NZ to OZ & Back Again....
Our friend Brian Hobson, of Paihiatua
is currently on a 12,000km trip half-way-round
Australia
On his Honda Goldwing motorcycle.
(He's travelling with some mates - Chris Bayley and Edward Bayley who are both
of Te Awamutu, Steve Brown is from Tauranga, Lynn Southey hails from Feilding,
and Roy Dawson of Ohope, together with Jim Fletcher of Wellington and Maurice
Fletcher of Palmerston North, and Ted Howard of Eketahuna... )
May - June 2009.
The Trip Thus Far:
Click the link "View Larger Map" below the map to see more details - distance, towns,
stops, photos, "Steetview" and of course scale and zoom in and out.
Choose map, topography or satellite view. There's a wealth of data programmed-in
there.
Editorial Content provided by Sue Hobson. Sue is Brian's wife and she stayed home to do all the things she usually does, plus everything (anything?) that Brian usually does. What a champion!
Update: 11 June. (Day 38)
Hi everyone,
Guess this will
be my last write up as the guys have all the bikes crated up and ready for
shipment back to NZ and today they got to the Motel 2pm and then got a taxi into
Brisbane, had lunch and a trip down the river.
Tonight just off for tea and then taxi in the morning to airport at 7am.
Total k's covered 13,840 so guess they won't miss their bikes for a few weeks.
Bikes arrive back in NZ on 3rd July.
Have enjoyed keeping the website updated but am looking forward to Brian coming
home now.
Cheers to you
all.
Sue
Update: 10 June. (Day 37)
Hi Team....
Well everyone I think this could be our final chat for the trip. Brian is now safely in Toowoomba with the rest of the team and all bikes are clean and shiny. He had a good trip today and visited some famous boulders enroute and a superb waterfall (bought the fridge magnet too). Good weather and very mild. Lynn's group had a good trip also although Lynn had a minor altercation with a lady driver (lady drivers fault she pulled out and hit him) - very minor but drove off so Lynn chased after her - funnily enough she was on her way to a funeral - could have been hers............................anyway all sorted and no one hurt - bike OK too.
The boys then went out last night and apparently Lynn and Roy sang to Karoake and Chris was on the dancefloor!!!!! Obviously all very jubilant!!
Tonight they are all off together to dinner and sorting out the clothes and stuff they will carry back with them and stuff they will store on bikes. They will have a leisurely drive into Brisbane tomorrow morning and crate up bikes etc and then get a taxi back to Kingsford Smith Motel for an easy afternoon and a lot of reminiscing I bet. Early start Friday to come back to NZ - just hope they don't bring back the Swine Flu.
I will do a final check in tomorrow night to let you all know bikes are crated etc and that will then be GOODBYE
Cheers for now Sue.
Editor's note:
Thank you Sue for being so diligent. You've written some magic notes,
coordinated lots of reports and constantly selected and sent some super photos.
And.... you've been so consistent.
You've allowed us to record the whole journey for benefit of all the motorcycle
tourists, all their families, and all their individual friends.
Judy and Bill Gibson-Patmore.
As at today, you've had just on 3,000 unique visitors.
Update: 09 June. (Day 36)
Brian is in Wirialda tonight and has sent loads of pics through. Some great pics though of Bathhurst of all the guys on the track and also some good ones of the Dubbo gaol and the Siding Springs Observatory he visited and also Canberra city and the Warrumbungles National Park.
Just had another call from Brian to say that Lynn Southee and his group of riders have arrived safely in Toowoomba tonight safe and well. Brian is about one and a half hours away so will travel to meet up tomorrow. Weather good and all OK.
Bike cleaning day
tomorrow in Toowoomba and then off to Brisbane to crate up bikes on Thursday -
early check in on Friday for flights home.
