Couldn't sleep after 3 am, so got up at 5 am to refuel Aragog. It was 5°C.
First servo, no 95 RON, next servo the Garmin took me to, was a quiet suburban street, the next servo was closed, finally found an open BP with 95.
Packed Aragog ready to go.
Waited until 6:30 am to check out and wait for Sean.
Around 7:00 am, we were ready to go and it was 8°C.
The Garmin took me out via Majura Parkway, Sean went the way be knew, thinking it was faster and said he'd wait for me at the Border sign. When he got there he rang, and I was already crossing the Yass River on the Federal Highway. I hadn't seen any border signs. So I plodded along and just before the M7, Sean caught up.
The Temperature by now had reached 24 °C and it rose sharply from there until we got to Pennant Hills. As I pulled into the BP the Dash was showing 38 °C. The thermals which had seemed like a good idea in Canberra were causing an issue. So the lining came or of the jacket and all the vents opened.
A quick bite at the Maccas nearby, and a blast up the Newcastle freeway in quite heavy traffic. Stopped briefly at Beresfield BP for a wee walk and here I even removed the flouro vest to get more air flow.
That was the last stop until Rydges Port Macquarie.
Smoke in the air really thickened North of the Taree turnoff, with my eyes stinging badly.
Checked in, set up some water bottles to cool off for tomorrow, and went to refuel Aragog. According to the specs, he has a 26 litre tank.

He was a little thirsty.
Tomorrow's plan was for me to head home via Casino and lunch with Dad, and Sean to go straight up the coast and home to pick up his daughter from Ipswich by 3pm.
With all the fires and smoke, and a dodgy belly, I'm going to go straight up the coast and hope for a sea breeze of fresh air.
The view from the room at Rydges.

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