Mount Isa to 3 ways

Sunday the 7^th of November 2010

The ride out Isa was great, a few rolling hills and sweeping bends. In some sections the road has gone through the hills so you get red granite walls on either side of the road, the red rocks look spectacular and in some places the grass and shrubs have started to grow over the cut rock. We saw 3 locals taking their Harley out for a spin, I’m guessing they were heading home as they were heading towards Mount Isa and it was about lunch time.  

We pulled into Camooweal and did the obligatory fueling up before heading to the Northern Territory border. For the first time on this trip there was a sign welcoming us into a new State or Territory, I would have thought that every time you crossed a boarder there would be a welcoming sign, but clearly I was wrong…

The next thing you notice about the Northern Territory is that the speed limit is 130 Klm’s per hour, yes folks that’s right 130Klm’s per hour. As for me I don’t bother doing 130 clicks, it’s just too hard on me so I plonk the Harley on 120 clicks and leave it on that all day. (My speedo is also out so, realistically I’m doing about 110 clicks) The roads are also in sensational condition, they are the best country roads I have seen anywhere in Australia, however they are long and flat.

We rode through our first tropical thunder storm and lets suggest it was a welcome relief as the temperature was starting to climb rapidly. The rain drops are like everything up here they are bigger and hurt more, I’d imagine it’s like getting hit with in the face with a cricket ball being bowled by Curtly Ambrose, but once the shock of that has worn off the cooling effect of the water is fabulous. But alas the thunder storm was only a small one so we didn’t remain cool for long.

Alan and I stopped for lunch at a designated rest area, which are nicely setup for travelers. Whilst we were there we discussed that fact that I have gone from my Harley Davidson leather jacket to my Draggin Jeans material jacket (80% Ramie & 20% cotton) with Kevlar lining. The simple reason is its about 35 degrees in the shade, so the reason for swapping to the Draggin Jacket is that it is much lighter and cooler when it is hot because its fabric. Also when you get caught in a thunder storm at about 40 degrees it helps keep you much cooler than my leather jacket would. Alan’s comment to me is that if it wasn’t for his Draggin jacket (which is Denim) he would have been brought his Bell Star leather jacket (which is also a heavy leather) and in the heat he would now be just wearing his long sleeve shirts. (and I’d be calling him a plonker)

About 40 klm’s from the next fuel stop my petrol warning light came on and said “Lo”, which typically isn’t a good sign. (Alan was way ahead of me at this point) I guessed I would make it but none the less started making contingency plans. I get that I’m paranoid, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t out to get me… You’ve all seen the films, brother runs out of fuel in the middle of nowhere, banjo playing Hill Billy (we’ll call him Ivan ) in a pick-up truck rocks up and offers assistance. The brother thinking that everybody is decent jumps in the pick-up truck, whilst all the viewers at home are screaming at the telly don’t get in stay by the bike, stay by the bike you idiot… But of course it’s all too late, the brother wakes up in a pit with the Hill Billy sitting at the top patting his dog saying “ it puts the lotion on” now of course I’m not going to put the lotion on because it’s not Oil of Ulay. So the Hill Billy gets really mad and very insistent. As you can imagine he wants to turn my skin into a lamp shade or wear it to his sister’s wedding to his older brother. Whatever it is he wants to do with me isn’t going to end well for me!!! So I nursed my bike for 40klm’s to the Barkley Homestead Roadhouse, but as it turns out I still had 3 litres left in my tank which would get me about another 45clicks down the road. The Barkley Homestead has some of the most beautiful Frangipanis I’ve seen so these are for you Michelle.

Fuel around these parts is expensive $1.80 a litre, but that’s life and I’m guessing it costs a fair bit to get it out here. We are staying at the three way’s roadhouse, it’s got great food, I had a massive burger for $10. The room was full of mosquitoes but you know me, I’m a fan of chemical warfare so they lost the war after making a promising start in the battle.

The great thing about these places is all the old photos and stories on the walls, like Tex and his Cattle dog Bundy, They are holders of the fastest dog record and Tex rode around Australia in 8 days (15,000 clicks) if you’re out this way check them out.

Cheers

a