After the rain yesterday I was pleased to see that the sky was clearing when I woke up in Lismore this morning. A quick check of the wet clothes and boots I'd been drying under the air conditioner all night revealed reasonable success and the breakfast of scrambled eggs and lots of coffee delivered to the room was tasty. With less than 600k's to travel today things were looking up!
With the Harley Davidson loaded up I soon put Lismore behind me and took in the winding road between there and Woodburn where I rejoined the Pacific Hwy. The sun came out and the wind came up a little but not enough to cause any dramas or make the riding uncomfortable.
I was back in familiar territory and in decent time crossed the bridge near Yamba, made the turns through Grafton, passed through Woolgoolga and smiled at the Big Banana at Coffs Harbour, that I didn't take a photo of because it wasn't easy to pull over on the southbound side of the road. I noted in passing while looking at the banana plantation on the hill that after a couple of days I was out now of sugar cane country
I stopped for a snack and some fuel for the Road King at Sawtell and called my wife to tell her I was 4 hours or so away, one more stop at the BP at Port Macquarie for more food and fuel and then all the way home. I was very excited at the prospect of seeing my wife and kids later today!
The Pacific Hwy between Coffs and Port Macquarie hasn't changed much over the years. Passing through Kempsey and spotting the turn off to Taylors Arm where I visited the Pub With No Beer on a hog ride last year brought a smile to my face along with remembering being swallowed up by another Chapter while on a quiet ride back to Port Macquarie.
Fueled up and fed on something a little bit fancy at Port Macquarie and the final hoorah began. The wind picked up a little and I got an opportunity to tuck in behind a keen Porsche from Buledelah through to Raymond Terrace.
Soon enough I was home, 6,100kms added to the odometer, butt needing a break, glad to see the family but at the same time sad the trip was over. I'm already looking forward to next year's epic, the planning begins today!
