Phillip O & Helens Wedding

All the best from Terry & myself , I am sure you had a great day. Congratulations to the both of you ,sorry we could not make it.

Cheers

Terry,s Pillow

Ever since we joined up with Terry he has complained about not having a pillow. Well yesterday he lashed out in a camping shop in Katherine & bought the most upmarket camping pillow I have ever seen.We are not sure if it was the pillow that attracted him or the picture of the girl on the box !

Katherine Gorge Breakfast

We lashed out in the Katherine Gorge & took the daybreak breakfast cruise up two of the 13 gorges that make up the full Katherine Gorge. It was a full sit down breakfast with tour guide & approx 30 passengers. At the half way point we disembarked, walked 600 metres & boarded another craft for the second gorge. The sheer sandstone cliffs look magnificent in the morning light. This part of the river is home to the smaller & non aggressive fresh water crocodile. If you ever get the chance I would recommend the cruise.
We left the campsite, returned to Katherine & took the road west on the Victoria Highway.
Tonight we are camped at Timber Creek & lucky to have a wedding in progress with excellent music. The Best Man told us we were welcome to join in later if we felt like it.
Tomorrow we intend to visit Lake Argyle off the highway & may end up there for the night.

West Again

Today we had a 480 km ride from Corroboree Park campground to Jabiru & back down to Katherine & out to Katherine Gorge for a trip up the gorge in the morning on a boat. Katherine Gorge is a world heritage site.Tomorrow we start to head west again on the Victoria Highway. At this stage we have not decided if we will take the Gibb River Road west. Reports are that the road is in good condition & recently graded. We will see !!

Outback Pub

You dont see a pub like this one every day. We had lunch here & it was very good.

East Then West Again

We will continue to head east into the Kakadu tomorrow then turn west again at Jabiru & spend tomorrow night in the Katherine Gorge. In camp tonight are the four V Strom riders from NZ we met in Pine Creek.

Crocs Up The Mary River

If you had trouble seeing the salt water croc in the picture at Cooktown, you should be able to see this one. There were plenty to see on our river cruise on the Mary River on our way to Jabiru in the Kakadu National Park. There were also sea eagles & large areas of lilies.

What About The Kitchen Sink

Ian, loaded up with a spare set of tyres he decided not to fit in Darwin. Thought there was still plenty of tread on the old ones to get to Perth

Together At Last

Finally after nearly 4 weeks on the road the 4 V Strom riders are all together at Mataranka Springs campground. The following day we headed off for Darwin for 2 days & also an oppurtunity to service the bikes & tyre changes for Terry & Ian. Tomorrow we head off to to the Kakadu National Park & Jabiru with another search for crocodiles up the Mary River.

Stuart Highway

This was an important intersection for us, we had hit the Stuart Highway which meant turn north for Darwin. A bit sobering though when you go around the corner & its a mere 981kms to Darwin which I think is more than the length of the North Is of New Zealand.

Meal Time Again

Northern Territory

Camooweal was very cold at night, a distinct change from being out on the coast. We left Camooweal to spend the night at Renner Springs & entered the Northern Territory state. The road surfaces are great & the speed limit is 130 km. No one seems to travel at this speed, we maintained about 115 & were passing most traffic on the road.On the way to Renner we passed 2 camels on the side of the road. Yesterday we headed for Mataranka Springs & finally caught up with Terry & Ian. Today we head to Darwin for 2 days & will service the bikes there before heading around the Jabiru loop & then westward again

Another Great Aussie Road Sign

There are heaps of wandering cattle on the back roads & yesterday 2 emus ran across in front of us

Lawn Hill Gorge

Are You Going To Eat That

Back From The Outback

We are back in civilization again on the Barkley Highway after a few days out of phone & internet coverage. We spent two days at Lawn Hill Gorge at the Adell Grove campground. A truly remarkable place in the middle of the outback. It is very dry here with sparse vegetation & then the gorge with a river & tropical palms & lush vegetation. Gordon & I hired a kayak & paddled up through the gorge, hauled out half way around a waterfall & another section of the gorge. We sighted a fresh water turtle & plenty of fish in the clear water. Today we rode out on approx 150 kms of dirt roads & 3 river crossings into the small town of Camooweal for the night. Tomorrow our intention is to press on for Renner Springs & the following day to catch Terry & Ian at Mataranka Springs. Maybe we will finally meet up. Not sure where Trevor is, but he was heading for Darwin.

Drought In Cattle Country

I have adjusted the suspension & lowered the front tyre pressuure to cope with the corrugations on the dirt roads. They are good if the grader has been over them recently, but you have to watch out for the deep bull dust as they call it here.Tomorrow will be all on bitumen so should make for an easy day, other than wandering cattle, kangaroos & crows that leave it to the last second to fly away from road kill they are eating. A couple of days ago we passed about 5 dead wild pigs on the side of the road. 

Not A Lot Of Traffic Here

Traffic was very light on this alternative route for the Savannah Way, so time for a quick photo. Its hard to imagine what this crossing must look like in the rainy season.

