After breakfast and a quick pack up, bike service slash check over we were again on our way heading out of town. The weather started out being a bit dodgy looking but fined up to provide us with a good day of riding. Just a light drizzle between Collarenebri and Walgett.
Pulled up at the roadhouse in Walgett for fuel up and coffee with a bit of a chat about the wet weather, the cool temperatures and weather weary riders.
It was in Walgett that we got to understand we were now really in the outback. Three triple road trains pulled into the service station for vehicle and driver refuelling. Another safety concern out here.
Before you jump up and down and complain about selfish, irresponsible truck drivers, our concern was more about the massive amounts of wind these monsters move. A motorcycle rider needs to be ready for the big gust of wind that is going to blast them as they are passed, in the opposite direction, by these monsters.
After refuelling, some minor tweaks and adjustments to the vehicles we headed off for our lunch stop at Brewarrina. Just a few kilometres further up the road. As we came across the bridge outside town we found a great spot for lunch.
Turn left and head down in the roadside rest area, complete with covered seating/eating areas, clean toilet facilities and even some lovely soft grassy areas. Like most other places we had been so far the river was showing obvious signs of recent heavy falls with the lower picnic area under water.
The local Council should be commended on the facilities.
After lunch we continued on our way out to Bourke for our second night stay. The Kidman Camping and Caravan park just out of town was our intended destination. The place was a welcoming oasis in the middle of a flood ravaged area. Rivers and creeks everywhere were up and threatening to overflow their banks. Paddocks were under water and no doubt some residents and farmers were struggling with inundation of their homes.
The facilities at the campground were excellent and we managed to find a spot large enough for all of us to fit into one area. Albeit it meant instead of four road weary travellers snoring, we were now faced with the potential of 9 road weary travellers. Lucky for me I found my earplugs before going to bed.
We had a great night with good food, good company and few tales of daring do shared over a few cooling ales. Given the hard couple of days it wasn’t long before people were drifting off to their beds.
Overnight the clouds cleared and the rain remain a distant irritant. It was the start of the “dry” part of the trip. Evidence everywhere of the rain that preceded us, but no actual rain fell upon us again
Tomorrow our real adventure into the deserts of gravel roads and minimal facilities await.