Exploring the Tasmania Highlands, solo motorcycle camping - S1-E9

Continuing the motorbike adventure up into the lake country of Tasmania, exploring the lakes, finding camp, camp fire, dealing with the cold.

[@rossmckitrick7806]

Finally, someone comes to my home and actually bothers looking round, wd mate.

[@freewayproject]

It is an amazing part of the world Ross, I wish I could have explored more, but that just means I'll be back.

[@Dwaindibbley1]

Loving this series. Your an insperation. Lifes too short and the worlds to big. Its easy to make excuses, but more rewarding to make memories.😢

[@freewayproject]

Thanks mate, glad you're enjoying the series. Yes you have to go out and grab life with both hands, it won't come to you, hope you're out there having your own adventures.

[@larrykaminski3269]

Excellent photography and narration. I appreciate you showing me around a country I'll never visit but in your blog.

[@freewayproject]

Thanks Larry, we have a lot more to see.

[@noelbowerman1562]

Another very enjoyable episode. Love the still too.

[@freewayproject]

Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it.

[@keesxjr]

Another wonderful film, thanks Joe. Regards, Kees from the Netherlands

[@freewayproject]

Thanks Kees, glad you are enjoying them. It's probably still colder where you are than the highlands in Tasmania at the moment.

[@keesxjr]

Not so bad now 17°C and ☀️ 😊 A few days ago -2°C and snow 🥶

[@mickdodd8538]

hi from tas just found this page ,, had a wry smile at the 6 min mark ,,great things warm hand grips

[@freewayproject]

haha yes , definitely the place for them. Such a stunning place to ride.

[@seanb1081]

I was going to say that this a great video post, but it's so much better than a general video. It's closer to more like a documentary! Excellent video work and brilliant narration. Well done, Mate! (I've subscribed)

[@freewayproject]

Thanks Sean, glad you enjoyed the video. This is the 9th video form the trip, the first 2 episodes are more desert and totally different, I do like the variety were are so fortunate to be able to explore in Australia.

[@6ftS]

love this bike...

[@freewayproject]

It's like a tractor, no matter what you though at it, it just keep going, getting the job done.

[@BharatSecurityWatch]

Your Vlogs keep getting better. Those photos at the end, mate! Lovely. Keep em coming. Thank you, Joe. 🇮🇳🇦🇺

[@freewayproject]

Thanks Shreyas, glad you're enjoying the journey.

[@lucymason4142]

Really good video, like all the historical facts too. Excellent, I look forward to catching up on all your videos. Norfolk, Uk

[@freewayproject]

Thanks Lucy, glad you enjoyed it.I hope the weather is good for riding over there at the moment. I am about to head off on another long trip. Will start uploading again soon.

[@goldwing3982]

Great ride Joe and the monolog was beautiful.

[@freewayproject]

Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it

[@piandthewheels]

Great vlog, pleasure to watch,thanks!!

[@freewayproject]

Thanks Pi, glad you're enjoying the episodes.

[@robt8263]

Loving your adventure blogs . I have traveled to Tasmania 3 times by Bike but your commentary is great well researched and the filming great. I am now a subscriber.

[@freewayproject]

Glad you are enjoying the series Rob, yes Tasmania is an amazing place to explore, I'll definitely head back down there, I missed so much.

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

Gotta say Joe, You’re making great episodes. I truly enjoy your cinematography, narration, and humor. I do have to say though, that back tire kinda worries me, not very aggressive. I don’t think it’s gonna like the sand much but hopefully it works out. Beautiful area at the Great Lake. I told ya, you need a small fishing set up. With that fire, you could’ve had an awesome dinner, providing you caught something to cook… but… Tuna in the can works too.😂

[@freewayproject]

yes the back tire, I am a little ahead of this episode and lets just say I haven't seen the last of the sand 🤦🏼‍♂️ so you'll have to wait and see how much trouble I get my self into. haha yes the fishing, not the last spot you're going to shake your head and go why no fishing gear.

