Tight-arse Touring

I spend too much money on rides.  With my house nearly being ready, meaning I will soon have a mortgage, I am supposed to be pretty much not spending ANY money.


And then TAG goes up in a reachable location... 


Inglewood QLD and a long weekend.  I think YES.


I had some stuff to do before I left, so didn't get away until about 11:30am on Saturday morning.  Planned to get fuel at the Spence servo and now it is closed! I consoled myself with a pie from the bakery and then decided against backtracking, if the fuel light was on before Murrumbateman I would get fuel there, otherwise at Yass.  I rolled out onto the Barton Highway and it was just an easy cruise... I was just starting to get settled and I was at Yass already, bugger have to stop for fuel.


Fuelled up quickly and winced at the $20 (roughly) it cost and underway again... turned off to Boorowa and rolled straight through to Cowra.  Very different from last time I went that way, the sun was shining and it was warm with just a hint of coolness in the air.  The perfect day to be out on a motorcycle.

The current spelling word is CROSSCONTINENTAL so with that in mind I stopped at the Cowra Hotel for a C photo.


Headed out towards Canowindra and the road is in fairly poor condition.  Lots of large potholes and patches where the road surface is just disintegrating. 


Straight through Canowindra and heading towards Cudal I noticed that there were a *lot* of trucks... don't normally see too many trucks on that road, took me a while to realise that with part of the Newell Highway being closed, I guess they have to come that way.  That would explain the road surface too...


I had a harley pull in behind me at some intersection and he was sometimes behind me and sometimes way back in the distance.  A BMW coming the other way pulled over, gave me the wave to let me know he was OK.


At Cudal I stopped to take another C photo and just as I was getting ready to continue the BMW came past.

So I pulled out behind him but he then pulled over and did a u-turn and went back the other way... okay!  Onto Molong where I stopped for fuel, just came back out from paying and there was the BMW.  "Are you lost!" I enquired, and it turns out he was.  He was heading to Ipswich (don't know where from but the bike had WA plates on) and had been diverted from the Newell at West Wyalong and now had no idea where he was... and no maps either.  I tried to tell him a really awesome way he could go but he looked at my map and decided he was going to go to Dubbo and straight up the Newell... fair enough!  I left and never saw him again, hope he made it okay.


Up the Mitchell Highway to Wellington and then finally time to leave the highways behind for a bit, turned off to Gulgong where I stopped for a bit of a break in the shade of a tree, then on my way to Coolah I found an L

Leadville for an L... if I ever get all the letters in between!


Coolah for fuel, straight past the pub although I was tempted by my memory of the steak dianne and the comfy bed... my goal now was to reach Mullaley before dark o'clock.


The road was fairly damaged in places here too, and the roadworks haven't changed from a few weeks ago.  I still love this road and the part north of Premer (where I usually join the road) was exceptionally pretty in the late afternoon sun.

Stopped at Tambar Springs for a T photo 


Then onto Mullaley for a longer break at the rest area there, watching the sun that was almost all the way down.  I started thinking about where I was going to spend the night and after consulting my map decided that the campground it indicated at Lake Keepit might be the way to go.

The last of the sunshine at Mullaley.


I rolled out and headed for Gunnedah.  I pretty much had the highway to myself and just at the start it was really nice, but towards Gunnedah it was a bit of a strain as it was getting a bit too dark for the tinted visor and I was getting cold.


Fuel in Gunnedah, swapped visors and added my flanno under my jacket, bought a sandwich to have for my dinner and headed off, next stop Lake Keepit.


I was a bit worried as there was still a fair amount of water around, and last time I went through Carrol the causeway was flooded and I wasn't sure I wanted to do that in the dark - but all was good, it was dry! Yay!


Turned off for Lake Keepit and wasn't game to do more than about 60km/h.  There was a ute way off in the distance in front of me doing about the same.  I eventually caught up to them at the turn off to the campground and got there only to find the gates shut but some dudes were there... apparently there was some jazz thingo on that night by the lake.  They said the state reserve guys were being a bit funny about letting people in so I decided that I would keep going.  My map had also advised me of a rest area just out of Barraba that was an overnight stop also so I decided to go and check that out.  


As soon as I was back on the road to Manilla two big roos hopped away in the headlights - they looked kinda like ghosts, was a bit creepy.  Anyway crawled along to Manilla, part way the big reddish moon started to rise - so beautiful.  I stopped and looked at it for a bit.


There was a fair on in Manilla and the rides lit up the night sky.  I stopped under a streetlight to add my jumper as it was getting very cold, then back on and continued up the road towards Barraba.  Just out of town I found the rest area and there was no one else there... I checked it out and there was a couple of roadways, some picnic tables and loos.  I found a spot under some trees out of the lights and rolled out my swag.  I was very scared!  I had one bite of my sandwich and the rest went in the bin (I give up on servo sandwiches, they used to be good but the last two I have had were both terrible!) so I crawled into my swag hungry.  And lay there for ages jumping at every little noise! hahaha.


At about 4:30am I woke to the sound of a car pulling in... they paused next to me and then continued on a bit.  Car doors and after a few minutes the car started up again and they sat there for ages just idling with the lights off... I was petrified! I don't know why.  But eventually (Finally!) they left and I went back to sleep, awaking at about 7:00am.

I unzipped the swag and had a look at my surroundings in the daylight - to my right was a hill, with the sun getting ready to poke his head out and some slight mist and a skippy hopping away up the hill... magical.  Took my time packing up and chilling out and eventually got underway.  


Rolled through Barraba (hope the Barraba crew heard my telepathic shout out as I went through!  I am sure they did :D )


It was a bit on the cool side but what a fabulous morning for a ride!!!!  The hills were pretty, the trees were pretty, the grass was pretty, the road was pretty.... you get the picture.

After all the rain we have had lately the sun was most welcome.


It seemed all too soon I was at Warialda.  Fuelled up and then headed north towards Yetman.  Another road that has sustained a fair amount of damage, potholes big enough to swallow a ZX6R whole! 


Right onto the Bruxner Highway then left and over the border.  I note a large grassy area with some camps set up, looks like a lovely spot but I have way too far to go to be thinking about stopping yet.  In Texas there is some bike thingo event on, the main street is closed and there are people everywhere.  Nevermind, I bypass it all and then The.... Most..... Boring..... part of my whole trip (I don't know why, it just was), the however far it is from Texas to Inglewood.  It was just monotonous.  Anyway finally after an age or two Inglewood appeared and I took a chance and turned right and found the tag location.

But there were some other bikes in my way! LOL.  Mike and Maureen had waited for me.  I snapped my photo and then I nearly forgot about the 'surprise' on the back of the sign.  I retrieved the card and we retired to a nearby cafe with a handy power point so I pulled out itty bitty and TAG I'm it! (thanks for not snatching it guys!)  Moved it down the road to the Ebor Falls Hotel.


