Narrandera to Canberra

The great blazing orb rose into the blue bowl of the sky, lighting up a Narrandera landscape coated in sparkling frost. Luckily, I was still in bed and didn't witness this but I have it on good authority from the lady who runs the Camelia motel. She took a couple of guests out to the airport and reported frost all over, but a cloudless sunny day. She told me this as she brought me my special coeliac breaky of fried eggs, lamb cutlets, tomato and bacon.

Thus charged up, I had a look outside and it was indeed a fine day, but cold. I decided to wear the hi vis rain suit over everything as it is good for keeping the cool air out and the warm air in, and the only people who will not see me are the blind. After chatting to a couple in Charlie's on East the previous night, I also decided, based on their local knowledge, to take the road through, Ganmain, Coolamon and Junee, to Gundagia, forsaking the Sturt Highway and by passing Wagga.

I think this route was a good choice and the spring scenery was very lovely. Sheep in long green grass, contented cows lying around, and fields of bright yellow canola were major features. Junee was a pain in the bum due to appalling signage and I ended up in quiet residential streets a couple of times, but the rest of the ride was fine. Approaching Gundagai the landscape starts to become more hilly and the Brindabellas put in an appearance.

I did not stop in Gundagai, thinking that the Jugiong cafe was within easy reach and the coffee and cakes there of a known high quality. I parked outside the cafe at just on 11am and ordered a long black coffee (regular, in a cup please, not a mug) and flourless chocolate cake with cream. There was little wind so I sat outside in the sun and looked across the green paddocks to the other side of the Murrumbidgee. Apart from an infestation of small children, which must mean school holidays, it was a fine stop.

Back on the road for the last leg to Yass and Canberra. Before long, I rode up over Conroy's Gap and the Canberra area weather struck. This point must mark the end of the sheltering effect of the Brindabellas from the Sou'east coastal weather pattern which also affects Canberra. The cloud cover increased and a really irritating wind arrived, much the worst of the trip. As I rounded Yass and headed to Canberra on the Barton Highway, clouds which looked like snow appeared ahead, but I think they were past Canberra on the Tinderry range, or maybe over towards Bungendore.

So after dodging a few lunatics in cars, I rolled into our driveway in nice time for lunch.

End of the trip for me, but Glen, Julie and Vicki are still somewhere along the Vic coast. Updates later.

I noticed that my bike handled funny lately. Wobbly at low speed and a bit touchy in fast bends. Now I had a good look at it and could see the back tyre looked like an old truck tyre. It was of squarish cross section and had little tread on the flat bit in the middle. 10000 k, throw it away.

Mildura to Narrandera

My solo gourmet tour continues with an overnight stop at Narrandera and dinner at Charlie's on East. Charles Sturt would be mortified. The food is damn good though, and I had a chat with some interesting fellow diners.

The run to here from Mildura was fine. Sunny but cold. The Hay Plain looks very different when it is green. Parts if it are like a park and there are fruit trees (almonds?) in flower. It is still damn flat.

I expect an easy run in to Canberra tomorrow.

The rest of the team are now at Portland on the Vic coast. Glen reported a cool overcast day.

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Mildura

Overnight in Mildura. Thus an opportunity for dinner at the Spanish Grill. I had kangaroo, rare. It looks a bit like some sort of blood sacrifice but you shouldn't overdo roo.

Memory

Memory of Peterborough. It exists because it was a rail junction.

Renmark

Great pub for lunch

Split

At Peterborough the team split up. I decided to head back direct to Canberra while Glen Vicki and Julie went with plan A via Victor Harbour and Victorian Coast . I stopped for coffee in Burra, at an Indonesian/Australian cafe. Very fine. I continued to Renmark for lunch and then on to Mildura for the night and dinner. Pick your spots.

Station Hotel

The team at dinner

Peterborough

Onwards into the South Flinders. We stayed at the Station Hotel. A lovely old building of local stone, with timber and ornate ceilings. Friendly place

Streaky bay

Off the Nullarbor and back to Streaky bay. Panorama here, so double click, or tap once if you are an iPad user, or, if you are a unix victim, write a script of gibberish and if it doesn't work, ask a friend, if you have any.

Nullarbor

Hazards on the road. Cocklebiddy to Streaky Bay, more or less without incident. No camels but a couple of roos and a dingo crossed our path.

Heading East

Cup of tea at Caiguna, but we have stopped for the night at Cocklebiddy. See the sign in the photo

Time

Quarter hour time zone in the border region of WA. I suppose that is one better than the South Australians half hour zone. Picture taken at Balladonia Roadhouse, which keeps Perth time

Palace dinner

Dinner on the balcony, Palace Hotel, Kalgoorlie

Kalgoorlie

Super pit Kalgoorlie

A blast

Albany to Esperance

An interesting run. Departing Albany we passed by what looked like a volcano cone with a few smaller ones nearby. Lots of rich farming country and they clearly get a lot of rain.