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

@@freewayproject 😂 haha, great, now you’re giving me “trailers for upcoming episodes” I love it!! I’ll be watching.. 😉👍🏻

[@waynekavanagh745]

Great work Joe, l started watching your videos a few months ago to see if the RE HIMALAYAN was a reliable bike. Now you have inspired me to get one and do my own exploring. Cheers

[@freewayproject]

That’s awesome that you’re going to go exploring. If you haven’t see the flinders range episodes and the bungle bungles episodes they show how far I have pushed the bike. I am now over 45,000km and still no issues

[@neilwiddison6529]

My cb55 honda has 57000, miles and runs great

[@dpcdf1993]

My husband and I are loving your vlogs Joe. What month of the year were you there. We are heading there late mid Feb 2024. Cheers

[@freewayproject]

I'm glad you are enjoying them I was in Tasmania in January, it should still be warm enough in February.

[@chrissein632]

Great video. Excellent imageries

[@freewayproject]

Thanks you

[@EpicChameleon96]

Oops, accidentally watched all your video's since i discovered you this morning. Really lovelly to watch mate!

[@freewayproject]

haha, glad you liked them Sam, thanks for the support.

[@ladytradiej8027]

That was great! Very entertaining. I love the still shots at the end of your videos. The one of the fire was my favourite. 🤩

[@freewayproject]

thanks, hopefully I'll get better at these the more I do. yes the first shot was mine to getting the flames that had seperate from the rest of it right at the top looked really cool.

[@beretgascon]

I hope echidnas crossing the road in the middle of the day down under isn't the same as hedgehogs crossing the road in the middle of the day here in Europe, because people simply don't stop for them and it makes me cry to see the number of flattened (listed as "vulnerable to extinction" 😢) hedgehogs on the roads here. Loving your videos!

[@freewayproject]

Hi François, I have never seen a dead echidnas on the road so...... just a lot of live ones. In Australia there is a lot of wild life that crosses the road so I think most people who frequent rural, outback, forrest areas are expecting wildlife to be on the roads so they slow down and wait (or even help) for wildlife to get off the road. It's just the big trucks that can not really slow down fast enough or even swerve as they have 3 trailers on the back and it would cause issues. We actually have tunnels under and over passes on major HWY for animals to cross. They also have Fauna bridges (like a rope bridge) for animals to cross over the top of HWY

[@radadventure2606]

Great Video Joe. I am in awe of your video creation skills (and patience!!!) - cause that is what it takes!

[@freewayproject]

Thanks Rad, glad you are enjoying the series of video of the road trip.

[@ericcole7452]

Another great video,,,thank joe

[@freewayproject]

Thanks Eric, there are still another 5 to come in Tasmania before heading back to the mainland.

[@JohnWilliams-ge7eh]

Thanks enjoyed your adventure.

[@freewayproject]

Glad you are enjoying the series John, there are still a few more episodes to come from this adventure.

[@ThrottleDownunder]

Love it mate

[@freewayproject]

Thanks mate.

[@ekimandersom4478]

Hi AussiBoots. Great trip.

[@freewayproject]

Glad you're enjoying the ride, there are still a few more episode of this trip to come. Then I'll have to work out where to go next 🤔

[@BikerBytes]

Loving your vids mate. Good to know I'm not the only lefty adventure rider lol 😜👍

[@freewayproject]

Thanks mate, oh you picked up on that 😂. I went to hit the water spray for cleaning the shoes and was duped. So to not convert to there default I awkwardly reached across with my left hand haha

[@BikerBytes]

@@freewayproject it can be tough being a lefty 😜

[@freewayproject]

😂 that it can.

[@chonomercy]

very good, The scenery reminds me of NZ

[@freewayproject]

Thanks. Yes it is similar but the mountain in NZ are way way way bigger 😁

[@johnenglish1575]

I’m riding around Tassie on a Himalayan at the moment. The Great Lakes area had 20-25 cm of snow on it when I rode the same route a few days ago. I did not camp. The motel in Deloraine was more appealing. My wife complains I don’t take pictures. I just send her links to your KZbin videos. Much better and more informative 😅😅

[@freewayproject]

Hi John, I heard that there had been some snowfall up there, 25cm is a big dumping for March, probably not the easiest thing to find a good patch of grass to set you're tent 😂. haha happy I can be of help with informing your wife.

