Monday, April 18, 2011

The April Road Trip...

I am back from 5 days away with my beloved. 
We never had a proper honeymoon in 1991, so this was to be 'the honeymoon we never got to have'. 
Wednesday morning and the bike is fully loaded, so a quick photo with Sophie and we were off...
First stop was two hours later at Belyando Crossing, and a lesson learned - make sure you take every toilet stop you can get on a long trip!
 This was the only town in almost 4 hours of riding, and it didn't have fuel for the bike. Lucky we have a big tank as this was the view for a very long time between stops (actually this was the view for most of our 5 days on the road)...
 First night we stopped at Emerald in this little cabin...
...and the next day we headed off to Gayndah...
 ...via Mt Zamia...
 ...and Mundubbera..
Each morning we were on the road by 7.30 -8am and found we couldn't eat anything that early so our regular breakfast was Scotch Finger biscuits and cool drinks about 10am.
Leaving our tropical home behind we had to adjust to cool nights and foggy mornings. This was especially noticeable on the morning of Day 3 as we prepared to leave Gayndah.
 On the way out of town we stopped to see the Big Orange...
...before heading to Childers a couple of hours later for our coffee break. The scenery around there was gorgeous but as we were riding at the time I couldn't get a photo. If we could find work teaching there for Mr E we would seriously consider the move!
Later in the day we arrived at Bundaberg and stopped to buy soft drinks at the Bundy Rum Distillery. They make the best ginger beer and sarsparilla. A passerby kindly took a photo of us together by the Watermark. This is a limited rum edition (7000 bottles) released to raise funds for the Queensland Flood Appeal, hence the name 'Watermark'.
After Bundaberg we stayed on the National Highway, so were able to regularly stop at Driver Reviver for coffee and bikies. They are an amazing organisation, setting up free coffee/tea stalls in remote areas of the highway for drivers to rest a while, keeping everyone safer on the roads by reducing fatigue. You also meet a lot of interesting people there from all over the country!
The night of Day 3 we stayed at The Caves, outside Rockhampton. We loved it so much that we are planning a return trip. but next time we'll stay a few days and really enjoy all it has to offer. 
We had a secluded cabin in the bush...
...with lots of guests dropping by to say hello!
 
After another day of riding the highway we arrived in Airlie Beach on Night 4 and collapsed in our little cabin with Iced Teas and more Scotch Finger biscuits....
...before heading off for pizza in the very-youth-oriented beach town.
Our last day on the road and the first stop was Bowen for a coffee and a photo of the Big Mango!
An hour later we were just passed Ayr and made a surprise visit to Wendy and Joe's for a quick catch-up cuppa before the last leg of our journey home. They are a gorgeous couple and Mr Joe is a 'superb' cook! As soon as we checked out Wendy's knee surgery Joe had the pan on and was frying up bacon and eggs to feed us - this was the best meal over the whole 5 days of riding! Thanks Joe and Wendy!! (Silly me forgot to take a photo!)
Two hours later and we drove through our front gate with two side panniers filled with dirty washing, and the biggest smiles. This was the best belated homeymoon ever!
The only downside of the whole trip was that I started out with a throat infection the night before we left, and by the time we arrived home last night I had a chest infection and head cold as well! But I didn't let it spoil our trip. I was wrapped up warm and had a scarf around my neck all the time we rode. 
The kids survived at home alone, and though my heart was torn over the demise of the Gum Tree Designers the day before we left, I had to keep my heart focused on my sweet husband and deal with everything else once we got home.
So, bear with me, and I'll share where to from here in my next post.
For now, I need good home cooking and some serious sleep. :-)
Lotsa love and hugs,
Jenny
xxx
PS: For the girls who warned me about 'helmet hair'...you were right. It's ghastly. LOL!!

26 comments:

Amanda said...

It sounds as if you had a great time. We never had a honeymoon either, but have made up for it with weekends away and holidays on our own since the boys left home. What you wrote about Driver Reviver stops really brought it home to me how vast Australia is and isolated parts of it are. I don't think you could drive for more than about half an hour here in the UK without coming to a village or a town.

Sunnybec said...

Yay life on the open road you can't beat it. So glad you enjoyed it, reading your adventures reminded me of ours....will have to do it again some day, we had such a good time when we holidayed over here. Oh helmet hair (bet your hubby has short hair) My hair use to be long and it was a nightmare, it's now short and spiky and has been for years...helmet off...hands through hair, check in bike mirror ..... sorted!!

Maria said...

Thanks for taking us on your wonderful ride around Qld.Pleased you had a great time. Hope you are feeling a bit better.

Kris Meares - Tag Along Teddies said...

Hey Jen! You were in MY stamping ground! :0) I grew up in Mundubbera and Mum and Dad still live there ... in fact, Mum volunteers at the info centre sometimes, so maybe you met her! :0) I travelled by bus to Gayndah to do year 11 and 12 and Bundy was our main shopping centre growing up. My Grandma still lives at Bargara, so we hit Bundy a few times a year. And ... my grandparents managed the pool at Emerald for years, so I'm familiar with there too. :0) Glad you had a good trip! Get well soon - Bear Hugs! KRIS

Rumi said...