Sue.
| Click any image to enlarge, then "back" to return. | ||
 Brian at Bathurst "Under The Bridge" |
 The Bikes at Bathurst |
 The Boys at Bathurst |
 Canberra |
 Aborigine Cell-phone Tower |
 This looks ominous! |
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 Cat of Nine Tails - Dubbo Jail |
 Observatory! |
Update: 07 June. (Day 34)
Guys have split up today as some wanted to go through Blue mountains and to a motorbike museum and Brian decided to go as planned through Dubbo so they will meet up again in Toowoomba on Wednesday night. Weather is a good warm 17 degrees, good ride from Bathhurst through a place called Wellington and went to see the Wellington Caves then onto Dubbo. Visited the Dubbo Gaol and learnt a lot of history, saw an original cat of nine tails and a portable gaol that they used to send around the country and apparently Ned Kelly spent time in this whilst being transported from A to B. Brian is in a hotel opposite the gaol at $51A a night which includes a full cooked breakfast so good deal.
He hopes to travel to Goondiwindi tomorrow (about 330k's) and then onto Toowoomba from there. He will try and download some more pics but impossible to find anywhere to do so at the moment. Everywhere is closed down for the long weekend so pretty empty. Wednesday will also be bike cleaning day and then off to Brisbane Thursday to crate up bikes.
All for now but will report in tomorrow night on progress of both groups as Lynn Southey has taken the other group to the museum and blue mountains and they are keeping in touch to make sure everyone is OK. No doubt tomorrow I will be able to report on what the others have been doing today also.
Sue
Update: 06 June. (Day 33)
Hi everyone,
Latest news is that they are all in Bathhurst tonight. Pretty cold this morning apparently coming out of Canberra but fine, tonight is a lovely evening and about 15 degrees. They have all ridden around the Bathhurst racetrack (at 65kph) - just a normal road but with no markings but still very exciting. All staying at the Knickerbocker Hotel and have good rooms. Tomorrow they are thinking of splitting into two groups so they can choice which way they travel to Toowoomba, one group is going to the Blue Mountains and Brian is taking a group to Dubbo which was on the itinerary and then onto Goondiwindi and back to Toowoomba. Not sure at this stage who is going with which group but will let you know tomorrow.
Hotel proprietor is letting Brian use his computer tonight to send some more pics through so will send them on about 9pm tonight.
Everyone is fine and bikes still going well, I think they are all getting a bit tired now and are ready to come home but still enjoying the riding and new experiences.
I believe at this stage the plan is to all rendevous at Toowoomba on Wednesday to clean bikes and then ride into Brisbane to crate up bikes for the return trip home - then the guys will stay in the same motel as they stayed on the first night of the trip and have a very early check-in on Friday morning. Six weeks has been a long time for us in NZ but I think it has flown by for the guys on their bikes.....................guess we will all hear the stories on their return. Brian did take lots of shots with his new helmet cam also so they should be good when downloaded on his return.
Cheers for now - pics to follow later tonight.
Sue
Update: 05 June. (Day 32)
At last some more pics of the trip....................looks like they are a bit muddled with some of Melbourne and areas plus bush fire territory and then onto Canberra.
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Update: 04 June. (Day 31)
Tonight the guys are in a motel near the airport in Canberra. They arrived in Canberra about 11am this morning and found accommodation and then visited the Army Museum and then onto Parliament and sat in on a session which was quite interesting apparently. Temperature was around 15 degrees and a little overcast but pleasant for riding.
Tomorrow they are having time to themselves and then on Saturday morning start off inland again up to Bathhurst.
Still no pics but they are still trying to get some through.
Cheers Sue
Update: 03 June. (Day 30)
Tonight the guys didn't quite make it to Canberra as planned. They rode over 400k's and decided to stop at a place called Batesman Bay which is their last coastal stop before heading inland to Canberra and the rest of the trip. They will leave in the morning and spend the next two nights in Canberra though as they have time to spare.
They have booked into a very nice motel and sitting on the veranda as weather is warm and they are in T shirts. It did rain earlier today when they first set out and they drove through forests which had also been affected by the bushfires. Brian says it was quite eerie as the steam was coming off the ground and the drizzle coming down which made the place quite misty. It is a holiday next Monday so long weekend for the locals. There are posters everywhere apparently saying you lose double demerit points for any motor offences over the long weekend so everyone is taking special care. Mind you they have all been very good and say they have kept very much to the speed limit throughout the trip.
