MarioG Ride around Australia : Week 2

Day 10: Tennant Creek. An easy 251k, it’s actually shorter had I not taken some interesting side trips. Road great, weather hot… elapse time around 2 hrs.

OK, I was told to look out for Roos, Emus, Camels, Donkeys, but nobody said that there would be free range cows all over the place (no fencing). I must have counted over 20 dead on the side of the road. Road Trains wouldn’t have a problem, but I would. This region is called Barkly Tableland. Apparently has the best grazing land in all Australia, and this is from the locals. The countryside is lush with grass, so it could be true.

I did a few side trips and took a few photos (see below samples).

I don’t want to be negative, but I got in at around 10am local time (NT is 30 min. behind Sydney time). I found a cheap place to stay, well relative to others around; it was a Pub/Hotel. There was a very long queue waiting to get in for a drink. Unfortunately they were all indigenous. I knocked to get in and the owner saw that I was not a local and let me in.

Another note to self: Keep an eye on speed; I am really using much more petrol because the speed limit here is 130km. It does sound like allot, but it was only a few years ago that they put this in, they didn't have one before. The roads are good and straight, it is easy to do, and even easier to go was over. I am trying to stay on the 120 -130 limit @ 4500rpm.

This will be a very easy week of riding. Tomorrow I’m off to Elliot (270 km). There is only one place to stay. I called ahead and chatted with the owner, and he gave me a terrific price $35. All I asked after hearing the price was does it have a bed A/C and a loo? Yes it does, good enough. Day after I head off to Katherine for a couple of days, then Darwin for a few more days. In Darwin I will catch up with some friends and service the bike.

An old steam generator - surrounding district of Tennant Creek - I won't complain about Sydney prices (regular unleaded) - Downtown Tennant Creek.

Day 9: Barkly Homestead, NT. Distance travelled 480km, weather hot, roads good.

I kicked off at 6:30am so I could get a few Ks before the heat set in. I decided to stop at Barkly Homestead. I arrived around 12 noon and called it a day. I asked about the cost of a room for the night; $110. Option 2, was to ask if I could pitch a tent at the back. They agreed. All it cost me was a $20 deposit on the washroom key, which I will get back tomorrow. Good deal. I did promise my wife that I would use the tent at least 4 times, so it could pay for itself. 3 to go.
I noticed that my SPOT 2 was not tracking. I must have forgot to push tracking on my device. Will take more care tomorrow.

Other than Telstra, there is no phone reception. Lucky my portable Wi-Fi is from Telstra and works.

Day 8: Mt Isa sightseeing, weather warm around 31c.

Mt Isa is a town of about 20,000 people in the remote north-west of Queensland. The town is located alongside the, silver, copper and lead mining and smelting operations of Mount Isa Mines Limited (MIM). The smelting that takes place here produces sulfur dioxide emissions that they say is not very good for you. There is an inquiry on it now. Things are pricey here and not what I would call my type of town. I talked to a few locals today and they are afraid for the towns future. Other than mining, there is no plan B.

Tomorrow, I’m heading into Northern Territory (NT). My Plan A, is to go to Tennant Creek (about 670km). My plan B is to stop at Barkly Roadhouse (460km) then up to Elliot next day. It all depends on how hot it gets in the day. If I stop at Barly Roadhose and Elliot, the chances of me having any phone or wireless reception are very low. so my post may wait a couple of days.

I also had to do some bike maintanace. I had used some oil and coolant over the last 3000+km. I only had to add 300ml of oil and similar with the coolant.