What great hospitality at The Kwaka Lodge. Angel even got to sleep under cover last night (a real treat). Another 7:30am start after breakky with my lovely hosts Baz & Liz.
Baz & I saying hoo-roos
We say lots of good-byes and take advantage of getting that extra hug in before I head out the drive.
on my way
Baz warns me of the roos and Liz warns me about the wombats (you’ll have to ask her) as I’m heading straight into the rising sun so it’ll be difficult to see.
Good morning Broken Hill
They weren’t wrong and it was a slower pace to start with than I would’ve liked but you must be safe. I stop along the way and take a few pics.
Dolo Hill rest stop
Just in case I forgot where I am…..
doh!
The plan today is to ride through to Emmdale where I’ll get fuel before going to Cobar. Into Wilcannia and there was no one around and I think maybe I should stop for fuel and then top up in Emmdale. But I promised everyone I wouldn’t stop in Wilcannia and so keep going (I did take a pic of the Welcome to Wilcannia sign though). I’d been sitting on a nice $1.30 and with Emmdale only 35 kays up the road fuel will be good.
Wilcannia…only for the pic
The 35 kays I’d calculated came and went, then 50 kays and NO Emmdale “surely I haven’t passed it?” I think “oh no” I’ve miscalculated this could be a problem..YIKES! I’d drop down to 90kph now to ensure I make it as far as close as possible if I am going to run out of fuel. There is a road crew out today and I stop and ask them if they have any unleaded and if they can tell me how far to Emmdale….”sorry love, only carry diesel and I think it’s about 80kays away!” Holy shit!! I’m in trouble, I’m down to the last fuel bar before reserve starts flashing. Panicking I slow down to 80kays and just cruise along and hope that if I stop I can wave down someone to help me out (not the ideal I know but my only option).
another scenery shot. May as well since I’d stopped to talk to the road crew.
About 30kays down the road I see a sign that says “Emmdale Roadhouse 20kays” – I get just a little bit excited that I might make it (cos the reserve light has been flashing now for ages). For what seems like forever, I finally see another sign that says “Emmdale 2.5km” – this time I did get excited I’m gonna make it!!
Pulling up to the bowser with 306.5 kays on the clock and the girl comes out to unlock the bowser. I almost hugged here and told her the story and she said I can relax now, I made it!!! I decide to have an extended break here, hot chocolate and get lots of cuddles from the resident pussy cat (took lots of pics of him too).
306.5 kays from Broken Hill to Emmdale
the best bowser EVER!!!
Back on the road and it’s only 168 kays to Cobar. I stop and get a pic of the “Welcome to Cobar” sign
Cobar
before getting fuel and then stopping in front of the big Cobar mining thing.
the tourist shot
I decide it’s too early to stop (12:30pm) and decide to push on through to Nyngan, then Narromine before stopping again in Dubbo for fuel at the Shell. Since I haven’t had anything to eat today I decide to go to McDonalds for a feed and ring Karl and let him know what’s happening, “I think I might push through to home”. He suggests I think about it so I said I’d call him back when I’ve had something to eat and see how I’m feeling.
Put my gloves in my tank bag, take off my GPS to plan the trip home and go into Macca’s (leaving everything else on the bike and in the tank bag). Have something to eat and decide to stay in Dubbo tonight as I’m now feeling really tired so time to look for a room.
Now I get my gloves out of my tank bag but didn’t notice my camera, find a room at the Comfort Inn and unpack. It’s now that I notice my camera is gone!!! It’s nowhere to be found. I ring the Shell and Macca’s but nobody has handed anything in….sad panda. Ring Karl and he says retrace your steps you never know. SO I get geared up again and go out looking…..NOTHING!! it’s gone. The worst thing is I hadn’t copied off the any of the photos I’d taken from the last 3 days – so no Port Augusta, Coober Pedy, Marla, Broken Hill, Silverton, Mundi Mundi, Emmdale or Cobar photos – they’re all lost 🙁
So now here I am very cranky and pissed off that either the camera has fallen out of my bag when I got my gloves out at Macca’s or some light fingered louie has stolen it while I was having dinner (cos I couldn’t see Angel). Guess I have learned a valuable lesson.
Anyhows, I’m going home tomorrow and can’t wait to get there and hug my Sweety Karl. He has no idea how much I have missed him.