Chris Bayley had a scary moment today when he hit a little wallaby.................Chris and bike fine just a bit shaken....................he is shouting drinks tonight. They all reckon by the time he gets back to NZ it will be a 6ft kangaroo with boxing gloves, ha ha ha.................. anyway the main thing is Chris is fine. A couple of the guys are taking their bikes in for a service tomorrow when they get to Canberra and they are using the two days as rest stops and sightseeing so everyone can do their own thing. Some want to visit a museum so I guess they will split into groups again which is sensible.
Brian still can't get pics through so is going to go into the city tomorrow and try at an Internet Cafe so hopefully we will see some tomorrow now. I will send through as soon as I receive them.
All for now
folks..........
Sue
Update: 02 June. (Day 29)
News tonight is that the boys had a great evening last night at Drouin, the Robin Hood Inn where they stayed, the landlord was a great host and shouted them all drinks on the house and told them to be geared up and ready by 8am this morning and he would take them out to where all the bush fires had been. They had hit only 15k's from the Inn and Brian said it was very shocking.......................the landlords friend had lost everything and he showed them all the house and land that had been totally devastated. All the surrounding area, although now cleaned up, was burnt out and he was telling the guys that the Government paid out for loss of house etc but if you had a business on the property too they would not pay out on that so his friend had an upholstery/saddlery business but lost it all............................very sad indeed. Needless to say not an exciting trip at all but a very worthwhile one and made you realise what these people went through. Apparently the fires were started by a controlled burn off that went terribly wrong..........
Tomorrow they are heading for Canberra and hopefully internet access as they took many pics today also of the area of the fires so hopefully I can send them to you all tomorrow.
Cheers for now
Sue
Update: 01 June. (Day 28)
Latest news from the guys is that they have all met up again and are now in Drouin which is just outside Melbourne on the coast road towards Canberra. They are staying at the Robin Hood Inn which is a little English type motel/hotel with a restaurant so they are eating in tonight. Caught the 2pm sailing across the mouth of the harbour today (10 minute crossing ). All met up after their split yesterday - Brian had been to Ballarat and stayed overnight then drove to Geelong (quite a modern city apparently) then met up with a couple of pilots and they took him for an hour and a half helicopter ride over the area just before meeting up at the wharf for the crossing. Others went to the 12 Apostles as planned and down the coast road to the meeting point. Apparently both groups took some amazing pics so they will come through in the next few days. No internet access tonight.
They have covered 11,200ks to date and have just less than 2,000 to go before the adventure ends. Tomorrow they plan to drive along the coast road and around the bays towards Canberra, and tomorrow night hope to get to Orbost which is a little Dutch town.
Weather conditions are cloudy today but not too cold. Brian hit a bit of rain (showers) last night in Ballarat but nothing much.
All still in good humour and no major hassles with the bikes. Apparently everyone is asking them about the ride and even people in the hotels are logging onto the NZ Goldwing website to follow their progress. On the ferry this afternoon people also asked for the web address so they could see where they had been and the final part of the trip so guess everyone is very interested in these mad guys on their bikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers for
tonight
Sue
Update #2: 31 May. (Day 27)
First set of pics through tonight. Boys are in two groups tonight. Brian wanted to visit Ballarat so headed off on his own whilst the others went to see the 12 Apostles (or should i say 9) as Brian had already seen them. Temperature 15 degrees, cloudy but dry. Had a wee problem in Port Augusta where one of the guys had his helmet and gloves stolen from the cabin room had to call in the Police - luckily he has managed to find replacements so trip not totally ruined....................
Pics looks like they are mainly of Adelaide, Port Augusta and Murray River..................have the second lot coming through right now so will send them on.
Apparently boys didn't make it to Geelong tonight, Brian has stayed in Ballarat on his own as the other guys only got as far as Portland. They will meet up tomorrow early afternoon in Geelong and carry on from there in one group.
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Update: 31 May. (Day 27)
2nd batch of pics. Looks like these are Murray River too....................no doubt Brian will sort them all out when he gets home and put names to them all but scenery does seem to change quite drastically. Looking at the pics of them all they seem to be wrapped up a little warmer than they were a week ago!!!!!
