Katherine – a much needed rest day

There were tours up the gorge by boat and others took a helicopter overview.

Preparing for the ride the next day

Tennant Creek to Katherine 680 km

The air was a cool 22 degrees as we left and within the hours the solar eclipse was to happen. We stopped to observe the eclipse at 8am, just as a bank of cloud came over and obscured the event.

We were in the NT and the speed limit is 130 kph, so we were going to get the distance covered in good time so a few scheduled stops were extended.

After a quick stop at Three ways to look at the road train mural, we were onto Renner Springs. Firstly for fuel but to also admire the incredible cap display they have. Thousands of caps are hung on the roof. Only later to find that this kind of display is typical of many stopovers, some kind of theme is selected to adorn the space, I guess as a tourist attraction.

This is the main reason for our stop at Daly Waters, to observe the bizarre decore, from military badges though to underwear.

As the next haul to Katherine was 270 km and the temperature had risen to 35 degrees, fuel efficiency and stamina were declining, a call was made to drop into the springs at Mataranka for a refreshing dip and then onto Katherine which was them only 110kms then a much need day of rest.

I can tell you that the heat and the distance certainly take their toll on you physically.

This was the first day I had used my Camelback (a 2 litre water filled backpack, with a remote tube) I really appreciated having this fluid onboard, I went through 4 liters that day.

Mt Isa to Tennant Creek 660 km

The Border Crossing – Blink and you miss it

 190 kM to Camooweal, shortly after we were in the Territory and 130km speed limits – now we are really making tracks.

The roads are wide, smooth and straight, although a little like a roller coaster at times.

Plenty of road trains, well over 50 metres Long, which just about blow you off the road as the pass. You have to get down low on the bike to reduce the drag and to assist stabilisation.

One of our support vehicles

There are a lot of unfenced grazing along here so we do need to be cautious of the car eating cattle – which get much bigger in these parts.

Another very hot day on the road, which was quenched by a dip in the pool and some very cool refreshments.

Richmond to Mount Isa 406km

Another beautiful clear morning, it is far better to get away in the cool morning air. Currently 7 am is the time to get rolling, as a rider you are more refreshed and the bike seems to run more efficiently. Any earlier and you run the risk of coming across nocturnal animals retuning to their respective homes as well as having the sun in your eyes, if you were traveling east.

We are still in QLD, so the speed limit is generally 100kph, with a few stretches of 110kph becoming more prevalent.

Car eating cattle were on this road, so a great deal of caution was exercised, what on earth would they have done to motorcycles?

This was the start of some very straight flat plains, railway crossings occasionally brought some excitement.

The landscape changed quite dramatically, there was almost a wall rocky outcrops that came up, just near the Burke and Wills memorial. It was no wonder they (Burke and Wills) were stopped at this point, it would have been very difficult to walk through this and certainly impossible for horses.

Eventually we broke through the rocky hills to reveal Mt Isa

Townsville to Richmond 500km

The day started off pleasant enough, but the dark clouds gathered rapidly and the rain came down, those unprepared had a quick scramble for wet weather gear. An hour and a half in some light rain yielded to a pristine warm 30 degree afternoon.

The traffic was quite heavy and the road trains were stating to appear.

Found the start of the NBN – in the middle of no-where

Lunch FJ Holdens – a very Holden themed Food Bar in Hughenden

Looked around the Dinosaur exhibition in Richmond…fascinating to think that there were 110 million year old sea creatures in this region, apparently Australia’s fossil mecca.

To think these creature dominated this area for 10 million years and the water here was 40 metres deep, currently at an elevation of 295m

We popped into the local at Richmond to find a large number of Cattlemen and women concluding the beef crisis talks.

The Local

They certainly have a tough life – with some stock getting only $50 for a 500kg animal, not even enough to pay for the transport to the sale yard. With the reduction of live beef exports and large areas being effected by drought they were looking for solutions to save their livelihoods

Under pressure but still love their farming and the animals they rear

We could help them directly by: Supporting live exports and buying Australian produce.

