Ok - this trip wasn't about stopping at spots and taking lots of pictures - which I normally like doing. It was about me unwinding and relaxing, which meant I just rode. Which I thoroughly enjoyed, it was great to meet a couple of faces. Have no fear I will do other rides, maybe a bit slower and pictures taken, & with my other half.
So here are a couple from the trip of the couple I took -
Pulled up in Tenterfield, (there was the saddler you see...) had to refuel my empty stomach.
Tamworth, found a quiet place to call it stumps for the night. Awesome place just down from the golf club. lol they helped me out when I forgot my iphone charger.
Self portrait - lol with flattering light.
At dinner at the Golf Club, if you are going to Tamworth get a meal at the golf club, it was the best steak I'd had in a long time and dirt cheap!
After my early start from Tamworth, could of taken lots of piccies of big golden guitars, but nope - here's a servo instead in Scone.
My only 'cooler' morning you guys!!! I wanted every morning chilly & blue....
Street view of Scone, after necessary trip to Chemist for more cold n flu remedies, I was deaf in one ear pretty much the whole trip, I put the aches and pains down till riding lol...
Mudgee - I didn't mind this area at all...(it calls for another trip)
lol, If only you all knew. Instead of washing, well this trip wasn't long enough, & it was that bit short... so I sent home the smelly laundry...
Then the essential coffee stop. I picked a quiet Gloria Jeans, had the shop all to myself and blissed out for a short time. Then it was tally ho & onward south for Canberra! Yes I could get there in the day & by 5.30pm...
Self portrait of my dirty ass (in Canberra)
I know such a dirty ass!
So I arrive in Canberra and wondered what on earth you guys were on!? Heidi took one look at the end of my bike & laughs, really hard and said "I love your number plate!" (I thought WTF.... Canberrians are different...) Then I looked....
I eventually got around to only cleaning the brake light.
same dirty ass....
Macksville after leaving Raymond Terrace... refuel the bike and of course a hot chocolate to sustain you.... & northwards I go... Gold Coast for the night. Nimbin was cool, didn't take a photo lol, so was Grafton, Casino, Lismore, and back up in the hills behind Palm Beach - lol very different. I had no idea of where I was going to my brothers place...
My little nephew, couldn't get him off the bike, better than grand theft auto he recons. He didn't give a toss about the pink helmet.
Towns, towns, towns....
How did I meander... had to remember some roads I would of taken where still cut by flood waters...
Mackay > Rockhampton (2 hr stopover, coffee & chat) > Gin Gin > Maryborough (stop 1 for night)
Maryborough > Gympie > Kilkivan > Nanango > Yarraman > Crows Nest > Toowoomba (I started enjoying it from here - different country) > Warwick > Stanthorpe > Tenterfield > Glen Innes > Armidale > Tamworth (night 2)
Tamworth > Wallabadah > Willow Tree > Murrurundi > Scone > Merriwa > Cassilis > Ulan > Mudgee > Ilford > Sofala (loved this area, up hills, down hills, round hills...) Bathurst > Cowra > Boorowa (where an old bent over old man at the servo told me 'crookwell' is a good bike ride - lol > Canberra (Night 3)
Late start out of Canberra hmmm after midday

there were coffee's and catch up... There were 2 other loops planned, both got scrapped as time escaped me. Then it went -
Canberra > Gouldbourne (lmao at the young servo attendant!) > along the Hume hwy till Picton exit > Narellan > Penrith > Windsor > Putty > Singleton > Maitland > Raymond Terrace (Night 4 & feeling a little crook from the sinus infection by now)
Raymond Terrace - met up with Rod > can't remember where it was we stopped and fuelled and he went back home, I kept going north > Nabiac > Kempsey > Macksville > Coffs Harbour > Grafton > Casino > Lismore > NIMBIN (no cookies brought) > Murwillumbah > Elanora (Night 5)
Sunday day off with family.
Monday > Elenora (palm beach) > Brisbane > Maryborough > Gin Gin > Rockhampton > Mackay - 1085 km's & home!
Long day, but drugs were working and I enjoyed the run home.
Total distance for trip
4749 kms