Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2012 23:21:03 GMT 10
Well I guess it's about time I did a bit of a write up about Cray and I's trip north to Indooroopilly, Brisbane. Beautiful Queensland, land of sunshine and ... rain
It was our first trip together on the bikes, the first time I've gone more than a day's ride from home, and Terry's first big ride in many years. It was exciting and a bit nerve racking but so much fun!!
We had a late start on day 1, Tuesday. It took a while to work out the loading of the bikes so after about 5 hours (OK that's a slight exaggeration) we finally had the bikes loaded up and we on our way to the first stop of the trip .. Bunnings for more straps so our gear stayed where we'd put it and we didn't end up with a trail of underwear following us up the highway.
Now we could get on the road, first (real) stop Mendoran, where Terry had to drop off some work to a client ...
So after a late start and a few delays we were finally on our way to our destination for the night. About 10km's out of Mendoran it started to get dark so the tinted visors had to go up, by now I think it was about 5 degrees. I made my first resolution of the trip, no more riding at night, it's just too damn cold to ride with the visor up and I kept waiting to get hijacked by kangaroos.
At long last we made it to the motel.
The next morning we got up bright and early after a well deserved sleep in..
Terry picked up a hitchiker. This cat had apparently already gotten a taste for adventure after going to the edge of town under the roof racks of a 4WD the week before.
After another late morning we made our way towards our second destination, Goondiwindi. Our first stop of the day was Narrabri Macca's for lunch, then we headed out of town looking for a petrol station for Terry. None to be found so I waited at a truck pull in area for him ... no U-Turns for me.
Four cattle trucks all lined up perfectly, and my little bike at the front, I was hoping they could see me if they took off.
It was OK Terry got back just as they were jumping in to take off.
Terry made me stop for pics by the side of the road, the highway was full of trucks, most of them carrying cotton which litters the side of the road.
Again time was against us and when we reached Moree it was starting to get late in the day, we knew we wouldnt make it to Goondiwindi before dark so we stopped in Moree.
Day 3 dawned bright and still, by the time we left it was overcast and windy ...
First stop of the day at a rest area bout 50k's outta Moree, I was already buggered from fighting the wind. I guess mother nature had decided I was gonna get all the experience she could throw at me on this trip.
Finally made it to Boggabilla and stopped for petrol and lunch. Terry paid for petrol while I parked my baby at the truck stop, when a bike pulled up next to me while I was digging in my bags for money and cameras and stuff, I never thought it would be anyone cept Terry, he still said hi to me when I greeted him with a cheery 'Hi Babe'. He just wasnt Terry is all ... nice bloke though
Same place Terry was chatting to me using the Sena (which went well by the way) and the cop getting into the car next to him gave him one of those looks, you know the one ...
We made it to Warwick, the first time this trip we had made it to a planned stop. The idea being we were going to find a nice motel, get a good meal and a decent nights sleep before the home run through the mountians to Brisbane the next day.
The next day, Day 4, dawned rainy. Ummm
I decided there and then the bikes could stay nice and cosy in their warm car port, and I'd stay nice and cosy in a motel room.
This pic just cause I like it
Warwick is an interesting old town, some lovely old architecture, but a lot of empty abandoned houses to be seen on our wanders and a few more empty shops then you would expect.
A lovely old building in the main street. All we could do was stroll around and look at he shops, we did meet a lovely irish bloke who told where to get lunch and chatted for a while about bikes.
Day 5 ... omg are you kidding 5 days to get to Queensland ...
Yes day 5 bright and sunny, yay this was the Queensland I'd been promised ... we were on the home run.
We were going to cross those mountains thru a place called Cunningham's Gap. Hmm twisties and trucks .. this could take a while with my noobness.
We got to the top of the Gap and Terry found this nice little side stop.
It's cold up here !!
You want me to ride down there?!?!?
