Snag’s Lap: Getting ready for the big trip

Snag is in final preparations for a full lap of Australia. And, you’ll be coming along too!

A little background here. I’m setting off around Australia in July, aboard my BMW S 1000 XR. You see, I turned 60 last year and I always promised myself, for my 60th birthday (if I lasted that long, and strangely I have), I’d do a lap of this wide brown land on a good motorcycle.

Well, Mr Covid had his say there, but I’m going this year, come hell or high water (apologies to flood victims).

So, to let you in on the plan…

I am taking three months, travelling counter-clockwise mainly tarmac-based. I’m camping most of the way, free where possible (there’s fugall money in bike journalism Tarquin, so get a trade), and preparing meals etc by the side of the road.

I’ll be updating you lot regularly with the hi-jinx that will inevitably follow, with video updates on the website and via social media. I am going to stitch it all together, providing I make it out alive, to come up with a movie. That’s got Blockbuster written all over it huh. OK. I know, but I’m doing it anyway alright?

I’m leaving in July, because that’s the best time weather wise to avoid getting stuck in the wet season in the north. You see in the north it rains in the wet season. Like, rain that we city-slicking softcox have never seen. You can die out there. Easy. I’m not so into that.

Also, counter-intuitively, the wet season is hot. Like 35-plus degrees with 80 per cent humidity. Yeah.

The dry season runs from May to October, so that was the first thing to settle. I have to be ready in that window.

Now, I like to consider myself an amateur philosopher. Like you get to make a living in that game ­–­ my Masters Philosophy lecturer suggested the philosopher is ‘the person who sleeps on the poet’s floor’ – so ‘amateur’ is possibly a smidgeon superfluous there.

Anyway, my trepidation about being away from people and dog, with bugger-all income, mostly alone etc, was put to rest by a great soothsaying mate of mine who said, ‘there’s always 100 reasons not to do something, you just need one good reason to do it’. Stuck in my head that. You’re a long time dead.

Ok. The pragmatics. Before leaving, I’m going to post a few lead-up stories, to hopefully help those looking to perhaps do the same thing. What I’m taking, bike preparation, the costs, handy web advice sites, campsites, things to avoid, the truth and the bullshite.

I’ll cut you into the deals that can be had, the best way to get the most out of packing room, tools you might need, communications, safety, local things to see and do along the way.

I’ve bought all the gear I reckon I need, have just about the perfect missile in the S 1000 XR and am really in go mode. I’ll run through some of that gear and what it will set you back in the next update.

Once on the road I intend to talk to locals, see everything I can and bring all of that to you via video updates. Good, bad and ugly. Yeah, it could go awry, but that’s the fun of the thing right?

So. Snag’s Lap. Stay tuned!

Greg Leech

Snag’s career in motoring journalism spans 29 years with stints at major bike mags Australian Road Rider, Motorcycle Trader and AMCN along with contributions to just about every other outlet worth a hill of beans. He was editor of Unique Cars magazine and hosts his legendary podcast ‘Snag Says’ when he gets off his date.