Friday rolled around and off to the local Shell for my 12noon start docket. The service attendant knows that when I walk in on a Friday in my bike gear he checks his clock on the display and lets me know if I have to wait a little or not. Funny thing is, he then explains to the other customers what I am doing…..gold!
The plan was simple this time. Meet dad in Narrabri somewhere between 9-9:30pm. After a hectic time at work for the past couple of months, I really needed this ride to put some balance back into the world of Kimmie or as a friend would say “went out and saw the Shrink today”.
As usual getting out of Sydney was a nightmare. Out onto the freeway and up through Muswellbrook and Scone before stopping at the Murrurundi Roadhouse for fuel and to prepare my snack.
Murrurundi Roadhouse.
Along the way had to stop and admire the beautiful colour pallet that Mother Nature laid out for me.
Thank you Mother Nature
Willow Tree, Quirindi came and went before cruising into Tamworth for a quick pic with the Gui-Tar!! Out the end of town and then back towards Werris Creek (just a bit of a zig) and it’s on dusk now. Between here and Gunnedah (for the zag) I was dive bombed by some “birds” out of nowhere! They’d attack from high in the trees always from the right (at first I thought I was imagining it) but after half a dozen strikes I figured I had some “target” on my helmet that was guiding them. Gourmet dinner at Gunnedah Maccas and fuel for Dudley, check in with Karl and we are off again.
Another glorious sunset while out on the road…..makes you forget the troubles and woes of the office.
And people ask “why do you ride at night?”
Another zig and heading for Coonabarabran. I don’t know these roads particularly well and there are quite a few trucks heading the other way along here (more than I expected). Through Coonabarabran for another zag and I’m running well with a scheduled ETA in Narrabri of 9:30pm. The spotties are doing their job (after a slight adjustment in Gunnedah) lighting the way and giving me good visibility for any lurking wildlife that might be in the verge. I can tell when I start to get weary, I start counting down the kays between towns and the time to destination….no surprise given the long hours I’ve been putting in at work. Fuel at the 24hr station on the outskirts of Narrabri before lobbing into the Southern Cross Motel to meet dad (who had been in town since 4pm) and was in his jarmies ready for bed. Quick shower, check in with Karl, a bit of a chat with dad about our days rides and then packing zed’s.
not far now.
760kays knocked over yesterday meant dad and I had an easy 260kays to complete this morning to Lightning Ridge before check-in. On the road by 7am gave us plenty of time to have breakfast once we got to Lightning Ridge. What a great day, the suns out, I’m riding with my dad.. doesn’t get much better.
Through Wee Waa before heading onto Burren Junction.
We’ve been lucky that we haven’t encountered any wildlife…..hang on, spoke to soon…..a lonely 6ft emu right up on the road side….yikes! Thankfully, he saw that dad and I weren’t to be messed with this morning and he fluffled his feathers and high-tailed up off in the other direction.
Gotta love the scenery, wide open spaces and the scents that fragrant the air…..early morning freshness, roadkill, fertiliser, farming….sure beats the city pollution smell.
Dad hasn’t been past Walgett before on these roads anyway…..and before long I saw the awesome structure that is Stanley! We pulled into the parking bay and Sarge is there getting his breakfast ready…fancy meeting you here…LOL. Some chit chat and we go off to get a pic of us with Stanley.
Let Sarge know our plan for the morning and we are off for the next pic. The entrance to Lightning Ridge is iconic and with a legendary father how could we not get a photo to remember this magnificent ride. Fellow FarRider Felicity arrives, photo, chit chat and divulge our breakfast plan and we are off.
We made it!!!
Into town, locate the club, our motel – The Wallungulla and then do a uey to go back to Morilla’s Café for breakfast. Raisin toast and coffee for two, an excellent idea. Sarge, Felicity and Peter arrive and we kill some time before check-in.
The club carpark is rapidly filling with fellow FR’s, hellos, hugs and introductions are made…..and then I hear a “hey Kimmie, got a minute?” “Yeah sure Shannon, what’s up?”. He introduces me to his mate Roy (aka Teddy) and this is funny (well for me). A mate of mine asked me on Friday could I look out for his mate doing his second FarRide, of course I said “Yes” and you guessed it his name is Roy……what are the chances. Now Roy, says to me, we met over the phone a few months ago while I was on a bus (quizzical look from me)…ok. Remembering, it was my boss from work on the bus chatting to the driver who rang me while I was in the office asking me if I knew this guy driving the bus who was a FarRider (like I know everyone) whose name is Roy….again what are the chances. Well, I tell Roy about the mate that asked me to look out for him and we connect the dots and just laugh….talk about 6 degrees of separation.
Check-in complete 1015km, group photo done now time to kick back.
Disclaimer: oops, forgot to change the clock on the camera back to eastern standard time….so the time stamp is 1hr after it actually is…LOL! One day I’ll get it right 🙂