A quick coffee and sandwich and M & M head back east and I head south.  It was really starting to heat up now and I was feeling a bit dozy so stopped at Texas for fuel and a chocolate and a V while I sat in the shade and consulted my map for a bit.  The best way to go would be back the way I came but I don't like to do that, so I turned left onto the Bruxner and then went down that way to Inverell.  It was quite nice!  But very hot.  Pulled up under a tree in Inverell for another map consult.  I wanted to go to Coonabarabran as I had an urge to go for a ride through the Warrambungles NP (very pretty) but I also wanted to do this other road on my map that I hadn't done before which would take me towards Uralla (I think).  I decided that the road could wait, and I headed west towards Moree.  Back through Warialda and then I got stopped at some roadworks.

I was a bit worried about what was down the bottom of the detour but it was fine :)


Cruised on, there were lots of signs warning of flood damaged pavement but none of it was too bad (well for a bike, just ride around the damaged bits).


Was really warming up now, stopped for fuel in Moree and bought a powerade as well - that helped, I almost immediately felt better after having some of that (I had of course been drinking lots of water as well).  Set off down the Newell, with the open fields.  I don't know why, I should hate the Newell but I actually really enjoy it.  More trucks than cars, and I love trucks.  It's a road that really goes places.   I don't know how to explain it but I love being out there.  Coming into Bellata and a truck flashes me.  At the last minute I spot the rest area, so quickly pull up to the left to turn around and go back to it... and notice that is where constable care is set up!  Oh well, I pulled up on the other side of him and had some more of my powerade.  Not long after he rolled out and headed south and I never saw him again.


Straight through Narrabri and into the Pillaga Forest.  The day was drawing to a close and the sun was flickering through the trees.  Into Coonabarabran where I got fuel and pulled up at the Coona Fish & Chips.  The fish and chips were TERRIBLE. I ate most of it anyway, chatted with a guy who has a busa and a triumph for a bit... he had bought a car in Melbourne and was driving it back to QLD.  He didn't know about all the road closures, had no map (just a GPS) and was pretty screwed... and the servos had all sold out of maps!  So when he was diverted he was a bit lost.  Talked about bikes for a bit then he bypassed the fish and chip shop on my recommendation.  (It was seriously bad).


I had noted a rest area out towards Mullaley and I set off to try and find it.  I found one at Oxley's Crossing but I didn't think that was the right one so kept going.... and never found it.  Ended up in Mullaley and then turned around and went back.  I stopped at the Oxley's Crossing one and thought about staying there but chickened out in the end.  I passed back through Coonabarabran (!) and headed south on the Newell until I finally found a rest area.  I was just doing a u-turn to park better when I realised there was a better rest area on the other side, so I went there, there were two trucks parked up so I stopped at the picnic hut and set up my camp in there.  Not long after another truck came and parked near to that.  I was very quickly asleep.  I heard another truck pull in, and only heard one truck leave.


I woke up at about 6:30am and forced myself to get up (I was quite warm and cozy).  This was the view I woke up to this time.

I do love trucks :D


I once again took my time packing up, very relaxed.


I managed to roll the swag up a bit better today as well - the day before I had not been able to see very much in my mirrors! lol.


I was just about to pull out onto the highway and head back to Coonabarabran when I thought I better have another piccie.

It was a pretty chilly ride back into Coonabarabran.  I rode through to the national park and had a nice ride through there checking stuff out.


Then it was back into Coona for fuel (again!) and I bought a pie from the bakery and a coffee from the Jolli Cauli Cafe (looks pretty good) and had my pie and coffee while watching the world go by.


Realised I had better get cracking so off I went, it was time to do another new road - the one through Binnaway to Coolah so off I went.  A few of the causeways still had water flowing across the bottom of them but nothing too much. It was a really nice ride through here and all too soon I was back at Coolah getting fuel again.  I noticed they had some home made cakes in the fridge so it was carrot cake washed down with blue powerade - yummo! :D


Headed towards Mudgee, stopped at Turill to get another T 

and Eurunderee for an E


Stopped a while in Mudgee and then headed south towards Lithgow.  A very pretty part of the countryside, especially as you get closer to Lithgow with the sites of the blue mountains.

Ilford for an I


Then onto Lithgow for a good break and some food.  It was getting a bit cooler so I added the flanno here.


Headed out towards Oberon and I had a really good run through to Hampden.  Just beautiful.  (not beautiful enough to take a pic apparently though).






Then onto Oberon where I got an O and to be honest by then I was over it and ready to be at home.  But no, still some 250km to go, so heading towards Goulburn and it was FREEZING.  I was really regretting leaving my wets at home then!


Stopped at the Abercrombie river (where it was warm) to put on as much clothing as I could possible fit on and continued on, shivering my way through Taralga... then it got foggy!  So I rolled into a foggy Goulburn just on dusk.


I then had the privilege of paying $9 for a burnt toasted ham and cheese sandwich and a hot chocolate that was so hot I burnt my tongue :(  I got some cold milk for my hot chocolate and ate my charcoal flavoured toasted sanga and then braved the elements and got back on the bike for the final stint into Canberra.


And it warmed up! LOL. (or maybe it was all that warmness in my belly....)


There was a fair amount of traffic heading back... and the time passed quickly and soon enough I was home.  The first thing I did was jump in the shower.


So it was the tight arse tour because I didn't spend a single cent on accommodation and not much on food either.  But damn I spent a lot on petrol :o/ I think I need a cheaper hobby as I have now spent all my fortnights allowance :(  Oh well at least it was fun :D

FarRide East #18 - Nambucca Heads

Seriously, its so long! I just opened a word document and started typing, meanwhile my ergonomic software is having a fit and it is seven pages  

You have been warned!


I had decided it was about time I registered for a FR12.  From home to Nambucca directly according to Google Maps is about 771km.  Every way I dragged the route to came in between 1000 and 1100 – perfect for a FR10 lol!  Eventually a few days before kick off I came up with a ride plan that even included fuel stops, heading out to Condobolin first off.  I finalised it all on the Thursday before leaving work and when I got home I realised that it was forecast for up around 34 degrees out at Condobolin... I don’t travel overly well in the heat, I get too sleepy.  So Friday morning saw me stuffing around on Google Maps again and eventually it was 12:20am, I had a ride plan including fuel stops mapped out BUT I was not packed and still in my pyjamas.  Oops.

Quickly threw together what I needed (I have lost the art of packing lightly) and set off for Kippax to get my start docket (1:08pm).

