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Coming Back
Initially I’d planned to leave very early in the morning in order to try to get to the Augathella-Morven-Mitchell stretch at a respectable hour for fuel related purposes but it didn’t work out that way. Instead, I packed the bike up then we went to Macca’s for breakfast. Didn’t feel hungry but I ate just to put her mind at rest. I didn’t feel like coming home at all. It was going to be another 3 weeks at least before I saw her again. I wanted to stay right there with her, but I had work to get back to and commitments (2 sons alone at home!) so reluctantly, I said goodbye and set off.
It took some time before I got myself into travel mode again. My mind was on what I’d left behind me and that feeling of regret nagged at me the whole way to Cloncurry. I had a pretty long stop here but it was needed to get my head together. Eventually I came to my senses, and with a new outlook on what I could achieve at home to impress my lady upon her return, I headed down the highway. To retrace the route I’d come up on had definite advantages such that I knew when I could safely reach the next stop, I would give it the gas, or where I’d been nearly out of fuel, I economized and slowed down for the maximum range. I’m sorry for harping on about petrol but it turned out to be such a major factor in the trip that it can’t be passed over without a mention as it was always on my mind.
It was a pretty good run all the way to Augathella where I was told that the servo at Morven would definitely be closed when I got there. I left in full-on economy mode (100kmh) and was going to try to get to Roma but that plan went out the window after countless near misses with wallabies and roos on the road. They were everywhere so I decided that I would just idle down to Morven and cosy up for the night there. Commonsense had prevailed. I actually slept right through till the screeching of the Galahs overhead woke me at about 7.30. A nice hot breakfast got my innards warmed up then I set off for home.
On the way to Mitchell I had the scariest moment of the ride. I came over a crest to see a 3 dog road train about a kilometer up the road. About halfway along it was a CRV (I think) towing a caravan (a full height one) attempting to pass it. After about a dozen flashes of my lights, the driver finally dropped back to tuck in behind the truck and let me by. By then though, I’d already come to a complete stop and was ready to go bush if he didn’t make it. It never ceases to amaze me how many urban 4wd owners hook up a van and think they’re competent at outback driving. This mindless idiot had no hope to pass that rig. Alright, he was halfway along but once he reached the turbulence at the front of the prime mover, he would be very lucky not to be blown off the road let alone pass it. There should be some form of compulsory course for caravan purchasers advising them of what to expect when towing a van. It would make the roads a much safer place for all concerned.
After passing through Roma and Miles, I stopped for lunch at Dalby. I’d just run over a snake that made the one on the Rainbow Beach ride look like an earthworm compared to this one. About twelve feet long and as thick as my wrist, Jet glossy black. I think it was a big red belly black at a guess. Made the bags on the back jump when I hit it, too. The highway to Toowoomba is much rougher heading in that it is on the way out. Must be that the cattle trucks are loaded headed this way but empty coming back, or something. Just as I entered the city, I ranged up on a group of Ulyssians so I decided not to stop here but tag along with them instead. I followed them down the range and followed them towards Gatton.
As we approached the roadworks on the Highway, I realized there was a cattle truck ahead of the group and as past experience has shown, you don’t sit behind them for long on a bike so I pulled out and passed them giving a wave as I went. I just made it past the truck before the merge but the group of bikes didn’t. There’s about twenty klms of single lane road through here and I sat it out in front of the truck all the way thinking of the group behind it. Hope they didn’t get too ****ty (pardon the pun). The Anti fatigue strips did their thing so I was busting by the time I pulled into Macca’s at Gatton. I expected to see the rest of the bikes pull in so I could have a yarn with them but, to my surprise, they cruised straight by. I never did find out which branch they were from despite an ultra quick fuel and wee stop and rapid pursuit down the highway. In my vain attempt to catch them, I missed my planned turnoff to Lowood so I decided to go in through the Centenary Highway to get home. Traffic in Brisbane was as expected at 4 o’clock Sunday afternoon so I just went with the flow till I stopped at Carseldine for one last stop. I rang Neriel to let her know I’d made it home safely and that she could now stop worrying about me then just sat a while to reflect on the whole experience.
I was rapt. I’d made it there and back in one piece. I didn’t do it as planned but succeeded nonetheless. My 24 year old dinosaur had reliably carried myself and, as always, far to much gear 2000-odd klms to Mt, Isa and back, if a little thirstily. They never have been known for their economy but are renowned for their durability. That’s why I bought it in the first place. Definitely looking for an E model tank for the old girl now though. Just previous to the trip, the man from Nitrosafe did my tyres and shocks with his stuff. When I first heard about this nitrogen in your tyres thing, I was skeptical. Very skeptical indeed, but I talked to the man and he did convince me to try it out. Didn’t get it for free, mind you (which would’ve probably biased my opinion somewhat). I paid my fifteen bucks like anyone else can and set out to see if what he claimed was true. Well, Now I’m convinced. The bike has never felt so comfortable and I’ll swear by the stuff now. Also maybe I’ll get the seat redone when the budget allows but till then, I’ve got plenty of trackpants to pamper my rear end.
The Wrap up
Total mileage up traveling via Mount Glorius – 2059 Kms
Total mileage while up there – 130 Klms
Total mileage back traveling via Centenary Highway – 2075 Klms
Fuel economy – not real good
Fuel used – lots
Fuel Stops – 16 each way
Elapsed time – who cares? I made it up in one weekend and back again the next.
I got to see my lady as planned and that’s what mattered.
Would I do it again?
If need be.
Same circumstances – HELL YES!
