Well I arrived home on Thursday afternoon at 5:30pm (a bit later than I had expected), with some 7229.4 kays travelled in the 13 days (average 556.1 kays per day).

I could’ve ridden for more to be honest. When an event finishes and you start to head home it does seem to take ages, but the last day….knowing you will be home that day, something changes how you feel and while I could’ve ridden more, I didn’t want to.

The Black Dog cause is one that has touched my heart deeply and had Darani not sort help through them I wouldn’t have known about the wonderful Institute. Over 500 riders took part in the event with over 200 of them (me included) going ALL THE WAY to the Red Centre-Alice Springs. As of the 30^th August the Black Dog Ride 2012 has raised a whopping $234,000 for the Institute – well done! My personal fund raising effort has reached $7150.00 (the 6^th overall highest individual fund raiser) which is all THANKS to YOU!!! for backing me in something that I truly believe in.

As you have read in my blog which has now gone nationwide, there were high’s and lows to this journey / adventure / experience of a lifetime. I don’t think it would have had the same impact if it were on a different date range. The 18^th & 19^th of August (our first 2 days) were of significant meaning to me. The 18^th was the last day I saw and held Darani, the 19^th, well she was gone. Those days were particularly difficult and had it not been for some wonderful people I’ve met I don’t know how I could’ve continued. So thank you to Phil, Kim, Audrey, Noel & Brian for lending a shoulder, your hearts and your compassion as I proceeded to crumble at times – you guys are the best.

Solitude on the road is a wonderful place but also one that can be treacherous as it allows your mind to drift. In saying that, I had a moment on the road to The Barkly Homestead where I had to pull into a rest area and dry my face. It’s here I met a couple, travelling nomads they are from WA. They saw the dog on the back and thought it was real…lol (that did happen quite a bit). Anyway they asked the question “what’s it about?” so I proceeded to explain. The husband said “I wish I’d met you or known about the Black Dog Institute after the war, so I know what you are doing is admirable”. His wife then comes back with a hand full of gold coins and gives it to me and said “go save someone sweetheart”. I gave them both a hug and the details if they need them, to the institute before heading on the road again. Meeting people like these folk along the way and spreading the word made me feel extremely proud to be a part of the ride.

Angel performed beautifully and I can only thank her for looking after me while we travelled around the country. However, her shoes are as square as a house brick (to be expected though) due to all the straight road riding we did. Was an exciting moment though when we encountered a bend or even better when we actually got a corner. So Friday I spent most of the day giving her a well deserved bubble bath and service (the oil was yuk!) Angel is looking beautiful again and ready for the next trip.

Now luggage. If you are going to attend something like this IMO, a hard luggage setup is the go. It’s easy to clip on and off and is waterproof and 99% dust proof. A little tip is to get or make some bag liners to put your gear in, inside the luggage, much more easier to open the pannier and take out a bag rather than take everything off…….so I’ll be looking to make some liners for Karl’s luggage which I borrowed.

There are so many people to thank so here goes;

Mum & Dad for raising me in the way you have and for being proud of my achievements, no matter how large or small.

The Gaffs (extended family) for being there through the trauma that the passing of a dear friend has left.

My workplace and boss, who have given me latitude to pursue this journey and supported me in a way I have not ever known a workplace to do before.

To Sam, Jessica and Lindsey, I cannot even put into words how much you mean to me. I’m sorry our efforts could not save your beautiful wife, mother and my best friend. Your unconditional welcoming of me into your family some 21 years ago is something I just don’t know how to thank you for.

Finally, but by no means least, Karl. Karl you are my tower, my heart and my love and without your unconditional love and support there is NO WAY I could’ve gotten through the last 12 months let alone been able to partake on this journey. You have seen me at my best and my worst, warts, tears and all and been there to sop up every emotional eruption that has permeated from me. I hope I did you proud as I am as proud of you. I love you xxx

If the journey we riders and pillions have just embarked on has made one difference in one persons decision about life, then we have achieved a goal. Don’t feel you are alone or have to deal with things on your own, you don’t have too!! Reach out, it’s hard but doable, you will be surprised at the response.

In closing, Darani, what can I say. I’m sorry we could not save you from the decision that you felt you must make. You are/were an inspiration to so many people (it’s a shame you couldn’t see it). I am such a better person for having had you in my life. You taught me about friendship, something I didn’t really have until I met you, (amongst other things).  You are and will continue to be dearly missed my friend.

