The Big Willandra

After checking out the (rarely) full Menindee Lakes, and sampling Menidee's bacon and egg rolls, it was on via the dirt to Ivanhoe. It's always a good idea to check with the locals on road conditions -- the dirt roads that are fine now were impassable not long ago, due to rain. We bush camped in the Willandra National Park last night, and we were delighted to find a fully restored sheep station, with the homestead (pictured) looking out over a manmade billabong.

Family time

Look who the wind blew into Broken Hill.

Gulfed!

Gulf to Gulf is achieved! To keep to our schedule I stayed in Broken Hill and got the bike fixed. Meanwhile Mark made a mad 750km dash to the Spencer Gulf and back (see the last two posts). So no Sam, we didn't get to race each other to the sea, dammit!

Bike fixer in Broken Hill

Gus here: Stopped in Broken Hill for a day to finally get the bike fixed. 1500kms with no front brake is enough. So a big thank you to Tony of Hepburn Motorcycles who did a great job and donated his time and effort to Gulf to Gulf.

Spencer Gulf! Mission Accomplished

Wild Dog Fence, QLD/NSW border

Tomorrow -- Gulf #2!

We've invaded Broken Hill, via Wanaaring and White Cliffs, covered in dust and dirt. Tonight we share a camping area with 40 geology students from University of South Australia -- I hope they're ready for our stereo snoring! Tomorrow, it's off to our second Gulf (Spencer Gulf, that is), in the lovely resort town of Port Augusta (Mark's allowed to say that becasue he's been there before and used to live in Adelaide). Thanks for reading!

Hey KC and 2H!

We've seen lots of animals on our long ride. Some of them have looked very surprised to see us! Which of these animals that we have seen are not native Australian animals: camel, kangaroo, brolga, Major Mitchell cockatoo, fox, goat, emu, rabbit, stump-tailed lizard, wild horse, wedge-tailed eagle.

Thanks Scott and Kaylene!

Thanks to Scott and Kaylene, goat farmers from west of Bourke, for their generous donation to Gulf to Gulf. Scott was amazed that the Bangladeshi families that we hope to support only earn about 90c per day. It's not too late to make a donation -- but we're almost home.

White Cliffs

A great morning on the dirt from Wanaaring to White Cliffs. 200km of fast and dusty riding with some creek crossings. Now on to broken hill.

rain rain rain

In Quilpie after a wet and chilly ride from Windorah. With mobile coverage!

The day we didn't go to Birdsville

Gus here:  To add to Mark's spiel, it rained all night on our tents in Bedourie and though we could have headed down to Birdsville the track further south was shut and we felt there was a chance we could be rained in and stuck there so Windorah was the new destination.
Mud.  I ended up rolling in it.  So did the bike.  So after a long cold ride found ourselves in Windorah, which is a really nice tiny town to find yourself in after a wet and cold day on the road.
Next stop Eulo, where they have mobile coverage!
Yeah Tim, Midar!  I told Mark that story while we were stuck in Bedourie.  But we didn't abandon the vehicle this time.

Le (de)tour, le mud

Birdsville just didn't want us. The Birdsville Track was closed and there was little prospect of it opening, so we hitched up our spirit of adventure, kicked the dust of our boots and head east to Windorah. Unfortunately, the dust was soon replaced by mud. The Bedourie police said. "Yeah, you'll be right getting to Windorah. Watch out for water on the road, and there's some mud too. I'll give you six hours, so call me when you get there." Six-and-half hours later -- hours full of amazing green plains stretching to nowhere; intimate moments with some of the country's finest soil turned into mud; driving rain; and kangaroos, emus, brumbies and future hamburgers -- we rolled into Windorah and a hot shower. Motorcycle riding rule #48: you can never be too warm on a 'bike. So, we have Gulf # 2 in our sights, via White Cliffs and Broken Hill -- it would be dandy if it stopped raining.

And more Bedourie

Gus here: Still in Bedourie.  The mail plane should be in any moment with a new front brake disc.  Spent the last day and a half organising spare parts and deliveries from the Bedourie public phone box.  Not even Telstra mobile gets to Bedourie.  Unfortunately can't get the old front disc off here in Bedourie.  Been told there's a legend of a mechanic in Birdsville (which is convenient).  Just to throw a spanner in, the Birdsville track is closed at the moment, but the locals say it could open tomorrow so we're hitting the road at day break!
Unfortunately we don't have any way of putting our photos online at the moment, but due to demand more photos of Gus on the way! 

We know Bedourie VERY well

Greetings from the town of Bedourie, just north of Birdsville. We have stopped here for a couple of days to repair Gus' motorcycle, which needs its front brake system rebuilt. Parts will be flown in from Brisbane tomorrow, if we can connect all the dots and make it happen.
Thanks to everyone for your messages! Finn and Tilda, you are spot on -- they are water lilies and they are beautiful. We have also seen lots of brolgas, camels and brumbies. Fiona, the cushion is working just fine, thanks, but I do walk a little funny when I get off the bike.
I hope our next update will see us somewhere near Birdsville.

Djarra

After our first stint on the dirt (fun) stop off in Djarra before heading on to Boulia.

Cloncurry curry

Cloncurry

Had a curry in the pub at Cloncurry.

KC/2H, what are these flowers?

Karumba! We're on the gulf

A long hot day on the bikes with the final reward of seeing the sun set into the sea. Karumba feels like a great place to chill out for a couple days but it's back in the saddle tomorrow.