Day 1.               It was 6.00am on Thursday 20^th April 2023 when the 6 Hardy riders of Darryl, Barry, Dave, Jim, Ken and me, TedE, left the Ampol Midvale for the start of our ride to the Lismore AGM. Well, nearly 6, Ken and I were missing. A last-minute hiccup with strapping and an urgent business call for help from a client meant we left 2 hours later to catch up the 740km at the first night stop in Norseman. I was testing out my new travel pod cover that Ken had finished the night before. I think I got him a bit worried when my back strap came loose and I climbed out for a better look where we were going. I still had the front strap on!

Day 2 & 3.     On Friday we had a lot of distance to cover so it was an early start to ride the 910km to the Nullarbor Roadhouse. Nothing too exciting and we enjoyed our second day of perfect weather. From the roadhouse on Saturday it was another long day of 820km with Darryl taking a detour and Dave disappearing, but we did get to Melrose. Ken had stayed there before and gave us a good start to the South Australian part of the trip. I managed to con my way into a really nice new family accommodation unit. The town was busy so the boys had to settle for a second-rate pub meal, with the recommended best pub in town booked out.

Day 4.                       Once again, we had great weather on Sunday and we could now relax and bring the day rides down to shorter distances. From Melrose we travelled south down through Clare and Gawler.  At Birdwood the boys spent a couple of hours in the National Motor Museum. Our stop for Sunday was planned to be the Lake Albert Caravan Park near Meningie after a 450km ride. Ken had spent time Saturday and today trying to contact the park to no avail so the group was a bit unsure what was going to be available when we got there. After a complicated self-check in it was to be our first night of camping. Lake Albert is part of the mouth of the Murry River and Meningie is at the western end of the Coorong. Adjacent to the park was a tavern so the evening meals and refreshments were quite adequate and I had a nice piece of steak for tea thanks to dad. Darryl caused a bit of a laugh when his new tent collapsed and Jim was not too impressed with this idea of tenting.

Day 5.                       The plan for this day was to ride the Coorong to Kingston SE and then up through Naracoorte to Horsham, ride the Grampians and stay the night at Halls Gap. Like a lot of places, Halls Gap had no accommodation available so it was on to a couple of motel rooms in Stawell. I had to be very quiet as I was snuck in without anyone knowing. Jim, Barry and Dave had not seen the Grampians before and enjoyed the winding roads and scenery. The ride was 485km and we enjoyed a nice BBQ tea. Ken organised a nice cabin for us at the Big 4 Wangaratta for Tuesday and Wednesday (our rest day) where Paul would join us for the rest of the ride to Lismore. The weather was still perfect.

Day 6 & 7.     Our ride to Wangaratta was only 450km but today was Anzac Day so a couple of the towns we went through had detours for Anzac Services. Darryl was leading using his GPS set on winding roads. The detour around Bendigo caused us a bit more travelling than expected but it did allow us to visit Darryl’s niece in Benalla and afternoon tea of yummy freshly baked scones. The 2 cabins at the caravan park for the 2 days stop over were nice and we caught up with washing and a bit of gear repair, mainly Jim’s tent that had come adrift from his bike and bounced along the road. Paul joined us on Wednesday afternoon and we had a nice BBQ dinner for that night. A large cabin in Cooma for Thursday night was booked but we would be back to tenting in Bathurst on Friday. With the weather still perfect, we did not know what was coming.

Day 8.                       Today we went into the high country of NSW. From Wangaratta we rode to Albury and then on to view the Hume Dam. The Lake Hume was very full, a lot higher than the last time Ken saw it in 2019. From the Hume Dam we rode along the Victorian side of the Murry River to Tintaldra where we crossed back into NSW and cut across the face of the Alps through Tumbarumba to Tumut. The Snowy Mountains Highway took us up into the mountains, stopping at the Black Perry Lookout to take photos. In Cooma the boys did a bit of shopping after the 500km ride for dinner stuff before heading to the Snowy Mountains Tourist Park for the nights stop. Silly dad dropped his bike in a street parking space. No damage done we thought and I am glad I was strapped into my pod. A few clouds were gathering but no sign of rain.