[@matthewbenjafield5470]

Really loving these videos Joe, inspiring stuff ! Many thanks from a cello Himalayan rider 🇬🇧👍🏻

[@freewayproject]

Again Thank you Matthew, this will get me enough fuel to get me a few more hundred kilometres up some random track and I am sure I can have an adventure or two along the way. And yes loving the Himalayan, not matter where I point it it just keeps going and gets me there, the weakest thing on the bike is the guy riding it, but again the Himalayan makes up for it.

[@AndrewSmith-hy8gl]

Really well done Joe, your vlogs are stunning, magical adventures in beautiful places. Thank you so much.

[@freewayproject]

Thanks Andrew, glad you are enjoying them, there are a lot more to come.

[@matthewt1390]

What songs/soundtrack did you use? I would totally cruise to the music in this video. Awesome content!

[@freewayproject]

Thanks mate, great to hear you are enjoying the series. Because I am using music on youtube I have to licence it (which it totally fair as the musicians need to be compensated for there work) to make it easy there are website that have already sorted all that out, so I use them just going thought and trying to find the right sound to match but I don't actually look at the names of the song. I think music from this series might be from Epidemic Sound.

[@waynekavanagh745]

Thanks

[@freewayproject]

Thank you for the support Wayne, it is greatly appreciated and will go towards the next trip.

[@davidramsay7803]

Great stuff. Awesome timing Joe, we're heading back down again in April. 2 yrs ago froze our arses off through that high lake country in April , seems it never improves 🥶

[@freewayproject]

haha I heard it snowed up there last night, glad I missed it. Although I have been caught in the snow before in Tassie, hiked up to the Walls of Jerusalem in a t-shirt in 30°C, camped one night then the second night it snowed 20cms. but was cooler hiking in the snow. Glad you enjoyed the episode.

[@larrykaminski3269]

Thanks!

[@freewayproject]

Again thank you Larry. I am stoked you are enjoying the videos, more to come from Tasmania then back up through the highlands. Planing on the next trip heading to the other side of the continent to Western Australia which is totally different again. I am glad you are along for the ride.

[@wwsus]

Hi Joe, What app are you using for navigating? Cheers

[@freewayproject]

hey mate, google maps when I need it, otherwise I try to keep navigation off and explore to see what I can stubble across.

[@wwsus]

Cheers Joe, Love your adventures and style. Many thanks for your reply and content. Safe travels, Gav

[@MrRabbitthumper]

Beautiful and inspiring as ever Joe. Three questions: Were you using a color filter on your previous camera (the DJI)? I find that since starting with the GoPro the color of the videos has changed. Next: Did you modify your rear bike suspension before leaving considering the weight that you are carrying? Next: You look like you use lot less equipment than all the bags that you are carrying. We usually see just a tent. I can imagine that the camera gear and drone can take up some pace as well. Just curious. Cheers!

[@freewayproject]

Hi Roger, no I had no filter on the DJI Osmo Action, I have now swapped to an DJI Osmo Action 3. Yes all camera manufactures have there own colour science (the way the sensor interprets colour) Arri has the best (what a lot of major films are shot on) Red really good to, for photos Canon was one of the best, but now Sony has caught back up. With Action cameras GoPro is going for a certain look, which is a bit too punchy for me, so I shoot the logo footage on the DJI. when I left on the trip I had not adjusted the rear suspension, if you see when I got to Royal Enfield they adjusted it for my as it was only one click in, I could feel the difference, so worth doing. All my camera gear is in my back pack except chargers. I carry a lot of water in the main bag as I am not sure when I'll be able to get it next. I am going to do a video on all the gear I took, what I used, what I didn't use and what I'll take next time once I have finished this trip. that might explain it better.

[@MrRabbitthumper]

@Joe Ryan thanks for the detailed reply Joe. 🙏🏽

[@keesxjr]

Hi Joe, what kind of bag, what brand and type, do you have on the back of your Himalayan? Regards Kees.

