No biking Km’s today. But loads of bus KM’s… 985km in fact! So a bit of road trip today and let the Dumb and Dumber references commence.
Before I start, in the morning I stopped by the bike shop again. Like a bad smell, I am sure the owner thought. I gave the business card and details of the two welders to him, just in case some other stupid bike packer needs a welder in years to come.
Unlike its owner; my niece, the stinking sock is rather vain. Upon seeing my previous photo of the Emerald train station it requested another to be in it. So here you go (spot the sock)
I also dropped by Mitre 10 for a look around at bike water mounting options. Not really much I can do. So keeping it simple, 2 metres of velcro to the rescue. I will probably just velcro a 2 litre bottle to the top tube. I’ll also convert 2 bottles from tool, repair, spares to water. I didn’t do this originally as they are mounted upside down and water in them made them heavy and slip out. Velcro to the rescue again.
I’ve also had requests for more photos (apparently my sweet sensual words aren’t good enough). And dongers. More details on Dongers. I thinking heading south dongers become harder to come by, but I will do my best.
So while there is a once weekly bus from Emerald to Roma, you have to go out around 250km to Barcaldine (almost to Longreach). Change bus. Then head down to Blackall, almost to Charleville, then back east again to Roma. Both buses. 4 passengers (plus a driver sleeping in the back). Run by Greyhound, they are heavily subsidised by the Queensland Government.
Both buses were very niiiice (better than Kazak style). The first had over 500,000km on the dial. This is one of the newer ones, the driver told me. Yet again, Occy straps have proven one of the 7 great wonders of the man-world in securing my bike under the bus..
A quick stop in a no-horse town called Alpha. Not sure why. I’d call it a gamma town.
Barcaldine was just another sleepy regional town. But for the Uniboys following, I did find the EV charge point. You know… just in case you happen to find yourself in Barcaldine in the future.
Here are some random photos… stinking sock front and centre. I completely forgot that I am on the tropic of Capricorn, and I believe the motel I stayed at in Emerald was literally right on the line. Anyway, I made up for my lack of realisation in Barcaldine.
More vainness from Sophie’s Stinky Sock
So, I finishing this update at the BP come everything in Blackall. One of the beasts of the night awaiting its job of creating fresh carrion for tomorrow. I’ll have to get some more daytime roadtrain photos. Some of the prime movers are truly epic and clearly well loved by their owner.
The bus arrives at 2:30am in Roma. Just to spice things up a little. Again, all part of the adventure. I did ponder the idea of just getting on the bike and riding on to Surat (70 odd km down the road). A voice of reason helped me think better of it though.
And now. Dumb and Dumber. Not saying I am dumb, or even dumber. Let’s just say learning from my mistakes In a nod to Dumber and Dumber, possibly one of the best road trip movies of all time. I’d like to share this scene with you. Yes I drove halfway across Queenland in the wrong donation… but TOTALLY redeemed myself!
(and indeed, I have many of the time sat my the road in this position on the ride (complete with sore ass hanging out).
Thanks also for those of you that have recently chipped in with some donations. Helen Lovejoy is satisfied you are thinking of the children.
Song of the Day: In a nod to Dumber and Dumber (can you tell I love this movie or what?!), I give you Crash by the The Primitives. No the bus didn’t crash. It is just another quaint road trip song used in Dumb and Dumber. I now end any further references to Dumb and Dumber….
Until Surat (the one in Australia)….
My fave movie too !
It was Badens and my first date too
Xxxxx