Day 11 - Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead

Day 11 - Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead

This morning I met with a very nice group of people doing the same thing that I am doing; going around Oz on a motorbike. So, it's confirmed; I am not the only one that is crazy, ther are others like me.

The trip from Mt Isa was a very smooth run, in the beginning we continued on the Selwyn ranges and then it was flat for as far as you can see.

After a little while we arrived to Camooweal, we had coffee there and fuel. I was surprised to find that the price was $1.97/litre.

We took a photo here of our group.



The 'ccbikers' in Camooweal



Another view, from the left: Colin and Loeen (2 up), John, Jim, Phil, me, Kevin

They have a group in the Central Coast, their website is www.ccbikers.com and they organise rides every 2 weeks or so.
Shortly after leaving Camooweal, we were at the border with the Northern Territory, with the relative freedom of 130km/h limit (in every other state, it is 110km/h)




Petrol prices at Camooweal




A sign at Camooweal




Queensland 5 years ahead of NT? After seen the speed limits and the quality of the roads in the NT, I am not so sure...


The only indication I had that we changed state was the sign that said it, and the new speed limits. Other than that, the roads were very good and they werre straight. Only after about 1/2 hour we found a slight s-bend, ther than that, the scenery was the same the whole time, just a feeling of being in the middle of nowhere, with the horizon all around you, no trees, no animals, no fences, no towns, no nothing.




Gus at the border




The team at the border


We encountered huge Road Trains, and now something worse than that; we found trucks that cover almost the whole of the road, both lanes, leaving only about 1/2 metre on one side for our bikes to get through when overtaking them. Cars just move out of the road, but we can't do that on a bike. I wonder what will happen if we meet one coming in the opposite direction. Not something I am looking forward to.




I saw this picture of the type of Road Trains that we might encounter when we reach the WA minefields.



Anyway, between Camooweal and the Barkly Roadhous there is nothing, no petrol stops, no campings, only the odd rest area every 80kms or so; all we found was an apparet unending stretch of straight road. When we arrived to the Barkly Roadhouse it was a refreshing change. We got a shock however with the price of petrol, $2.09 a litre! I will probably take advantage of my 7 litres emergency fuel here and then refuel when I get to the Stuart Highway, it has to be cheaper there as there will be more competition, here the Barkly roadhouse has a monopoly, so they charge what they want.


Here we are, all camping on a nice patch of grass, for $10 a head




I set up my tent in 3 minutes approx, the design of the tent proves again and again to be the best for this trip



I keep finding signs like this one. Something strage happens in this area of Australia



Another use for the handlebars that you probably haven't thought of before

 Set up my tent, had a good feed at the Roadhouse, a quick chat with the guys and soon will go for a shower and into the envelope for another needed rest.

Tomorrow will separate from the group when we reach the Threeways at the Stuart Highway, the group is heading north to Darwin, but I am going south to visit the Devils Marbles first. I really want to see them, I am told that they are spectacular and that the photos do not make them justice. I will probably re-join the group in a day or 2.

Tomorrow I will camp at the Marbles, ther is no formal camping ground there, I will be camping int he middle of nowhere, under the stars; I dont; expect that I will have mobile signal, let alone internet, so tomorrow I might not be able to post anything. However, teh next day I will, and I expect that the photos fromt eh Marbles will be great, i will make sure I take photos at the sunset and at the sunrise. Cheers!