Around Australia: My SPOT Location Page

Summary: Location messages from my Personal Satelllite Tracker (SPOTII) sent during my journey Around Austrlia on my Suzuki Burgmen 650 Executive from April 24 to June 5, 2010.

My SPOT Location Page lists all messages sent by my personal tracker — a SPOT II.

The map below lists SPOT II messages — so-called flags — between April 24th and June 6th, 2010.

How to Use this Map?

The map works like any other Google map you may have used before. Simply use the "+" and "−" buttons to zoom in or out, and arrows to move the map. The map can also be draged with the mouse (hold and move). If you have a scroll button on your mouse, rolling forward will zoom in, rolling backwards will zoom out on the map.

Feel free to select a lower number in the "Percent Fill" drop-down box for quicker loading and a lower number of message flags. The message flags on the map are the orange (OK Message: updated every 10 minutes), green (I am OK Stop Message, manually triggered when stopping on purpose) and yellow flags (Permanent stop, manualy triggered, e.g. when staying overnight).

The actual SPOT website keeps personal tracking messages for a very limited timeframe (e.g. seven days). I am utilising a service from Jason Jonas — a long distance rider in the U.S.A. — who is retrieving the messages from the SPOT website and storing it in his database driving the web application he developed. This service is available on his  SpotWall website. This service provides the map above in conjunction with Google Maps.

Visitor's Comments

Entries are shown in the order of latest first.

