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Didn’t log as many km today as previous days, due to maintainence tasks, etc
Today’s animals trying to dent me had changed again, to Emus and grasshoppers. Millions of grasshoppers.

Started out from Copi Hollow (an absolutely top spot by the lake) and had breakfast in Menindee township. After viewing the lake, headed into Broken Hill where refueled, bought map, visited post office, bought more earplugs and visited Beaurepairs, where I managed to bodgy up an insulating guard for the radiator hose from an old inner tube and zip ties. (the crash bar was rubbing a hole in the radiator hose, this should prevent an early disaster)
After fartassing about with all this, I then proceeded to ride out to Mad Max territory, Silverton, saw the cars & ruins and headed back into Broken Hill for the worst steak sandwich ever, at the cafe inside the tourist information. Was served by the rude fat chef, named Luke. They should sack you mate. You can’t cook, you are rude & lazy to boot!

So headed west to Peterbourgh, but was struggling, so stopped at Olary for a sleep on the bench outside the pub. Ended up chatting to the publican and his mate, but felt refreshed and headed on. At Peterbough the plauge of grasshoppers intensified so much that I spent the next 100km ducked under the windshield, but still managed to slaughter thousands of the beasts. This was too much and Peterbourgh was overrated, so in the hope that the plauge would ease up the road (unlikey) I made tracks for Orroroo. There were fewer grasshoppers at Orroroo, but it didn’t get better without it getting much worse first, so much so that I had to wash all my riding gear of grasshoppers on arrival. Unsurprisingly, squashed grasshoppers smell like grass. Condensed and magnified 100x. So I smell like I’ve been dragged here across 450km of grassy fields.

Orroroo has a decent campsite and pub, so settled in here for the night in a basic cabin. (I’m the only one here too)
Tommorrow to Port Augusta and beyond, maybe to Woomera.

Left Dubbo at around 8am with a view to making it to either Wilcannia or maybe even Broken Hill. Stopped in Narromine for breakfast, bacon egg and tomato roll which took an exceptionally long time to arrive. Noticed the kitchenhand ran out and came back with carton of eggs from the supermarket 🙂
The waitress said the “kitchen wasn’t ready” but the coffee was excellent.

Fairly uneventful run down the Barrier Highway to Cobar, although observed that the suicidal turtles have given way to suicidal galahs and lizards. Biggest observation was just how green the landscape is from previous visits out here. There were areas of so many different vivid shades of green and grey, it was really magnificent, and a pleasant change from the dusty past.

Stopped for longer than desired or anticipated in Cobar, after taking a few photos, talked with the lady at the tourist info about the floods, and then had lunch with a train driver who grew up in Ingleburn.
After then filling up with fuel, finally exited Cobar at 3pm.
Shot for Wilcannia with thoughts of previous visit there, and hoping it had somewhat improved and might make a good camp… It hasn’t, so I didn’t
By this stage it was 6pm, and Broken Hill was too far to make today, as I didn’t want to ride at dusk to avoid the wildlife (roos specifically)
So decided to head for Menindee Lakes, about 150km south west of Wilcannia. The road, which was dirt, turned out to be fairly trashed during the recent rains, lots of washouts, some 3ft deep, and heavily rutted by trucks driving on it when it wad closed.
Tried to recall all the offroad advice, STAND UP! Etc etc
It wad good fun, although almost got off at 80kmh when I got swallowed by a big rut and thrown about. Managed to stay on, with increased heartrate.
There was just as much wildlife here, with alot of cattle and goats on the track.
Came across one big herd of cattle in the middle of the track, so had to stop, there were 2 bulls and the younger one wasn’t happy that I was there. He was about 3M away and his head kept dropping. I thought he was going to charge at me a couple of times. It was bit of a Mexican standoff, except that he had all the firepower. I tried rolling backwards, that didn’t help so thought I would have to make a run for it. Just when I was about to, he turned his head for a moment and I was off! I didn’t need to be told to get out of there.

Not long later I stopped to take a photo of the sunset, and a Hilux with 2 farmer lads pulled up out of nowhere, asking if I was ok. They were very amused at the city boy taking photos of the sun and horizon.

My plan to arrive before dark was dead in the water, but there was a campsite by the lake about 13km outside of Menindee. Managed to arrive just as darkness fell and the mozzies swarmed.
A rushed setup of the tent in the dark and some 3 minute noodles, and I’m spent. Goodnight

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So I managed to set off almost on time, everything was loaded on the bike and Megan, Maarten & Aldo came to see me off.
Of course the one thing I forgot, was my helmet, so back into the house to collect that essential item.
So to hugs and waves from the departure party I set off, first stop, the Shell on Epping Road. The new super silicon earplugs purchased from the US wouldn’t stay in, so they were dumped in favour of the traditional safety plugs.
Once I reached Bells line of Road the fun began, not much traffic and fabulous views. Stopped just before Bell to take some photos and admire the view. Up over the pass and into Lithgow it got a bit cool, 16’C and the jacket was all zipped up.
Once down the other side, the smells of the country became evident to my pleasure, the scent of livestock, sillage and growth all so pleasant.
On reaching Bathurst I thought it would be a good idea to do a lap of Mt Panorama, which was fun, so I did it a second time and had a chat with an old lady who took my photo.
The track is much steeper and narrower than it appears on TV, hairy stuff at speed I imagine, even at 60kmh it was daunting.