Day 9.                       Friday and it’s a ride of around 480km to Bathurst passing through Canberra and Cowra, or so we thought. After a nice breakfast in a Cooma café, it was off to Canberra with Darryl leading once again. Unfortunately, Ken noticed that only half the speedo was working and he had no indicators and assumed probably no lights. Was it a fuse or worse? Might as well wait for the Canberra stop because everyone else had gone ahead. In Canberra a google search found that there was a BMW dealer and Darryl led the way there. The service manager quickly stated that there was not much that could be done as it would not be a fuse but the handle bar switch panel, 4 to 5 weeks from Germany. Dad Ken did a real technical thing and wobbled the wires going to the switch, and suddenly, everything worked. What a mechanic! Problem solved! We followed up this unscheduled stop with a visit to Parliament House. Dad and I waited outside while the others went for a bit of a look see inside. After that it was on the bikes again to head to Cowra, or so we thought. Darryl’s GPS decided to take us on a roundabout journey of Canberra suburbs as we tried to find our way out. The GPS was set on winding roads still but it started to look for wild roads so we opted to take a more conservative approach. Dad Ken had done the Bathurst ride with the Black Dog in 2019 so we headed down the M31 to Goulburn, had a quick lunch then took the Taralga Road and Abercrombie Road north to Black Springs, Oberon and finally Bathurst late afternoon. No rain but the clouds were gathering. I heard rain on the tent around 10pm but I was snug in our comfy Helinox stretcher, not so Jim!

Day 10.         It was about 3am when dad and I heard mumblings going on outside our tent. Earlier in the evening an elderly lady had fallen over and had been taken to hospital. Could it be something to do with that or someone trying to set up on the site next to us. Dad poked his head out to see. It was Jim and Darryl. Jim’s air mattress had spung a leak leaving him sleeping on the hard cold ground. What made it worse was the rain had increased and both Darryl’s and Barry’s tents were leaking. Jim had decided to pack up his tent and bike in the middle of the night and spend the rest of the night in the camp kitchen. Darryl joined him. Tenting was not Jim’s flavour of the month. By morning the rain was just as heavy, everything was wet and got wetter as we packed up for the days ride to Tamworth. Being wet it spoilt the ride around the Mount Panorama circuit but at least it was done. When fuelling up before leaving Bathurst, Ken dropped the bike again on the slippery drive. This time the hand guard and clutch lever got damaged. Lucky the lever tip is designed to snap off and not the whole lever, so we were able to continue. Be careful old man! The 470km ride to Tamworth was to be the worst weather day of the trip and I was not impressed. It must have been a day to drop bikes. In Mudgee Paul’s bike went over in the slippery main street and Dave was to suffer a similar situation filling up in Coolah. By the time we got to Tamworth, it was dark, wet, and cold but although Ken took a wrong turn and forgot the place we were staying at, we finally reach the Austin Tourist Park around 7 o’clock. I snuggled up in bed while the boys had a pub dinner. With air conditioners turned up to high heat to dry our gear, everyone was happily snoring by 9 pm.

Day 11.         This was the penultimate day before the start of the Lismore Rally. Today was a 455km ride to Lismore via Armadale, Glen Innes and Tenterfield, then down the Bruxner Way through Casino and finally Lismore. Luckily, dad being on the NatCom committee was able to pull some strings and get us all into our tent-city campsite a day early, the boys promising to do volunteer work.  Although the day had started fairly overcast by the time we got to Lismore the weather forecast for the coming week showed we were in for a dry time. We were finally at our destination after 11 days and around 5500km.

Day 12 to 17.            It was the week of the Lismore Rally. We all had comfortable accommodation in our site tents. Jim was pleased to be sleeping on a bed. Dad had to do a fair bit of NatCom meetings and work while the others enjoyed riding around the surrounding area such as Nimbin. Paul’s mate Ross from Shepperton joined our party for the week. We unfortunately heard that past Joondalup member, Peter Stark, had been seriously injured in a car and bike accident on the way to the rally. Peter had just moved over to Queensland.  It was a fun rally, the catering was fairly good and weather perfect for the whole week. Dad said we must be getting old, most of the rally attendees were in bed and snoring by 9:00 pm. I had lots of fun chasing my ball and helping around the rally site. Dad said it was an interesting AGM but a good committee elected. We met quite a few people that said they are hoping to come to Mandurah next year. Daddy looked silly when he dressed up for the main Saturday dinner and Darryl took off the prize for riding the longest distance. The rest of us not too impressed that he didn’t share the trophy with us all, although I believe Jackie will not him keep it anywhere in the house! Tomorrow we would be on our way back home.