[@freewayproject]

The bag is a 50L MEC (the Canadian version of REI) waterproof bag I used to use when traveling on boats to film surfing on the outer island of Indonesia. it's all I had that was waterproof.

[@ricmoffet6843]

I am very much enjoying this series. How do you find the Himalayan for touring. Am quite interested in buying one. Have been looking at them for 18 months. Now on special, probably will go a head with it. It's just that they are more suited I have been told, to medium height riders, I am 6'2". I have yet to test ride one. I have a similar trip to do with a riding club to go to Tassie in spring and to see family down there. Will be test riding one in a couple of weeks to know for sure that my height will not make it uncomfortable to ride the bike. Also can you tell me how many litre's to the 100km do you get on the standard tank without the jerry's?.

[@freewayproject]

Hi Ric, thanks, glad you enjoyed the series. I have gotten 420km with about 1L left in the tank so that would make it around 450km and the offical documents clam a range of 462km. but remember if you ride it hard using lots of throttle obviously then you'll get less. With the sizing, yes get on one, you may need to adjust a few things, maybe handle bar height, check where you're knees come to also, it is great for my height at around 5'9 but you wouldn't want to be too much smaller. everyone is different so I think once you have test ridden one you'll know and ask where test ride it what adjustments can be made if needed. I am going to do a video on the bike shortly, how I found it on the ride after 20 000km on it, not sure if that might help you. But put it this way I am taking it on my next adventure so I am liking it.

[@ricmoffet6843]

@@freewayproject Cheers mate, thank you very much for the info, I have 40 years of on again. off again riding, but the last 5 years not riding, so feel like a newby again I think the bike will suit me, I did subscribe, to see more of your vids and trips. All the best.

[@ronwarber535]

Another Great video. How do you find the comfort on your bike and how does it handle the outside air temps?

[@freewayproject]

Hi Ron, I road a husqvarna svartpilen 401 around Australia last year, and the Himalayan is way more comfortable than that bike (it was not design for long road trips) I have not ridden one of these bike that looks like a big armchair Honda Gold Wing etc.... But I have done 900km in a Day on my Himalaya and I had no issue. The seating posting is up right so no sore back, leg position is good at might height but if over 6 foot tall it might feel a little cramped. Seat is comfortable. I have ridden the bike in 42°C in sand traveling only a bit faster than walking pace, as it is air-cool it needs that high speed air going through the radiator, but even like this is didn't have an issue. I have only had the bike at 1°C and it started fine. So from my experience I have had no issue with air temps in that range.

[@davidskogley3570]

Great videos, great trip! Having a lot of time and no particular place to go each day really opens up a bunch of opportunities, eh? So, is the Himalayan the perfect bike to travel on?

[@freewayproject]

Thanks David, yes actually being "free" with not restrictions or parameters does make it a totally different experience. For the type of riding I am doing the Himalayan fits really well, if you're exploring going down unknown tracks, trails, farm roads, HWY, it gets the job done. I've had no issues with mine, so far are 22 000km, it's like a tractor it just keeps plowing away. Carries all the gear I need, with extra tanks can get up to 750km, comfortable to spend time on. so yes I am a fan of the bike.

[@davidskogley3570]

I had one for a year and found it a bit underpowered, even tough I even rode on the Autobahn with it. I ended up trading it for an old Moto Guzzi, but I think I may pick up another Himalayan if the chance arises. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@freewayproject]

there is a new Himalayan coming at the end of the year, a 450, all new everything , and it looks like they'll make a rally version, so it might help with some of the current version short coming

[@f22at12mm]

Heidenau k60 or nothing! :)

[@freewayproject]

I have heard of them and would like to try a set, in Launceston I took what I could get, the one I got was the only one that had in stock that fitted.

[@f22at12mm]

@@freewayproject I tried the lot, Dunlops, Shinko, Mitas, the Heidenaus got me to Birdsville, Ayers Rock and then another 5000kms, all the other tyres wore out within 5000km. I will only ever buy Heidenau it is that much of a difference.