Then made haste for Orange, where I stopped for lunch, parked the bike and went off to a cafe. Halfway through my sandwich I realised I had left the keys in the bike. Dumbass.
After lunch headed to Molong and decided to take a detour via Yeoval on the backroads, turned out that the bridge after Yeoval had been washed out. There were a couple of guys drinking UDL who I asked how I could get around the river. They pointed out that they could help me cross by carrying my panniers to the other side while I road the bike through the gap of remaining road. So obstacle was overcome.
Road into Dubbo where after a good feed, crashed at the caravan park. Dubbo is still blockaded due to the floods a damage. The whole place smells like a muddy river, and alot of damage to buildings, roads and trees.
Feeling pretty good, not too sore (yet) aside from some sunburn on my neck (the only thing exposed) must visit Target Country tomorrow to get a bandana to cover it.
Tomorrow towards Cobar…

So here it is.  I’m off to ride the F650 and see how far I can get with a few spare parts, a tent and some food.

You can track my progress here:

and also on the Moblog for more interesting photos: http://doherty.net.au/wpress

I’m growing a Mo for Movember, in order to raise funds for Mens health; specifically prostate cancer and depression in men.

You can donate to my Mo, through: Donate to Luke’s Mo

Many people don’t appreciate that close to 3,000 men die of prostate cancer each year in Australia and one in eight men will experience depression in their lifetime – many of whom don’t seek help.  It is facts like these, that have compelled me to get involved and I am hoping that you will support me.

To sponsor

my Mo, you can either:

• Click this link http://au.movember.com/mospace/171563/ and donate online using your credit card or PayPal
• Write a cheque payable to ‘Movember Foundation’, referencing my Registration Number 171563 and mailing it to: Movember Foundation, PO Box 292, Prahran, VIC, 3181

Remember, all donations over $2 are tax deductible.

If you are interested in following the progress of my Mo, click here http://moblog.doherty.net.au

Thanks for your support.

For those living in Australia, unless you have been hiding under a rock in recent weeks, you will be very aware of the separate criminal sentencing of two prominent Australian figures; Sportsman Nick D’Arcy and former Supreme court Judge Marcus Einfeld.

These two unrelated cases had me thinking…   How does a court determine appropriate punishment in sentencing?

In the case of Nick D’Arcy, convicted of violently bashing in the face of his fellow teammate, and subsequently sentenced to a 14 month (non custodial) suspended jail term.
Marcus Einfeld, convicted of committing an act of perjury in lying to a court, was sentenced to 3 years in prison.

Should a court consider the character of the

individual in determining an appropriate punishment?
Of course a court needs to consider all the specific details of a particular case, although it would appear to me that in this particular case, the act of perjury should be a lesser crime than an act of violence against another individual.

When a court considers sentencing, should the social and community building efforts of the offender be considered in sentencing?  In my view, those aspects must be considered.  One has to wonder whether it is reasonable that an individual who has worked to eliminate social disadvantage, improve living conditions for Aboriginal Australians and establish standards of human rights in developing countries, should be gaoled when considered against the crime of an act of violence?

I find Marcus Einfeld’s crime exceptionally disappointing and as a judge he has undermined the very legal institutions he was supposed to stand for, although when considered against a violent crime, it would seem the sentence is out of balance.

Do we have yet another case of Australia showing greater appreciation for the efforts of those in a sporting arena, when compared to intellectual pursuits?

Which is the lesser of two evils?

Recently had a short weekend break in Beijing.  A bit rushed, with far too much to see in a weekend but saw a lot of Beijing all the same.

 
Made a trip to The Great Wall (Mùtiányù section 慕田峪), Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, ate a baby goose, drank some great tea, etc

Photos from Beijing can be found in the Gallery here
and in the Moblog here

Some thoughts on “Australmerica” which I saw last week:

• Australians don’t speak with half a potato stuck in the back of their throat.

• The wizard of oz is American!  Was this a test of how many times “somewhere over the rainbow” can be regurgitated before vomiting?

• The use of Elgar, was a nice ‘tear jerking” touch, but too much.  Where was the Australian music??

• The CGI contained too many mistakes, was too obvious and crude. Similarly you could tell when shots were prepared in the studio,the colours were unmatched and bleeding obvious.

• Does anyone say Crikey so much?  In fact, does/did anyone ever say crikey?
  (aside from that guy that played with sting-rays?)

Was this really a serious film about Australia? Or was it a piss-take? If it was indeed a piss-take, then great, it was a good one and great for a laugh.  But if this is supposed to be ‘Australia’ one can assume Mr Luhrmann’s Australia exists in his imagination only.

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