Rutherglen Adventure Epilouge

I was away from home for eleven days, four of which were in Corowa/Rutherglen at the Australian Bike Friday Club Muster, and seven driving to and from Corowa.  I have covered the Muster in preceding posts and in this epilogue cover my thoughts on how to survive a long solo drive.

I planned my route using the RACQ trip planner on their web site.  I entered the start point Tewantin and the finish Corowa and I got a route straight down the Coast to Sydney before cutting inland to Albury and on to Corowa.  The distance was 1657Km which is just right for an easy four day drive but it followed the busiest and most dangerous route in Australia so I asked for another route further inland.  I ended up with a route through Toowoomba and then via the Newell Highway.  This was only 1630Km but had several long stretches with little or no services but as it would be a new route for me this was the one I chose.

I downloaded maps for a four day drive with the longest being the first day to Goondiwindi at just under 500Km which I scheduled a 6 t0 7  hour drive including stops.  My biggest worry was tiredness as most accidents on long distance drives are caused by the driver nodding off at the wheel.

Each day I filled a large Thermos with boiling water and ensured that I stopped every 100Km, about an hours drive, for a coffee break.  In order to stay focussed while driving I either tuned in my radio to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) local radio network or listened to audio books playing on my MP3 player via an FM transmitter through my car radio.

I actually listened to three long books on my journey all produced by a group I belong to called LibriVox  where volunteer readers  transfer public domain books in to MP3 files.  I was a proof listener for several years.  I chose three books.  The first was by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes fame but I listened to "The Exploits Of Brigadier Gerrad"  a rollicking tale of a French officer during the Napoleonic Wars.  This   lasted about three days driving and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I got half way through Thomas Hughes  "Tom Brown's School Days"  before arriving at Corowa and listened to more chapters in my tent before going to sleep.  I finished it on the way home before getting stuck into "The First Men in the Moon" by H.G.Wells.  I actually listened most of the way home to this classic but had to read the last couple of chapters at home.

Apart from one period on the way home I never felt sleepy at the wheel.  this was within 50Km of home where I pulled off the Bruce Highway into a rest stop and had a cup of coffee and a walk before diving the last 30 minutes home.  Note that I drove home in three days to avoid the Easter Thursday traffic jams between Brisbane and Noosa.

When ever possible I started each day at about 6.00am and stopped for breakfast about 9.00am.  I used truck stops wherever possible but also stopped at MacDonald's for surprisingly good coffee and egg and bacon muffins on a  couple of occasions.  I had a light lunch at about 12.00 noon and arrived at my overnight stop about 2.00pm.  This meant that I could have a shower and rest before going out for my evening meal.  I always had a glass of wine or a beer before going to bed about 9.00pm

I think that the relatively short driving spells and regular rest stops resulted in me keeping fresh and alert.  Next year the muster is in South Australia which is a 2,350Km drive so I'll take five days each way.  Helen may drive back with me.

Rutherglen Adventue Wednesday 4 April 2012

I woke up early and was on my way before 7.00am.  I decided to return home via Toowoomba which was the way I came.  I stopped at about 120Km at a truck stop to fill up with petrol and have some breakfast.  Here I saw a Road Train also known as a B-Triple i.e. a prime mover and three trailers.  It was over 30 metres long.  It drew out in front of me and I followed it for the next 100Km to Toowoomba.  This driver was very good. He stuck to 100KPH the whole way and didn't attempt to intimidate anybody.  He had to turn off just before the city as these huge vehicles are not welcome in built up areas.  I couldn't overtake him safely as my little Jazz would take too long to pass him and there was pretty constant head on traffic.

At breakfast I had realised that I has mislaid my mobile phone so stopped in Toowoomba to buy another.  It was only $29.00 and I got all the prepaid credit on the old phone and its number transferred to it.  I drove on down the range. Toowoomba is at 560 metres and I had to first climb over the last bit of the Great  Dividing range and then drop sharply down to little town of Esk in the Brisbane River valley.

At Esk I stopped for morning coffee and explored the little town.  Margaret and I stayed here in 1999 in our caravan for a few days and she bough a cast resin statue of a fox which still sits on the side in my lounge.  The changes to the town are minimal.  I used the camera in my new phone to take some photos but I should have used my normal camera.

I made the final 180Km with just a brief comfort stop and was home by about 2.30pm.  Helen and Louis gave me a warm greeting.

The adventure was over.

I followed this monster for 100Km.  He was a good safe driver.

View from my coffee stop in Esk.  My little Jazz is the one on the left

Views of Esk

I shall write up a brief note on driving long distance solo over the next day or so.