Day 18.         Sunday and it was finishing the packing we had started the day before and mount up for the journey home. Our first stop was to be Tamworth. Unfortunately, our little group was to lose 2 of the team. Paul had been suffering from a very sore back all week and was not sure whether to send his bike back home by truck and fly, while Dave had decided to head back to SA and catch up with his kids. Dave and Paul joined Ross to ride to down to Shepperton while Darryl, Barry, Jim, dad and me headed north to Tamworth after our group photo. The 270km trip to Toowoomba took us along the great riding roads of Summerland Way and Mount Lindesay Road, through Killarney to Warwick and then on to Toowoomba by mid-afternoon where we stayed in a nice motel unit at a caravan park.

Day 19.          We were now officially over the rally week. Today was a relatively short ride of 300km to the coast at Coolum Beach. Although short dad had chosen quite a nice sightseeing route to Hampton, down to Esk and the Wivenhoe Dam and then the up through the winding road of Mount Glorious, finally arriving at the Coolum Beach Caravan Park where we would pitch our tents for the night.   The boys had a nice meal at the Coolum Surf Club and poor Jim had the new air mattress he had brought get a puncher. He was to spend the next few nights we camped sleeping on the ground!  

Day 20.              A location that dad really liked on one of his trips with Chloe was place called 1770 near Agnes Water, a town around 120km north of Bundaberg. To get there from Coolum dad took us back into the high country along steep winding roads of Palmwood and south to Maleny before turning north on back roads to Kenilworth and the M1 at Gympie. A fairly boring motorway ride to Bundaberg and then on to 1770 to spend the night in a nice cabin. It was fairly secluded so I was able to sneak in. It was fairly late after the 475km ride with several sightseeing stops, we left exploring 1770 until the next day. 1770 is the second place Captain Cook landed in Australia, so the first boat people to come here!

Day 21.              After a ride around the 1770 townsite, nice breakfast by the bay and a fuel up we headed off further north. The ride today was 390km and went inland from Gladstone and circled back through Mount Morgan to the Rockhampton coastal area. Cabin accommodation was not available and the only camping available was at a nice little town called Emu Park. The weather forecast indicated rain was coming the next day.

Day 22.              We woke to the sound of rain so had to pack up our tents in the wet. Darryl led us across to Yeppoon, a trendy beach side town and then back to the A1 bypassing Rockhampton. At Marlborough we again headed inland on what was to be a fairly lonely and bumpy road, so bumpy my little carrier top started to vibrate off and dad had to stop to remove it. Barry and dad were also getting a bit worried about fuel having done 150km to the turn off and started to slow down a bit just in case. Darryl and Jim with their big tanks had long gone.  Luckily there was one fuel stop on this 240km stretch of road, a little oasis called Lotus Creek in the middle of what appears to be nowhere. Actually, there are a few coal mines in this area. Darryl was so impressed he is thinking of coming back just to stay at the caravan park. After a nice lunch at Lotus Creek, we headed to Mackay. Dad had spent time there on the Black Dog ride so got us good cabin accommodation at the park he had stayed before. After the morning drizzle the day had been nice and fine for the 450km mystery ride.

Day 23.              The night before the gang of 4 went into the city for dinner.  Unfortunately, the heavens opened when they were about to head home so it was a delay getting back. It rained heavy all night and very wet on departure. Dad had filled up the day before so while the others headed to fuel up dad got me ready and then, could not find his bloody wallet. A complete repack but no sign. Dad had paid the taxi the night before but it was only a voice ordering system and no way to contact anyone to see if it was in the cab. The others came back to help and luckily Darryl found it very wet in the garden in front of the cabin. (Mug of Month material for sure but what happens on tour, stays on tour!) It was very wet with poor visibility on leaving Mackay but started to fine up by the time we reached Proserpine. Dad had his 70^th birthday here in 2019. After Proserpine we did a detour into Bowen for a look see and then furth north a ride up Mount Inkerman before lunch in Ayr. It was then onto Charters Towers via the Woodstock Road that bypasses Townsville through nice country roads. The 470km days ride, apart from the morning rain and lost wallet, was very enjoyable. The evening pub meal saw the boys eat some very large steaks. I was to have plenty to eat for the next week.

