2nd January Finally get away at 9am, just readjusting gear on bike, finally threw the swag back in to the cupboard with an executive decision to
A freeload a bed off mates along the way
B stay at a pub
Sarina to Rockhampton just taking it easy getting used to traveling on a bike again,standard highway run keeping with in reasonable limits because of double demerit points and fines for holidays but rather boring by myself.
Quick feed and fuel ,quick visit with nephew and head south again thinking i should make the Calliope to Biloela run for the night.
Had to change that to a night in Gladstone after a tropical thunderstorm tried to drown me, didn't bother the Bandit any and I was stoked at how stable it was in the downpour,few beers and dinner with nephew while my boots dried out.
6 am and heading for Calliope for fuel and then on to Biloela, still getting the feel of the bike, only done a 1000 klms on this bike and its the first one in 13 years .
The road is in really good condition, 2 lane with not a great deal of traffic so a 120k cruise is ok keeping in mind that 6 points and $500 will put a damper on the feelgood bit.
Weather looks a bit dodgy south of me but I phone a friend to check the rain radar for me and get the "yeah you'll be right mate" so I point the Bansit south towards Eidsvold ,Monto and Mundubbera being the target 300 klm away towards the clouds.
The roads have been resurfaced recently through here and its hill country with big sweepers ,buggerall traffic also the pilot has slipped back into the groove:motorsmile: to the tune of a glance at the speedo sitting on 160 through a set of beautiful curves brings a quick wake up ,won't be enjoying myself as much with no licence but doesn't it put a grin on my face.
Try and keep it down to around 120 for the rest of the trip, roll into friends at Mundubbera just in time for lunch, laughter and catch up with 2 years of events
Next morning its a 2 hour 200 klm run to Chinchilla with a little bit of rain means put on the Drizabone again, still bloody cold so have to stop for a nature call and discover leaving the zip on your jeans undone doesn't help the core body temperature,much more comfortable after that.
Stop at a girlfriends and see how much the godson has grown in 6 months, big enough to climb on the Bandit when he finally gets around to getting his grannny to ask if he can get on it .Couldn't keep him off it after that but at 5 yrs old he can reach the bars so he is heading in the right direction.
Had a fairly big night at the local ale houses so a late start to head north again along the Leichardt Hwy Miles,Wandoan ,Taroom ,Theodore, Banana, where a big storm cell started to build in the west so by the time I got to Wowan it looked bad enough to use as an excuse to stop and sample the beer and beds at the pub, Roslyn and Errol(I think do a good feed comfy beds $30 +gst and the locals are a friendly bunch.
The road is average and a bit boring so in the Morning I headed back over the hills via Mt Morgan but the storm had brought a lot of debris down on the roads so a lot of care and no funstuff though it is still a nice run on a bike.
, Fuel in Rockhampton and a 200 klm run to Kalarka Roadhouse for breakfast because the food is great
then a leisurely cruise for the last 120 khome to Grasstree Beach and the wife & big black dog.
OK , first decent ride in years,Bandit showed exactly why people rave about them and how much I missed the bikes.
Sheepskin seatcover is a must.
The Calliope to Mundubbera is a great ride and one I'll do again soon as I can.
The rest would be better with company but what the hell I could have been driving the Hilux.
The next question is when can i scam the time off work to go to Cooktown ???
Anyway I had a ball and will doing lots more soon and a road report.
Later Swagzz
