Blue – my new overlanding vehicle

Living in Cairns is great. Amongst other things it gives you access to cheap air flights from the Cairns International Airport. A luxury we have not had in other regional towns we have lived in around Australia. So a couple of weeks ago we headed off to Bali – $300 each return! Our plan was to have a very lazy resort/beach holiday – which we did. It was our first time in Bali. Half of our friends had told us that Bali was great and the other half that it was terrible and to stay away. We loved it!

So what does all this lazing by the beach have to do with acquiring a new overlanding vehicle? Well when you are lazing around a pool you tend to read. And I choose to read Going Postal by Nathan Millward. I could not put it down. It tells a tale of a guy who a few years ago decided to ride a motorbike from Sydney to London. Two days later with very little preparation he set off. He made it back in a few months. Heres a short video about Nathan

Now I guess this story does not sound too unique, many people have done that journey, and many of them have done it on motorbikes. What was unique about Nathan’s journey was the bike he chooses to ride the 30,000+ km back to the UK. He makes the journey on a Postie Bike. These are the small bikes you see buzzing all around Australia delivering the mail. Bright red ridden by people in bright yellow. I had never given them a second thought. Nathan used an ex-postal service Honda CT110. The CT100 has a 105cc engine and holds a massive 5.5l of petrol.

I have never had any interest in motorbikes – in fact they quite scare me. When I was a kid most of my friends got apprenticeships. They had money and brought themselves little 50cc mopeds. I went to college so could not afford such luxuries so walked or used the pushbike. The motorbike stage passed me by. I have never ridden a motorbike or even rented one of those little scooters you see in holiday towns. But I just could not get this little bike and the epic journey out of my mind.

So guess what? While still on holiday I booked a motorcycle training course back in Cairns and stated looking for a Postie online. Anita my wife thought I was mad – but she has got used to my madness over the years so just laid back on her sun lounger and continued to enjoy her holiday.

Once we got back to cairns I started to look for a Postie in earnest. There were lots for sale but none in Far north Queensland. Sitting on top of Lumley Hill a couple of days later I checked gumtree for the hundredth time and I could not believe it – a Postie in Cairns. I phoned Ken and arranged to see the bike as soon as I could get down the hill. An hour later I was looking at what was to become my Postie – Blue. Yes, I have already named him. He is a 2010 ex postal bike with about 23,000 on the clock.  I brought him on the spot for $2100.

Now the frustrating part. To ride a motorbike in Queensland you need a motorbike license. To get a license you need to do a two day pre learner course. After doing this course you have to wait three months before you can do another course and test ride to get your restricted motorbike license. In the three months waiting period you can ride a motorbike on the road but only if you are supervised by a qualified rider. So this means I can’t take Blue on the road on my own until late December or early January. Dam!

I have found there is a massive sub-culture around Posties. I have joined a few Facebook groups dedicated to this little bike. People are doing amazing things on these bikes. Overlanding journeys, racing, off-roading to name just a few. The people involved seem a very friendly bunch.

So what are my plans for Blue. Well first and foremost – learn how to ride and get a license. I also want to do some modifications. I have already converted a redundant air filter box to a tool box. The next job is to build a pannier rack so that I can fit some bags on the back. I have been very inspired by a guy called mark from Bikerbits who set his Postie up for adventure and rode it across the outback. 

I have an idea for a little trip next year – but let’s see if I can get a license first.