I headed out on the Barton Highway under grey skies but it was dry.  Passed by Yass, on through Boorowa and as I approached Cowra there was a really, really big black nasty looking cloud off to my right.  Hmmmm I thought, I might need the plastic suit... will keep an eye on it, as I appeared to be riding around it.  Suddenly the temperature dropped by about 20° and I got hit by some hail.  Ouch.  Hail stopped and I continued along, thinking I was definitely going to be riding around this storm when the road turned to the right and I was in amongst it... some seriously heavy rain, the road was so covered in water that I couldn’t see it, let alone pick somewhere safe to get into the plastic suit (nevermind, within a couple of minutes I was soaked to the skin) I slowed down and before too long caught up with a car (could barely see the tail lights and I was about three metres behind) following them helped as I could see where the bigger puddles of water on the road were when they hit them   It eased up as we rolled into Cowra and I turned right and went straight past the turn to Canowindra which was a bit of a strange feeling.

Heading towards Blayney I spotted an FJR coming the other way with the rider covered in fluro yellow.  They gave me a big wave and I gave them a big wave but apparently big waves from the hunched up position on the 6 are not particularly effective.  I thought it might have been Toura and it turned out I was correct 

Fuel at Blayney and I stood glorying in the sun for a brief period but there were plenty of kms to go so before long it was back on the bike and continuing down the highway, my jacket being wind-dried as I went along (my feet were a lost cause I think).

As I got closer to Lithgow the sky ahead was black once again and I was determined that I was going to stop and get the plastic suit on in time this time... however I knew that I needed to turn left onto the Castlereagh highway so I took the gamble... I got closer and closer and closer and just when I thought I would have to give in and stop on the shoulder there was my left turn and I waved goodbye to that lot of big black nasty clouds.... suckers 

I like that part of the Castlereagh Highway.  I was getting a bit cold and the clouds were looking a bit rainy so I gave in and stopped at Capertee (I needed the bathroom as well so that worked well) and OMG I love my flanno

****
In 2007 Kathleen and I went to the motoGP at Phillip Island.  I was a little unprepared and ended up purchasing a flanno from Coles at Cowes while I was there.  Now it is one of my favourite riding garments and I don’t care how much youse all pay me out about my ‘classy’ flanno, I love it.
****

My flanno was warm and dry and felt like a big warm hug when I put it on.  I spent a minute savouring the feel of warm soft flannel against cold dampish skin before realising the nearby grey nomads were looking at me funny so I proceeded with the windmill dance of wriggling into my plastic suit, hopped aboard the six and roared away (like a girl).

I noted signs at Ilford and Running Stream....  and then approaching Mudgee more big black nasty clouds accompanied by some very impressive lightning bolts.  It was quite an impressive show!  It only really started raining as I rolled into town.

A couple of years ago I was out and about and I happened to end up in Mudgee in the bucketing down rain.  I fuelled up at the Caltex in town and took refuge under the verandah of an empty shop across the road and sat there eating my pie and watching the world go by.  Whilst sitting there a green car with bikes on the back pulled up – Macca and Bogan checking I was okay.

So today I fuelled up at that same Caltex, got a wagon wheel instead of a pie and rode straight under that same verandah of the still empty shop and watched to see if Macca and Bogan would turn up (they didn’t).  I also watched the lightning show and jumped at most of the claps of thunder.  It was wild!  Before long it all eased up a bit so I hopped back on the 6 and off we went.  I wanted to hit the Golden Highway before dark and I did.  A nice run through Gulgong and then I took the road that takes you to Dunedoo but I turned right onto the highway.  Very soon it was dark and the rain started in again... it was very heavy, and I learned that very heavy, thick, fat raindrops look really pretty in my highbeams 

Rolled through Merriwa, Denman, etc, it rained on and off and as I got closer to Singleton it started to warm up a bit – yay!  Rolled through Singleton and had all the drunk people look at me, fuel at the BP and then I took my sausage roll down to the park and ate it there (where there were more drunk people but thankfully they didn’t take any notice of me).  From here I was supposed to head up to Tamworth and Armidale but I decided to stick to the coast instead as it was nice and warm 

I rolled through Branxton etc, god that was annoying, 90/60/80/60/70/90/80/60/70/60/80/60/90 speed zones.  It was only 30km but eventually I found the road north and passed Heatherbrae and onto Raymond Terrace.  I was getting a bit tired here and I passed two motels with big red NO posted out side... I was supposed to be camping out but when I came to the motel where James and I stayed on our way back from Nambucca in 2008, there was no big red NO so I pulled in.  They wanted $110 for the room and I nearly said no, but then I thought about it and couldn’t think of anywhere I might get accommodation that late at night (it was after 11 by that stage) so screw it, I took it.  Not the greatest accommodation, my room smelt funny and there was no screen on the window but it was a bed and I had a sleep and got up early the next morning... or so I thought lol.

I used to be so good, I have lost the art.  I was up before 6, at 6 I went and got coffee and started packing up (everything was unpacked to dry out overnight) and it was 7 before I got going.  Lets do the time warp again (or something).

Before long I realised my clear visor was not appropriate for the super bright and sunny morning, so a quick stop in a rest area to swap visors and rolling north again.  I knew I was going to be about 50km short if I just went to Nambucca so with plenty of time up my sleeve I decided to turn off to Wauchope and then do a run up to Long Flat and turn around and come back.

Stopped at Taree – no lithium batteries for SPOT, a quick hello from Tigerbill and some other Ulyssian... one of those Ulyssians who think the whole world revolves around their local branch and their coffee *roll eyes* but I managed to get away from him rather quickly  (breathe in breathe out, each to their own Mel, each to their own).

I quickly recalled how much I hate the Pacific Highway along here... I swear it attracts the worst drivers... oh they can do 130 in the overtaking zones but single lane?  NO they cannot go above 85 grrrrrrrr anyway I was glad to get away from the hwy.  But upon leaving Wauchope I was stuck behind another annoying car... slooooooow on the bends but very fond of putting the foot down on the exit and with the double lines (and having made far too many contributions for ‘unsafe overtaking’) I was just waiting and waiting and waiting for those blessed dashed lines... they didn’t come and I ended up turning around well before Long Flat.  Back to Wauchope and a quick stop for the ladies (it was a big coffee) and then I frustrated my way back to Port Macquarie and then up the Pacific with all the annoying drivers (I think there is a reason I love the ‘dusty inland locations’ no other freaking people to get in my way on the road!!!!!!!!) Though Macksville, past Nambucca Heads and there are *alot* of bikes rolling in.  Waves to everyone (can anyone see me waving?) turn around at Hungry Head (mmmmm lunch time) and back into Nambucca.  Rolled up to the Wall and OMG the place is packed! And it’s way before 12pm.  I pull up next to Gadget, had a brief chat and suddenly he is threatening to marry me off!!!!!!!!    Why would you do that to me???      (actually good luck in finding someone who would be willing to put up with me and my constant desire to be alone).

