The day the snoring got too much for Tony
The last day on the Gun Barrel and the mood in the camp was let’s get out there and enjoy it!. We rode out pretty early and headed East once more and it was wasn’t long before we hit the deep sand once again. Heavy going for around 20kms again and the branches of trees lining the track were growing over into the center on each wheel track. The constant whipping of these branches added to the pain of staying upright for the entire day.
We passed a Notabilis Hill and then headed for the famous “Len Beadell’s Tree and Plaque”. While waiting for the boys to catch up Robbo thought the 400m distance to the drinking well was an easy way to spend a few minutes and walked off on the track to have a look. Well, he wasn’t sure if walking in full riding gear was all that hard in the 36 degree heat, he thinks they made a mistake with the sign and should have put the 1.4KM sign up instead. Looks like all the signs on the track have the same sign, “water bore-400m” Definitely a cost cutting measure to have all the same signs made up.
We all regrouped again and only 11km left of the epic Gun Barrel Hwy. Some great action video was taken and the next stop was the intersection of the Heather Hwy which looked very similar to the last 350km we have been on. Perfect,,,,,,,now which line are we going to take for the next 37km as there were some seriously rugged terrain to negotiate. Shaymos only real drama today was he failed to take a corner and ended upside down in the middle of the deepest sandy river around. A quick lift and push and we were all off again. About half way we met 2 Toyotas luckily on a straight part of the track and it took a while for these guys to start talking normally as the corrugations nearly gave them lock jaw. The corrugations were excruciating, good on the bikes if you’re at near terminal velocity.
We all want to meet this “heather” lady after highway is named, and give her a small piece of our minds. Stat would also ask for some compensation for his damaged rear end!
We ended the 37kms and turned left onto the new part of the highway and it was plain sailing towards the great central road.
We all had a terrific morning, a few lay downs and a few near misses with the roos and camels too.
When we hit the great central road we all were feeling that one of the highlights of the trip was past and were a little bummed, just the Simpson was between us and the Pacific Ocean. (A lot of transport section too)
The road didn’t get any better coming into Warburton either, rough corrugations and didn’t matter where you were placed on the 300m wide road, they were everywhere. Just sit on the 100km/h ,mark and you could hardly notice them.
We encountered a decent water crossing 5km out of Warburton and got some good action shots of the crossing.
Into Warburton for a late lunch and back on the phone for the next hour checking messages and trying to do some work.
Time to find a camp and a ripper was found near a few upside abandoned VC Commodores.
Statt though it was about time we tasted his Launceston royal show prize winning damper (2002 bronze medal, there was only 3 entrants) real butter and strawberry jam for a pre-dinner appetizer. Absolutely Gold we thought!
Matt had been warned about his snoring and set up his swag within the radius we all voted on and would be chastised once more the following morning for depriving sleep from the other guys. The brochure said nothing about the chainsaw like sounds that would bellow from one of the swags. Didn’t worry Robbo, he hears nothing while asleep.
More Camels
Oh dear, looks like we NEED IT!
30 Minutes later and a little NEED IT and she's is all good
Shaymo demonstrates the Tenere Ejector Seat once again!
Shaymo down again, after battling with the big Tenere we moved him onto the mighty 400 in 400 country.
Unfortunately after about 500 m he decided to hit to twist the wrist a bit too far and did a one handed one footed wheelie into the tree.
Well so is Troy's as the corrugations we so bad that the whole faring simply cracked off, no big deal break out the 100MPH tape and we are good to go.
The guys at Britannia have been awesome and are redesigning this fairing to improve durability, thanks Ian
Bug Cam moments before impact! We cant show you what happens next :-(
Progress is solid! Very happy campers
Len Beadells Tree - What a bloke
The Long Way Across and Len Beadells Tree
Scott and Matty at Lens Tree
Tony at Lens Tree
How is this for something we didnt expect to see. This guy is Conrad Mckee and he is WALKING across Australia
Steep Point to Byron Bay!!!!!!!! Very Inspirational as he walks around 70 klms per day
How Lovely!
Scotty flys by
Shaymo sleeps
Human art
Dusty brothers