This ride was in the loving memory of my best friend Darani Jacqueline Salanitro, may you now rest in peace xxx

I’ve finally updated days 4, 5 & 6 with the missing photos. Sorry it took so long, but it actually takes a while to resize all the pics, then upload them to photobucket before loading them into the blog (which takes longer than I thought) and then resizing them again, so thanks for your patience.

Hope you enjoy them.

It was almost a shame to leave my cabin this morning, but I’m missing home and wanna be there tonight.The routine of unpacking, repacking and loading up Angel I now have down pat, so it’s doesn’t take long to get on the road.

But before I get going I just have to take some more shots of this fabulous place

Sunrise

On the road again, well that wasn’t playing through my MP3 but it was Country Music none the same. The realism od heading home……

only 365 kays to Dubbo…YAY

I should knock this over in no time. The best time of the day’s ride for me is in the mornings. The air is crisp (a bit cooler than I was anticipating compared to what I’ve had previous mornings) but everything is waking, yep that includes the wildlife.

Goats were the flavour of this mornings run. They look so cute all huddled together grazing at the roadside and smart……these guys actually run away from you, now if you could only train the kangaskippyroos and emu we’d be laughin’.

For a change this morning I actually saw breathing skippies, feating on the roads edge. So with Rule #1 in mind (make it home safely), I slow right down, almost stop a few times and wait for the skippy to make it’s mind up which way it’s going, then I continue on.

Tawdling along, la lala la la, I come across this peaceful country pub with post office attached at Mulga

Mulga Pub

and the post office

Now thedre isn’t a lot to report back on axcept that the wind is picking up and  it’s getting cool.

Next stop Nyngan for fuel, boy did that 205 kays goes quick. We’d passsed through here on the way to Alice but this time I went itno town. Fulled Angel and decided to go and get changed….I was way too cold and the lady in the servo said there is a cold front coming. So, all thermalled up again I head off.

Out of Nevertire you start to see canola fields, what a beautiful sight

canola field

Now I don’t know if you can tell by the pic but eh wind is picking up and it’s chilly.

Sorry there aren’t anymore pics from here as I was a woman on a mission.

Todays plan was out the window and I had only one agenda, home and quick. I was supposed to stop in Narromine for a splash and dash according to my plan but I decided to push onto Dubbo instead. I ring Karl and he says “you’re making good time Sweety”, yep you better believe it. Donned another layer of thermal and get goin’ for hoping to make Lithgow soon.

Well, the wind is reallyt blowing now and it’s the chill factor is like freezing…..brrrrrr. My heated grips I’m having troubke with so by the time I get to Bathurst, the old hads are a bit stiff. I decide to pull into a servo and check out the problem. Can’t see anything wrong, fuses are ok, no smouldering from electrics or anything obvious that I could tell. Anyway I thought, push on.

In the meantime, the traffic from Molong and the road works has become a joke and the “good time” I was making was fastly slipping from my fingers. There are signs today on the road warning you of “ice on the road”…..you’re kiddin’ aren’t ya – ice, crap. So the pace has slowed to below the limit, there is NO ice but the wind chill factor certainly has “ice” in it.

I am so cold, that my fingers have frozen up on the bars and my body is ccccold, but this is what riding come with – all conditions ad you make the most of it.

Lthgow 17kays, couldn’t cme quick enough, the traffic is like old woman, nattering while crossing the road – get a move on. Into Maccas, pry my fingers off the bars, pull the seat, ring Karl and try to figure out what’s going on with my grips. It’s so cold my teeth are chatting while I;m talking to him. It’s just on 3pm and I tell him I’m gonna have a bite to eat and a hot chocolate to try and defrost, then out some more clothes on and my thermal glove liners before tackling Bells Line of Road.

Myt hair is almost blowing off my head again it’s so windy but down Bells I go. Poor Angels shoes are soooo swuare it amkes corning with any speed difficult, so I take the cautious stand of instead of fighting the bellowing winds just sit behind a truck and try to take shelter from some of it. Needless to say it’s a slow trip through the worst part of theis road but at least a safe option.