Briefly met the other M but was in a bit of a frazzle thinking about check-in and stuff.  Checked in and then it was time to relax.  Found some crowds of people I knew to hide in, had fish and chips for lunch, which were YUM.  It was so HOT and SUNNY and Nambucca!  Eventually I was starting to overheat so went and found my little cabin which was straight across from the pool.  Into my swimmers and into the pool to cool off before heading back over to the pub and spending the afternoon chatting with various others.  Before long it was dinner time (yummo) but I ate too much and drank too much coke and water and ended up hiccupping the evening away  

Before too long the pub was closing and we all headed off to bed, where I did battle with a big hairy cockroach before I could go to bed.  Ew.

Sunday morning dawned warm and sunny and I had two days to get home... oh yeah  
I quickly decided there was NO WAY IN HELL I was slabbing it home and wanted to get off the Pacific Hwy as quickly as possible... yes Waterfall Way it was.  I had a beautiful run up the Waterfall Way.  I only caught up to one car, at the bits where it was down to one lane, they very quickly pulled over to let me pass... YES.

Stopped at one of the rest areas at the top of the mountain, put the new batteries in SPOT (that I had found at the servo in Nambucca) and consulted my map.  I decided that I was going to go to Narrandera for rissoles (after coming under some pressure re the rissole ride on Saturday night) and also to try and do some spelling.  Of course I had just been through Raleigh... I briefly thought about heading back down but nah.... I had a nice run through to Ebor (for an E) and Armidale for an A an fuel.  It was getting a big chilly so the flanno came back out... have I mentioned how much I love my flanno?

Approaching Uralla I saw a sign for Rocky River.  Pulled over and looked at my map – the road from Uralla looked better so into Uralla and hung a right and found a school... that’ll do (though tree plantings made it a bit awkward).  Continued on down the New England to Tamworth where HURRAH time to leave the main highway (and time to lose the flanno again – it was HOT).  Fuel and headed out for Werris Creek... and saw the HWP coming in... what are they doing out here?  Nevermind, I don’t speed (much) so don’t get booked 

Right at Werris Creek and I decided that I should take some photos so I stopped after going over a creek (only a little trickle across the road) and under a bridge.  Very pretty.



Across the Kamilaroi Highway and onto Premer – heaps of cars out here today, very unusual!  Sunday must be a busy day.  Heading for Coolah and I decided to stop at the Black Stump Rest Area.  Took another photo then chilled out on a bench under a tree with my water, some cookies pinched from the motel on Friday night and my map.  



Nope, not going to make Mudgee on this tank of fuel so eventually back on the bike, splash and dash at Coolah and turned right, to take the Ulan way into Gulgong.  And another HWP came past! What are they doing out here? LOL.

Past the mines and the big big piles of coal, through Ulan and into Gulgong where there is a train stopped across the tracks.  I love freight trains, they are so BIG and so AWESOME and I hardly ever see them.  So I got a bit excited and hopped off the bike and was taking pics... I dunno if the car in front just got bored or freaked out by the mad chick taking photos of a stationary train but they quickly did a u-turn and buggered off.  I don’t mind, I got into pole position that way!  



Eventually the train started moving and off I went, around Mudgee and onto Wellington for fuel again.  Was getting  a bit grey and gloomy again.  Heading down the road for Molong and the little marker signs have an O... I need an O!  In all my searching for O’s I overlooked Orange (forehead slap).  So Orange for an O, fuel, I bought a drink and a muffin at the servo then headed out on the Escort Way for Eugowra, thinking there might be a park to stop at and have my muffin.  No park.  On the way out I saw a lady in a blue dress hitch-hiking...

I stopped at the park in Cudal to eat my muffin and have my drink and then the lady in the blue dress turned up.  She came over and asked me about the bike, turns out she was interested in getting her licence.  In the conversation she mentioned that she lived in Cudal now... eventually she wandered off (I think she was quite drunk, she sure smelled like it) and I did too, passing her out the other side of town as she walked along the road.

In Eugowra it was almost dark and I swapped to the clear visor.  Coming into Forbes and I was riding into yet another big black nasty cloud and was treated to the lightning show again.  A big bolt of lightning cracked above my head, I squealed and twisted the wrist LOL.  Before long it was pelting down with rain and I was soaked to the skin again.... visibility poor and I had to slow right down.  Where was my plastic suit?  In my bag of course!

I had planned to pull in at the servo to take shelter but before that I saw some automotive business with a nice overhang so I rode across the river that was the edge of the road and straight under the overhang.  It was very wet under there but at least I was mostly out of the rain.  And guess what! my flanno was dry.  Have I mentioned how much I love my flanno?   



A big truck with a small truck on the back pulled up and he ran under the overhang to put his jumper on before braving the elements to remove the flashing orange lights from his truck.  He came back and we had a bit of a chat for a while, he was only fairly new to truck driving but he was loving it, loving all the different jobs and places his job takes him too.  Jealous, I wish I had a job that I loved! He asked which way I came, I told him and he was looking for a roadhouse or somewhere to have dinner.  I told him that the pub in Eugowra was doing pizzas that night (the signs out the front said) and he said he would try that.  IT wasn’t until later that I realised that he wouldn’t be going through Eugowra, so I gave him bad information and then I felt a little bit bad.  He had asked where I was heading and I said Narrandera for rissoles, and he informed me that the rissoles in Narrandera are famous amongst the truckies   

The truckie left then I wriggled into my plastic suit, the rain died off a bit and I headed out onto the Newell.  It was dark and wet and windy and there were a billion little frogs jumping all over the road, I tried to avoid them but I think I must have squished a few hundred 

I still planned to go to Narrandera for rissoles but realised that it was going to be after 10pm by the time I got there.  As I approached West Wyalong it started getting a bit cold so I determined that I would try and get a room at the pub (money conservation).  I noted a sign at the Budget Motel saying they had a King Single Special $45... serious!  I went and checked out the pub and they were $45 as well... so back to the motel lol.  

West Wyalong by night is very pretty, the whole main street has party lights!:


I pulled into the Ardeanal Motel and sorted a room.  The lady asked me if I had had tea yet, I said no, and she said that the chinese was probably still open for a bit, she organised my chinese and went and fetched it for me while I got out of my wet gear.  How awesome is that?  She said that she just hoped one day if she was in a similar situation someone would do the same for her.  SO I got into some dry gear and had my satay beef and it was lovely! The bed was really comfy and I had a great sleep.

