It's Started !!!
Officially left Darwin on the 24th. Had a fantastic Christmas Eve at Kate & Adams place, where I stayed for the night. The 25th, Christmas Day the family had lunch at grandma's. The Christmas Pudding was superb as usual. The trifle was nothing to be trifled :-) with either. Spent the night at Rebecca & Bretts place ready for an early (?) start the next day.

We, Rebecca, Brett and myself, left at 0730 on Boxing Day. The TRIP proper !!! They travelled with me to Adelaide River. A beautiful cool overcast morning :-) After a slightly teary goodby from Becks I was finally on my way. Sitting on about 105 - 110 kph the bike was running well. The trailer, after a few small adjustments in load positioning was following dutifully... Life is good !!!

That is ....... until about 20 k out of Adelaide River. Oh, it started gently enough. But after a few ks down it came. Bucket loads of  it !!!  I, by then soaked, stopped and put on my rain jacket. Yes, I know, I should have done that earlier. Well it poured and it poured . I stopped at Pine Creek to refuel. No Fuel !! So out came my 10 litres of spare fuel. It was still pouring with rain. The next stop was Katherine to refuel and refill my two 5l containers. Still pouring !!

Topped up at Mataranka. Wet as a shag. It's still pouring down !!! Then about 15k out of Larimah the rain FINALLY stopped !!!! Wahoo !! Off came the rain jacket and I froze for about 10k until I dried out

From then on it's moovin moovin moovin. An eye watering 1.89c/litre at the Hi-Way (robbery) Inn outside of Daly Waters and again at Renner Springs. Still sitting on a steady 105 - 110 kph.  My butt was starting to feel the pain !!! Wait !! I have Bretts Airhawk seat in the trailer. Duh !!  On it went, BLISS.

Just at sunset I hit Tennant Creek. I needed a hot shower and a bed, quick. As luck would have it there was a motel across the road from the servo. Over 1000 ks !! End of days tally :- Bike's running well. Trailer going great. Boots cactus (split on the seams). Me... buggered.

Well..... After a good sleep I was ready to roll at 0630 on the 27th. A beautiful cool start to the day. Just cruising along and then it started !!!  BUGS !!! 

The visor was coated with them and as quickly as I removed them the visor was covered again. After a short while it was getting difficult do see. Stop, get a wet-one, clean the visor and off again only to repeat the process time numerous times. By the time I got to Ti Tree it was over and I was able to clean the visor with the tears I shed after paying 1.91c/litre for fuel.

A clean :-) departure from Ti Tree straight through to Alice Springs where I arrived at just after midday where I'm staying with Ben & Janie for a couple of days. The bike needs an oil change and the chain adjusted and oiled.

A couple of days with Ben Janie Liviul and Niamh will be great !!