Back on the Big Island after 10 days in Tassie, I left the Spirit Of Tasmania 2 and rode to my daughter's place in Tumut for an overnight visit. The next morning required as early a start as can be achieved with a family preparing for work and school. Off to town for fuel:
It was a bright crisp morning and my hopes were high for a great day on the road. Sadly, only 10 kays along the Gocup Road I met this nemesis:
"It'll be 10 minutes, Mate, and don't blame me!"
You get that.
The GeePs selected a route through Cowra. I knew about the POW Breakout there and decided to take a look at the memorial gardens, having heard they are worthy.
Once through this gate I was offered the Senior's rate of $15 to actually see the gardens and figured that since I was hoping to be home by 9:30, and had already lost 10 minutes, I wasn't going to get my money's worth, so back on the bike.
I trusted the Garmin to get me back on the highway efficiently, and look at what it had to offer, after leaving town:
It looked pretty good and only had two sharp bends, so I stuck with it. I reckoned after a scary gravel road exploit in the Tassie high country with a fully loaded bike and pillion, I was capable of riding on this.
At Larras Lee I saw this over in the bush. This guy has the Best Train Set!
Onwards through Wellington to my next fuel stop, in Dubbo. The Shell there required a Pay Day Loan, but just over the road was a brand I've never seen before, Inland Petroleum. They got my money. I'm getting used to paying more than $40 for a bike fill, even at the cheapest place in town.
The ride towards Coonabarabran has some nice bends, and long views of the Warrumbungles to help pass the time.
In my riding time, I've encountered wide loads that have impeded progress just five times. I got around the first years ago by jumping off the Cunningham Highway at an exit and racing the load to the on-ramp. The next two were associated with the Wandoan FarRide. And now I'm seeing yet another one. I caught him out of Coona and thankfully he went straight ahead to Gunnedah and I turned off for Narrabri.
The cool morning had long surrendered to a hot afternoon, and by Gurley I was needing a break and a Coke. The only game in town is the Royal pub. Sitting on the corner under the awning was the publican talking through a few lonely teeth, his wife, several ragtag kids and a local lady. They were discussing the Big Party that was the highlight of the "town", it being Halloween. Gulping down the cold Coke, I had a profound sense of sadness. The scenario spoke to me of poverty and isolation, tinged with optimism about their enterprise. I looked at the Streetview when I got home and the pub has a big For Sale sign on it. The photo was
captured just one year ago. These battlers have bought themselves a ramshackle pub in the hope of making a go of it and there they were next to their their chalkboard sign promising prizes for the best costume that night. I really hope some people turned up, and they make a go of it.
It wasn't far up the road when I saw oncoming traffic that I could not believe!
Are these things stalking me? That's four in two months. The officious Copper who always preceeds these mammoths was throwing his arm around fit to bust regardless of the dimensions of the bike and the space available. I got my photo safely on the edge of the bitumen- I'd already done my gravel for the day.
Next stop- Boggabilla. At 380 kays from home it's a handy refuel going either way.
Then I was set for the half hour of having the sun in my mirrors before taking on the skippies. In fact I only saw one little fellow who, when he stood up to check out the noise, would have barely seen over a meerkat. I did turn on the reverser horn because it has been known to be a busy stretch for wildlife.
I cut around the back of Warwick and was making good time until I fell in behind four B-doubles making hard work of going down Cunninghams Gap. Once around them it was a straight run for home.
Putting Ruby2sday to bed she was being pestered by Strom for stories from the trip. Too tired to talk, she promised there would be plenty of time for tales in the morning, because the Boss was going to have his first sleep-in for weeks.