Told Brian they
couldn't possibly be as cold as we are today.........snow on our lawn in
Pahiatua - honestly!!!
Sue.
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Update: 29 May. (Day 25)
Guys are just outside Mt.Gambier tonight. They spent last night in Adelaide and Brian, Lynn and Chris went into town for a drive and heard some bagpipe music so went to listen, this progressed to them going into the Town Hall and listening to the scottish band with the Adelaide Choir. Apparently a very enjoyable night.
Today they went to Murray River and asked at the information centre what there was to see for 3 hours. The lady suggested they go on a super ride along the Murray River and across on the ferry (with the bikes) to the other side where they saw the steamboats and rentals that tourists hire for the Murray River Cruises. Tonight they are in cabins a little further south of Murray River township. Countryside is rolling hills and very picturesque - temperature a little colder than they have been used to but all still enjoying the riding. Hoping to get about 300k's further south tomorrow towards Melbourne area as they now have time up their sleeves so can relax a little and do a bit more sightseeing.
Brian can't find internet access to send pics through yet but is going to keep trying - apparently he has quite a few to come through from the last few days.
Sue
Update: 28 May. (Day 24)
Everyone is in Adelaide tonight. All have met up again with Edward and his partner and Steve Brown is catching back up with them all tomorrow. Two of the guys need new tyres as didn't get them yesterday so that is the plan tomorrow. Cruising the city tonight and having a meal - staying in a motel and then heading down towards Melbourne tomorrow. They are in good time so will only cover about 250k's and then take in more scenery and have a cruisy day.
Some of the guys want to visit Ballarat when they get closer to Melbourne so it could be that they split up into two groups and do different things but will ride together between places especially now that they are in a much more built area and back to civilisation.
Temperature is down to 17 degrees so they are all finding it quite cold riding. Brian can't get to an area to send off more pics at the moment so he will try again tomorrow - wherever they end up.
Cheers for now
Sue
Update: 27 May. (Day 23)
Guys are in Port Augusta tonight. They travelled through Woomera today but not much there that they could see so they decided to keep going south to Port Augusta. All still and well, some of the guys are buying new tyres for their bikes. Going out for a walk down to the Marina tonight and maybe stop there for dinner. Staying in a pub tonight with basic accommodation then off around 9am in the morning to Adelaide.
Lots more pics to come through tomorrow night once they are settled in Adelaide. Scenery changing into hilly landscape (a bite like the Tararua's). Temperature dropping and today it was 14 degrees but quite a wind chill with head wind. Brian had his heated trousers on so must have been cold. I guess a vast temperature change from Darwin .................... still not as cold as we are though!!!!
Will be in touch
tomorrow with the latest pics.
Cheers Sue
Update: 26 May. (Day 22)
Latest pics of
Coober Pedy and the Golf Course!!!! - not much greenery...................
Digger in the dirt is a guy who took the boys out opal mining on his own little
plot and apparently is going for a drink with them all tonight. Hotel
underground looks a bit flash.................Brian says above ground is a bit
different!!! everyone dumps rubbish wherever..........then when you go inside
and underground the whole place changes. It sound very unique.
They have had a relatively easy day today - have covered almost 9,000ks.
Tomorrow they leave Coober Pedy to Woomera so may not get any news tomorrow as
cellphone coverage may be difficult.
Cheers
for now
Sue
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 Hotel |
 Church |
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 Opal Vien |
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 Golf Course |
 Golf Course |
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 Air Vents and Chimneys for the "underground development" |
Update: 25 May. (Day 21)
These pics have just come through so no doubt Brian will ring later tonight. Obviously they have all arrived at Coober Pedy so now safely into South Australia. What a super pic of the sunset over Ayers Rock!!!!! Obviously the following morning was cloudy when they went to try and walk the Rock. It was unfortunate that the climb was closed................maybe we can all go back another time!!!!!!!!
All the guys still look fit and well from the pic so will email you all the news when Brian rings later tonight.
