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Daly Waters 5,443kms

May 27, 2009

Yesterdays PS:
Saw some helicopter mustering from a distance as we left Mt Isa and considering the trees around those people are crazy given the speed and height they fly. We are thoroughly sedate riding motorbikes We got hit by our 1st fair dinkum willy willy yesterday. Hit with at least as much force as meeting a road train which is substantial on a bikes let me tell you. The road wasn't fenced for the majority of the day (none of it today) Stayed at Barkly Homestead which we've dubbed rip off central, a view held by every incredulous customer. Our cabin only cost $80 which was the only reasonable charge. Eg small bottle of soft drink $4.20, packet of 2 panadol capsules $3.50 and that was the cheap end of town. Cafe meals were up market restaurant prices and barely cafe quality. But, we left today so they can eat our dust.

Today we started off about 8.00am to beat a bit of the heat so were all layered up in the clothes department which we have progressively shed on our journey.

The terrain has remained much the same as the last third of yesterday with just the combinations and density changing. As the afternoon wore on heading north we have travelled through more gently undulating country with greater density of trees and fewer acacia though plenty of scrub. While the grass looks dense once we walked into it or saw where it had been burnt out it was easier to see that the grass is dense where there is a reasonable amount of soil on the surface whereas a lot of areas are very rocky and while it still gives the appearance of being well grass covered are pretty sparse between the rocks and termite mounds. Nowhere near the road-kill today or eagles as a result. No doubt a reflection of the above as well as a combination of a large number of areas which have been burnt out over the last few years and in varying states of regeneration. One example of road kill we both saw and had the same reaction to was what looked like a large brahman bull on the side of the road. As we went past we realised it was a kangaroo! Easily the BIGEST we have ever seen! Man what drumsticks he had poor old fella.

An experience I had I hope not to repeat today was to have to sneeze as I met a road train. No way could I keep the eyes open but thankfully held the bike where it needed to be and was on track when I opened them. Bit unsettling.

We are staying the night at Daly Waters Pub which is a quirky corner of the NT for a whole host of reasons. The entertainment in the beer garden (immediately outside our room window) is 'Sax and the Single Girl' and can she ever play the saxophone to a very appreciative and somewhat lubricated crowd and its only 5.10pm. Might be difficult to get our customary 11 hours sleep in tonight. Dinner tonight is a Barra'N'Beef on the BBQ meal. When we booked we were told if we can still hear our name it will be called around 6.30 and if we are still sober enough to hear it we can collect our plate then load it up with salads. Interesting.

A quirky sign (one of many) which appealed to my sick sense of humour was 'Pets welcome dogs and husbands must be kept on a leash at all times'. For some reason Normie failed to see the funny side.

Talking of Normie, you will all be pleased his repair of my mudguard has held up well. No sign of any further cracking. So, not just a pretty face!
Talk to you tomorrow.



Not only do I have the tender butt to prove I've been here on my little bike but I have the picture to prove it as well. This was just around the corner from our first real coffee in about 4 days. Its a wonder I could stop the camera shaking.



3 ways Road house where we checked out this 1923 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost which we had passed earlier. Has literally travelled around dozens of countries. Great to see it out and about.



Daly Waters Pub. $60 for the night. VERY quirky. Norm had left me to the writing in the beer garden until a second ago. I didn't want to go for a refill of a cool beverage or I would lose my table under the fan and true to his nature he has just done the gallant thing and arrived to take care of things so as you can see all is right with the world. Norm just arrived with the beers. He ordered them and the barmaid said 'what do you want heads or tails?' He said 'tails' she tossed the coin and said 'you win' when he asked what that meant she told him he got the beers for free. When he said it would be his luck he'd have to pay for two lots next time she assured him he was safe as it finished in 5 minutes. Told you it was a quirky place!


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