Monday 18th July 2016
Here I sit waiting, waiting. No word on the parts for the bike. So I don’t have a lot to tell you.
So I can give you a few pics. Cloncurry is a pretty nice town with lots of history. So I went off and visited a great display at the Flying Doctor Memorial Museum. It also includes a wonderful display on the history of the school of the air, also originating in Cloncurry, which became possible through the use of the pedal radio, Took some time to get though the exhibition in a very modern building. So if you are passing through Cloncurry check it out.
Model of the first Flying Doctor plane
Flying Doctor Memorial Museum
Apart from returning the rented ute to RACQ as they needed it….. that was Saturday. Didn’t want to do too much.
Sunday I was told, by one of the pub workers, that I should have a look at the Mary Kathleen Mine Museum. So I walked the mile up the highway to check it out. I’m glad to say it was good.
The Museum boasts the biggest rock collection in Australia and I believe it. I looked at all of them. Also on display was a large outside collection of past era machinery.
Plaque of Burke and Wills Expedition. A bit of Australian history for you all.
Couple of other pics.
My home for the week: The Post Office Hotel
Main street, 9am Sunday morning
Sunday night came with the arrival of Mike. Mike is touring, on his BMW F800GS, from Tasi up to Darwin through the Center, then across to the Gulf of Carpenteria, then down some, what he called, fun roads, to Cloncurry We had a good chap and I learnt a lot from him. He in now on his way back to Tasi. Sorry Mike not a great photo.
Mike and his bike
Still no word on the parts. Rang ANL shipping. The next boat leaves 1st August. Need to get there by this Friday.
Tuesday 19th July 2016
Still waiting. It seems the wheel didn’t get on the truck yesterday. Missed the pick up cutoff time by 15min. The gods are definitely not smiling on me. I have, after several calls, been told that the wheel has now been picked up and will arrive around 6am tomorrow. Paid the bill, $216 parts $100 labour plus tax, total $348.45. That blew the budget. Which I had to pay. Still want to buy a BMW? Another night of accommodation for me in the very comfortable Post Office Hotel.
In the meantime I have calculated my fuel consumption so far, for the 2452kms to be 98ltrs. this has given me 25k/ltr at highway plus speeds. So I am pretty happy with that bit. And with NRMA paying for my accommodation and Centrelink paying my pension I am surviving pretty well.
Still have 1700kms to get to Darwin by end of Friday. Fuel economy could drop.
Chin up Pete , wont be long. Enjoy every day. Cheers Greg
Thank Greg, Wheel is fixed should get it back tomorrow (I hope).
Thanks for the info on Cloncurry. Makes it sound worth the stop. Lucky running into Mike. Looks like he is carrying a fair bit of gear – camping along the way?
Hope the wheel arrives tomorrow. Doesn’t sound like you are going to get to do much sight seeing on the way to Darwin…
Cheers
Dan
8:15 am still don’t know if the wheel got on the truck…..waiting. I will have lots of wet sightseeing today, its will just be at speed….hopefully..Lots of rain forecast …cheers