UPDATE:
Just been speaking with Brian. Tonight the guys are staying underground in a hotel at Coober Pedy. They hope to be there for two nights as they all need a bit of a rest. All OK though and bikes going good. They have two apartments underground with ensuite facilities and three bedrooms in each so are having a bit of luxury. Weather has taken a turn for the cooler.....................only 20 degrees today (I told Brian I didn't feel sorry for him at all as we were much colder and wetter!!!!). From Coober Pedy they travel to Woomera (Wednesday) probably no cellphone coverage there though. I will ring again tomorrow night to see how the day went. Brian says it is quite different as everything is built underground. There are facades of houses and hotels but once you walk inside you go underground........................quite unique - apparently all you can see from outside is the front of places and then the pipes coming out of the ground for the aircon. underground. He was having a wine in the bar as we spoke.
Now, I guess you are all wondering about the pic of the emu chasing the bike!!!!!! Well, no one knows what Chris Bayley said to the emu but it chased him around the carpark on his bike - Brian says Chris was more than a little worried............................. even tourists came out to watch the exhibition - god knows what he said to it!!!!!
Will report in
tomorrow night but all on schedule at this stage.
Cheers Sue
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 No one knows what Chris Bayley said to the emu but it chased him around & around the carpark on his bike. Chris was more than a little worried! |
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 What? Some time in the next seven years? |
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 Supposedly crossing into South Australia. BH is taking five-bob each way. "I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure" |
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Update: 24 May. (Day 20)
Latest pics in
from Ayers Rock tonight. Gosh they all look like they have a super
tan!!!!!!
Some pics are of Kings Canyon from yesterday and the others obviously of
Ayers Rock and the accom. at the Resort. From their headgear it looks
like they are having problems with the flies!!!!!
Cheers for tonight
Sue
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Update: 23 May. (Day 19)
Guys are at Ayers Rock Resort at the moment. Stayed at Kings Canyon Resort last night in cabins. Maurice has had a bit of trouble with his bike so is 100k behind them in Iron Curtain but thinks he can fix it. Lynn and Ted will go back tonight to make sure he is OK as they have both seen the Rock before. Brian says they have checked in for tonight and the Resort is super. They are all now off to The Olga's in the National Park. They pay a $A25 entry to the Park and this gets them to Ayers Rock also. The Rock is closed due to wind at the moment as they don't let you up there over 15 knots (not windy at all really), anyway they will go there after the Olga's. Temperature is 37 degress and very hot.
For those of you who looked at the pics last night you would have seen a dingo on a piano. Apparently he is very famous. The guys stopped at Stuartwells Roadhouse for breakfast yesterday morning and "Dinky" the dingo, as he is called, was there with his owner. They do a Show for tourist buses and with the guys all chatting to them they put on a show just for them while they ate breakfast. The pics on the riverboat were of the Katherine Gorge trip and the rest were self explanatory I think. Loved the one of the shadows of them all against the rockface, quite clever. The large round boulders were the Devils Marbles where they stayed the other night.
Brian says the Rock is absolutely fantastic and has to be seen to be believed.....................they will stay and watch the sunrise over it tomorrow morning and then head south to Coober Pedy and South Australia. They are on schedule and need to keep moving.
Cheers Sue
Whilst typing this Brian rang again to say Maurice is fine, has just arrived at the Resort and has his bike all fixed up so great news for everyone.
More pics to come tonight after they have seen the Rock
Some great pics in this lot...................didn't realise Alice Springs and surrounding country was so rocky!! Some good shots of everyone and they still look they are having fun!!!!!!!!
Cheers Sue
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 Brian, with Mickey Mouse |
 Devil's Marbles |
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 Ancient Aboriginal Rock Painting |
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Update: 21 May. (Day 17)
Latest report from Aus is that guys are all now in Alice Springs watching the sun set on Anzac Hill. Temperature today has been a comfortable 20 degrees and apparently very pleasant to ride in. Fantastic scenery apparently and very red. They are hoping to travel to Kings Canyon tomorrow and do a scenic tour and then on to Ayers Rock on Saturday. They have time up their sleeve so will spend a little time around these three places doing sightseeing tours to see something of the area.
They have been to
where the ashes are buried for the founder of the Flying Doctor Service.
