TRiP ARoUND AUS PART 1

Editors:

Before we introduce the first instalment of Liezel’s and Huw’s epic circumnavigation of Australia, the first without getting anywhere near NSW or Victoria in recorded history, we must apologise to Liezel for our email dramas which means we didn’t get it, or the second. If you send something, especially a trip report, and you don’t get a response, then please text/ email/pigeon a message to us, we so appreciate these that you are more at risk of being smothered with affection rather than ignored. Anyway, to the epic, Part 1.....

By Liezel Samuel, Member #4412

A Speedy Start

Our long-awaited trip around Australia was due to start on Saturday, 3 July – in Kingaroy with the Club’s Christmas in July party. On Thursday evening 24 June, Huw casually asked: “Hypothetically, but quite possibly, if they announce a lock-down this weekend, will you skip work next week so we can get away before the lock-down bell rings?” When I responded “Yes”, I did not really expect it to happen. This short exchange luckily kicked me into gear and I fully packed and made sure all I needed fitted in my allocated space in the Top Box. As a rule, I normally pack for a trip the night before we leave. I have that luxury, as Huw is the one that puts in the hard slog to ensure the bike and all else are ready. As the pillion, my responsibility stretches as far as getting on the bike at the required time of departure ��. So, when the lock-down was announced midday Tuesday 29 June, the decision was easy. All I had to do was get home from the city ASAP and find a way to squeeze the laptop in the Top Box so I could work the rest of the week from Kingaroy. Subconsciously, I was happy with the idea, as taking the laptop would enable me to write up our travel notes and finally provide Cindy and Duncan with contributions for the Club Journal. (Eds - guilt easing now it’s in) We left home at 4pm and arrived at the Oasis in Kingaroy at 6.30pm. We successfully escaped the 6pm Brisbane lock-down bell.

The Lead Up

Huw dived into planning for this trip in January when he started raiding the local library and bookstores for books on Australia. The plan was to have the route plotted without committing to pre-booked accommodation that would bind us to a fixed schedule. We normally travel light. After all, there is only so much two people can fit into panniers on a 1200 GS. Huw has an unwritten rule: What does not fit inside [the panniers], does not go. In other words, nothing gets strapped onto the GS. This rule got challenged when we tapped into the knowledge and experiences of our fellow club members. COVID-19 has filled regional Australia with touring Aussies filling up motels. Without booking accommodation weeks in advance we were at risk of being stranded without a bed to sleep in some nights. So, if we wanted to stay flexible in our travels, we needed a Plan B.

By Easter we had acquired a new lightweight tent, air mattresses, sleeping bags including thermal liners and air pillows. Huw designed custom-made pannier bags and on Easter Saturday we had bought the faux leather, Velcro, straps, and buckles. I thought I could have it sewn up by Easter Monday. Well, the design changed about six times, okay, maybe it was only five times, and what (I thought) was a one-day sewing job, turned into many sewing

days over the following five or so weekends. The bags were measured, fitted, and adjusted more times than any bride with the making of her wedding dress. I must admit, the result looks nifty.

Did Someone Say Monto?

Arriving in Kingaroy ahead of schedule meant we could use Saturday for a round trip to Monto. The weather forecast however predicted an increasing chance of rain every day up to 90% on Saturday. The best day, weather-wise, would be Wednesday. After re-scheduling my work obligations and a re-fuel, we left Kingaroy shortly after 10am. Our friend Mr. Garmin reckoned we could make it back before dark. Despite selecting the avoid dirt roads options Mr. Garmin indicated about 60 kms out of Kingaroy that the route would be mainly on dirt roads. It must have thought Duncan was doing the trip �� (Ed - he wishes...). After the first stretch of dirt, we decided it was time to consult Mr Google. A couple of U-turns later (Mr. Google said left where Mr Garmin said right), we realised there was no way were we going to make it to Monto. We instead headed for Mundubbera and back through Gayndah. We had to leave Monto for a future trip…

A Quiet Dinner

As we enjoyed a lovely dinner at Midnight at the Oasis, we pondered on all the people who joined Tony on Facebook in wishing us well on the journey. We may not have started this trip in the company of our fellow club members as planned, but we were going with their warm wishes.

