Our Travel Adventures: 5th Oct , Sapphire to God knows

We're off today, so up at 6.00 with the aid of the kids opposite, no birds kicking off, I recon the crackers have swollen up and they cant get off the ground. Anyway, most of our stuffs packed, only the tent and the few bits we used last night to go away and we're off. Not a chance. we've made a lot of friends here, so there's lot of hugs and hand shaking going on, then we get back to the "nice bike" bit again, it seems to go on forever and we don't get away till 8.45, so much for an early start.

We're off at long last and decide to take the scenic route, lots of people have said how nice it is, so we're gonna give it a go. Oh yea, very nice, not that I get to see to much. This road is made up of nothing but tight turns, not only that, but cows and Emu's are all over the place. I cant open the bike up at all and the speed on these turns, stays around 55kmh. I feel the bike squirm, look over me shoulder and see Lin trying to kiss her a*@e goodbye, oh well, better slow it down some more.

Today we're heading for Airlie beach and no, I shouldn't be spelling it with a H. Now I say we're heading for it, but we both know its to far and we ain't gonna get there, and plan to stop somewhere along the way. Where? anybodys guess, its nice to have a firm plan in mind. We chug along a for about an hour and half, when we come to Clermont. My arms are starting to ache and Lin's neck needs straightening, so a stops in order. The towns got everything, a petrol garage, bakery, cafe and even an information centre to tell you were all these things are. We opt for the cafe and garage and its even on the same road. All fed and watered its time to go. OK which way navigator? 'duh, that way, oops, that way'. Now we've been right round Australia with Lin navigating and although the name of the road has changed, its still been the same road, The Highway One, not any more we're on Highway seven, that's it, we're screwed. We trundle up and down a few times and finally stumble onto the right road and I get "well, I got us this far didn't I??", But we've only been on the one road!!!!!. We're off again, so I shut up, I know whats good for me, She always sits behind me and is always there when I shut me eyes and go to sleep. That woman has power.

Time tic's away and the going's slow. The road just don't seem to straighten out and when it does, there always seems to be a mile or so of roadworks with a bloke holding a stop/ go board, that or some ding dong pulling a caravan, tinny, trailer and whatever else he can manage to hitch up to the back of a mini metro.

We've been on the road for coming up to six hours now. Me a*@e is getting all hot and squelchy and I'm covered in dust and sweat. Lin cant hold her breath for much longer, so we pull into a little place about 6km from Nebo to get a place to stay. We find a pub, the only pub, bugger, fully booked, we find the roadhouse, yea the only roadhouse and that's full too. Someone mentions the miners accommodation 6k down the road at Nebo, sod it, we'll give it a go. My arms and Lin's nose cant take much more. The place looks a bit like a modern prison without the barbed wire and walls, hay, ho, got to sleep somewhere. We pay the bloke a large sum of money, which he justifies by telling us all meals are included for the money we paid, I want Egon Ronay....... Anyway the rooms clean and fully kitted and after showers and a rest we head off for our evening meal. OK, what can I say? it was good. Three courses of good food and as much as you can eat. So with full tums, it back to our room to prepare for what tomorrow brings.

Luv ya all. xxxx

Mining country.... its just everywhere you look...