Monday morning was quite grey and dismal in West Wyalong.  Still beats going to work by a billion times infinity.  I realised after I was showered and starting to pack up that my camera battery was just about dead.  SO I hung around for a bit longer while that charged up and then set off down the road for Reefton (forgetting that I already had Rocky River for an R) and then over to Ilabo for an I... I stopped in front of the fire shed rather than the town sign for something different (I have been to Ilabo a lot lately LOL).  After I took my pictures a car left the pub and rolled to a stop next to me.  “Your helmet would just have to be the coolest thing ever” said the lady (well words to that effect).  I thanked her, she asked if I was looking for somewhere to have a cuppa as I could come to theirs, I declined as I had places to be etc.  She then looked at my bike “Oooh that’s a fast bike” she says “you be careful out there on that” I agreed to be careful as her husband, obviously sick of the conversation, started driving away.  A little chuckle from me and back through the outskirts of Junee and onto Coolamon and Narrandera.

Arrived in Narrandera with it starting to rain.  Fuelled up at the servo and went and ordered my rissoles.  I asked to have them with no vegies, just mash, “oh no they are already made up on the plate so you have to have them as they come” says the lady.  Fair enough, I pay her my $11.85 and find a seat and wait.

And wait

And wait

And wait

Eventually I enquire as to the whereabouts of my rissoles, seeing as it has been about 45 minutes... “they’ll be with you very shortly” says the other lady... I think they were forgotten about.  About five minutes later they were on my table and I picked my way around the peas and corn (gross).  They were good... but not as good as I remembered them being.  So I don’t think I will be doing the rissole ride (if the same lady is serving I don’t think she’d cope with us lot turning up anyway).

After lunch I was talking to the lady at the next table when... the lady in the blue dress walks past the window... this time she has a big bag with her.  Weird.

So after an extended stop in Narrandera it was time to head home.  A few weeks ago I had seen a sign for “Oura Beach” so I decided to go and check that out (also it would cut out the highway bit from Wagga to Gundagai).  My map showed the road I needed to take being just north of Wagga on the road to Junee... stuffed if I know where it was, I didn’t see it signposted!  Nevermind, turned off for Harefield and went to Oura that way.  I headed towards the beach but then the road turned to gravel and I couldn’t see much of what it was like and it was starting to rain so I left it and turned around.  Through Gundagai and out to the Tuckerbox for fuel and then it was the slab home under grey skies.  Upon crossing the border it started raining on my head but it was dry out at home (though not pretty!).



1221 km to get to lunch and a total of 2853 for the weekend.  And my Road 3’s are still going strong    . 

A Ride to Happy Valley Hotel and Back Again...

A weekend in Bright? Yes please!

The week before I got a message from Skuffy saying we were now staying at the Happy Valley Hotel in Ovens.  Checked it out on the internets and it looked pretty good.  The weather forecast for the weekend wasn’t very impressive so I decided to head off straight from work on Friday and then play it by ear… I decided I would head to Adaminaby.

Friday finally came to an end and I set off – it was pretty grey here in Canberra but warmish… not for long, before I’d even crossed the border I was wet and cold… oh well.  No more rain until Cooma – and it was looking black as in the direction of Adaminaby.  Ew.  So I whipped out the smarterthanme phone and the forecast down the coast looked pretty good so I added my flanno to my outfit and froze my way through to Bombala with the sky still threatening.  Headed down the Cann River Road and had a very nice run through there and got into Cann River about 8pm.  Room at the motel, dinner at the diner, then an hour with my head in the textbooks and off to bed.

Saturday morning dawned glorious… sunshine, blue skies, not too cold… just perfect.  I had noted when I rolled in the night before that the big Mobil is now a big United.  I headed up to the Caltex and it is closed!  So United it was for fuel, and then I headed south, fuel at Bruthen and then…. MT HOTHAM HERE I COME.  The sun was still shining and it was warming up beautifully.

I set off towards Omeo and… I just couldn’t get into a good rhythm, just felt really awkward on the bike.  I hate it when that happens… especially on a beautiful day such as this… oh well what can you do?

Got overtaken by about a billion bikes heading to Omeo, but had a very lonely ride up and over Hotham.  It was very hard work going down the other side and I was very relieved to finally make it to Harrietville… where I found SUMMER!  30 degrees?  YES PLEASE!!

I had had grand plans of heading over Tawonga Gap, up Falls Creek and back, etc etc, but I just didn’t feel up for it after my run over Hotham so instead headed straight to the Happy Valley Hotel at Ovens, got there about 1pm… I got there just in time for Trivia which a visitor from Wodonga won, then everyone left so I sat out the front and watched the world go by with my text books in front of me.

The crowds started rolling in, it was the pool comp finals that night so they were expecting a huge night… eventually the other turned up about 8pm after some dramas….

We ordered our dinner and settled in for beers and bullshit.  In bed by midnight and I was very soon unconscious 

Sunday was supposed to be quite miserable, rain everywhere, so I had thought of maybe heading further west and coming back to Canberra that way… but in Ovens it was warm and while it was overcast, it was not threatening with rain so I waved goodbye to the others and turned right and went over Tawonga Gap… OH YEAH this so made up for Saturday’s disappointment, I had an absolute ball!  All too soon I was over the other side, along Cow Pat Road and into Tallangatta where I stopped at the Bakery to get some water and accidentally walked out with an apple crumble slice thing (YUM).  Underway again and Granya Gap was fantastic as well, all to myself, nobody else around, until another bike caught up to me in Granya (town).  Just out the otherside they went roaring past me, cool, but then on the first sweeper I had to brake because they went so slow… anyway I just pulled up for a couple of minutes and then I never saw them again :D  So River Road mostly all to myself.

Into Khancoban with the fuel light flashing… guy in the servo asked me if I was local as he has seen me a few times now!  I’m from Canberra I say… Awesome burger and then a decision had to be made… Thredbo or Cabramurra?  The weather was holding out… I was in luck 

While I was sitting there thinking about it a very dodgy van with some very clueless people pulled up and they were heading for Thredbo… so I went Cabramurra and it was just fantastic.  I only had I think four oncoming cars and two bikes, and only one really slow car to overtake, no problems, just beautiful scenery, beautiful roads, yayayayayaay :D  All too soon it was over and I was at Adaminaby.  Stopped there for a while chatting with Ed about all manner of things (bikes), then rolled through Cooma and on a whim stopped at the Bredbo Christmas Barn… wow, I was impressed (surprisingly).  Spent far too long there looking at all the pretty things and then home, and it started raining just as I pulled up in front of the garage.

I wish all days could be like that!!

I really must get my camera back off my sister… only one photo…

Kiandra

Now M, as I think you are the only person who actually reads my blog… I don’t like to post about incidents so no mention has been made, but I hope that you are healing up well!

Winter Holidays 2011

I had a bit of annual leave built up, my grandmother’s 80th birthday was set down for 23 July so I decided to make a real holiday of it and not go home between then and the Border Run.