Author Date / Time	Comment
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Sunday, June 13, 2010 18:00	Thank You! Interestingly enough there are heaps of happy moments, and less than fingers on one hand could be called bad. We may need to discuss this one day, next FarRide hey; in short: the trip has reinforced inner calm abd balance as the state to be in, but agree, I hope it lasts as long as I live. Reports will most likely take 7 to 8 weeks ot complete. Photos and write up simply take time. Cheers!
kwaka from Broken Hill, NSW wrote on Sunday, June 13, 2010 17:18	Fantastic to see you safely back from the lap Max. No doubt you have many happy and not so happy memories from such an epic trip but hey, what would life be without the ups and downs. Amazing too how a ride like this can change ones perspective on the day to day grind of life. Mate, I hope the inner calm and serenity lasts and stays with you for a long long time. Look forward to your reports and summary. Cheers, kwaka a.k.a. FarRider #43
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Tuesday, June 01, 2010 23:00	Well, I am sorry for have missed this message as well as the SMS you left on my mobile. My mobile was off, and I did not read the comments on SPOTwalla until after I returned home on June 5th.
TOURA from Sydney wrote on Tuesday, June 01, 2010 22:57	Max, call me - you are bypassing some great roads in NSW. Safe travels mate if I miss you.
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Thursday, May 27, 2010 21:52	Hi Rod, nooo, not at all worn out! The other way around: I am enjoying my trip tremendously. Going strong every day. The routine (eat, ride, sleep) works well. If there is one downside to it all: there is too much to see... almost overwhelming. I am already fearful, whether I can recap all the individual days . And be nice to those foreigners  Well, see you soon!
RodB from Brisbane wrote on Thursday, May 27, 2010 19:07	Hey MaxG :) Been following your progress; are you worn out yet? Have you noticed any "bears" stalking you? - There is one following your bike around on the map in the office ;)
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Thursday, May 27, 2010 10:00	Yes, a bunch of Bear Routes and some Big Things. some of the latter I did not get, becasue I forgot what they were and was too lazy to look it up. This little set-back led to the investagion as to why my GPS would not show the way points I had planned in MapSource. It was then that I figured out I had to download the WayPoints (in MapSource) as Favourites (in the GPS) ... duh. At least I learned something!
Clint Lovell from Brisbane wrote on Thursday, May 27, 2010 09:00	You're zigging and zagging all over the shop Max. Looks like you are having a great time. A few of those roads down to GOR look good. ;-)
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 06:00	Yes, indeed. Did not get petrol in Wilmingotn and simply rode to Port Augusta for petrol and a great Aussie breakfast at the truck stop. I like the twisties, menaing it never hurts to do them more than once
TOURA from Sydney wrote on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 05:45	G'day Max, Looks though you made a couple of runs up and down Horrocks' ... goodonya! Safe travels mate. Pat (TOURA)
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 22:00	Well, I have to admit I crossed the Nullabour Plain fairly quickly, and — and as you might imagine — I am not the beach type considering my current set-up.  The swell was rough at the time I went through. Nevertheless, a nice stretch of country.
Nat from Brisbane wrote on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 15:32	Go Max Go! Do not forget to visit the beach down from Eucla. You have to scale the sand dunes, but it is worth it! Might even be ideal swimming temperature for you. Or maybe not  Enjoy the Nullabour Cliffs!
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Monday, May 17, 2010 22:00	Yes, I did! This is a great LD stretch of road... just keep riding... straight forward... I settled in Mundrabilla for the night.
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Monday, May 17, 2010 20:00	Hi Richard, Yes, progressing nicely. So much to see. Too much to see! Need a year or most likely longer to see much more of it  No, no sore bum at all. Seating for one, but clothing play a significant role. Talk to you soon. Cheers, Max
Clint Lovell from Brisbane wrote on Monday, May 17, 2010 21:28	Looks like Max has made the turn at Norseman and is heading east across the paddock. Hope it is a good run.
Richard Hunt from Brisbane wrote on Monday, May 17, 2010 13:18	Well Max, looks like your doing well; over half now. I hope it is as good as I imagine it. Are you getting a sore bun from riding so much? Enjoy! Rich
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Thursday, May 13, 2010 22:59	Thanks! I am having a great time! There is so much to see, and I am just scratching the surface. This country of ours has so much to offer!
Peter Hiam from Brisbane wrote on Thursday, May 13, 2010 20:59	Good on ya mate, hope you are having a great time. Got your card. Will follow you on the map. Pete
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Thursday, May 13, 2010 05:00	As you said: it looks like :) but it isn't ... all good mate. I tried to ride Bear Route 92 from Lancelin to Cervantes. At first I tried it from Lancelin: road closed after few km; then from Cervantes: road closed after a few km. They will tar the road bewteen these towns this year to completion.
TOURA from Sydney wrote on Thursday, May 13, 2010 04:25	Great to see your still travelling quite well Max. Looks like a couple of "wrong" turns today though. But ain't that half the fun. Keep safe mate and enjoy the peace and quiet! Pat
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Friday, May 07, 2010 21:00	Hmm, 891 km yesterday and 1,156 km today. Not too long I guess. It is good riding up here.
Clint Lovell from Brisbane wrote on Friday, May 07, 2010 20:05	That was a big day yesterday Max. 1200+km? Take the day off.
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Thursday, May 06, 2010 23:59	Thanks Clint. Yes, planned, Yes, to get fuel. And to complete Bear Ride route 195. I saw a turn off 35 km south of Auski, and one 1km north of it. It looked like the T/O south was in a better condition; the advice by the guy at the Auski Roadhouse wa the northern T/O is in far better condition. And I took it! All tar to Nanutarra. Sweet!
Clint Lovell from Brisbane wrote on Thursday, May 06, 2010 23:30	Looks like a bit of tooing and froing. Probably planned though. He would have had to go back to Auski to top up the fuel. Enjoy the dirt for a while Max.
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Tuesday, May 04, 2010 22:00	Yes, Bungle Bungles are on the plan! In fact I flew over them yesterday, visiting them form the air, considering access to the Bungle Bungles had been closed due to the recent weather. Marble Bar will be slightly off route for me, sorry.
RoadBandit from Melbourne wrote on Tuesday, May 04, 2010 21:43	Nice work Max, keep going!! Remember to do the Bungle Bungles as well, and if you get a chance, go out to Marble Bar and get a photo of the bike in front of the IronClad pub.
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Saturday, May 01, 2010 04:00	Yes, I like it very much up here! I stayed near Batchelor this night. The Wangi loop was still closed to the wet season impact. I also came to the conclusion that Litchfield is nicer than Kakadu National Park. Well you keep dreaming  I keep riding
Crappy from NSW wrote on Saturday, May 01, 2010 03:38	Way to go Max, that is some great country up there Litchfield, Kakadu and as I watch now Victoria River. Good onya keep it safe and have fun. I'll have another beer and dream on. Hang on where is me calculator?
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Friday, April 30, 2010 22:00	Yeees ... and no. The service took so long. Sitting around in a dealership. Was OK. Met another guy who moved from Sydney to Perth and decided to ride the bike over the top end rather than shipping it. I introduced him to FarRiders and he is keen to subscribe to the forum. As for the IBEM locations: I have planned to get a few, certainly not all of them  and I can already say: I do not know anyone who has been everywhere. This country is sooo huge.
ChasNee from Condong wrote on Friday, April 30, 2010 21:50	Looks like you are having a good time Max. When you return you can say "I've been everywhere man"
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Friday, April 30, 2010 21:00	Well, the camera was nicked, as in stolen. I am not upset about the camera, and as for the lost images: a good excuse to go on another trip to get them again.
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Friday, April 30, 2010 19:00	What are crocodiles?
Clint Lovell from Brisbane wrote on Friday, April 30, 2010 18:44	Watch out for Crocodiles!!!
HT wrote on Friday, April 30, 2010 16:36	Hi Max, it has been a week. Seems you are around Darwin. I hope you have enjoyed the 1st week. Rod said you lost your camera. Handle these small things with smile! Hope the huge crocodiles could be captured by a new one! Have lots of fun and look after yourself.
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Thursday, April 29, 2010 05:00	Yes, will be in Darwin tonight, and will collect me SPOTII my wife has sent up here to the Australian Air Express office. Then a bit of admin work, such as registering the device, testing, etc. and I should be ready for the first tyre change and service tomorrow.
TOURA from Sydney wrote on Thursday, April 29, 2010 04:26	Great to see how far you have gone so far this week Max. Safe Travels mate. Pat
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 22:00	It was in interesting start for the day in Normanton: it had 30 °C in the morning. Most of the day 28, but it dropped to 23 after the start, when I put my heated vest on I wore under the air mesh jacket. I had it on until Camooweal; the temp gauge hit 26 — and then the sun came out: 42 °C, which then dropped to 28 at Barkley Homestead. So yes, mixed, but nice
Clint Lovell from Brisbane wrote on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 21:08	Hi Max. Watching the updates with interest. Hope you're nice and warm up there. Cheers
MaxG from Brisbane wrote on Saturday, April 24, 2010 20:00	I am on it; I am on it! I sure will have fond memories of this trip; for sure!
TOURA from Sydney wrote on Saturday, April 24, 2010 14:57	The time has come Max -- Now onya bike! Safe trip mate and many memories that will make you smile for the years ahead. You have dreamed the Ride, now ride the Dream. Safe travels Max!