May 19th                                                                                            " RON'S WAY ROUND"

Left dead on time  8.00 am Monday morning from Pearcedale, through to Berwick, Emerald,  Mt Evelyn finally stopping at Yea for a much needed "cuppa".  The temperature read out on Ron's bike was 6 degrees heaven only knows what the chill factor was. Lunch break at Finlay bakery thoroughly recommend the warm beef roll. Arrived at Narrandera about 3.00pm.Now there is no bus on Monday night so it was a case of "shanksies pony" [walk].

Distance today 530 kms.

May20th

Finally managed a left turn to head towards Griffith-------but we missed the next one. Arrived at Burke around 3.00 pm. the temperature is slooowly  getting warmer which I suppose is to be expected as we head north. Still haven't seen many bikes on the road starting to wonder if we have the dates right for the A.G.M.

Distance today 618 kms.

May 21st

Once again left at 7.00am seems to be a pattern emerging here. Still heading northish towards Cunnamulla. Now on the maps it clearly states that petrol is available at Barringun-----wrong! but at least I know I can get 450km plus out of my tank. The road to Charleville to say the least was interesting dodging eagles, roos,  cattle sheep and any thing else that decided to wander on the road. Met up with some Yarra Ranges members so at least we knew that at least ten of us were going to Townsville for something. Road from Charleville to Tambo seem to covered in a very short time maybe it's got something to do with the 110 speed limit and as everyone knows that can be stretched a littttttlr bit.

Distance today 660 kms

 May22nd

7.00am start from Tambo to Blackall must have gone faster than we thought yesterday as the fuel wasn't going as far as we thought or maybe it was the head wind. Stopped at Longreach for lunch at the Hall of Fame not sure if Ron knew what it was all about. Fuelled up at Winton at a $1.80 a litre. Finally called it quits at the Blue Heeler pub at Kyuna. Typical truck stop cold beer, big meals in fact Ron needed a step ladder to get over his dinner. Oh guess what he’s washing his bike again.

Distance today 653 kms.

May 23^rd

Had a great sleep now we are ready to get going again at wait for it---7.30 am must be lay in day. Still dodging live stock and for one of the first times in a couple of days we had a bend in the road [excitement plus] Cloncurry fuel stop for bike and man. Next stop Burke and Wills road house, now people will realize why I called this adventure “Ron's way round” it might seem a long way to get to Townsville but I wouldn’t have missed it for quids. Road from the road house to Julia Creek not very wide in fact it’s only wide enough for two bikes side by side certainly not a road train but guess what we met four not a good feeling cos they don’t move for any one. Did a pub crawl at ‘Julia’ all two of them.  Just to put you all in the picture with communication in the ‘outback’ unless you have Next 3 G  forget it there ain’t any.

Distance today 603 kms.

May 24^th

Made a mental note not to sleep in a place that is near the highway or near a flamin generator. Pressed on to Richmond,  Hughenden, this area is renowned for dinosaur fossils not the sort that ride motorbikes either. Had an icecream at  Torrens Creek now this little hamlet used to be the base for the American forces during W.W.2 and rumour has it that when Macarthur came to visit the troops the ammo dump blew up. The person that we spoke to was very excited because he reckons the place is going to take and become very popular again because the governments have extended this particular road [yeah right]. Only a small trip today stopping at Charters Towers. Have a story to tell you about this place to. Ron and myself again walked into town for dinner, settled on this particular pub only to find out that there are no dinners at the weekend because the staff won’t work on a weekend in fact they don’t work on Thursday Friday Saturday or Sunday to make things worse we could have had many jobs up there had we been that way inclined. Did you know that they have camp fires in Queensland? . Well they do. We had one at the caravan park, met some interesting bods here some from Tarwin Lower, Langwarrin, Dingley .Only 140 kms to do tomorrow maybe another sleep in.

Distance today 514 kms.

May 25^th

Very easy run today didn’t even start till 9.00am.It’s funny how much you miss people and things that you love when you are away. Townsville we are finally there along with just under 4000 other members ,we did have the date right.

 The ‘Bosses’ turned up after flying in from Melbourne. They are here for 5 days sight seeing and to keep us both in order not that we needed it we were knackered.

June 1^st

Decided to make an early run back to Victoria due to the weather being on the turn. Came back through MacKay then headed in land to Clermont, St George, last night at Forbes then at last home after farewells at Pearcedale

Total distance for the whole trip was just over 7000 kms .