Why Did the Echidna Cross the Road?

Our trust in the Garmin was restored today. Within 3 kms of leaving the motel, we knew we were on the right road as it was the Bunya Highway and not a dirt road. However, 10 kms later, a police car pulled in front of us at an intersection and directed to turn left, away from the Bunya. The Garmin confidently took over this dire situation and within 200 metres had us on a dirt road. Two dirt roads later we were back on the Bunya. On the recommendation of one of the Kingaroy locals, we travelled via the scenic Niagra road to view the spectacular wind turbines of Coopers Gap, one of Australia’s largest wind farms. Coopers Gap generates 453 MW, enough to power 264,000 average Aussie homes. Chinchilla’s big Watermelon and a sculpture exhibition just outside Roma saved the day’s Facebook update. And the Echidna you may ask? He crossed the road to warn us of the Raptor feeding on a huge Kangaroo carcass in the middle of the road. Thanks, little fella!

Thank Goodness for Peanuts

Before our departure from Brisbane, Carnarvon Wilderness Lodge informed us their restaurant is no longer operational. Breakfast and Lunch could still be enjoyed at their Wilderness Café. No problem: A late en-route

lunch in Roma on Sunday afternoon and a lunch at the Wilderness Café on Monday would make up for the two lost dinners. One problem: The email never mentioned the Café is closed on Mondays. Thank goodness we bought those peanuts in Kingaroy! We had enough peanut fuel (+beef jerky, almonds, dried mango and a juicy apple each) in our bellies for walking the 10 kms to see the Moss Garden and Mickey’s Creek. The cabin (modified tent) was impressive. Twice the size of the biggest motel room we have ever stayed in. We snuggled into a comfy bed, grateful that we decided not to spend these two nights in our lightweight tent... until a polar bear woke me up in the middle of the night and told me I had cold ears. I reached for my beanie, but the polar bear suggested I switch the heater on instead. The commotion woke Huw, who checked the temperature on his watch; 7.9°C inside. My phone said it was 4°C outside. No wonder I was cold. By 7am, after running the heater for the remainder of the night, the cabin was a reasonable 11°C.

How Did We Get to Barcaldine?

When I woke up not feeling quite all right, I went and said hello to the big white telephone in the Cabin’s little private room. Then, a short while later, under the influence of some strong painkillers to nurse my migraine, I managed to shatter the little room’s basin. No, Paul, there was no American Honey consumed on Monday night. Ask no questions and I will tell you no lies… I felt better after lunch but still managed to give Huw free shoulder and neck strengthening therapy while my eyes were closed most of the way to Barcaldine.

We stopped briefly at Alpha to take pictures of a wire-sculptured bull, and a cow & calf sculptured out of scrap metal. The artist is Scrapmetalsheila – one talented lady!

Who Let the Caravans Out?

After a quick walk to the Barcaldine Lagoon to say hello to a friendly Kookaburra, Pelican and Heron, we headed for Winton. Huw reckoned I had enough sleep in the last 24 hours, so suggested I keep score of the number of motorhomes and caravans/campervans, while he counts all other vehicles, including trucks and road trains. When we entered Longreach, we stopped counting. The score was Caravans 85; Other 44. We were amazed at the sheer number of Caravans parked at the Qantas Museum and were relieved we visited the Museum in 2019 when it was quiet and almost devoid of tourists. We re-started the count after Longreach, and by the time we turned off for the Age of Dinosaurs, the new count was: Caravans 138 – Other 66.

The entrance to Winton presented a good photo-opportunity before we visited Arno’s Wall. Some kids were having a ball at the Musical Fence, and a lady standing near the GS asked if were also “escaping” the noise the kids were making. We laughed, as were did not even realise the racket, as were both still wearing our ear plugs. Clever move it turned out ��. To be continued.....