An interesting comment by one farmer, we don’t raise cattle, we grow grass, cattle are the bi-product.

A much needed rest day in Townsville.

There was a lot of resting and recreating going on, a remedial massage and trip to Castle Hill to take in the view. A few supplies were need for the climb.

Locals out for an afternoon spin

All ahead Full

Mackay to Townsville 395km

Another magnificent day 17 degrees expecting 30 during the day – departed at 6:45  Dropped into Airlie Beach on the way, this place was very much under construction, nice beach and an unexpected mens rest area. A quick coffee and back on the road via a backroad to Bowen, it was smooth, fast with a lot of nice curves….very pleasant indeed.

After this nice bit of excitement it was steady as she goes, lots of straight roads. As it was Saturday there were a large number of bikes out for the day. Dozens of Harleys…they seem to be quite popular up this way.

Lunch break at Ayr:

I want to thank the people at Ayr who donated:

Carol Harrison $50
Maureen Kennedy $50
The Chill Parlour where we stopped of for some great food – $50

Thank you – they came up to us and asked of they could donate.

Brilliant

Lots of Hogs

Rockhampton to Mackay 340km

A relatively short ride today, deceptively short.

Thinking that there was plenty of time, the decision was made to do a bit of sightseeing, in Yepoon. It’s a pleasant enough beachside village, a coffee was had, and then on our way again.

The road from Rockhampton to Mackay is quite straight and flat. This is sugar cane country – big time. The scent of sugar is in the air, there are huge processing plants and large trailer trucks hauling the processed product. In between the 2 towns there is not a lot else. We pulled into a service station about half way, a real dueling banjos experience.

Mackay, there is a sense of apparent wealth, lots of new construction in housing of the McMansion kind, enormous warehouses bulging with support systems for the mining industry. We arrived at 2:30pm, so I thought I would go and get some required items, unfortunately Mackay was shut.

The only sign of life was in the Shopping Mall, with its Backgound music of 70’s soft rock – giving a sense of sedation and crowd control. however most small shops were closed and only the majors, like Coles and Kmart were open. Fortunately for me the Chinese massage shop was open….and what a great massage it was, I sure was in pain.

Black Sabbath – “Paranoid” was playing in BigW as I grabbed some chili chips just before closing time….Lucky to escape.

Cruising

Sydney Children’s Hospital to Tamworth 430 Km
We set off at 10 am, a beautiful sunny Autumn morning which soon turned into quite a heatwave, as it was touching on 32 degrees by the time we got to the Wyong. A slight adjustment of clothing was required, something I didn’t expect until we got well into Queensland. Settling into things with the bike, another couple of days and I am sure we will be as one. It was quite a long day we didnt get into Tamworth unitil after 6pm.

Check out the video of the Start at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lmxq4L8UIU

A storm on the horizon, a nice way to finish the first day

Day 2

Tamworth to Toowoomba  530 km

Departed at 07:30 and travelled a clear dry sweeping road. It was smooth and beautifully maintained. I dropped into Armadale for a coffee- and found an award winning blender there….it was awesome.
Armadale is right up there with the technology. They have electronically monitored parking and was warned by the locals that we need to move on after our 15 minutes was up – a quick coffee and we were off.

It was a spectacular day, the Oxley and New England highways were flowing pretty well with minimal roadworks, unlike the Pacific Highway, and plenty of police to keep you safe.

Lunch in Tenterfield and then a quick sprint to our digs in Toowoomba. We got in well before dark and just as we got settled the heavens opened, just like yesterday.

The focus at the moment is very much on the riding, it is a special feeling to be in a cocoon, only you, the bike and the road along with music, which plays very nicely in the helmet sound system. This BMW (Schuberth) system 6 helmet is by far the best one I have ever worn and the sound is very very good…for a helmet system.

So far this has been a well organised ride. Last Nights accommodation, dinner and breakfast  were great. The support crew are always around and wait at each stop until the last riders leaves – that gives you a certain sense of security.

The other notable point is that almost every country town has a “Famous” pie shop.