Mt Isa progress reports

Our Mount Isa Trip

- the trip up to arriving at Mt Isa:

the first 5 days

for a ~~small~~ big gallery covering whole trip

Hello there!

The date is Wednesday 4th August

We started off pretty well on schedule, (Des and Cathy with bike on trailer, Ali and Garry, Jason, Wazza and Rosey left Tyagarah at 6.30 am: I turned my car onto the highway from Uncle Tom's ahead of them, arriving at Coomera first. Chatted at Coomera with couple from Gold Coast for about 5 or 10 minutes and then the others arrived. (The rest of Gold Coast had started off from Toowoomba at 7 in the morning but we were not planning on starting with them. No way.)

A certain couple on a bike went the wrong way to Toowoomba (via Ipswich); I had taken up the rear but got separated in heavy traffic at roadworks and traffic lights in Toowoomba and after missing where the others were fuelling up. I went on and decided to wait at Chinchilla. There I re-fuelled, had a meat pie and waited a short while and then the others all arrived. After that we were all able to all stay together for the rest of the trip.

The weather had been fine up to Toowoombah, after which it was somewhat iffy - light but but no real rain. And cold. For the bikes. We were lucky with the weather.

Well, at around 3.30 pm we arrived in Roma where we booked in to a caravan park / motel and swiftly got into the swing of things. As the photos below show.

We had a great meal in the local pub.

The merriment went on until late:

Ali and others entertained (and were entertained by) the locals in the beer garden, whilst some watched footy inside.

Next day (Sunday) was very sunny but still chilly (for the bikes).

Stopped at Augathella for fuel, and a map-check for distances

Arrived Longreach around 3.30 pm and booked in to a caravan park. Des & Cath & Gary & Ali had cabins - the rest of us plebs camped on the ground with swags. A big meal at a local club and a relatively early night (except for Wazza, who decided to check out a woolshed concert).

Next morning saw us on the road to Winton for breakfast. Des "lost" the tarp off the trailer on the way, and Gold Coast turned up in strength (we had been passing each other alternatively all the way since Sunday). Breakfast consisted mainly of the most scrumptious pies and coffee at a cafe sporting a large bronze statue of Banjo Patterson. Then on to Kyuna for a fuel stop, where we learned that a couple of their riders have come to grief due to a cow which, instead of waiting for the bikes to pass before crossing the road, impatiently made a dash for it, with disastrous results (for the riders - the cow disappeared). I understand that there were some broken ribs, broken arm and what else.

Back on track, we stopped briefly at a little place (just a pub) called the Walkabout Creek Hotel) where Des off-loaded his bike from the trailer so that he could ride it for the rest of the trip. The Gold Coast Chapter turned up en masse (they had taken a longer breakfast at Winton than we did, it seems)

The Walkabout Hotel -

Des offloads his bike to ride the rest of the way,

and Gold Coast Chapter arrive.

Daz gets his photo taken

John puts his make-up on

Des gets his bike off ..... and gets his gloves on .....

... and gets a push by John

Then to Cloncurry for fuel, and then the final 121 KM to Mt Isa, where we arrived around 3pm (our time: of coarse, it was only around 2pm Mt Isa time).

Des, Cathy, Garry and Ali went off to a pre-booked motel, and we headed off to the rally site (to camp onsite).

We called in to the information centre (for directions to the rally), and found that the Information Centre was actually where we had to register anyway.

Arrived at the rally site (back of the Townie Footy Club) and managed to toss our swags down on the floor of two dressing sheds (we were lucky: didn't have to pitch a tent).

Then adjourned to the Townie Footy Club for pre-dinner ambers,

and then dinner ...................

........... and then off to the footy field where a raging fire had been lit by Mt Isa chapter.There we stayed until the wee hours. And lots of amber. Great night - very cold but the fire (and the ambers) kept us warm.

The Rally: Day 1 - To Be Continued

The highlight of Day 1 (Tuesday 3rd August) was surely the issuing of free beanies to everyone ......

(good thinking, Mt Isa!): these pulled down over the ears and were so comfy and warm against the night (brrrr) chill .... And the band, of course.