Finally wave hoo-roo to the truck and get going only to be slowed again by Sunday drivers (again not even doing the speed limit….grrrr). Do de do de do……..finally a break and I round these puppies up and gone, see ya later. North of Bilpin though I come across another road block, only a bus this time…..do de do de do. What’s goin’ on people can’t you all tell I wanna get home TODAY!!!!

Down through Bellbird Hill and roll ever so slowly into Richmond. Afternoon traffic sux, give me the country roads any day. Richmond Rd, well at least we are doing the limit now and the M7 turn off is in sight. YAY home bound now only 30 minutes to go.

Hoe excited was I to pull into the drive tonight (a lot later than I had hoped) but at least I was home. However, where was everyone else. No Ella at the gate barking, no Karl coming to greet me…sad panda. So I let myself in, Karl’s brother emerges from the lounge and Ella is going banana’s…..mummy you’re home!!!! lick lick lick.

Where’s Karl??? nothing is wrong, but there have been some changes while I’ve been away (but that’s another story that I don’t wish to get into). So I unload Angel, give Ella hug mummy hugs and kisses, then proceed to unpack my stuff.

Karl finally arrives home and I fling myself into his arms like there is no tomorrow…I missed you soooooo much Sweety, kiss, kiss, kiss…

So here I was hoping for a good nights sleep in my own bed, but instead my head is a buzz and I can’t sleep. So like any demented person, at stupid dark o’clock time since I’ve been awake , I decided to update the blog for y’all.

There are a couple of posts that I will update with pics now that I’m home and of course I’ll add the bloopers page and add pics others have taken of me and a summary.

So for now the ride has ended but I don’t think the journey that I undertook will, it was a life experience that I wish you could all see from my eyes and heart.

Yep, well it was supposed to be Cunnamulla, but you’ll have to wait to see why.

OK, so in yesterdays update I forgot to tell ya’s all about the road kill. The FarRider forum was a great help in preparation for this ride including advising me of the dangers certain sections of road may hold. True to form the road from Cloncurry to Barcaldine which has the nick name of “roo alley” was true to its name. I couldn’t count the amount of dead roo’s on this road and you don’t only have to dodge the bodies, carcasses but also the eagles and crows feasting on the remains. I figured out early in the morning that by hitting the horn on approach shoed most of the birds but you have to keep on the horn to keep them away as you slow down and ride on by.

So now this morning, believe it or not I actually got a bit of a sleep in, which felt awesome. Suns up, Angel’s packed and I’m ready to go. The road this morning is an extension of yesterday’s roo alley, so since yesterdays horn honking worked, I did the same thing today. Not many pics today as I had a thought in my head that I wasn’t sure was going to pan out and there really wasn’t anything much to take…..unless you wanted to see dead animals in various stages of road kill carnage.

Blackall for fuel then rolled into Tambo and liked the look of the old post office and in true Japanese tourist fashion, you got it, took a pic

Tambo post office

Next stop Augethella, which I learnt is the capital of Meat Ant Country. Now, when I saw the first sign I had no idea what Meat Ant Country was until I pulled into the servo, fuel and I pick up a sambo for later. The sign at the servo has this whopping big bull ant with Welcome to Meat Ant Country…..they look real hungry and mean, hey but I don’t think I wanna find out. I strip off a layer and change gloves and hit the road again for Charleville.

Fly on through Charleville and it’s starting to get hot. I decide to stop for my sambo in this blink and miss town called Wyandra. Now I’m sure there is more to the town than what I saw but what I experienced was great.  I parked Angel, then parked my own butt under the tiny bit of shade under a bush on the ground and ate my sambo. The local shop is also the post office, servo, souvier (that’s how they spelt it) shop too. But what is even better which I didn’t notice right off was the house next door, it’s front fence is covered in bras – yep bras. I think I saw this on a travel show ages ago but here ya go, I’m seeing it in real life….amazing. The home owner raises money for breast cancer so I go into the shop and make a donation.

Wyandra everything shop

The Bra house

Only 100 kays and I’m in Cunnamulla, it’s hot and it’s way too early to be stopping. I grab my next FarChallenge pic and head for my accommodation at the Country Motor Inn.

