Toowoomba - Townsville June & July 2009

Saturday 6^th June  TOOWOOMBA TO OAKEY  44km

We took a route out of Toowoomba through Gowrie and Kingsthorpe to avoid the Warrego Highway.  It was quite picturesque and not busy, but very hilly.  We had to push our bikes up one sharp pinch.  Len's oft said quote, "It's all downhill from Toowoomba" proved to be incorrect.  We had several good climbs and never got out of the hills.

We rode to the centre of Oakey only to discover that the caravan park was 3km further out of town.  There was a good camp kitchen and camping area in attractive surroundings.  The motel part of the park was filled with 18 trainee veterinary surgeons.

It was a warm night and we woke to the sound of thunder.  We thought at first that it was a jet passing over, but no such luck, so at 6.30am we were sitting in our tent waiting for the storm and rain to pass over.

Sunday 7^th June  OAKEY TO DALBY  58km

The rain cleared by the time we had breakfast so we packed up and left by 9.00am.  We were now on the Warrego Highway which was very busy but had a good wide verge so we felt safe.  We stopped at Jondaryan for coffee – the one little hill on the flat plain.  After Jondaryan it was hard slog.  There were no hills but a strong head wind.

It was good to get off the bikes at Dalby after over 4 hours on the bike seats.  We booked into a motel because the caravan park had nothing.  Our tent was hung out to dry in the car parking space.

We've come to the conclusion that no matter what distance is ridden there are no easy days!

Monday 8^th June  DALBY TO WARRA  48km

The shops were closed on Sunday so we had to find a store to replenish supplies before we left.

The traffic was not too busy but the verge disappeared.  The countryside was very flat and we passed dozens of huge dams. The remnants of sorghum and wheat crops could be seen. 

We'd confirmed the night before that there was no accommodation at the pub in Warra but that we were welcome to camp in the Park/Rest Area.  We toyed with the idea of continuing on to Chinchilla but the strong head wind put paid to that.

Warra is an old station that has been restored and made into an attractive rest area.

Caravans and mobile homes began arriving and by 4.30pm there were 8 parties set up for the night.  We all joined together for drinks.

Warrra

Tuesday 9^th June  WARRA TO CHINCHILLA  36km

It was a very cold night.  The traffic, mainly trucks, continued all night.  The scenery was better today with more trees and better-looking farms.  The strong headwind continued but the verge was good.

The main street of Chinchilla is a picture with magnificent, large, shady trees.  We bought some supplies from the IGA supermarket and were given pensioner discount, much to our surprise.

Wednesday 10^th June  CHINCHILLA TO MILES  48km

The same strong headwind continued but luckily there was thick tree cover, practically all the way, that sheltered us to some extent.  The trees were acacia, eucalypt, pine, oak, and casuarina.  It was gently undulating country that was much prettier than the crop country of the previous 2 days.  We secured a new cabin in the caravan park opposite the "Living Museum".  We rode to the library to send an e-mail to family and friends.
 

Thursday 11^th June  MILES TO WANDOAN  69km

The morning was very chilly, 2°C.  We had a wonderful ride through forest with a tail wind.  It was a little hilly but enjoyable.  It wasn't until we came to the sign "Great Dividing Range 407m" that we realized we were crossing the range.  There was a magnificent downhill run at 7% decline.

Once over the range, 50km from Miles, we stopped at Guluguba for coffee and a hamburger that took over an hour to prepare.  According to a local we were now in the "best beef country in Australia".  Unfortunately much of the precious farmland is being overtaken for coal mining and the farmers feel they are not being adequately compensated.

We took a cabin at the caravan park in Wandoan.  The heating didn't work and we froze.  Getting no response from management we resorted to using our sleeping bags to keep warm during the night.  When returning the key next day we learnt that we should have opened up the control panel.  It was still set for cooling which is why it wouldn't heat for us.  There had been a white frost too!

Friday 12^th June  WANDOAN TO TAROOM  63km

Today's riding was very pleasant and enjoyable with plenty of ups and downs and good scenery.  Traffic was light so we rode side by side for most of the way.  Several times we had to get right off the road when gigantic machinery pieces, escorted by Police, went past.  We inspected the coolabah tree in which Ludwig Leichardt carved his initials and date, 1844, on his way from Miles to the Northern Territory.  The tree is in the main street of Taroom.  There were no cabins in the caravan park and only gravel to pitch a tent on so we secured a cabin at the service station.  The cabin had been used as accommodation for Olympic athletes at the 2000 Sydney Games
 

Saturday 13^th June  TAROOM TO ISLA GORGE  60km

We woke to another white frost.  The road started climbing just out of Taroom and we climbed most of the way to Isla Gorge.  The country was mostly forest with some grazing.  Once again we could ride side by side.  After one last big climb we arrived at the turnoff to the gorge and Isla Gorge National Park.  We had to negotiate a rough stony track for 1.3km to the lookout and camping area.

The scenery was magnificent – on top of the world overlooking the gorge.  Toilets, water tank, and tables, under a covered shelter, were provided.

We were totally on our own so we set our tent up in the shelter because it was too rocky elsewhere.  We had to be very alert while cooking because resident Currawongs kept trying to nab our food.  After dinner we sat and enjoyed a small campfire before retiring.  It was a lovely evening in a "billion star motel".

Leichardt Tree

Isla Gorge