Eveready
Initially I’d planned to leave very early in the morning in order to try to get to the Augathella-Morven-Mitchell stretch at a respectable hour for fuel related purposes but it didn’t work out that way. Instead, I packed the bike up then we went to Macca’s for breakfast. Didn’t feel hungry but I ate just to put her mind at rest. I didn’t feel like coming home at all. It was going to be another 3 weeks at least before I saw her again. I wanted to stay right there with her, but I had work to get back to and commitments (2 sons alone at home!) so reluctantly, I said goodbye and set off.
It took some time before I got myself into travel mode again. My mind was on what I’d left behind me and that feeling of regret nagged at me the whole way to Cloncurry. I had a pretty long stop here but it was needed to get my head together. Eventually I came to my senses, and with a new outlook on what I could achieve at home to impress my lady upon her return, I headed down the highway. To retrace the route I’d come up on had definite advantages such that I knew when I could safely reach the next stop, I would give it the gas, or where I’d been nearly out of fuel, I economized and slowed down for the maximum range. I’m sorry for harping on about petrol but it turned out to be such a major factor in the trip that it can’t be passed over without a mention as it was always on my mind.
It was a pretty good run all the way to Augathella where I was told that the servo at Morven would definitely be closed when I got there. I left in full-on economy mode (100kmh) and was going to try to get to Roma but that plan went out the window after countless near misses with wallabies and roos on the road. They were everywhere so I decided that I would just idle down to Morven and cosy up for the night there. Commonsense had prevailed. I actually slept right through till the screeching of the Galahs overhead woke me at about 7.30. A nice hot breakfast got my innards warmed up then I set off for home.
On the way to Mitchell I had the scariest moment of the ride. I came over a crest to see a 3 dog road train about a kilometer up the road. About halfway along it was a CRV (I think) towing a caravan (a full height one) attempting to pass it. After about a dozen flashes of my lights, the driver finally dropped back to tuck in behind the truck and let me by. By then though, I’d already come to a complete stop and was ready to go bush if he didn’t make it. It never ceases to amaze me how many urban 4wd owners hook up a van and think they’re competent at outback driving. This mindless idiot had no hope to pass that rig. Alright, he was halfway along but once he reached the turbulence at the front of the prime mover, he would be very lucky not to be blown off the road let alone pass it. There should be some form of compulsory course for caravan purchasers advising them of what to expect when towing a van. It would make the roads a much safer place for all concerned.
After passing through Roma and Miles, I stopped for lunch at Dalby. I’d just run over a snake that made the one on the Rainbow Beach ride look like an earthworm compared to this one. About twelve feet long and as thick as my wrist, Jet glossy black. I think it was a big red belly black at a guess. Made the bags on the back jump when I hit it, too. The highway to Toowoomba is much rougher heading in that it is on the way out. Must be that the cattle trucks are loaded headed this way but empty coming back, or something. Just as I entered the city, I ranged up on a group of Ulyssians so I decided not to stop here but tag along with them instead. I followed them down the range and followed them towards Gatton.
As we approached the roadworks on the Highway, I realized there was a cattle truck ahead of the group and as past experience has shown, you don’t sit behind them for long on a bike so I pulled out and passed them giving a wave as I went. I just made it past the truck before the merge but the group of bikes didn’t. There’s about twenty klms of single lane road through here and I sat it out in front of the truck all the way thinking of the group behind it. Hope they didn’t get too ****ty (pardon the pun). The Anti fatigue strips did their thing so I was busting by the time I pulled into Macca’s at Gatton. I expected to see the rest of the bikes pull in so I could have a yarn with them but, to my surprise, they cruised straight by. I never did find out which branch they were from despite an ultra quick fuel and wee stop and rapid pursuit down the highway. In my vain attempt to catch them, I missed my planned turnoff to Lowood so I decided to go in through the Centenary Highway to get home. Traffic in Brisbane was as expected at 4 o’clock Sunday afternoon so I just went with the flow till I stopped at Carseldine for one last stop. I rang Neriel to let her know I’d made it home safely and that she could now stop worrying about me then just sat a while to reflect on the whole experience.
I was rapt. I’d made it there and back in one piece. I didn’t do it as planned but succeeded nonetheless. My 24 year old dinosaur had reliably carried myself and, as always, far to much gear 2000-odd klms to Mt, Isa and back, if a little thirstily. They never have been known for their economy but are renowned for their durability. That’s why I bought it in the first place. Definitely looking for an E model tank for the old girl now though. Just previous to the trip, the man from Nitrosafe did my tyres and shocks with his stuff. When I first heard about this nitrogen in your tyres thing, I was skeptical. Very skeptical indeed, but I talked to the man and he did convince me to try it out. Didn’t get it for free, mind you (which would’ve probably biased my opinion somewhat). I paid my fifteen bucks like anyone else can and set out to see if what he claimed was true. Well, Now I’m convinced. The bike has never felt so comfortable and I’ll swear by the stuff now. Also maybe I’ll get the seat redone when the budget allows but till then, I’ve got plenty of trackpants to pamper my rear end.
The Wrap up
Total mileage up traveling via Mount Glorius – 2059 Kms
Total mileage while up there – 130 Klms
Total mileage back traveling via Centenary Highway – 2075 Klms
Fuel economy – not real good
Fuel used – lots
Fuel Stops – 16 each way
Elapsed time – who cares? I made it up in one weekend and back again the next.
I got to see my lady as planned and that’s what mattered.
Would I do it again?
If need be.
Same circumstances – HELL YES!
Eveready
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