I decided to set off straight from work on Wednesday 20 July and I had planned to go as far as Raymond Terrace and then slab the rest of the way on Thursday, arriving at Jen and Stuie’s love nest Thursday evening.  I had had a lot of very bad food (laksa and cupcakes and coke) and I ended up hiccuping most of the way to Sydney - not far out of Sydney it started bucketing down with rain and it quickly became apparent that my waterproof jacket had lost it’s waterproofing.  So I hiccuped my way through to Mt Kuringai (I know that’s not spelt right) where I got a motel room and spread out everything I owned to dry out with the aircon set at 24 degrees.

In the morning I awoke to the sound of very heavy rain… oh well.  I lay about for a while hoping that it would clear up but it wasn’t to be.  All my gear had dried out so I packed up and set off and within about five minutes I was soaked to the skin again.  It was cold, visibility was very poor, a most miserable ride.  Just straight up the Pacific Highway so nothing too exciting.

Around Taree the rain started to ease off and when I stopped at the service centre at Port Macquarie the sun had come out.  I was still freezing as I was wet but I checked the radar and it looked like I had left the rain behind so I changed into dry clothes and from then on it was quite pleasant (even almost too hot! Yay!).

An uneventful journey north…

Ballina

It was quite a dull trip actually, I won’t go that way again.

Got into QLD after dark and rang Stuie who gave me directions to the love nest, getting in around… ummm 7pm?  Jen got home from work about 9pm and it wasn’t too long before I was in bed.

Friday everyone was at work and I ended with a migraine of the worst sort… not much fun at all.  It was my grandmother’s birthday so we were all going out for dinner (heaps of the family were there).  It was a bit of a shame, I was quite groggy from all the drugs I had taken that day so not much of a conversationalist.  The place we went to (George’s Paragon or something like that) was really nice though.

Saturday was Oma’s party - there were heaps of people and she really enjoyed it and OMG the food was pretty awesome.  Krissy (cousin) and I ended up on clean up duties which was really dull and my migraine was still bothering me so again not much fun for me.  Oh well.

Sunday we had breakfast round at my aunty’s place before the rest of the family all set off for home.  Oma really enjoyed her 80th birthday celebrations.

I then spent the next week and a bit lazing about on the Gold Coast (aka Paradise).  Facebook kept me informed of the extreme cold snap that Canberra went through… every morning while I was sitting outside in my summer jammies 

Oma and me

Breakfast at Burleigh Heads

Surfer's Paradise

Coomera River

Every day there was glorious and all too soon it was time to leave *sadface*.  I had decided to leave on the Monday and take my time getting to Border Village.  I left at a reasonable hour and headed south on the motorway, going off through Bangalow and Lismore.  I had planned to do the Bruxner Highway up to Tenterfield but as I was leaving Casino there was warnings that a bridge somewhere was closed and there was no access through until later that afternoon, so I turned around, down to Grafton and then the Gwydir Highway up to Glen Innes where I had a bit of a break before continuing on west.

By the time I got to Warialda I had had enough of riding into the sun so started looking around for accommodation.  The first pub didn’t have any and the second pub looked dodgy as, but I didn’t spot anywhere else (until I left the next morning and saw the motel on the other side of town) so the dodgy looking pub it was.   Looks can be deceiving!  My room was clean and comfortable and I had AN ELECTRIC BLANKET!, the bike was undercover and I had perhaps the best shower I have ever had.  After I was all cleaned up I went into the bar where the bourbon flowed nicely and I had a great evening chatting with the locals and the publican.  Before long I headed for bed.

In the morning I couldn’t get out of bed… no I wasn’t too hungover - I was just in love with that electric blanket.  Not quite the early start I had been hoping for… oh well.  Eventually got underway, through Moree and kept heading west towards Bourke.

The weather just got better and better as I went along - it was really lovely.

Collarenebri

Continued on through Walgett and Brewarrina and eventually into Bourke.

Now Bourke is one of those places on the map that I have always just wanted to visit (that whole back o’ bourke thing) plus my dad’s old friend Possum who I have some vague childhood memories of apparently runs a pub out there.  So I had planned on staying there.  In the end I decided it would be weird going and finding some chick just because she used to be friends with my dad (who has been dead for some 26 years) and I couldn’t find any accommodation anyway, other than the pub which wanted $50.00 for the room (bah I’m not paying $50.00 for a pub room says I!) so I kept going.

I rolled out of Bourke with eyes the size of dinner plates worrying about wildlife as it was getting on in the day… and I saw nothing.  Stopped about halfway to Cobar to swap to the clear visor and it was dark by the time I rolled into Cobar.  Found a pub with accommodation… “it’s nothing flash” says the publican but with my experience of the night before figured it would be fine.  WRONG!.  Dirtiest, most disgusting pub I have ever stayed in, dirty glass in my room and who knows when it last saw a vacuum cleaner and the bathrooms were filthy (and no toilet paper!) and parking was terrible too.  Note to self - don’t stay there again!

Wednesday morning I was up early and outta there.  Found fuel and the bakery where I sat down for breakfast to figure out which way I was going to go, either out through Wilcannia and Broken Hill or down through Mt Hope and Hay.  I checked the forecast and they were talking about strong winds out near Broken Hill so I went south.  Lovely run down through to Mt Hope, the sun was shining, the roads were empty, just beautiful.

Fuel at Hillston and then onto Goolgowi where the wind came up… grrrr.  Into Hay and I was getting very sore from fighting the wind all the time.  Was tempted to pull the pin there but decided to ‘man up’ and continued on… across the Hay Plain was just as miserable, fuelled up at Balranald and decided Euston was as far as I was going to go (besides I knew the meals at the Euston Club were pretty good…).  Got a room at the motel (and was upgraded to the executive room!), went and chilled out by the river for a bit before an early dinner and early to bed.

I had decided that Thursday was going to be my 1,000km day.  If I had of remembered to set my alarm that might have helped… anyway managed a not too late start..

Just out of Euston

it was a little bit chilly but not too bad.  Rolled straight through Mildura, my next fuel was planned for Renmark.  Along the way I picked up Ron from FarRiders who stopped for a bit in Renmark with me before going off in search of treasure.  I had one of the best pies I have ever had there (at the Caltex).  Before long it was back on the bike and I headed off to Morgan and then into new territory…

Worlds End Highway

I had always been intrigued when passing the sign for this highway at the other end… so I did it.  Was quite a nice detour actually.  Also took me away from the horrid weather I had been riding towards!

Worlds End Highway

At Burra I was tricked when the sign pointing into the town was missing so took the long way to the servo.

Heading towards Peterborough the wind picked up again, was a real struggle!  Calmed down before Horrock’s Pass and I had a good run down (was trying to find the plaque but I couldn’t find it).  A bit of a break in Port Augusta and then out through Kimba.  Had been thinking about Ceduna for the night but it had started raining and by the time I got to Poochera I decided that was far enough (I had done my 1,000km by then).

