Menindee riding north east to Tilpa and Louth.

Poor old Darling River needs a good flood to be flushed out.  Warnings posted all along the banks.

No traffic.  Just rabbits, emus and myself.

Arrived in Louth and went straight to the pub - couldn't miss it really.  It is the biggest of the half dozen or so buildings in the town.  The peace and quiet spoiled when eight other riders arrived.  Beer and steak for tea.

Darling River - Pooncarie township to Menindee

The road to Pooncarie was sealed and an easy ride.  Stopped at the General Store for fuel but none to be had - hope my reserve supply gets me to Menindee - should have some there. 
Home made pie in hand from the store and a quick relax on the river bank.

Paddle steamers used this waterway? 

Ah the dirt starts.  The surface recently had a lot of rain and has set like concrete.  Just have to look out for loose stuff and emus apparently.

The road at times meanders away from the river but still plenty to see.

Camped on the shoreline of Lake Menindee???  No water to be seen.

Grampians, Wimmera and Mallee to Mildura.

Within half an hour of leaving home I am greeted by Red Gum trees with the cloud covered Grampian Mountains as a backdrop.  Nice and green but the weather is a bit bleak.

This modest little house in the Mallee was a home to me in every sense of the word.  Geoff and Doris Torpey took me in and showed me great kindness.  Had to stop for a minute and reminisce.

As a kid I worked on the weighbridge at Gama grain silo.  Middle of nowhere but at the time I enjoyed myself.  Put a few dollars in my pocket. 


Reached Mildura and the Murray River

Heading north to Far North Queensland

Great to be home and getting lots of home cooked food. Lost about six kilos while travelling but could afford to lose a bit more.

Caught up with family and friends and attended to a few household chores that needed my input.

The bike performed well while I was away - not even a flat tyre. Can't complain about that especially when I did a touch over twenty thousand kilometres.

My wife picked up on the fact that I was still restless and suggested that I take another ride. So a quick service and a bit of TLC - for the bike that is.

A ride north to the warmer weather sounds like a worthy plan. Being the middle of winter in my home state of Victoria it can be very cold.  The Newell Highway north would be the quickest and easiest route. The route I have planned is to include a ride along the banks of the Darling River. The river has always fasinated me for some reason. The first time I saw the river I was far from impressed. It was nothing more than a series of water holes or shallow water choked with debris. Poor excuse for a river and didn't qualify to be called a stream.

When I read more about this river my opinion swung one hundred and eighty degrees. Learning the fact that paddle steamboats carrying tons of freight used the river to supply early settlers started the process. The men and women from the 'Ouback' rural communities and those that worked the steamers were tough people.

Being over a thousand kilometres long this little river flows through the New South Wales 'Outback' and joins up with the Murray River at Wentworth. When the river floods the flooding water can extend eighty kilometres over the flood plain. Not so little then.

All of that aside it is just beautiful - if like me you love the dry, arid interior of Australia.

The plan is to ride from Wentworth along the dirt roads parrelel to the river until I reach Bourke. From that point back onto the 'blacktop' until I reach Cairns. Having travelled through Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland 'Outback' a few weeks in Cairns soaking up the sun will be good.