FarChallenge pic

What a beautiful little place – the motor inn (not Cunnamulla). I’ve decided to keep moving but first I have to do the right thing by Bill & Ross at the motor inn. I explain the change in plan and pay them accordingly for the inconvenience. They are so lovely and allow me to try and book in Bourke from their own phone (unfortunately no one was answering so I just had to wing it) . If you are ever passing through Cunna, go see Ross & Bill and stay the units are the best looking modern facility in town, they’ll have cheese, bickies and some Cardboardonanay with you.

It’s about 2:30pm with 260 kays to Bourke, all going to plan I should pull in before dark (since I have made a promise that I would not travel at night). Touch base with Karl to let him know the change of plan and Miraz (a ride friend) who had left me a message about the road ahead. Well I have renamed the road between Cunna and Bourke the “Emu Rd”. I tell ya, I must’ve seen 300 emu this afternoon. Not to mention all the other animals, cows, roos, wild pig, lizards, sheep, goats and not to forget a feril cat all on this one section of road.

4:55pm and I pull into the Kidman Park Caravan Park 7 kays outta down town Bourke. Highly recommend this place , it beautiful and safe. There’s a BBQ bush dinner and bush poet from 6:30pm so I stayed there for a bit and had dinner before heading back to my cabin.

Now if you have 3 days to spare and want somewhere nice to spend it, go here (it’s only a days drive), check out what I stayed in at Kidman’s Camp

front porch of my cabin

Now check this place out and weep folks……. Everything is solid timber – trees, big chunks of them and the furniture is all carved from them.

check it out…..all solid tree

but wait, there’s more

And not to mention the view from the verandah

the view from the rocking chair….one could get used to that

Not bad for $115 for the night.

I kinda wish I could spend more than one night in this cabin but with Karl, it would be magical.

Tomorrow I head for home and am looking forward to getting there, so off to bed (a comfy one…ahhh) for a good nights sleep

start of the day

Anny & I are riding our own rides today and we agree to meet up in Barcaldine, so Anny heads off while I’m just finishing getting ready.

Start of the day and what a georgeous one, hopefully it what get toooo hot.

The roads from the bushfires last night are open again thank goodness (I don’t do change of plan well…lol). So it’s 634kays today and with some luck I’ll pull into Barcaldine about 2pm.

First stop for the day is Kynuna and this quirky pub is just up the road from the servo.

Pub at Kynuna

The scenery today isn’t as interesting as it has been. Lot’s of flat cattle land, complete with cows, then all of a sudden Winston woofs “kimmie we need to stop, look hills…bark bark”. So we did and this dude in a ute stopped also to make sure I was OK (I’d overtaken him earlier).

Winston sight seeing

Now these guys were all over the road so I had to stop and then slowly work my way through, hoping they didn’t want to get to curious.

took this after I got through them

Cruise into Winton and yep, the heat has set in and it’s only gonna rise unfortunately. Anyway, Brett from QLD arrives just after me so we grab a bite to eat. The locals are friendly, even these two I found just standing around – loitering if I must say, outside a shop LOL. I wish I’d bought them and had them shipped home (not that I think would be impressed or that we have anywhere to put them).

Fred & Ginger

The road seems hazy and long, so long heading towards Longreach. I pull into Longreach finally and go in search of another FarChallenge pic….ta dar – mission accomplished.

FarChallenge pic

Time for fuel and fill the camelbak (which I’ve already drained-very essential for this type of riding IMO). Only 100kays to Barcaldine and boy is it hot. the sweat is dripping down my body and I have all the vents open and the front zip partly down. I am so glad to see the Welcome to Barcaldine sign. I hit the local IGA for some goodies, then head to the caravan park to meet Anny.

I check in and the attended says she was here but must’ve gone into town about 10 minutes ago…no worries. So park the bike in sand….yuk and start unloading. Then I notice this little bag on the table – what’s this? Open it up and it’s from Anny. A small gift for sharing acco with her but there is too much daylight left for her and she continues onto Charleville. Anny you are a wonderful lady and I will ride my ride and I hope you do too!!!

The internet, well, doesn’t always give you the correct impression of a place. So this time I have picked a fizzer but my cabins neighbours are ok.

I walked into town early this afternoon and look what I found.

Goat Race??

Now my SR friends reading this will get quite a kick outta this one……how did goaty get all the way out here (Harry did you fly him out?? LOL!!)

