1 A quick, three day, 1600km jaunt through SE Queensland and Northern NSW Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:53 pm
Two Wheels Better
Moderator
Earlier in the week I had the urge to get on the road for one last time before stepping back on the plane bound for cooler climes. The weather forecast was showing it to be warm and clear, the Mighty K was freshly serviced, and the old swag (camping gear) shaken free of dust and insects. I spread out a map of the region.
I like the Bunya Mountains in Queensland for camping. They're not a place of particularly spectacular views, due to heavy rainforest growth and no lofty peaks. But they're quiet, clean and green, and mostly free of people, owing to their somewhat remote location. I turned the pointy end that way.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunya_Mountains
I headed out early in the day after a quick brekky to beat traffic and make some time, 'cause I wanted to ride on country roads instead of the main roadways. I allowed myself time to stop frequently to take a few happy snaps.
Wivenhoe Dam, where the floodwater which swamped the cities of Ipswich and Brisbane a few years back due to SEQ's much too-late 'controlled releases', came from. The water level is fairly high and that's good considering much of OZ is about to head back into persistent drought, El Niño style.
Wivenhoe Dam picninc area
After a quiet night in the hills I meandered south east down towards Crows Nest and Toowoomba and eventually found myself going in the direction of Narrabri NSW along the Newell Highway (so much for sticking to back roads) where near-constant roadworks had me stopping in the heat for fifteen-plus minute stretches. It's a good thing bikes can filter towards the front of the queue with no official repercussion. The cooling fan came on regularly. Once in Narrabri at dusk I camped at a caravan park along the river. The blowflies in the bush are as thick as thieves and if you don't wear a hat you're forever doing the Aussie salute. The other campers, mostly grey nomads, welcomed me generously with friendly convo and offers of a coldie. I slept well, but a grey dawn promised rain later on and heavy cloud was rolling in swiftly high overhead.
There's a great local road near Narrabri which, after crossing over the Mt Kaputar Range, gets you to the quaint country town of Bingara (site of one of the Aussie K rides recently). The sky continued grey and ominous with cloud. A breeze blew steadily. I made haste across the plain towards the distant range where the sun still shone.
The wind-blown plain towards the low mountains
The Narrabri-Bingara road is a little-known shortcut up and over the low range through grazing lands and rugged, forested hills. The road follows a gentle river (with a fair amount of water in it) down the other side. I noted a large amount of cattle were being mustered due to a lack of grasses for feed. Later I read about it in a local newspaper. Up to 40,000 head are being slowly shuffled round from dried pasture to fresh grasslands. It's a substantial undertaking reminiscent of the 'olden days' of cattle droving.
The road to Mt Kaputar.
An empty old drover's cottage.
The urbanite in me was 'Jonesing' for a cuppa and as I was approaching Bingara round about cuppa time and after circulating the CBD for a mo', a café was located quick smart. I sat reading a paper and enjoying the view. I have to say that I much prefer the smoother taste of most Australian coffee over the tendency towards bitter (burnt) roasts on offer in Americaland. $tarbuck$ and the lot just can't get it right in my taste estimation.
In OZ, one can, with a straight face and without guile, waltz up to the counter and order a 'flat white' or a 'long black', but you'd better know what you'll get...
Good coffee (flat white) with freshly baked scones, jam and cream.
Sated, Copeton Dam and the road to Inverell and beyond were next on my agenda. But first, a quick squiz round this lovely country town and up to the lookout to the east of town.
The CBD, Bingara NSW
Batterham's Lookout, Bingara NSW
Abandoned farm house and sheds
Copeton Dam
Next up later on, more piccies and travelogue of the road to near the coast, Glen Innes to Grafton on the Gwydir Highway, through the Gibraltar Range.
I like the Bunya Mountains in Queensland for camping. They're not a place of particularly spectacular views, due to heavy rainforest growth and no lofty peaks. But they're quiet, clean and green, and mostly free of people, owing to their somewhat remote location. I turned the pointy end that way.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunya_Mountains
I headed out early in the day after a quick brekky to beat traffic and make some time, 'cause I wanted to ride on country roads instead of the main roadways. I allowed myself time to stop frequently to take a few happy snaps.
Wivenhoe Dam, where the floodwater which swamped the cities of Ipswich and Brisbane a few years back due to SEQ's much too-late 'controlled releases', came from. The water level is fairly high and that's good considering much of OZ is about to head back into persistent drought, El Niño style.
Wivenhoe Dam picninc area
After a quiet night in the hills I meandered south east down towards Crows Nest and Toowoomba and eventually found myself going in the direction of Narrabri NSW along the Newell Highway (so much for sticking to back roads) where near-constant roadworks had me stopping in the heat for fifteen-plus minute stretches. It's a good thing bikes can filter towards the front of the queue with no official repercussion. The cooling fan came on regularly. Once in Narrabri at dusk I camped at a caravan park along the river. The blowflies in the bush are as thick as thieves and if you don't wear a hat you're forever doing the Aussie salute. The other campers, mostly grey nomads, welcomed me generously with friendly convo and offers of a coldie. I slept well, but a grey dawn promised rain later on and heavy cloud was rolling in swiftly high overhead.
There's a great local road near Narrabri which, after crossing over the Mt Kaputar Range, gets you to the quaint country town of Bingara (site of one of the Aussie K rides recently). The sky continued grey and ominous with cloud. A breeze blew steadily. I made haste across the plain towards the distant range where the sun still shone.
The wind-blown plain towards the low mountains
The Narrabri-Bingara road is a little-known shortcut up and over the low range through grazing lands and rugged, forested hills. The road follows a gentle river (with a fair amount of water in it) down the other side. I noted a large amount of cattle were being mustered due to a lack of grasses for feed. Later I read about it in a local newspaper. Up to 40,000 head are being slowly shuffled round from dried pasture to fresh grasslands. It's a substantial undertaking reminiscent of the 'olden days' of cattle droving.
The road to Mt Kaputar.
An empty old drover's cottage.
The urbanite in me was 'Jonesing' for a cuppa and as I was approaching Bingara round about cuppa time and after circulating the CBD for a mo', a café was located quick smart. I sat reading a paper and enjoying the view. I have to say that I much prefer the smoother taste of most Australian coffee over the tendency towards bitter (burnt) roasts on offer in Americaland. $tarbuck$ and the lot just can't get it right in my taste estimation.
In OZ, one can, with a straight face and without guile, waltz up to the counter and order a 'flat white' or a 'long black', but you'd better know what you'll get...
Good coffee (flat white) with freshly baked scones, jam and cream.
Sated, Copeton Dam and the road to Inverell and beyond were next on my agenda. But first, a quick squiz round this lovely country town and up to the lookout to the east of town.
The CBD, Bingara NSW
Batterham's Lookout, Bingara NSW
Abandoned farm house and sheds
Copeton Dam
Next up later on, more piccies and travelogue of the road to near the coast, Glen Innes to Grafton on the Gwydir Highway, through the Gibraltar Range.
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"How many cars did we pass today?" "ALL of them."
1977 R75/7-100, '93 K11/K12 Big Block, '93 K1100RS, '95 R100 Mystic, '96 K1100RS, 2 x '98 K1200RS, '06 K1200R & '09 K1300GT