Day 6 - Airlie Beach

Dined last night at the Marlborough Hotel where they also allows Pub camping. Unfortunately we'd already booked into the caravan park. In hindsight this probably saved us.
Slept like a log with our now routine wake at six and depart by 0730.
We had breakfast at Camilla, no sign of Charles. Onto Sarina and a tour of the sugar cane factory. Very interesting.
Then the BIG Toad! Next to the BIG Toad is what looks like disused toilets (which they are), however they were originally the towns WW2 underground bomb shelter!
Onto Mackay for lunch before the final ride into Airlie Beach.
Hells Bells, I've arrived 40 years too late! Not a Grey Nomad to be seen, Rog and I were the only people over 24 and only possessing an Aussie passport!
Set up camp betwee an old Aussie lech and a couple of Swedish ladies.
Shower and down the strip to see the night life.

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.