Made It To The Gulf

Gordon & I left the old gold mining town of Croydon this morning with its population of wallabies, that seem to have taken the town over. A brief stop in Normanton on the bank of the Norman river with its life size replica of the largest croc ever caught in Australia at a whopping 8 metres long. The purple pub is in Normanton. Next it was on to our campsite for the next two days at Karumba, the home of grey nomads in Australia over the winter months. The climate & the lure of catching a barramundi seem to be the main attraction. On Wednesday we should meet up with Terry at the Burke & Wills roadhouse junction & Ian when we get to Darwin.Trevor has been here in Karumba for a couple of days, so is moving west tomorrow along the sealed roads to Jabiru & Darwin.Our next major stopover will be at the Lawn Hill National Park, later this week.

Wee Bit Of Video

Example of the landscape at the moment on the Savannah Way

Another Aussie Road Sign

Can never resist taking photos of odd Aus signs, or is it just me.

First Dirt Roads

Been out of coverage for a couple of days, but had a night on the side of the road between Ravenshoe & innot Springs then took the alternate Savannah Way route around to The Lynd Junction, Einsleigh & stayed out the back of the Forsayth Hotel. This was our first taste of rutted dirt roads on this trip,which are challenging & I have already made adjustments to the front suspension & reduced tyre pressure to cope. Gordon hexperience on the dirt & is coping ok. Tonight we are camped at Croydon which is very dry, but a good campground. Tomorrow we head out through Normanton & hopefully out to the coast on the gulf at Karumba.

Back To Cairns For Tyres

We rode back to Cairns today to have tyres fitted before we attempt to go across the top. Another hot day with a stop at the Palmer River Roadhouse for eggs on toast for lunch.
There are no stock fences on these roads so wandering cattle are common & the odd kangaroo making a dash for the other side of the road. Tomorrow we head west & into the outback. We will catch up with Trevor again in Karumba in 3 or 4 days. Photo is of Black Mountain that erupted approx 2 million years ago. The rocks are black granite & get so hot in the sun that if there is a thunderstorm during the day  they crack with the sudden cooling.

Running Repairs

Gordon & Trevor make running repairs to Gordon,s bike on the side of the road

Cheap Chairs

I should not complain I was given this chair by a couple of South Africans who were down on their luck. Perhaps it was only meant for children !

Endeavour River From Grassy Hill Lookout

Strange Sights Up Endeavour River

First Croc Sighting On Trip

Great day & a trip up the Endeavour River & Four Mile Creek with our guide up through giant mangrove flats. My first croc sighting, only a small one but impressive all the same.Look carefully thats him up on the bank.

Long Way Back

Looking back to where we had come from Sydney is 3500 kms that way. Stopped for a breather at this lookout approx 80 kms south of Cooktown.

Cooktown

Tyres are organised for fitting on Friday morning prior to our run across the top.The weather improved today to make an enjoyable ride up to Cooktown. We have joined up again with Trevor, who took the inland route & by his account we had the best weather. Tomorrow we have chartered a guide to take us up the river by boat to search for crocs. He told me he would show us a few good fishing spots & hire us a dinghy to see if we can hook a barramundi. As promised we tried the Cooktown fish & chips, not too bad.
20km south of Cooktown we called into the historic Lions Den Hotel that was established in 1886 a unique place & well worth the small diversion from the main route

Cairns Tenth Of The Way

Its the same distance from here to Darwin as its been for me from Sydney to here.Puts the size of the country into perspective. Sticking around here to arrange tyres tomorrow, to be fitted after our return from Cooktown. Probably have to stick to the inland sealed route, because of the rain over the last few days. Looking forward to the best fish & chips in Australia in Cooktown. Well thats what I read on the internet. All going good, bikes going well would be nice if the rain went away

Hi, We rode up to Townsville on Friday after heavy rain all night at Airlie Beach. We packed up in showers, but by the time we had a coffee in Cannonvale the rain had cleared & we were off . Arrived in Townsville late afternoon & kindly put up by friends of Peter Hickey,Peter & Deirdre Cook. We were supposed to go on a overnight fishing trip over the weekend but too windy & rough seas out beyond the reef. Instead took the ferry over to Magnetic Is. Walked to the top with great views but not a Koala to be seen.

Slumming it at Airlie Beach. Honestly its all we could find. Palm trees, swimming pools,manicured lawns. Somebody has to support the Aus tourist industry. Caught up with Grant Kitto last night at Mackay & a look around the operation he works for, supplying pumping & systems to agriculture & mining in Queensland & beyond.Sitting outside at 8pm with balmy temp. Settling in to riding but a long way to go. On to Townsville tomorrow for a couple of days fishing if the winds die down.

BMW Trevor joined Gordon & myself yesterday at Deception Bay just north of Brisbane & accompanied us to our campsite last night at Ban Ban Springs. This was a freedom campsite right on the highway with heavy trucks rolling past all night. Trevor left us to continue the inland route up to Cairns & Gordon & myself headed for the coast. Tonight we are in Rockhampton & a short run to Mckay tomorrow

First night camp at Walcha, has to be the best camp ground in Australia.

Yesterday was a motorcyclist,s dream road through the bush on the Mt Lyndesay highway. The start at Bonalbo is a bit hairy & I wondered if this really was a road or a farm track, with cattle wandering all over the road. The camping ground on the map was non existent, so ended up in a pub at Rathdowney. Arrived in Brisbane 10am Sun