Brisbane to Tia Falls (628 kms)
15 January 2017
Click on the map for a map of the entire ride. Individual days can be toggled on and off at the side, and, of course, you can zoom in and out as you please.
It's just gone 6:00 am and the air is mercifully cool as I run up the ramp onto the Pacific Motorway heading south out of Brisbane bound for New South Wales. I've a windproof liner in my mesh jacket and I'm comfortable as the GPS takes me onto a tollway I was hoping to avoid. That'll teach me not to check its route planning more carefully.
Hitting the freeway
Just after 7:00 am I'm on the Lions Road heading towards the border. I'm delayed briefly by a crane parked on a bridge so it can unload new strengthening members. I park the bike and get off for a stretch and a chat with the traffic control bloke. I take a photo or two for my grandson who's pretty keen on any machinery.
The Lions Road
Underway again, I make my way south to Casino where I stop for a fine plate of fried eggs, a coffee and fuel for the CB1100. I'm soon on the way south along the Summerland Way. A friend calls it the "Slumberland Way". Cruel, but fair, I guess, although it's pretty, seldom busy and the fastest way from Casino to Grafton when you want to get somewhere.
Then it's on to the glorious Armidale Road. Ninety something kilometres of winding road through Australian bushland. There's always a bit of traffic, the surface is not brilliant, and it can be difficult to overtake, but it's always a good ride.
I stop in Ebor for more fuel for the CB1100 and lunch and a cup of tea at Fusspots Café.
By now it's really warmed up and I'm tipping lots of water in at every opportunity. I make a slight detour south of Uralla to check out the tiny town of Kentucky. It's pretty enough and will be worth a return visit sometime. As I reach Thunderbolts Way large drops of rain begin to fall sporadically. A storm with plenty of rain would be good for everyone, although I hope it manages to hold off until I get to Walcha.
I get slightly damp, but there's nothing in the storm to excite anyone.
Pterodactyl is waiting patiently in Walcha having had a really hot ride north from Sydney. We provision ourselves for the evening and then head east to the Tia Falls National Park where we pitch our tents, before working our way through the provisions.