They also
today went for breakfast at Barrow Creek which, if you have read the book or
seen the movie, is where Joanne Lee was taken to after the murder of her
boyfriend Peter Falconio in the outback. The
actual spot it all happened is 13.5 k's from the Barrow Creek pub where they
all ate breakfast and learned the story first hand from the proprietor. Quite
spooky.
They have added a couple of riders to the pack. Friends of Steve Brown, Fiona and Darren, joined the ride at Katherine and will ride with them through the centre. Fiona was born at the Pahiatua Hospital believe it or not and lived in Makuri as a child so what a small world we live in. Fiona will leave the group in Adelaide but Darren will carry on with the guys back to Brisbane from where he will continue on back to Darwin..................
Pics coming through tomorrow so will keep you updated when they do. Everyone fit and well and enjoying a slightly cooler temperature. Will be cold at nights but Brian said there wasn't a cloud in the sky all day and they were expecting a spectacular sunset...............no doubt we will get the pics tomorrow.Update: 20 May. (Days 15 & 16)
Boys are all at Devils Marbles tonight, they went through Tennant Creek at lunchtime and had a two hour break. Temperatures are in the mid 30's and fairly hot!!!! No problems, all in good humour and bikes running well.
They hope to carry on to Alice Springs tomorrow - Brian says the scenery is a bit like the Desert Road at the moment (but much larger scale obviously) - it is changing all the time so tomorrow getting nearer to Alice could be different again.
More pics should be through tomorrow so will be in touch.
Cheers Sue
Update: 18 May. (Days 13 & 14)
Guys have
just got back into their motel in Katherine after splitting up for the day and
Brian and Steve Brown went up to Darwin for the day whilst the rest of the group
visited Kakadu National Park.
All had about a 620k return trip so have had a long day. Everyone arrived home
within 10 minutes of each other so good planning.
Temperature 35 degrees and a super day. Brian detoured to Lichfield National
Park and swam in the pools there.
Tonight they are eating in the restaurant at the motel, having a swim and an
early night as they all want to get a good early start tomorrow to head south.
First thing they have a boat trip booked through the Katherine Gorge and then
they want to try and get to Tennant Creek tomorrow night if they can.
They are going to call into Daly Waters again as they have to pass through it,
they said they would say Hi to the lady in the pics the other night who gave
them all a hard time..................... thought they might end up camping out
in the outback tomorrow night if it gets too late to find accom.
Brian says they have all had a great day again and will sleep well tonight.
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Update: 17 May. (Day 13)
Hi everyone
again,
Just received the following pics from the guys!!!! Laughed at them all getting breathalised!!!!
The pics with all the lights on etc is the mine at Mt. Isa and the power station. Looks fabulous in the night sky. A couple of pics show the burn off they drove through. The lady on the last pic is apparently a real character and is where they are now at Katherine. She makes Camel Pies apparently. A real Aussie and giving them all a very hard time.
Love the one with Lyn doing the Full Monty................crikey they are only half way through their trip and if one of them is riding naked heaven help us when they get home...................could be a whole different lifestyle (joke).
I thought they were really good pics and it still looks like they are having a ball!! They have covered 4,500 ks to date and are staying in Katherine for a couple of days as they have done some hard riding.
(to be continued................)
Sue
PS......
Me again, forgot to mention that whilst the guys were in Mt. Isa Brian and Steve Brown went out one night to the Power Station and were amazed how lit up it was at night, as per tonight's pics, they got talking to the security guard and he showed them around and also showed them the huge power trains that drive along 60 kilometres of road between the iron ore mine and the Mill. They are huge, big truck at the front and then six trailers full or ore with an truck in the middle to help with the weight being towed - both guys were very impressed.
Sue
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Update: 16 May. (Days 11 & 12)
Guys are at
Daly Waters tonight (Sat 16th), spent last night camping in the middle of
nowhere!! Long drive and nothing to see really. Crossed the border into
Northern Territory and all breathalised................apparently as they
crossed and quite the norm. All passed with flying colours and headed down to
Daly Waters the to famous Daly Waters Pub (helicopter on roof) pics to follow.