About 60kms short of Esperance I discovered the bike consumes more fuel 2 up and we went on to reserve. 25kms later I discovered that reserve lasted only 25kms, so we watched the sun go down and enjoyed the stars for a while until Glen came back with some fuel.

At Esperance Marg also decided to stick to her original plan and get the bus back to Perth.

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Albany to Esperance

Albany is a pretty spot but somewhat remote. This morning was cool and crystal clear. We had a ride around and I took some photos if the lovely natural harbour.

To Albany

Trees and tea breaks. Damn cold day even with the sunshine, so plenty of warm up stops. Amazing forests down here

Margaret River

Overnight stop is Margaret River, but on the way down here we stopped at Bunbury to warm up and Busselton where this photo was taken.

Perth, dusk

Rotto

You don't go to Perth without going to "Rotto" for a bit of lunch with the quokas. The one pictured here has a wee quoka in the pouch.

En route

Fuel, pee, feed stops at Coolgardie, Southern Cross, Northam on the way in to Perth

Perth

We arrive in Perth. Not a bad run from Norseman.

Cocklebiddy

Check the chalk sign

Eucla to Norseman

Today, Eucla to Norseman. A fair way and I am suffering arse itis. I am too stuffed to write more but I will add some pics

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Eucla

Streaky Bay to Eucla today. Fuel and coffee stops at Ceduna, Nundoo, Nullarbor, Border Village. Nice quarantine queue at WA border. They should put on more staff. Some remarkable coast scenery here. Double click on poster images for full size view.

Pano at the Bight

The Bight

Nullarbor Roadhouse

Tuesday to Streaky Bay

8.30 start from Port Pirie saw us in Port Augusta around 10. We refuelled and set off for Kimba, which advertises itself as half way across Australia. We had lunch at a café, refuelled again and headed off for Streaky Bay.

The country we are travelling through is green with new wheat, but even the uncultivated parts look green. Must have been a bit of winter rain.

The Eyre highway is mostly straight but not in the vertical plane. It undulates across the terrain which is actually dunes with vegetation on them. I know that as you go North from here the vegetation diminishes due to the dryness. So the dunes become very obviously sand dunes.

Streaky Bay pub booked for dinner. Oysters!!

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Onward

Monday 11am TNT freight delivered the starter motor and Murray Valley Electrics had it fitted and the bike back together by 11.30.

Thus we were on our way around noon. Good lunch at Renmark about 2pm and then back on the road, target Peterborough via Waikerie, Morgan, and Burra. Crossed on the ferry at Waikerie and headed on.

After the flat country it was good to see the Flinders Ranges appear ahead and we did the gentle climb up to Burra where we fuelled. Onward to Peterborough but due to Glen's map being a little bit coarse for the fine detail we needed, we ended up going too far west and down to the coast at Crystal Brook. Scratch Peterborough and head for Port Pirie which is where we gave spent the night. Flinders Motel for dinner, bed, and cooked breaky.

Next target, Streaky Bay.

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Dates

This blog has some problem with date and time. The entry below should be for Sunday 6/9

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Mildura

The team arrive in Mildura and after lunch at the Dockside Cafe we cruise on the PS Melbourne.

Starter

Modern starter motors have fixed magnets. These are glued to the case. Must be good glue. Looks like one of them got loose as it was all polished and shiny. It eventually broke the others off and jammed the motor. Bin.

Murray Valley Auto Electrics found they could get a motor freighted from Perth. It was late Friday afternoon but Perth is 3 hours behind us, so not too late to catch the freight. Rolfe BMW in Canberra were not much help. They could get a motor from Germany in 10 days.

I am pretty impressed with the local guys.

More Mildura

I also tried to get a row with Mildura Rowing Club, but they are not rowing due Father's Day today.

Just contemplating breaky now. Yesterday I had eggs poached in a thick broth of tomatoes, onion, chilli, and Italian sausage. Good but a bit heavy. All served in a shallow clay pot. Plenty of choices in town.

This afternoon we will take a cruise on a Paddle STEAMER, wood fired.

Got to make the most of being stuck here.

Mildura

Dinner at the Tapas bar. The waitress was a Scouse from Toxteth. She said scousers are like rats. No matter where you are you are within 50 metres of one.

Dead starter

So I am stuck in Mildura until Monday lunchtime approx. Glen is working on plan b

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Dead starter

Start

For me, the journey starts. I am
Currently happy as a clam at the
Camelia motel, Narrandera . Rained from Canberra to Gundagai but dry after. Roadworks 50 k out of Narrandera . Dirt surface nasty in the wet. Very greasy. To Mildura tomorrow .