After what seemed like weeks on the road we made it to Indooroopilly and our place to call home for the next few days. We were later than we expected but it had been fun, and what a place to be. We still had so much adventure planned, a party to go to that night and a ride with the Queensland shadow riders the next day, out for a show the night after ... I was ready for a rest ;D
It was our first trip together on the bikes, the first time I've gone more than a day's ride from home, and Terry's first big ride in many years. It was exciting and a bit nerve racking but so much fun!!
We had a late start on day 1, Tuesday. It took a while to work out the loading of the bikes so after about 5 hours (OK that's a slight exaggeration) we finally had the bikes loaded up and we on our way to the first stop of the trip .. Bunnings for more straps so our gear stayed where we'd put it and we didn't end up with a trail of underwear following us up the highway.
Now we could get on the road, first (real) stop Mendoran, where Terry had to drop off some work to a client ...
So after a late start and a few delays we were finally on our way to our destination for the night. About 10km's out of Mendoran it started to get dark so the tinted visors had to go up, by now I think it was about 5 degrees. I made my first resolution of the trip, no more riding at night, it's just too damn cold to ride with the visor up and I kept waiting to get hijacked by kangaroos.
At long last we made it to the motel.
The next morning we got up bright and early after a well deserved sleep in..
Terry picked up a hitchiker. This cat had apparently already gotten a taste for adventure after going to the edge of town under the roof racks of a 4WD the week before.
After another late morning we made our way towards our second destination, Goondiwindi. Our first stop of the day was Narrabri Macca's for lunch, then we headed out of town looking for a petrol station for Terry. None to be found so I waited at a truck pull in area for him ... no U-Turns for me.
Four cattle trucks all lined up perfectly, and my little bike at the front, I was hoping they could see me if they took off.
It was OK Terry got back just as they were jumping in to take off.
Terry made me stop for pics by the side of the road, the highway was full of trucks, most of them carrying cotton which litters the side of the road.
Again time was against us and when we reached Moree it was starting to get late in the day, we knew we wouldnt make it to Goondiwindi before dark so we stopped in Moree.
Day 3 dawned bright and still, by the time we left it was overcast and windy ...
First stop of the day at a rest area bout 50k's outta Moree, I was already buggered from fighting the wind. I guess mother nature had decided I was gonna get all the experience she could throw at me on this trip.
Finally made it to Boggabilla and stopped for petrol and lunch. Terry paid for petrol while I parked my baby at the truck stop, when a bike pulled up next to me while I was digging in my bags for money and cameras and stuff, I never thought it would be anyone cept Terry, he still said hi to me when I greeted him with a cheery 'Hi Babe'. He just wasnt Terry is all ... nice bloke though
Same place Terry was chatting to me using the Sena (which went well by the way) and the cop getting into the car next to him gave him one of those looks, you know the one ...
We made it to Warwick, the first time this trip we had made it to a planned stop. The idea being we were going to find a nice motel, get a good meal and a decent nights sleep before the home run through the mountians to Brisbane the next day.
The next day, Day 4, dawned rainy. Ummm
I decided there and then the bikes could stay nice and cosy in their warm car port, and I'd stay nice and cosy in a motel room.
This pic just cause I like it
Warwick is an interesting old town, some lovely old architecture, but a lot of empty abandoned houses to be seen on our wanders and a few more empty shops then you would expect.
A lovely old building in the main street. All we could do was stroll around and look at he shops, we did meet a lovely irish bloke who told where to get lunch and chatted for a while about bikes.
Day 5 ... omg are you kidding 5 days to get to Queensland ...
Yes day 5 bright and sunny, yay this was the Queensland I'd been promised ... we were on the home run.
We were going to cross those mountains thru a place called Cunningham's Gap. Hmm twisties and trucks .. this could take a while with my noobness.
We got to the top of the Gap and Terry found this nice little side stop.
It's cold up here !!
You want me to ride down there?!?!?
After what seemed like weeks on the road we made it to Indooroopilly and our place to call home for the next few days. We were later than we expected but it had been fun, and what a place to be. We still had so much adventure planned, a party to go to that night and a ride with the Queensland shadow riders the next day, out for a show the night after ... I was ready for a rest ;D