Drove through some scrub burn offs which was interesting and a vast area had been burned with quite a loss of wildlife which was a bit sad. Speed limit in NT is 130kph which is pretty fast when you think a Roo could come out and say hello at any time!!!!! They covered the longest distance today without a petrol station (360ks) all OK though as they had their gerrycans of fuel. Fuel in the outback places is VERY expensive but guess you have to pay what they ask if you want your fuel!!!
Weather still good, 31 degrees and should get hotter going into Katherine and Darwin.
Heading for Katherine tomorrow (Sunday) and hoping to stay on for a couple of days and do Lichfield National Park and more tourist sightseeing. This should bring them to half way through their trip once they have toured around the Katherine and Darwin Area - then they will head south .............
Update: 14 May. (Day 10)
Here are some up to date pics. Guys are having a great time.
Staying in the Miners Quarters at Mt. Isa - all have ensuite rooms for $A50 per night. They ate at the Working Mens Club last night and Brian said it was the best steak he had eaten and apparently this Club is the largest Irish Mens Club in the world - the mind boggles........................ Today they have all just been down the mine as you will see from one of the pics.
Really enjoyed it. This afternoon free time and tonight going out for dinner again - tomorrow early start to Camooweal.
To date they have covered 3,900 ks and all bikes going well except for very minor little bits and bobs which are going to be maintained this afternoon, ie broken mirror and windshield on one and a small water leak on another - all fixable in Mt. Isa apparently.
Next major stop for a few days will be Katherine where they hope to do National Parks for a couple of days.
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Update: 13 May. (Days 7,8,9)
Just heard from Brian. They have been in a very difficult area to get calls out of but are now in Mt. Isa. Have done a few k's in the last three days. From our last checkpoint of Miranda they travelled to Croydon which apparently was a very hard ride - they stayed the night in units in a camp ground - weather has been good so that helped.
Next day (Tuesday) they had an easier ride to Normanton (home of the Crocodile)- Chris Bayley had his picture taken with his head in the Crocodile's head - thank goodness it was only a huge model!!!!!! they carried on from there to the coast town of Corumba and stayed last night in their tents. First time out of their packs - all had a great night.
Today weather still good and they travelled through the hottest place in Australia (Concurry) to Mt. Isa where they will spend 2 days to rest up a little. Tomorrow morning they are booked to go down the mines so an early start but they then have the afternoon free. When I spoke to them they were just off for dinner at a Working Mens Club. All seem in good spirits and still having a great time.
Brian has taken loads of pics so will email them through to me tomorrow afternoon (on his afternoon off). I will sort a few out and send out tomorrow night.
Sue
Update: 10 May.
Tonight the guys have all made it to Marinda which is going back inland from Port Douglas. They have had a great ride today through Banana Plantations and Sugar Cane. Rained most of day and only 23 degrees but all had wet weather gear. They drove through Cairns and Port Douglas and spent some time there looking around. Then decided to start the trek inland towards Darwin.................arriving at Marinda (small town) and are sitting on the verandah of the local pub chewing the fat and discussing all the adventures of the day. They hope to get to Normanton by lunchtime tomorrow and then drive on further if they can as this road has only been open for the past four days due to severe flooding so they don't want to get caught if it is to close again - if they get further than intended it will give them a couple of days to relax when they get to Darwin.
Brian has taken loads of pics and has downloaded them onto computer so lots to see when they all return.
To date they have covered 2,600ks so are doing really well, all in good humour and bikes going well.
Update: 09 May.
Just heard
from Brian. They made it to Winton yesterday and then on to Hughenden - easy
day, only travelling 300k's - today travelling to Charters Towers for lunch and
then onto Townsville (to some civilisation). No internet access in these
outback towns so Brian is getting twitchy as he loves to stay in
touch.................no gadgets work out there so he will be having withdrawal
symptoms. All the bikes are going well and covering some long straight roads
with virtually nothing to see between small towns enroute.
