Week 7 Yepoon(QLD) to Sydney(NSW)
Day 43 30/5/22 Yepoon to Toowoomba via Zilzie and Mt Morgan 720kms
Hydro kept up the vibe to go as far as you can for the minimum distance. Got up early, Hydro disapproved of the cafes in the tourist area of Yeppoon “We can find something better…..well maybe or not. Rode for another hour without a caffeine shot and pulled into Rockky for a big breakfast and and a double shot. After a fuel up, us and the bikes, we headed to Mount Morgan which was a gold mine that operated for 100 years. Russ’s ancestors worked at the mine and ran two of the hotels….enough said. 600 kms later rolled into Toowoomba. It was now now 10 degrees. What the hell happened; two days ago it was 38, one day ago it was 28 and now it is 10. Toowoomba is quite a large place, we went to dinner at a middle eastern restaurant (so good to get away from the chicken parmies).
Day 44 31/5/22 Toowoomba to Stanthorpe via Sanctuary Cove 559 kms
Despite the fact fact we are only 153 kms away from our last destination we have covered a lot of ground through amazing conditions, Up early we had intended to use freeways to get to the gold coast to visit Russ’s mum, but there was carnage on the M2 due to a car crash, so we went the back way via Cunninghams gap and Mt Tambourine, It took the same time but at least we were moving. Hydro did the dog whispering thing with Suzys dog and after a coffee and good conversation we were off again.
The wind was crazy. 100km/h gusts. Not so bad getting to the Goldie but getting back WTF! The idea was to go via the Falls Way to Killarney and then to Stanthorpe’ we were on schedule nd then we got to Hydros worst nightmare….ROAD CLOSED…..you think they could have told us that 100kms ago when we originally came down the road….he was pissed off……so turn about and Hydro took off at warp speed (he was mad). Back over Cunningham’s Gap. Seriously this was the most intense ride of the last 42 days. Sun in your eyes, tree detritus all over the road, 100 km/h winds, trucks coming and going and cornering every 30 metres. It was worse than Stelvio for those on the Alps ride. Temperature dropped to 9 degrees. Russ (the reptile) was shivering. Got to our digs and Hydro had to light the fire….Russ was comotosed from the cold. When all recovered went off to a great Japanese restaurant… not sure what this is going to do to the digestive system after 40 days of roadhouses and country taverns. Armidale tomorrow.
Day 45 (The Penultimate) 1/6/22 Stanthorpe to Armidale via Grafton 447kms
Just when the trip is supposed to wind down it winds up like The Gibsters watch. We left the air bnb (which was a memorial for someones parents) and motored on in to town for what we were told by the taxi driver last night as the best coffee house in the Granite Belt. To go with the coffee all we wanted was a ham and cheese toastie…..but no the only thing on the menu was a Pulled Pork Asian Infused Toastie with Cheese…..seriously in Stanthorpe? Hydro was hungry so he ordered a couple and while it seemed creative wasn’t not good for the digestive situation on a long ride. Took off down the Bruxner Highway and hung a right down plains station road. What a blast…narrow road through amazing green pastures and to top it off a river crossing over the subtlest of bridges with water bubling through the wooden slats. Hydro was in his element……it doesn’t get much better than this…but it did, As soon as Russ completed the river crossing he hit sand. Doing his best Boxy Barney Rubble he got through the first barrage. Knowing know how the Ducati works with the two pistons (coz the Gibster has been tutoring him for 38 days), Russ increased the revs to 7000 which gives it a gyroscopic impact keeping the bike upright while he plied through the sand. Success and press on regardless. The day was cloudless and the scenery spectacular as we winded our way into Grafton. Russ told Hydro not to stop here coz I’ve been here before when Mike G had a bike issue. Maybe we were in the wrong end of the town, but it was kind of weird, so we just swung around onto waterfall way.
Seriously what completely wrecked road. The potholes were enormous and were consistent for 100kms. On top of that the winds had brought down branches and twigs that were all over the road and if that was not enough the sun was in our eyes and the temperature dropped to 4 degrees. This was one track in the whole of Australia that Russ was happy for cars to overtake him. It was like the last ski run of the day and caution is the name of the game. Hydro was quite relieved coz even he was thinking it was ambitious to go at normal Fox speed. Stopped at Ebor Falls and Hydro took a few phone calls while Russ applied voltarin to his neck (its been a long tour!)
Endured 80km/h head winds all the way into Armadale and rode into our motel. Russ sat in the shower for 30 minutes and turned around his hyperthermia while Hydro sat in the sun with a cabernet merlot. Dinner at the White Bull Hotel which has been the scene of many crimes when here before.
The Captain has reported in and has arrived safely at home. He was an exceptional voyager on this tour and I thank him for his company, knowledge and dry wit. The Gibster is in Rockhampton tonight after battling roadworks for 400kms. He could have taken the inland Hydro route…200kms more but arrive at the same time. We will monitor his progress home. For those reading this blog tomorrow will be the last one, but it has been fun keeping a record of this monumental event.
Day 46 2/6/22 Armidale to Sydney 475 kms
Woke up and the temperature was minus 2, with ice on the bikes…(well Hydros anyway, Russ parked undercover). The meeting time of 7.30 passed by with no sign of Hydro. Usually by this time he had already done two laps around town and bought his second coffee. Russ was suspecting he might have had a night on the stillnox. At 8 he emerged having slept on his phone and not heard the alarm. Scraped the ice off the bikes and cruised into Uralla at sub zero temps for breakfast at “The Alternative Root Cafe” a fox hangout on previous trips.
As it was the last day, it was like the last run of the day skiing, take it carefully and dont do anything risky. Russ was looking forward to a leisurely drive home. Hydro said he knew this great shortcut from Gloucester to Dungog. “Just follow me”. wtf the road was totally boobytrapped……dirt and loose gravel with a 30cm deep river crossing. “Hydro said just follow where the car tracks would be, that way you wont slip on the moss”. Survived that to follow up with major potholes and loose sticks from the winds to contend with. Got back onto the bitumen and Russ thought that was the end of the fun and then Hydro pulled a left turn and another 16km of dirt, potholes, low hanging trees, cows on the road and eating Hydros dust. Never more pleased then to finally come up to the M1 at Newcastle. Did the bolt home from there. Great trip; Hydro added energy required for the last quarter, thanks to the Gibster for organising.
Some stats – 19,200kms in total; avg daily ride 525kms; 200 hours in the saddle; average speed 96km/h, 1,120 litres of petrol consumed and 80 refuelings
The Gibster is nearly home also after doing 1000km Rockhampton to Tamworth in one go.
Another great fox adventure..Here ends the blog.
Silver Foxes Motorcycle Club Australia 