Rutherglen Adventure Tuesday 3 April 2012

I had an early start at 6.00am and was soon at Gilgandra where I stopped for petrol'  I drove off north into the sunshine and took what I though was the road to Coonabarabran but after a few kilometres began to think I had missed my way.  There were no big road signs but the kilometre posts were ticking down to C - for Coonabarabran I thought.  I was wrong it was Coonamble but now I was committed.

 The intended route

The actual route

This little detour wa across country using minor roads which were in a bad state due to flooding.  It was a real adventure but it added over 70km to my journey.

By the time I got to my overnight stop at Goondiwindi  I had covered well over 600Km.  I decided to stay at a motel near the main street and had dinner at the nearby hotel.

Goondiwindi Main Street

 

 The first hotel in Queensland where I had dinner

My home for the night

Rurtherglen Adventure Monday 2 April 2012

At dawn I quietly took down my tent and packed my car.  The tent tub was covered in sand so I didn't put it in its bag but just rolled it up.  By 7.00am I was in the camp kitchen having a light breakfast and said goodbye to the few Bike Friday Club Members who were also there.

I was on the road by 7.00am and Section Three of my adventure had begun.  I took four days driving down from Tewantin but wanted to get home in three to avoid the pre-Easter rush on Thursday.

I drove the same route home as far as Dubbo.  It was about 580Km.  With regular stops I was in Dubbo by about 3.00pm and hired a cabin in a caravan park nerd the city centre.  It was the same park where Margaret and I plus Pierre the poodle stayed in 1998 on out trek to Noosa in our Camper van.  Then it was in open ground .  Now it is adjacent to a large shopping centre.

I had a meal at a local pub and was in bed by 8.30pm.

My home for the night.

 

Look the other was and thre is the shopping centre

Rutherglen Adventure - Sunday 1 April 2012

Sumner time ended today so we had a lay in.  Actually there were no organised rides for today as many of our members would be going home today after the lunch at the Tuleries in Rutherglen.  I decided to find the Rail Trail to Rutherglen and ride further south for a few kilometres.

I enjoyed the Rail Trail and had a coffee in Rutherglen before going south for about 20Km and returning to Rutherglen.  I was too early for lunch and stopped off at the Wine Experience Centre and bought a couple of little bottles of Rutherglen's special wines, Port and Muscat.

Lunch was a quiet indoor affair and my camera didn't have a flash.  Afterwards it was goodbye to many members.

I cycled back to Corowa by the Rail Trail and then further on along the River Trail to the Corowa shopping centre where I topped up my cash.  I rode about 50Km today.

Back at camp I did my my packing before joining some remaining members for a light meal in the barbecue area.  I went to bed in my tent happy after a great four days.

 The start of the rail trail just over the bridge in Victoria.

 The old station at Rutherglen

 South of Rutherglen - probably named after Willoughby

 The road showing the narrow shoulder and gravel run off.

 

The Rail Trail

 

The River Trail

Rutherglen Adventure Day Day 7 Saturday 31 March 2012

Today was the day of the long rides.  One of 80kn plus. One of 60Km plus which I intended to to but at the start Graham offered to to another local interest ride.  I has really enjoyed his Thursday ride so joined in his indefinite length social ride.

I'll cover today with photos which started with out traditional group shot.

 At the start a group shot of 130 cyclists riding funny bicycles takes a long time

We had three blind riders with us but only two guide dogs.  The one on the left is Willoughby who was a bad boy (when off duty ) last year but this year was beautifully behaved and Pam didn't have to pay for shoplifted toys.

 

 Still waiting for the mob to assemble.

 Finally somebody sait "Get over here Brian!" and the picture was taken.

 Our beloved leader on the ride.

 At Pheather's winery Graham leads a a group to Picnic Creek'

The Headmaster said, "Follow me children!"

 We visited Lake Moodemere

o

 Ian, from Singapore, was protecting his head from the local River Red Gums which drop big branches.

 The lake has been used for over a hundred years by the local Rowing Club.

 An old River Red.  That's a normal adult.

 A dead one

This says it all.

I think we took over five hours to cover 30Km but it was a terrific day.

In the evening we had our group dinner at the Corowa RSL.  This is our main fund raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind Victoria.  We raised over $5000  from the auction.  Helen donated a tee shirt from the 2010 Tour Down Under, a cycling event ridden by Cadell Evans the world champion and now Tour De France winner.  He and all his team had signed the shirt.  It raised a $100.

I bought a few things for about $70.

It had been a good day.