19/02/12
Everything packed to go early and after a good breakfast I was on the road by 0830. Ben & Jeinie followed me for a few K's out of town and then it was me and the road again :-) Bike's running great, trailer performing perfectly. Unless the road is really rough I would not know that the trailer is there !! Sure, I can see it in the mirrors but no swaying or bouncing at all. Travelling up the backbone of Australia watching the countryside slowly changing. It's greener than when I was here in the early to mid 60's. There has been a few years of good rain to pretty up the desert.

The bike is averaging 5.9L/100k. I'm not pushing it but the butt complains of being too long in the saddle :-) I'm refuelling about every 250k and having a stretch and a drink and a hand full of Jeinie's fantastic rice balls. Damn they're good !!

Tropic of Capricorn

Need a taller screen but great to ride !! :-)

Refuelled at Ti Tree (abt 283k) then I did 70k on reserve before I chickened out and put in 5L just 20k short of Tennant Creek.

Refuelled again at Tennant Creek (more rice balls and a good guzzle of water then off to Elliot where it was refuel for the bike and me (Yep, Jeinie's rice balls. Damn delicious !!) By now the butt was complaining again but (:-)) shifting around on the Air Hawk certainly helps. The countryside is slowly changing. The occasional curve but nothing to get excited about :-(

I called it quits  about 40k out of Mataranka and pulled into a roadside stop for the night. There were 6 cars / vans and about 14 campers there already, some already retired for the night. Tent up and into bed. BOY !!! It was the first sweaty night I had in the whole trip. Whenever I woke up I was sweating !! Roll over onto, by now, a wet sheet and sweat some more !! Welcome back to the tropics !!!! :-)

20/02/12
On the home run !! Refuelled at Katherine (nearly running out of rice balls !!). Dropped in the last 5L at Adelaide River and then called into Beck's place before home. Becks and I cleaned up the last of the rice balls between us :-) Just the right amount Jeinie !!

It's hard to believe that that's the end of my trip. It has been a fantastic trip. Sure things went wrong but people came out of the woodwork to help out with no expectations but to be helpful. I made new friends, had an absolute blast, enjoyed every moment with Alanah, and am looking forward to my next trip to Tassie. Probably about Feb - March next year. Anyone coming ??