Got a room at the pub and had a nice evening chatting with the publican (and hanging out in front of the fire).

Friday… well I could have gone straight to the border… a day ahead of schedule, oops! The weather was still pretty dreary and I copped rain on and off all day.  I stopped at Ceduna for a bit at the BP, got a coffee and just sat out the front watching the world go by.  Chicky and two of his mates stopped with me for a bit then some other pommy bloke, all heading for the border.

Eventually I got underway again, Penong for fuel (and to hide from a huge rainstorm that came through) and then onto Nullarbor Roadhouse.  It was about 2pm when I got there but I decided to just get a room (not a dodgy donga!) and just chill out and get my washing done.

Nullarbor Plain

Mention had been made by a couple of FarRiders that they had been going to spend the night here as well but I never saw them.  Usually the food here is pretty impressive so I ordered spicy beef nachos for dinner…

Spicy Beef Nachos

Worst. Nachos. Ever.  No beef.  Just salsa dumped on corn chips.  And mostly cold.

Saturday morning I had the huge 180km to Border Village to ride.  I took it easy.  No idea what time I arrived at Border Village but a couple of the FarRiders were already there.  I tried to sort out my accommodation (I was to bunk in with Alli and a couple of her friends) but they wouldn’t let me in til everyone was there (they needed to confirm numbers and I didn’t know how many).  She mentioned how many beds there were and by my figuring there weren’t enough… eventually she had a cancellation on a donga (which had three single beds) so I grabbed it for $50.00.  Turns out that was the right choice as when Alli and co. rocked up the cabin we had was pretty tiny, Alli and Catherine ended up in the donga with me (and we just split the cost amongst all of us).

Everyone arrived in dribs and drabs and it was good to hang out with everyone.

Border Village

We woke up early on Sunday morning and started packing up.

Border Village Donga

We headed back over to the roadhouse.  Alli and I farewelled the SA crew and everyone else, then headed back inside for a Border Breakfast… oh yeah 

Border Breakfast

Alli had decided to stay another night at Border Village so she could poke around at Eucla and just generally relax so eventually I set off east.

It was very lonely at the Nullarbor Roadhouse, everyone else had already gone!   With such a late start it’s not surprising.  The weather was still pretty cold but it managed to stay dry until I was heading to Poochera and it was black as… I was just looking for somewhere good to pull over when a big black bike came past giving me the ‘follow me’ wave… I didn’t at first still looking for somewhere good to pull over to wiggle into the plastic pants but then the rain hit and it was over pretty quickly so I tracked down the big black bike.  Turned out it was Ken on the GTR, we fuelled up at Poochera and he continued on, I had grand plans of stopping at the pub again.  But that wasn’t to be - no room I was told.  Chicky and his mates had been planning to stay up the road a bit further so I rang the place where they were headed and they were full too.. what can you do? Just keep going.

Eventually I ended up in Wudinna at the pub where I had a dinky little single room with a great shower… and Chicky and Bill and Barry were there! They hadn’t been able to get accommodation where they stayed either.  worked out well, Wudinna was a great place to stay.  Had dinner and into bed.

In the morning I inspected the rear tyre that was getting pretty low and decided to head into Port Augusta to have a chat to the guys at the bike shop.  In the end I decided not to risk it and got a brand new Pilot Road 3 put on… for about the same price I would pay in Canberra - big thumbs up to the guys at Great Northern Motorcycles!  I left my bike with them and headed over to maccas for some food and encountered Malcolm and his friend there, Malcolm was also getting a new tyre fitted! So we had a bite to eat and then headed back to the bike shop and then…

and then…

I turned off at that giant intersection 

Oh yeah!

I went into Woomera, where I had never been before, not much there!

Woomera, SA

Except for lots of big things in the centre…

Continued on and fetched up at Coober Pedy for the night.  Stayed in the underground backpackers again and had a terrible dinner at the place across the road that is supposed to be awesome (I had carbonara and it tasted like glue… )

My initial plan had been to just cross the border to grab a fridge magnet for Jen from NT.

SA/NT Border

Then I thought I might just go for a run out to the rock and then turn back.  I stopped at Erldunda and while I was having my lunch here I got on the internet on my phone and read about John’s passing.  With a heavy heart I continued north.

My original plan had been to stay at Ti Tree roadhouse.  When I got into Alice Springs I thought to call ahead to make sure they had accommodation… and they didn’t!  If I went further than that I would run out of daylight, and I didn’t fancy staying at Aileron so I got a room in Alice Springs instead.

As I had approached Alice Springs there was heaps of smoke in the sky… I tried to take a picture.

Alice Springs NT

It was lovely and warm in the Alice!

I woke up the next morning and was debating what to do… do I keep going north and home via western qld?  A run out to the rock and back south?  I hung around for the tourist shop to open so I could get a fridge magnet for Jen and then I set off south.  And about 5km south I chucked a u-ey and went north! lol.

Goin' Troppo

The sun was shining, it was warm and beautiful, just beautiful.

Before long I could see black smoke ahead… I didn’t much like the look of it.  Eventually I could see the road went straight through it.  Hmmmm.  I thought about it and figured if it was dangerous they would have closed the highway, cars were going through OK so I just manned up and went through.  Was pretty scary.  A big blast of wind from my right blew flames and ash and a big blast of heat at me as I went through… was glad to get out the other side.

Fire!

I stopped at Wauchope for some lunch and hung around for a bit enjoying the warmth.

I stopped in at Wycliffe Wells and said gidday to the green dudes

Wycliffe Wells

Next was Tennant Creek.  My original plan had been to be in Camooweal that night but with staying in Alice Springs the night before, I was a bit behind schedule.  I thought I could make Barkly Homestead so I rang there and they had no accommodation left.  I will never again go up the guts without my camping gear!

I got into Threeways Roadhouse and it was HOT! Fabulous! I ended up getting a cabin there.  It was too early to pull up but given there was nothing at Barkly and Camooweal was some 400km away it would be after dark by the time I got there.  So instead I had an icecream and had a nanna nap 

I had ‘tangy meatballs’ for dinner and the chef had asked me to let him know what I thought as it was new on the menu.  It was FABULOUS.  He was having a hard time convincing the boss as the truckies don’t like to try new things apparently.

It was peak hour at Barkly, had a quick pie for breakfast and headed for QLD.

NT/QLD border

Was sad to be leaving the NT   But was happy to be back in QLD 

Passed through Mt Isa and stopped in Cloncurry.  I was hoping to make Winton but there was just no way that was going to happen (I didn’t want to be out on the road on dusk/after dark).  So I rang ahead to McKinlay and booked a room at the Walkabout Creek Hotel.  Got to the pub and the carpark was full of gravel.  Nearly crashed into some dude who just laughed at me, was pretty funny.