A little incident occurred with one rider when he packed his bike yesterday morning - packed all his clothes in the panier and then gently placed his bottle of whisky on top for safe storage.....................not quite so safe as the top was not QUITE screwed on..................needless to say when they arrived at their destination all the clothes in the panier were soaked in whisky!!!!!!!!!!!! guess the next plan was to do another wash or smell like a distillery for the evening.
They are leaving pretty early in the morning (about 7.30am) and today drove 2 hours before finding anywhere for breakfast. Charters Towers was a welcome stop and then they continued onto Townsville and arrived about 1pm today. Weather was 28 degress at 7.30 this morning and continued to stay this way and at time of speaking to Brian it was a beautiful evening in Townsville and they were sitting in the square in t - shirts.
Brian had a scary moment when he was driving along and a kangaroo jumped out clean in front of his bike - luckily he had time to take evasive action but from then on they all decided to leave more distances between the bikes so that if anyone was hit it would not take down the whole party. Like Brian said, the Roo just came out of nowhere and a wee bit bigger than a possum to negotiate.
They hope to get to Cairns tomorrow so will keep you posted.
Cheers Sue
Pics from the road....
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Update: 08 May.
Longreach to Winton 185km (plus side-roads)
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Update: 07 May.
Today has
been another great day on the Aussie roads - all arrived safe and sound at
Longreach after driving 560k's. Had a few problems with some large kangaroos,
one nearly knocked Brian off his bike so now all riders are leaving plenty of
distance between each other just in case..................weather still warm (28
degrees) but did rain this morning. Visited the Boeing Museum today at
Longreach. Fascinating to find that all the small towns in the outback still
have Sheriffs. Tonight having a meal and sleeping at the Eagles Nest Bar and
Grill which is a VERY OLD outback pub.............should prove an interesting
night.
Tomorrow going to take an easier day and only travel around 300k's - going to visit an Outback Shearers Expo and heading to Winton.
Charleville to Longreach 809km
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Update: 06 May.
Just been speaking with Brian - he said Dalby, where they stayed last
night, was a bit of a mix of a town, quite small and new town one side and old
the other, main industry is mining.
Apparently they have worked out a system whereby whoever takes the lead each day gets shouted a drink by the rest of the group that night and gets the double bed......................tailend charlie gets to take pics so I guess it works out well for all.
They have all had another great day and tonight are in Charleville in a motel. Charleville is a lovely little town and the motel is in the town square. They averaged 500k's today along very straight roads cluttered with many carcasses of kangaroos (a bit like our possums on the road apparently - sometimes full bodies lie in the road so you have tobe very careful).
Steve Brown almost drove straight into one!!!! Average speed was 105kph. There is no internet access where they are tonight but Brian has taken many pics so is going to do a DVD when they all get back.
Chris Bayley organised the first "clothes wash" today and everyone put in coins for this. They are all putting into a kitty for accom etc so that it makes life much easier. Seems like they are all fitting in very well and getting along.
Lynn Southey took the lead today and Brian was tailend charlie................enabling him to take pics!!!!! It is good that both Brian and Lynn both have Nav systems so it does help. Quite a cold morning this morning and they all wore warm gear but by this afternoon they were riding in 26 degrees. Finished drive today at 3.30 as wanted to get off roads before Roos comes out..................
Tomorrow morning they are off to Longreach which apparently has a large aviation museum so they are looking forward to seeing that.
That's all for now folks!!!!!!!!
Sue
Dalby to Charleville 536km
Update: 05 May.
Just spoke to Brian tonight and they all arrived fit and well into Brisbane
yesterday - picked up bikes first thing this morning (5th) and drove out of
Brisbane (guess who led them out?????) - visited Toowoomba this afternoon and
are now settled into cabins in Dalby for the first night.
Sue.
Update: 04 May.
Brian leaves for Australia today. He reports this morning that all bike have
arrived safely and have already cleared customs etc. (Sometimes that's not
straightforward), so are ready to go!
Arriving Brisbane, pick up bikes, prepare for departure. 12,900km left to go!
Here's Brian's Pre-trip Map:
Here's a faxed copy of the
Itinerary:
And here's Brian's "Packing List"
(for customs)
Loading his bike for shipping to Australia:
(April 2009)
Visitor Numbers:
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www.bill.co.nz
