Outback day 7, wallumbilla to roma

Monday 27th Oct This 44k day along back roads should have been a doddle, but the weather threw in a roaring headwind, so it wasn't. With of course a predicted 39° max, as has become usual. So another early start. Blue Hills Road sounds charming; it parallels the highway on the other side of the railway line, but inexplicably the closer I got to Roma the worse it got. There is not much to be said about dog track roads in roaring headwinds, so I abandoned back roads and limped up the highway into Roma. However, after a capacious breakfast I pulled into the Bungle Creek Motel (another go to) where they busted a gut to get me a room ASAP. My batteries recharged, I detoured north to the airport and found the RFDS base was asleep. Share

Outback day 6, dulacca to wallumbilla

Monday 27th Oct Today was the biggie, 75k with no alternative to the Warrego Highway for the first 40k to Yuleba. To make it bigger, a headwind and a predicted 40° max. So a very early start was the solution and I pulled out of Dulacca just before 5 am. The good news was there was noone on the road early Sunday, apart from the never sleeping truckies. The bad news was pulling into tiny Jackson where I discovered I had left my water bottles in the fridge in Dulacca. A predicted 40° with insuffient water in my reserve stock was a bad place to be, and I contemplated returning. This would have meant mega headwinds and mega heat and I kept on to Yuleba. Luckily the roadhouse there wasn't shut for renos and I bought the best water ever. The lady behind the counter remembered passing me at 5.30 am, and I remembered her red car, so she threw in a toasted sandwich. I went outside, sat on the %$@& ants nest eating area and enjoyed every bit of it. I got a call just outside Wallumbilla from the cabin park lady to announce all was ready, which rounded out the day. Share

Outback day 5, miles to dulacca

Monday 27th Oct Another hot forecast and another early start, again along backroads that swung well south of the highway. A very quiet morning on very back roads indeed, as once off the highway at the outskirts of Miles, I didn't pass a car for 50 kilometres. The country was getting more remote too. Pulled in to Dulacca, where the roadhouse was shut for renovations meaning everything that was available was available at the famous pink pub. The pink pub had the best food of the trip, lovely staff and oh so cozy cabins out the back. Share

Outback day 4, chinchilla to miles

Monday 27th Oct Friday was my first day into unknown back roads, where having anything more than a minor mechanical issue would create quite a problem. Swung well south of the highway, but it turned out there was plenty of activity with the enormous gas field operation and a couple of huge feedlots. A few hills for interest before more plains into Miles. Miles is not a weekend spot and the Swagsman motel had a room ready to go at 10.30. Enjoyed the air con on this, the first of several days that maxxed out in the mid to high 30s. Share

Ooutback day 3, jandowae to chinchilla

Monday 27th Oct Not a lot to say. Spirit level flat, straight roads on agricultural land through the Western Downs. Started before 6 am as the forecast was a headwind and a 39° maximum. The 39 didn't happen, but the headwind did. Rolled into Chinchilla mid morning. Shoutout to the Palms Motel, our go to in Chinchilla, and they didn't let us down. Share

Outback day 2, boyneside to jandowae

Monday 27th Oct No turning back after Margaret's sag wagon service to the start. Some big hills over the northern Bunya Ranges but pleased to make it up the 11% grade on Wind Farm climb to the highest point at 710m. Then largely cruisy with 350m of descending to Jandowae on the plain. Room at the pub available when I arrived about lunchtime; rather tired but had an ensuite. Share

Outback day 1, Kingaroy to Boyneside

Tuesday 21st Oct So busy riding I forgot to take photos after I left, but hauled in a couple of Strava PBs. Share

October 1. It starts with zero

Wednesday 1st Oct Many thanks to everyone who donated so far! Very much appreciated 👏 💐 . Now I just need kilometers on the board. Share

More practice in Sydney

Saturday 20th Sep A few days on a cool city bike in Sydney. This is the lower deck of Woronora Bridge. A bit more traffic here than in the flinders ranges. Share

Southern flinders rail trail

Monday 8th Sep Practicing on gravel with an end to end ride of the Southern Flinders Rail Trail, which runs from Wilmington to Laura in South Australia. Shoutout to Margaret Clancy who is driving the sag wagon. Share