The publican directed me to the dongas out the back and warned me that it was quite gravelly out there… he wasn’t wrong! Luckily the dudes staying in the next donga were hanging about and helped me to park.  Was ankle deep loose gravelly stuff! Yuck!

Had dinner in the pub with some dude travelling through for work and then early to bed.  Not the greatest accommodation but it was OK.

Another bright and sunny morning greeted me… how I love Queensland!

Outback QLD

Just out of McKinlay they were doing roadworks so I got stopped by the lollipop man… great photo op! He offered to take my photo but I don’t need to be in it 

<3 it out here.

So by the time I got into Winton it was like 10am.  Far too early for a mixed grill.  I stopped at the opal shop and decided to have a look (my sister’s 30th birthday was coming up).  I found a very pretty necklace straight away.  I looked at everything else but got her the necklace - it was so pretty, I thought she’d love it.

At the BP they were looking for staff… tempted!  I have no customer service experience but I can learn, right?  Well not this time.  Continued on.

Fuel and icecream at Longreach, through Barcy and Blackall and  onto Tambo where I got a room at the pub.

Had dinner chatting with the publican where we had a big discussion on all the emus that I had been seeing.

He told me how emus when scared will always run to their nest so I should watch out for them as they would run across the road… not the smartest of animals.

Woke up to the sun shining once more (of course.. it’s Queensland!) and set off, Augathella for fuel

Augathella

and then I was off into new territory, through Charleville and Cunnamulla.

Crossed back into NSW (sadface) and into Bourke for fuel and a little break.  It was 4:20pm when I got fuel and was probably there for about ten minutes max.  There were a couple of potential pubs on the road to Nyngan so I set off from Bourke and decided to just wing it for accommodation.

Heading down the road I got startled when a big 4WD overtook me like I was standing still… awesome I thought, pace car, and set off after them, but gave it up shortly after, I just didn’t want to go fast so continued dawdling along at or about the speed limit (like I had been for most of the trip).

About 30km south of Bourke I saw an emu off to my left and he was running away from me.  So I started slowing down and looked to my right looking for his buddies who might run across in front of me.  There were none so I looked back up and the emu was right in front of me.  I had a split second to brake as hard as I could and BAM I hit the emu.  Was out of control for a second but then the bike righted itself.  I could see a bit of fairing hanging off so went to stop but had no brakes.  I wobbled to a stop on the side of the road using my rear brake.

I had a quick assessment of the damage, cracked guard, smashed headlight surround and side fairing.  I taped it all back up.

Emu Strike

I looked back up the road and no sign of the emu, I thought he had just run off.  There was heaps of feathers all over the road so I went back up to take a photo of all that and then I saw the emu on the side of the road, sitting in the long grass.  He tried to get up and couldn’t.  So I called WIRES and as soon as the lady answered the phone I was very mature and promptly burst into tears.  They were going to get a carer to come out but instead the police came out and shot it.  It was getting pretty dark by that point so I hopped on the bike and followed the police car back into Bourke.  Parking with no front brakes is a bitch!

The police recommended the pub to stay at (for $50! for a pub room!) I wobbled to a stop outside the pub and it was packed! I tried to get to the bar to enquire about accommodation but couldn’t get near the bar.  Crowds was the last thing I felt like so I went to a nearby motel (Major Mitchell) and they had a room so I took that, had a shower and headed to the Bowls Club for dinner.  (There are two options for dining out in Bourke - the Pub and the Bowls Club).  Had some dinner and then back to bed for an early night - I had planned to attempt to ride home with no brakes if I couldn’t sort an easy fix of them in the morning.

When I woke up the next morning I decided that riding 700+km home with only the rear brake was kinda stupid.  I rang the NRMA who told me that although my premium care apparently covers ‘accidents’ to some extent, because my vehicle was damaged due to an ‘impact’ there was to be no help from them.  I couldn’t get in touch with my insurance until 9am Monday and nothing in Bourke was open except for the IGA.  I arranged to stay another night at the Motel and set off to see the sights of Bourke.

Darling River at Bourke

The River Walk was the hightlight.

It was quite odd walking around the streets of Bourke and in the middle of the day all the sprinklers were going on the front lawns… haven’t seen that since I was a kid due to the water restrictions we have at home.

Eventually Sunday passed and off to the Bowls Club for dinner again (as the pub didn’t do meals on Sundays).

Monday morning dawned bright and sunny (almost as good as QLD).  I got onto the insurance company who gave me the number for the Kawasaki Dealer in Dubbo (some 360km away) said to get them to organise getting the bike to them for repairs.  They also said I had $500 to get myself home.

I rang the Kawasaki Dealer and spoke to Dale, I explained my predicament to him and he said he would ring me back.  When he rang back he said the tow truck couldn’t come today, but would be out tomorrow, or he could come out and get me after he finished work.  That was a bit nuts I thought so I said I would wait for the towtruck no worries, sorted out my room for another night at the motel and settled in for another day in Bourke.  The Library was open so I went up there and sorted out the claim forms, and had a nice breakfast at the Bakery.

Early afternoon Dale rang me back and said that he was sending his dad out to get me, he’d be there about 5pm.  Was a bit odd I thought as the tow truck was already sorted but whatever.  The guy in the motel refunded me half my money for the room and I sorted out a room in Dubbo for the night, and a hire car for the next morning to drive back to Canberra.

Dale’s dad turned up and we loaded the bike onto the ute.

Ready to go to Dubbo

And we set off for the 360km back to Dubbo.

Got into the Motel where I had booked my room at about 9pm only to be told he had given my room away hours ago.  I was very cranky.  Managed to get a room at the Formule 1 across the road though so that was lucky (there was a conference on in Dubbo and some ladies bowls finals or something so accommodation was scarce).

Dale’s dad had thought they might be able to get my brakes fixed so I could ride it home rather than having to come back to get it so I hung around waiting… they finally rang and said they needed some kit which was coming overnight.  So I sorted another room with the motel, moved and then went to explore Dubbo.  Somewhat more exciting than Bourke I guess.

Sort of had tentative arrangements to catch up with James but it didn’t come to pass.

The next morning I woke up eager to hear how my bike was going.  I waited. and waited.  Eventually they said the kit didn’t fix it, turned out the disc was warped after all, and a new disc was coming overnight.  Another night, another room at the formule 1.

Finally the day my bike was ready to ride home.  Discs came in and I was on the road about 11am.  The weather was terrible! Cold and wet.  Yuck.

Finally got home and got the bike off to CMC for final repairs on the Saturday.  Seven weeks later I got him back.  YAY!

poor bike