Day 1 Sunshine coast to Rockhampton
after 3 weeks of no rain i woke at 5am to the sound of heavy rain great just what i needed. Wasn't to bad only got wet twice but i put on the wet weather leggings so didnt get to wet. Made good time to Gladstone . Stop at the local news paper were the took a few photos of me and the bike and said they would run a story so will post the link when i get it.
Why is it on a long trip the last 50km seem to drag. they did today coming into Rockhampton although the road works every 5 km didn't help. never mind i;m here now . only a short hope tomorrow to Emerald so should get time to upload some photos.
Day 2 Rockhampton to Emerald
Didnt get away from Rocky till 2pm did a newspaper interview and a TV interview with the local channel 7 network . Worked out OK as it is only 290km between the two. I found out where those trains that kept me up all night came from, Blackwater coal mine . these trains have to be at least 1km long they have one loco at and the front and back and two together in the middle full of coal. there would be one every 20 minutes .
The road is getting straighter and flatter and the trees smaller. not much to photo out here but if something looks interesting i will post it
Day 3 Emerald to Longreach
Got a early start but as usual encounted road works for the best part of the first100km . in between the road works the road is pretty good with very little traffic mainly trucks and caravans . made good time to Alpha for breakfast , after that the road is almost straight all the way to longreach so can cruise along at 120kph. Saw emu,s roaming wild and not behind a fence which was pretty cool but on the down side there would be a dead kangaroo or wallaby lying in the road side every 300 metres.
Got a cheap cabin so no tent tonight but to offset the extra exspence will eat in as it comes with kitchen.
Not to sure about tomorrows stop over as the lady at the caravan park says theres nothing in Mckinlay and i think it might be a bit far to ride all the way to Mt Isa in one hit.
Day 4 Longreach to Mt Isa
Left about 7.30 and decided to go all the way to Mt Isa in one go . 10 minutes out of town the local fire brigade were burning of the scrub alone the edge of the road . there would have been 10 to 15 wedge tailed kites hovering over the fire swooping on the lizard and such that escaped the flames . Just like yesterday the road is flat and wide so was able to make good time knocking off the first 180km in hour 30 .. was a good idea not to stop in Mckinlay, nothing there apart from the compulsory pub and servo
About 30km before Cloncurry and the flat lands stop and it became quick rocky and road had corners almost like the Spanish side of the Pryernees and that continued all the way to Mt Isa.
Day 5 Mt Isa to Barkly Homestead
Decided not to do the rest day as i started the ride one day later and didn't stop in Mckinlay .Did a newspaper and prerecorded radio interview before leaving so was'nt on the road till 11.30 .First 200km went quickly. had to stop at Camooweal for fuel Mt Isa $1.54 litre Camooweal $1.94 .Ten minutes later i'm in the Northern Territory speed limit jumps to 130kph but the cross wind is so strong i can only cruise comfortable at 115kph all the way to Barkly homestead. Nice place for being in the middle of no were ,fuel stop ,pub, restaurant and caravan park all rolled into one.
Day 6 Barkly Homestead to Alice Springs
Plan today was a easy 211km ride to tennant Creek for chat with the local newspaper reporter then check into the caravan park for a lazy afternoon . But decided to continue all the way to Alice Spring a further 510km down the road . Not as hard as I thought ,plenty to look at as the landscape keeps changing . Encounter a pair of large eagles in the middle of the road enjoying some road kill and they didn,t want to move , I had to come to a almost complete stop before they took off . I,d hate to hit one of them ,bloody large bird and nasty looking talons . The outback Petrol stations on the Hi way double up as the pub with the local inhabitant sitting around outside enjoying the odd VB or two . Alica Spring seems nice for the part i,ve seen so far and if you every fined yourself here stay at the Alice Motor Inn .Gee the owner did me a good deal for two nights .
Day 7 Rest day
Took in the sights and delights of Alice Springs . Did a news paper interview for the Advocote and a live radio interview for the local ABC AM network.
Day 8 Alice Springs to Coober Pedy
Same old same old . straight roads and cross winds . Once i crossed into South Australia it started to look more like the out back with very little vegetation and red sandy soil as apposed to rocky ground.
more eagles on the road , they seem to like the fresh road kill rather than the sun baked dried out carcases .
Not hard to tell when your getting close to Coober Pedy all these mounds of dirt that look like tee pees dot the land scape and because of the winds all this dirt gets blown into town so it resembles a dust bowl.
Day 9 Coober Pedy to Port Augusta
Got up nice and early to get into Port Augusta by lunch time . Hit the road at 6.45 ,did a loop of the town with the gopro on before meeting the hi-way right on sun rise. Got some great photos with half a sun on the flat horizon . Road was flat again till just before lake hart then it started to wind a little . thought the flat lands had finally finished but no they continued right into Port Augusta
Lake Hart if it had some water in it would almost certainly be a lake but in it's present state it,s the type of place to come to try and beat the world land speed record. More eagles and emus everywhere
Nice to smell the ocean again .looks like the road to Adelaide follows the coast so should be in for a good ride tomorrow.