Sounds like such a good time! So glad the weather was not bad--I'm sure it would not have been as much fun if it had poured down rain!
Rest up and get well soon!

Susan said...

What a trip!! Considering the size of Queensland you did an awful lot! Bet your butt is a bit sore! And maybe time for a new shorter hairstyle if you are going to do this a lot!

Maria McCabe said...

Oh what a nice trip! Thank you for sharing the pictures with us!
Maria

Miss Hillbilly said...

My husband and I have never gotten to Honeymoon either. Maybe someday...but I doubt on Motorcycles!! I am glad that you had fun.

I just wanted to give you a virtual hug about your Gum Tree Designers. I could tell something was up when those first two dropped out. But when something is your idea, then it is your baby and it so hard not to take it personally.

I love you and am a HUGE fan of yours. Chin up.

{{HUG}}

Stitched With Prayer said...

Great photos Jenny, it looks like a really wonderful time. Now, about that 'helmet hair', LOL. Long hair worked much better for me because I just had to pull it up into a pony tail with a baseball cap...but I cut it a while back. Now I'm growing it a little longer again specifically to avoid that awful 'HH'. Ah, the things we do, LOLOL. My hubby can't figure out why I won't fly anywhere, EVER, but it doesn't bother me a bit to climb on the back of a motorcycle going 80 miles per hour. Go figure! Glad you had such a lovely time. Hugs...

Fee said...

Looks like you had a fab time Jen - so glad you and Mr E got 5 precious days away together.

Sending big get well hugs,
Fee x

Anneke Potgieter said...

Glad that youre safe home. Thanks for sharing the trip with us. Blessings

Allie said...

Wow what an epic ride - love the pics! The giant orange and mango remind me of small-town attractions here in America - in the good old days, anyway! So glad you could stop to see Wendy and Joe. I'm sorry to hear you're sick, sweetie - I'm praying for a quick recovery!

Oh Sew Addicted said...

What an awesome and romantic road trip! Now rest up and feel better soon! Take care.
Hugs
carla louise

Ladydy5 aka: Diane Yates said...

That brought back a lot of memories. My husband and I did many trips like that back in the 1970's. Just make sure you walk around a lot after sitting on that seat for four hours.

Lis Harwood said...

Thank you for sharing your great trip. The Driver Reviver idea is brilliant. No quilt shops? LOL DH thinks the bike looks pretty cool!

Anna Rosa Designs said...

Hi Jenny,
Wow, your trips sounds wonderfully thrilling!
I bet not only you're throat and head hurt by the end of your trip but how's your touche? lol
You and hubby are very brave to be trekking all around like that.
Hugs,
Anna

Janice said...

I'm so glad that you both enjoyed your road trip. I'm sure it will be the first of many. I laughed when I saw your bikkies. We always have Arnotts gingernuts, as they don't break.....and did you know they are made from different recipes in each state. I feel for you with your helmet hair - something I have to look forward to for the next two months. However, it is a small price to pay for so much fun. We spent quite a few holidays in Mundubbera as kids, staying with cousins - swimming at the pool, going to the pictures in big canvas chairs, drinking Sars - great memories. Now that you are home get yourself all well again. Take care.

Red Heads said...

An awsome trip. Soo wonderful for the both of you to share in this trip. LOVE ...IS... A...Wonderful thing FOR SURE. This trip will always hold special memories for you both I am sure. Take care & get well SOON. You love bird you. !!!! Blessings: Dianne..

Jo in TAS said...

Sounds like a great road trip! Oh how I miss a fresh mango!!
Get well Jenny
Hugs
jo

Narelle said...

Hey, you were in my neck of the woods too! I've been known to shop in Gayndah but Bundaberg is our main shopping and business centre ... I was also in Childers last Thursday :o)
Lovely to hear of your trip ... sounds like you both had an enjoyable time.

Wendy said...

Looks like you had a great trip and made lots of new memories.....hope you feel better soon.....

Jean - Oksewnsew said...

OH Jenny, so glad you enjoyed your trip. It did you good to get out and clear your head, even tho your chest might NOT be clear..Take care and just handle things as they come..

Hugs
Jean

Anne-Lise at Rag, Tag, Bobtail said...

Lovely trip, Jenny. Now I' m all excited about getting our bike out of winter storage. :-)
Hope your cold clears up quickly. Hugs!

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us, Jenny! So glad you had a good time. DO hope you get well soon tho!!

Lots of love...

vernagrace said...

Glad you had a wonderful trip! Mr E is tall! Helmet hair is definitely a pain, there are little microfibre or silk bonnets, I guess you'd call them that some wear under their helmets. I always kept my hair short, and just did a rough up when I got off the bike. You brought back so many memories! Praying for a quick recovery and thank you so much for sharing! Again, I am amazed you can go from the tropics to fog and cool weather in just 5 days!! Marvellous!

Carrie P. said...

Looks like you had a great time.