Day 24.              Breakfast and a look around Charters Towers and on to Winton 470km away. We took the Flinders Highway to Hughenden and Kennedy Development Road to Winton. There were a few road trains to pass on the Flinders Highway but the road across to Winton was fairly boring. We arrived in Winton nice and early so had a good look around the town after setting up in a rather small cabin. Tomorrow we were going to see the dinosaurs.

Day 25.                 From Winton it was only a 205km ride to our planned day off in Longreach. We used the day to visit the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Park 25km from Winton. I was very privileged to be able to stay with daddy while we did the tour of the park which included the Collection Room, March of the Titanosaurs, Fossil Preparation Laboratory and Dinosaur Canyon walk. The tour took the whole morning and the group all gave a big thumbs up. Darryl was not too pleased on leaving the park when he bogged down in loose gravel and became a member of the dropped bike club while we were waiting for him. Not realising his predicament, we left it up to him and a kind lady to get him upright while we shouted abuse for taking so long, thinking he was wasting time just talking.  We finished the day with the ride to Longreach, arriving mid Sunday afternoon, setting up tents and while I looked after the campsite, the boys went into a pub in town for dinner.      

Day 26.              A week since Lismore Rally and we spent a lay day in Longreach spending the morning checking out the town and the afternoon at the Qantas Museum. The museum had special nice big kennels for me to stay while the humans did the tour of the museum full of the history of Qantas with lots of displays and memorabilia.  They then had a tour of the Qantas planes on display. The rest of the day was spent getting ready for the final weeks ride home.

Day 27.              We were now back to our long day rides for the run home that hopefully would get us back by Sunday the 21^st May. We were planning to meet up with Paul and Dave in Port Augusta. Today’s ride was 540km to Charleville, stopping at Barcaldine to check out The Tree Of Knowledge. I don’t think it has helped dad. It was a fairly flat ride through outback Queensland and took most of the day, stopping for the night at the Bailey Bar Caravan Park as recommended by dad. Unfortunately, it was probably the worst park we stayed at but a least we were in a big cabin and could get away fairly early for Cobar.

Day 28.              A 615km long haul ride south to Cobar that saw us cross back into NSW. The road between Charleville and Cobar passes through areas of emus, kangaroos, sheep, goats and we even saw a feral cat. It meant we had to keep an eye open and be aware, especial as we had increased our travel speeds. I was to be our last camping night at Cobar at a nice good park. It was Jim’s last night as sleeping on the ground. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

Day 29.    We woke early to a very cold morning to set off to Port Augusta. We waited for sunrise and got away around 7:00am at minus 1 degree. It was a cold ride nearly all the way to Broken Hill, once again looking out for the numerous goats that were lining the road. At least they seem to be intelligent and stay put as we road past. After Broken Hill we progressed on our 875km journey, passing back into South Australia in fine weather and spending a nice night in units at the shoreline Caravan Park. Dave and Paul had met up a couple of days earlier and had already travelled back to Perth.    

Day 30.              Up again early and it was a cold foggy ride to Kimba from Port Augusta. It cleared up reasonably quickly after Kimba although Barry was concern with his bike and at Ceduna, he carried on ahead to Nullarbor Roadhouse where we were stopping for the night in nice accommodation. They even allow doggies to stay in some of the rooms so we all had a good sleep after the 765km day.   

Day 31.    As per day 2 we had a 910km ride, this time back to Norseman. It was a long ride but with the time difference as we crossed back into WA, we had plenty of time and daylight. We did however encounter a couple of patches of heavy rain both sides of the border that made it uncomfortable for a while but not as bad as our Bathurst run.  We reached Norseman fairly early on Saturday afternoon and stayed in nice dog friendly rooms at the Railway Guesthouse Motel, which was a lot nicer than the tourist park we had stayed on the way over. Barry actually found that his chain was extremely loose and spent the late afternoon with Jim adjusting it. The boys had their last tour meals at the Norseman Hotel and I looked forward to getting back to my nice comfy bed tomorrow   

Day 32.              An easy 740km ride on a chilly morning back to Perth, stopping a Coolgardie, Southern Cross and Tammin where the Lismore adventurers all shock hands and said their goodbyes. I got a nice pat from them all and I thank them all for looking after me on this big ride. I did give a bark but I’m not sure they understood. When we got home Daddy took a photo of a very tired little dog who had spent one month and one day riding 13299km to Queensland and back.  

The 20th Birthday at the Joondalup Ulysses Branch