Day 10 Port Augusta to Adelaide
Nice easy day only 300km but now were back in traffic so it slows down the flow a little . Did a detour via Port Pirie and alone to Bute which missed about 80km of the main road , Then i had to rejoin the main hi-way again . I,m going to rename it the Grey Nomad Hi-Way ,every second car was towing a caravan . I don't know where they all going but there not going up to Alice springs .I only passed about 20 caravans in 2 days getting to Port Augusta and i reckon is passed that many in 20 minute today Coming in Adelaide was just like any big city ,cars traffic ,red lights .Bring back the outback roads. Here for two days then its the great ocean roads around to Melbourne
Day 11Adelaide to Mount Gambier
It was good to get back on the bike after a two day break at my brother in laws house . I think the Adelaide drivers are worse than Queensland .they dont like merging or should i say wont let you merge , they would rather see you run over the road works worker than let you into their lane .
Anyway after a 30 minute ride across town i was on the south/east freeway . standard duel carriage way that want for 80km before i turned off to follow the princess hi/way Nice windy road although a little bumpy and corrugated coupled with a strong cross wind blowing off the ocean gave a few brown trouser moments around some of the tighter corners. Still makes a change from endless straights . Last 40km to Mt Gambier is pine forest ,so once again the scenery changes.Melbourne tomorrow .
Day 12 Mount Gambier to Sale
Was supposed to stop in Melbourne but where. there are no caravan parks in the CBD or even close so it was easier just to keep going after i stop at the TV and newspaper places. First part of the day ws cold 6 degrees cold my finger tips froze . lucky there were road works i had to stop for so i could hold my hands against the engine . quick blast to Warrnambool around 160km . nice sea side town . stopped for brunch before heading of down the Great Ocean Road . Road would have perfect for bike riding if it wasnt for all the motorhomes and caravans , stop to check out the 12 appossals before joining the main hi-way to Melbourne . In one end and out the other down the south/east freeway which is all duel carriage way right through to Sale .
Change of root tomorrow left at Lake entrance and up to Camberra 8 hours of windy inland road or so the locals tell me.
Day 13 Sale to Goulburn
Up bright and early again heading for Camberra .First 180 km took me into Lake Entrance . Fishing and tourist town . the next 80 into Cann River were great windy roads through forest . Saw a poor wombat on the side of the road but he was still smiling Quick coffee in Cann river before the 210km to camberra .If you ever find yourself in Australia on a bike this is the road to ride It take you up into the Snowy Mountains .It had just rained 20 minutes before so couldnt push it to hard .As i wound my way higher the trees gave way to pasture before rolling into the town of Bombela. then the road turned into high speed sweeping bends all the way to 30 km before Camberra, The sun began to shine the road was dry it was just bike riding heaven.Was going to stop in Camberra for the night but the nations capital doesn,t have to many caravan parks so a further 86km down the duel carriage way to Goulburn .
Day 14 Goulburn to Scone
Off to Sydney or so was the plan. .Left around 7.30 hoping to miss the morning rush . straight up the motor way ,3 lanes of trucks ,cars and idiots all heading to work. every now and then the motor way passed over deep gorges and rivers which is quintessential Australian landscape. Some how i ended up on a toll road and then a tunnel . but eventually i got to where i was going , Neuro science research Australia ,the head office of the charity i,m raising money for. After a brief visit i was going to stay at my brother in laws but once again i found myself on a toll road heading out of Sydney so i decided just to keep going, after a couple of weeks of very few cars all the traffic and people and stopping for every traffic light i came upon was driving me insane so i was happy to leave, heading up the motorway to Newcastle. Turn left at Newcastle take you up the New England Hi-way and the back way to Brisbane .This is the longer route but the more scenic and 3 hours latter i stop for the night in Scone a rural farming town unspoilt by large corporate fast food chain stores. To bad the caravan park had the train track right behind me .
Day 15 Scone to Sunshine coast
Last day 846km to home , up and going by 6am and man it,s cold 4degres hard to tell if the road is wet or not .134km to Tamworth, easy county roads .nice sweeping corners but every 30 or so km there a small town so you have to slow to 70km . makes it hard to maintain a good average speed. Tamworth is up on the table lands so it was even colder 2 degrees. I defiantly need some winter goretex gloves before Russia . The road from Tamworth to Ipswich , 600 odd kms is same as before nice open flowing roads ,and it getting warmer the closer to Queensland i get. The NSW road transport have two sets of average speed cameras but they aim the scanner towards you so they can,t scan the bikes number plate . Happy days . At Ipswich its120km home through Brisbane or 170km the long way around the two dams .Lake wivanhoe and Lake Somerset .these roads are fantastic Sunday bike riding roads .So after 7380km whats another 50 more . Stunning scenery as the road follows the edge of the lakes . Up over peachester hill and home . 7450km later .
Even after all that riding and long days in the saddle i,d go around again, there's something surprisingly relaxing about cruising along in the outback without seeing any other vehicle for hours.
If reading this wets your apatite for adventure riding around Australia or even across Russia drop me a line .
Next post will be sometime in early June just before leaving for Korea
Take care . Paul
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