Walked back into town tonight for dinner at the Shakespeare Hotel and made some more new friends with grey nomads Lynne & Tom. They are on their way home to WA.

Walked back to my cabin and here I am, typing like a crazy woman trying to everything up to date with the FREE wi-fi the caravan park provide – thank goodness. No phone coverage though, probably til Bourke, so be patient.

I am so missing my travel buddies, Kimmo, Phil, Noel & Audrey and the hours of laughter we’d have.

Spoke to Karl from a pay phone this arvo and I am so missing him and am looking forward to getting home to him….Love you Sweety xxxxxx

Another beautiful morning, we have truly been blessed this trip so far. Anny needs fuel before we can head off, so as I wait for her I watch the sun rise. Bit of wind today but that’s ok.

sunrise in Tennant Creek

Not far up the road and there are cows on the side of the road, gotta love the outback and the speed limit. Not much happening this morning, head and cross winds and we power on to Barkly Homestead. What an amazing place in the middle of nowhere. Apparently, the homestead is still owned and run by family members. While I’m getting morning tea and a t-shirt, the Harley crew from yesterday pull in (they stayed at Three Ways last night, regrettably). Fuelled up, both body and bike, Anny and I haul out for Camooweal.

the locals….lol

Barkly Homestead

Now we had been warned that there is about 30kays of dirt due to road works. The countryside is peaceful and flat but it’s not until 50kays outta Camo that we hit the dirt

slight detour of dirt (damn road works)….red rocky dirt, oh well

My fear and hatred for dirt is slowly dissipating with each day of this trip. I’m still not the best at it but am getting better and steadier. Red rock side track is what we had below the road level. Concentrate Kimmie or you’ll come a cropper. Phew the end is near and we are out of the first section of dirt only to hit the second bit 10kay down the road. We see this fella walking a horse in the road works so Anny pulls up and has a chat to the guy ( I can’t hear a thing with my music in my ears). Anyway, she tells me later that he is going around Australia on horse because he can….so there ya go.

Quintessentially Australian….love it!!

We cross the border and roll into Camooweal, where we stop for lunch. Dry and dusty, flat and hot, it’s time for a good lunch and for peeling off layers. Pub special it is “corn beef fritters with chips and salad” – $12, how do ya beat that. The fritters were great, and would great for a Sunday lunch. More riders pull in, but they don’t think they’ll be going much further today. One guy’s down to canvas on his tyre, the other has not front suspension-yikes. Hope they get it sorted.

Off again headed for Mt Isa. I’ve been trying out my artistic camera skills the last couple of day – what do you think.

me being artistic….did I get Winston’s good side?

There isn’t much happening and the scenery is pretty much the same all day. One thing I do find fascinating is the termite mounds. They seem to pop up in colonies, and look like tombstones in a graveyard. I haven’t got any photos as the verge on the roads today are not very safe to stop on.

Termite tombstones

You can see the Mt Isa stacks from miles away as you approach town.  Anny and I stop to get a pic (the McDonalds sign tells us it’s only 29 degrees) and head towards the end of town. Anny has a friend in Isa, so we part ways while see goes and has a catch up while I continue onto Cloncurry.

Mt Isa

For ages now we have been seeing and smelling smoke. There has been heaps of controlled burning happening on this stretch so there are scorched patches along the way (makes it a bit easier to spot the wildlife). Heaps of road kill also and the crows and eagles/hawks think it’s wonderful. Dodging one roo, eagle/hawk(s) feasting on the remains heads out but the other goes up and then heads straight for me. CRAP, I bang my head onto my tank bag and phew! We miss each other….hearts pumping.

The road to Cloncurry is the first bit of road in days that has twisties……well open sweepers/bends and considering the rest of the roads I’d classify them as twisties. Into Cloncurry bang on 5:30, check in, ride around to the cabin and who should I find….Ken & Brett, awesome. I pull up on the grass and I had to ask the guys to turn my bike around after I unloaded her (otherwise I’d never get her out in the morning). Showered and feeling human and the boys and I head across the road for dinner while I listen for Anny to arrive.

About 8:30pm Anny pulls in and I’m almost ready for bed after I finish typing this up. Sorry the fires have knocked out all the Optus towers, so I have no reception on the phone or internet, so you’re reading this a bit later than planned.