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16 May 2018
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
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Sunday morning we made for the weekend market for breakfast of Vietnamese soup and iced coffees! Then it was some mall time for the air con before a visit to the new aquarium. Rachel made some great meals for us and we did a lot of relaxing at their place.
 IMG_2603 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 IMG_2596 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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16 May 2018
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Contributing Member
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We were up early and Skip dropped us at the marina at 7 am for our 730 departure for a day on the Great Barrier Reef. It is over a 2 hour trip on our slow boat, but we had 2 snorkel sessions with lots of fish. It is a shame to see the extent of the death of the coral!
 Reef-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 IMG_2612 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 11B36B40-D427-4502-8A72-4DF8F28D651B by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Reef-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Reef-19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Reef-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Reef-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Reef-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Reef-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Reef-20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Reef-17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 IMG_2624 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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17 May 2018
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Contributing Member
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17 May 2018
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Contributing Member
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We had a “deep fried” Bogan lunch in Mount Garnet and then rode south to The Lynd. So far the scenery is not boring and dire as we have been warned. It seems to change type every 50 km or so from rolling hills, flat farm land, grassy dry marshes, scrub land, and forest. Sometimes the main road is a strip of seal on a dirt road.
 FILE4698 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE4713 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
In The Lynd there is a gas station and we asked how the road south was. The gas station attendant said it is 264 km (with absolutely no services on the road) and only half is surfaced, it has water on it in places, and they recommend we ride around. It is 506 km around and actually takes 1 hour less! We also checked with a road train driver who said there is a fair amount of deep sand and that we will have to ride in the ditch and try to avoid the washouts…around it is we can not risk any issues. Its after 2 and we don’t have enough food or water anyway to camp out. If we start out now we will not make it to Hughenden before dark.
 Screen Shot 2018-04-26 at 16.28.38 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE4725 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE4738 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
A long day for the Swede!
 IMG_2627 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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17 May 2018
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It was 430 when we arrived to Charters Towers after 250 km. We headed to the Woolworth for supplies and then to the caravan park. It had a nice shaded grass area for the tents. The camp kitchen was a bit sketchy as they only had BBq’s and a wood stove. Luckily we had bought a cooked chicken and salad for dinner. The wine/  helped. We are pretty tired and hit the sac not long after 9. We were woken up not long after by 2 possums fighting, but that did not last too long.
We had planned to get up early for the 830 ANZAC day parade, but despite actually getting up at 730 with the birds we did not leave the park until almost 930. This was after boiling eggs on the bbq (takes longer than you think). We rode into town and caught the last half of the ceremonies and the wreath laying at the ANZAC monument. There is one in almost every town. The poor school kids standing in the hot sun were dropping like flies.
 North Queensland-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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17 May 2018
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We headed out of town west after 11 and made for Hughenden to the road house, which was THE ONLY thing open as it is a national holiday. The road here is flat and straight with mostly grassland. There is almost no other vehicles and you might see a few every 50-60 km. There are not even that many road trains either.
Sara had a “toastie” , which is a grilled cheese of sorts and here it is made with laughing cow, which does not really melt. The guys had deluxe burgers, which had a bun, a burger patty, a thin steak, bacon, cheese, a fried egg, a slice of pineapple, lettuce, tomato, and a slice of pickled beet root. Dan ordered a large fires, which would feed 8!
 Screen Shot 2018-04-26 at 16.32.10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE4755 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-27 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-25 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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17 May 2018
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Contributing Member
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We have just 120 km left today to Richmond. We planned a shorter day as we knew we would leave last and we plan to stay in a hotel in Mount Isa 406 km from Richmond tomorrow. The road continued to be straight, there are quite a few dead kangaroos on the road side, but still little traffic. The speed limit is 110 km/h mostly and time flies. We did note that the road closure sign said there is a caution between Julia creek and Cloncurry ??
 North Queensland-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-31 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE4770 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE4778 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE4782 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We arrived to Richmond and it was 32 degrees. Our idea to free camp went out the window as it was 10$ at the caravan park with huge shade trees and hot showers! We set up under the trees on the grassy “unpowered” site 3. This is on what look like a nice lake, but is a marsh. This means the place is infested with flies that really drove us crazy until after sunset. We were so full from the lunch we skipped dinner and were all asleep by 9.
 North Queensland-23 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-24 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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17 May 2018
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Contributing Member
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We were woken just after first light at 630 by the crazy squawking of hundreds of parrots. We had been told by numerous people that there was a plague of locust ahead. One couple in a car said they were 3 inches deep on the road and like a carpet. We had noted yesterday on the road warning sign board there was a caution for the section from Julia creek west. We did then get on the road early and had 407 km to go to get to Mount Isa.
 Screen Shot 2018-04-26 at 17.03.46 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE4808 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We stopped for fuel in Julia creek after 150 km with little evidence of grasshoppers.
