Nebo to Taroom
12 May 2019
Master Map
Another agreeably dry night meant that packing up was easy and we were soon on the road south. Although it was sunny and cool, there was a south-easterly breeze that was stiff enough to make riding at the speed limit a bit uncomfortable. It made me wonder again whether the investment in a fly screen would be worth it.
Breakfast and fuel after an hour and a half's ride perked us up a bit and we set sail for Baralba, 243 kms down the road and boasting two petrol stations where we could refuel for the final leg. There was no other opportunity until Banana, a further 50 kms on and likely out of range.
It was warm when we pulled into Baralba. I was glad to get off the bike and take my jacket off for a moment. Of course neither service station was open.
We pulled up opposite one of them and reasonably close to the local hotel. We wandered into the bar to see whether there was anywhere closer for fuel than Banana.
'No', was the answer amidst much hilarity. They suggested a slab (two dozen stubbies or cans of beer) might, if we were very lucky, entice the owner of one of the local stations to help us.
I'd had a tough morning punching into the wind and would cheerfully have pitched my tent and spent the rest of the afternoon undertaking an extensive study of the bar, its inhabitants and offerings. Pterodactyl, on the other hand, was a man on a mission. Before I knew it, I was on the phone to the owner of the service station who agreed to come up the street and give us some fuel.
He was a very decent bloke. We got a little over $40 worth between us and he flat out refused to keep the change from $50. He said he was happy to come out for stranded passers-by like us, but deeply irritated when locals tried it on.
Shortly before we got to Banana we were stopped by the police to let a large oversize truck carrying mining equipment go past. Shortly afterwards it happened again.
We planned to stop for a cup of tea in Banana, but when we arrived yet another convoy of monster trucks approached and we had to stop again.
Both these trucks pulled into the service station along with the escorts and, while we waited, we realised we'd be cutting it fine reaching Taroom before skippy's evening exercise regime got under way.
It was a seriously good fun ride and we overnighted comfortably in the Taroom Hotel.
