Katie Abdilla: From Tasmania to Flinders Ranges on her Honda XL250

October 18

"It was around mid this year that a friend of mine, Adrian, was telling me about his motorcycle trip to the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. I was heavily inspired by this as I have always wanted to do a motorcycle journey of my own. I was talking with my good friend and mentor, Roger and he had suggested that we should ride to The Flinders Ranges in South Australia. Without wasting anytime at all, the trip was soon booked for August the 18th.

Not wanting to ride Billie, my 1976 Honda CB400f (Cafè style) Roger prepared the 1978 Honda XL250, an enduro styled bike that would be perfect for the terrain and long distance riding. It was just over a week before the adventure, I came off the XL and injured my knee pretty badly but I wasn't going to let this stop me from doing the ride."

P&Co Motorcycle ride Australia

"The journey started from my home town here in Hobart - Tasmania, Australia. Both Roger and I rode from Hobart to Devonport (a three hour ride) where we boarded the Ferry for an overnight sailing. It was there where we met up with Isla, who was driving the van containing supplies.

We arrived in Melbourne early Saturday morning. Upon our departure of the ferry, the weather certainly wasn't putting on it's best show, providing us with dark overcast sky and drizzle. Our next stop was a short hour and a half ride to Ballarat where we were to re group with Isla and meet up with Jason Lau for a lunch stop. 614km (381mi) Was the distance we traveled with an overnight stop before arriving in Adelaide. It was an extremely cold and wet ride. My shoulders ached from hunching to try and keep the bitter wind out from making it was down into my jacket. My boots were soaking wet and legs, cold. This is motorcycle riding, you take the bad with the good and that's what makes the good, great!

Once we arrived in Adelaide we stayed the night with some long term friends of Roger's, a lovely couple, Allen and Jenny. After drying off and warming our core temperatures back up, Allen showed us his bikes a BMW R80, mid 60's Triumph Bonneville and a 1975 Honda CB400f.

The next day it was still raining. All I could think about was getting to our end destination of warmer weather and dry grounds. Allen and Jenny two upped and joined us for part of our adventure. The further north we traveled the rain soon stopped and the temperature was feeling somewhat warmer. At this point I really started getting excited and couldn't wait to hit the dirt roads. Along the way we came across many close calls of potential accidents. We were traveling through emu Kangaroo territory now. These emus would run along side of our bikes and cut right across the road with no warning. It definitely kept me on my toes having to be so aware and alert.

Jenny and Allen said their farewells and waved us good bye on our way.

As we rode on, the landscape changed. From asphalt to dusty dirt roads, from overcast sky to clear light blue skies and from rolling greens hills to flat brown terrain as far as the eye could see. It was here where I first saw in the distance The Flinders Ranges, a feeling of relief came over me. We had made it! Being in the landscape reminded me of an old Western Hollywood movie but instead of riding on horses like the pioneers of the land once did, we were on motorcycles.

I was riding a 1978 Honda XL250 who I named Rattus. Roger on his BMW R75/6 and Jason on his Triumph Bonneville. The XL250 handled the terrain like a champ. This bike was right in it's element, easy to ride, super fun and comfortable too.

For me the most challenging part of riding was when we left Chambers George. The morning just before our departure, a grater came through and ripped the ground up. The road was already a struggle to ride but now it was even worse. Riding over uneven large rocks in sand was a mental and physical challenge. I really felt Jason, with a wheel base of only 17" on the Bonneville and weight of 225kg isn't exactly cut out for that kind of riding but he kept it up the whole way and powered through. Same went for Roger, his BMW wasn't exactly set up to be an enduro bike but made do!

Between another 250km (155mi) we stayed in different accommodation ranging from shearer's quarters to huts and our final destination, Arkaroola, where we stayed three days in and shot a lot of content. Pretty much every day throughout the journey I was wearing P&Co gear and loved it. (Wearing it right now actually) the new designs are great, especially the Bert Grimm inspired tiger design. I always love shooting with Jason and creating content. He's a good friend to hang out with and really looks out for me - thanks Jase!

It was now time to turn back. We rode to my friend Mark's farm just outside of the Clare Valley. Riding on classic mini bikes around the farm and hanging out in good company was definitely another highlight to the trip for me.

We rode another 835km (518mi) back to Melbourne, before boarding the ferry, we caught up with my friend Jimmy at his communal motorcycle garage/workshop, Kustom Kommune.

The next day after crossing the Bass Straight on the ferry, we arrived back in Tasmania. I was home. I wasn't ready to home though. After being away for two weeks and riding 4000km (2485mi) I felt the adventure just begun! I'm really hoping to do another motorcycle trip like this again but next time go further North."