Bike Troubles and Great Rides

 

Just over the border in Queensland.

The few days waiting for parts in Moree tested our resolve and we spent time wondering where my new stator was and waiting for updates on the Australia Post tracker. Unbeknownst to us, the part was delivered late on Thursday afternoon. When we called in to the workshop on Friday morning they said "come back at 11am and you'll be back on the road."

 

We scurried back to our camp in Moree, packed up the tent and we were riding out of town by 11:30am on Friday 3rd June. Warning bells were sounding in our ears though, as when we picked up my bike the mechanic mentioned that although the battery seemed to be charging at 14.2V at idle, under revs the voltage was dropping to 13.8.

 

Stop to add more clothes, Texas Road.

It is cotton harvest time and little balls of cotton littered the road verge as if to light our way. Warialda's bakery made a comfortable lunch stop then it was onwards along some very tasty roads to Texas in Queensland.

 

Camp site #14, Stanthorpe.

The shadows were growing long when we left Texas Town for Stanthorpe and a few drops of rain tried to clean our visors. We performed a textbook assembly of the tent before the mist rolled in and our day was done.

 

Inverell has many lovely historic buildings.

Our mechanic back home, Thorsten from BM Bikes, who has had our backs during this long ride, said, "try a new Regulator Rectifier (RR) to fix the voltage drop under revs." We waited again for parts, in Inverell this time. Experts say that a motorcycle regulator is simply "plug and play" but we wanted an expert to install the RR. Tony, from Vince Strang Motorcycles, fitted the new RR at a moment's notice and we will be forever grateful for the help showed to a couple of travelling bikers. 

Loved the Roxy Theatre and Cafe in Bingara.

The new RR had my bike's charging system operating as Thorsten said it should and on Friday 10th June we were back on the road, optimistically cautious, and on our way from Inverell to Tamworth. My bike ran well and magical scenery lined our way as we trundled along back roads in New England country.

 

Through the Window by Jaq Grantford.
Archibald Prize 2023 finalist.
My favourite.

We waited in Tamworth for a day for some heavy rain to clear. We were delighted to find that the art gallery in Tamworth was hosting the Archibald Prize, just as they had been when we passed this way five years before.

 

Camp site #16, Tamworth.

Then we were on the road again. The cafe at the little town of Werris Creek surprised us with delicious scones and homemade blueberry jam. The scenery was splendid and I even caught a last glimpse of the Warrumbungle mountain range. For the last few kilometers we were back on the Newell Highway trying to stay alive amongst the road trains.

 

We took the opportunity to visit The Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. And then, with a week's fine weather on the horizon, we were homeward bound, one day at a time.

Who wouldn't want a Lego guitar.
Only in Tamworth.