With the Mt Isa HOG Rally over today I was heading towards Townsville intending to stop for the night when I'd had enough. The group I'd been riding with were dispursing in many directions, well two anyway at least until Cloncurry where there's more options.
I decided to get away reasonably early and have breakfast and stop for fuel at Cloncurry joined by Cuz and the Smurfster who were then planned to turn south towards Winton. It was an odd morning, with the majority of the group leaving Isa today standing drinking tea around packed bikes in the pre dawn glow waiting for the sun to come up and the wildlife to leave the road. With the rising of the sun, goodbyes were said dipped in smiles quietly acknowledging the fun we'd shared over the last 7 days.
No-one looked back as they left though, we were back on our Harley Davidsons and there were kilometres to chew up. The morning was cool and riding through the hills out of Mt Isa was a great start to the day. Soon enough we arrived in Cloncurry and stopped at the BP Roadhouse that was filled with Harley Davidsons from other Chapters who had made similar plans. Fortunately we arrived about 20 minutes before the real rush breakfast was chaos by the time we got up to leave.
With goodbyes said to Cuz and everyone else I knew or had met at Isa that were there at the time I took off towards the east keen to see what was there. After the turnoff from to Winton I was on my own, feet out, cruise on and quietly enjoying the passing countryside. At one point while riding down and endless straight towards Julia Creek I was startled whe I looked left and right and all I saw was beige grass, horizon and blue sky. I was in the middle of NOTHING. I stopped on the road and took a photo, strangely my favourite for the trip. I guess moments like that are one of the reasons I like to ride, you never know what you are going to see, or not see in this case.
Fuel stops and food stops were interesting. A more concetrated number of Harleys were on the road than on the way up, wherever I stopped there were Harleys parked and more would come to get fuel and maybe stop to eat. Brief chats about home towns, destinations and bikes had determined some were stopping at Hughenden and some charging to Townsville. I wasn't planning on rushing and as the day drew on it appeared that Charters Towers was my best stop for the night leaving a short ride to Townsville tomorrow. Although I have to admit it was tempting to push all the way.
At Julia Creek I hooked up with a couple from our Chapter that prior to this trip I hardly knew but now consider friends. We rode together, well sort of, let's say usually on the same 1 k of tar, to Hugenden (more dinosaur wizbin covers here!). The scenery didn't change too much during this ride however I have to say that I was happy to see the end of the star picketed roadside posters of Bob Katter's smirking face, who looks like a strange silverback Ray Martin, when I finally left the Kennedy electorate.
Riding into Charters Towers I was a little surprised by its size so I took a little time to ride around town to have a peek before settling on a great little motel with a decent looking restaurant on the Townsville side of town. I really appreciated having a quiet room to myself with a queen bed, coffee, it's bathroom.. luxury compared to the more communal style living at the Irish Club for the last four nights.
I stretched out for a while, watched TV and then went to the Restaurant/Steakhouse for a very tidy meal and a few quiet drinks at the bar. A short day ahead tomorrow and no hurry to leave.
Today's Route 764k's
