Day 5 - Marlborough

A beautiful ANZAC morning after last nights downpour. We had to stay in the pub until it stopped!
Loaded up and rode to Gin Gin for breakfast and caught up with Roger's uncle and cousin.
Fuelled up at the big crab in Miriam Vale then onto Mt Larcom for lunch (pea pie!).
Had originally planned on doing Bundaberg but forgot about ANZAC Day. All closed so decided to go through Rocky and onto Yamba to pub camp. But it was closed. So onward to Marlborough. Poor planning on my part saw me run down to a couple of cups of fuel.
A warm day maxing out at 33 with about 440kms put away.
Sitting back now watching Collingwood do Essendon.

Day 4 - Apple Tree Creek

Following Mitch and Belinda's hospitality (and a bottle of fine red for the road) we headed to the Caboolture Warbird Museum and lost a few hours being guided around the hanger and the hanger next door. 

Next it was the Big Pineapple and on to Gympie for lunch and the machine that turns lead into gold.
Rolled into Childers to catch up with Rob and Sue. Great to see them both. 

Pulled into the Apple Tree Creek Hotel to free camp for the night.

Day 3 - Clear Mountain

Left Maclean after a light shower at 0730. In and out of rain to Ballina and the Big Prawn where we stopped for breakfast. Must have had an inch of rain before we left there.

Light showers on and off almost until the Gold Coast.

Through Brisbane and up to Mitch and Belinda's for the night. The heavens opened up five minutes before their place  with sheet water and vision of two metres. 

But all good once arrived, not a bloody drop.

Mitch fed, watered and bed us. Fantastic, but that's another story for another day.

Day 2 - Maclean

A couple of false starts today as I woke Roger at 1:30 and he woke me at 2am. Both in separate tents but the snoring carried!

Up at 0600 and on the road at 0730. Breakfast in Kempsey followed by a quick stop at Bunnings just for a look. Rode into Urunga and on to Coffs Harbour for lunch.

Fuelled up at Grafton and decided to ride on to Maclean. Overnighting in the local showground with courtesy bus to the Bowlo.

It's looking pretty dark outside ATM. Expecting overnight thunderstorms.

Day 1 - Taree

Rode out from home around 0830 after a bacon and egg breakfast with Robyn, Tristan, Kirsten and Erin. M5 to M7 and onto the M1 up the coast.
Called into Newcastle for a look at Stockton Beach followed by Nobby's Beach and the Pasha Bulker sculpture. Then onto Taree for the night.
Met Nicola again who we first met on our ride to Anne's in 2016.

Almost ready to go

Les and Rog left Wonthaggi on Wednesday morning and overnighted at Eden. Thursday saw Les head back home while Rog continued on to Sydney.
Friday saw us catch up with Anne (school friend) and do a run through the Nasho to Bald Hill before parting ways after lunch down at Austie beach.
Great weather and a good ride.
On returning home we loaded up for our departure Saturday morning. On inspecting the tyres there it was, the glint of metal in the centre of my rear tyre. A bloody wire nail. Haven't left home and I've repaired the first puncture of the trip.

Are you going to.....?

As our departure date nears I'm often asked this question.
There's so much to see in such a short time frame.
My memory's not what it used to be so I've been adding a few must see places to my map.
Will we see them all? No, but at least it's a little closer to making an informed decision.
Let me know if you think I've missed a must see.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1unZasLn7SYBuyOvvt9DmT_OJfkM&usp=sharing