 North Queensland-51 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We met a man at the fuel stop who told us there was a good bakery in Cloncurry (oasis) in another 137 km, and we actually ran into him again there. Well the road had a few bugs on it, but nothing noteworthy. We had seen the cars with their grills plugged with them over the last few days, but all we got was a few splotches on our pant legs and boots. The route itself is again quite varied today with sections of grassland and scrub (AND termites).
 IMG_2634 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-38 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-34 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-32 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
It is another 122 km to Mount Isa and this is quite scenic with some curves and rolling treed hills that are very green as they had so much rain recently. The ride into the town itself is less so with the huge mills and smoke towers billowing on the hill just past town. Grasshopper guts.
 IMG_2637 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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17 May 2018
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"We were woken just after first light at 630 by the crazy squawking of hundreds of parrots."
Back in 1996 I rode through that region on an F650 and stopped for the night in Camooweal (sp?). Right before sunset an enormous flock of white birds, some kind of parrots or cockatiels, flew over. They made an incredible racket and blocked the sun like a thick cloud for a good 3 or 4 minutes as they flew overhead. It was an amazing sight!
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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250
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18 May 2018
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Contributing Member
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brclarke
"We were woken just after first light at 630 by the crazy squawking of hundreds of parrots."
Back in 1996 I rode through that region on an F650 and stopped for the night in Camooweal (sp?). Right before sunset an enormous flock of white birds, some kind of parrots or cockatiels, flew over. They made an incredible racket and blocked the sun like a thick cloud for a good 3 or 4 minutes as they flew overhead. It was an amazing sight!
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WOW. One of the things we will remember most about Oz is the "pet store" birds everywhere in flocks. sp
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18 May 2018
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Contributing Member
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We checked out a few motel and several were quite expensive and sketchy. At one the disheveled desk attendant propositioned Daniel, while I was looking at the less than ideal room. In the end we found a “vending” machine hotel where you book and check in at the kiosk. It is new and very clean, with modern decor and fast wifi (rare in Oz).
 IMG_2636 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We walked the 1.5 km into the centre to the mall and then the dollar store so Orvar could replace his stock of reading glasses. The last broke this morning. We then decided on a real Australian cultural “experience” with dinner at the RSL. Visitor must check in with ID and we of course had the roast pork special all round. One visit was enough for us all. The food is hospitalish at best and the drinks no cheeper.
Oz in general is very expensive, not as bad as NZ, but close. We stopped at Woothworth on the way home for supplies and a few more s. What a relaxing evening in our swank pad with time to catch up on the web.
 North Queensland-44 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 IMG_2639 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Daniel fixed us an amazing smoked salmon eggs Benedict to start our big day of 663 km from Mount Isa to 3 ways.
 IMG_2640 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Screen Shot 2018-04-30 at 14.49.27 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We started as usual with a full tank and noted they sell OPAL here.
 IMG_2642 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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18 May 2018
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Contributing Member
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Join Date: Jan 2011
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Just as we left town we saw the first road marker for Darwin!
 North Queensland-46 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
The route today varied quite a bit. Some stretches were hilly, treed, and quite green. Others were flat grassland. We stopped in Camooweal the small town just before the Northern territory border for some gas. We met Daniel riding east. He warned us that we MUST buy bug hats here even at the inflated 10$ each. He said you can not stop anywhere in the next 400 km without going crazy from the flies.
 North Queensland-47 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-48 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-49 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-50 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Just out of town we crossed the border and stopped at the sign. The flies here are insane!
 IMG_2645 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NT-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NT-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Darwin_-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Last edited by saralou; 9 Jun 2018 at 14:07.
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18 May 2018
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Contributing Member
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Join Date: Jan 2011
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Now it is just another 185 km to Warumungu or 3 ways and it is 34 degrees. It is more flat and desolate here and the number of dead Kangaroos does not help.
 North Queensland-54 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 North Queensland-56 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We are late in the day and riding west directly into the sun, which is never fun. It was sort of cool to arrive at the Stewart highway at 3 ways where the roads meet.
 NT-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NT-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NT-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NT-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NT-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
It is just another 300 m to the roadhouse. It is staffed like most of the places we have been in the last 4 days by non Australians. Here there are a bunch of rude German students, who laughed when we asked if there was a fridge for the use of the campers. The camp ground is the worst we have seen in OZ. The pool is green and not in a goon way, but cold so we could put our left over s in there to cool. The camp kitchen is tragic and so the guys ate in the cafe. We were woken up by the yelling from the next tent. There was a family there with young kids and the mom had had 6-7 Jim beam and cokes last night. To top it off the camp was littered with spines from some tree and 2 of the expeds now have tiny impossible to see holes in them.
 NT-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NT-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
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helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers!
break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
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