stuck at work.

Tommy

Post by **sjbmw** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:59 pm

DJ once again, fine work, and another thing:

YOU CRACK ME UP! I gotta get down unda....in the worst way.

One more "name that caption" pic: "It's OK! I got it! I got it!"

Post by **Doug** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:48 pm

LoL DJ that last picture is classic, so funny. Great shot! (as are all the others!)

chris · Post by **chris** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:04 pm

Fantastic photos and fantastic roads! Nice of them to signpost the best bits for you as well

Always on the lookout for the Z bend signs!

Post by **frozennorth** » Fri May 05, 2006 11:52 am

Wow, exceptional road, beautiful countryside, great pics! Nice ride.

Man I'd love to ride down under sometime.

Gotta save up my pennies for that one. Maybe ride and do some scuba diving on the same trip

Post by **iowabeakster** » Sun May 07, 2006 12:48 am

As always, Thanks for the great pics, and write-up.

I have got to get me more time off. You seem to have more fun in a week(day!) than I have all year.

BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

My ride to Mt Buller.

My ride to Mt Buller.

Re: My ride to Mt Buller.

The Blackspot.

That thing...

The 'Mine'