The Long Rider

Long Ride day 4 - Charleville to Barcaldine

Day 4 of the Long Ride started early, in a number of ways.  We were up early in an attempt to get our destination a little earlier and see a few sights but it also started with a bit of a fright.

 

During the night, one of the riders, Reidy, awoke to find something in bed.  A ten centimetre long centipede striped like a tiger had tried to cop a feel and got drowned for it's trouble.  Poor little bugger just wanted to snuggle.  It turns out these things bite and can be quite dangerous, but it was no match for Reidy.

 

I've been banging on for day about the wildlife but bloody hell, nothing compares to this thing.  Thank god it wasn't me, I would've been squealing like a little girl at a Beeber concert.

Poor little bugger ... it just
wanted to snuggle and got
flushed for its trouble

After breakfast we set off for Augathella, a short ride of about 80 kilometres.  The ride was nothing special but did have a few corners adding a little to the experience.  Once at Augathella there were a few hundred bikes waiting to refuel, bugger that we would push on.

 

After a quick coffee break just a little further up the road we were off again. 

 

Tambo, a hundred or so kays up the road is right in the middle of cattle country, although I learned that this was originally sheep country however, the farmers realised that there was more money in cows and less work.  Unfortunately a dry wet season further north had made it hard and farmers were being forced to sell their cattle, the prices have been driven down so much that the farmers can't afford to feed their existing cattle and were forced to sell these, driving the prices down even more.  The road to here was pretty rough and posted signs said to proceed with caution.  It was a bit bumpy but it didn't stop me from dozing off.  I couldn't wait to get to Tambo.

Tambo, a great little town.

Once there I was sort of glad there was a massive line for fuel.  It allowed some time to find somewhere to eat and also experience some of the local community.  It's a very pretty little town withe plenty of traditional Queenslander style buildings.  One being the local post office and telegraph station museum.  It was located in the original building that house the post office.  The lady looking after the place was quick to point out she preferred animals to people, but never the less you couldn't shut her up.

 

Shortly after her painter turned up.  He had had his prostate removed just 6 weeks earlier, and apparently was one of the few men in the town who actually looks after his health.  He was one of the lucky ones, but he was in control of his own luck.  This is exactly what the Long Ride is about.

 

It seems that one of the problems withe communities like this is not the people but perhaps the system and the politicians that run it.  Listening to these two it was clear that perhaps the system might be letting them down too.  There was no local doctor just a health worker who visits the town once per month, if he decides to turn up at all.  The nearest permanent doctor is around one and half hours away in Augathella.  It's even worse for dental treatment,  the nearest dentist is over 4 hours away.

 

The Long Ride is all about raising these sorts of issues, it's a petty that the media doesn't get behind such issues as it does with some of the more media friendly ones.

 

After refuelling the bikes I began to set up my camera and told the others to take off without me.  In this time a caravan with a couple from the Hunter Valley pulled up.  The missus began making lunch while the husband came over for a chat.  We spoke for about 30 minutes about the ride, my travels, their travels and men's health.  I could've spoken all day to him, but had to get going.  Believe it or not, in one of the driest places on earth it looked like it was about to start raining.

Blackall was the first indications of
what Barcaldine might be like.

I set off and deciedd to have a squirt.  Sitting on around 140kph was quite fun and cut the ride to Blackall down considerably.  The problem out here however, is the amount of road trains. Massive 3 trailer trucks, often 50 metres length, coming at you at 110 kph.  The amount of wind coming off them is like hitting a brick wall and can be quite dangerous.  Overtaking them is even worse.

Passing a roadtrain ... like being sucked up through a vacuum
and then shot against a brick wall.  Even worse when they come
the other way.

The ride into Barcaldine was pretty nice as the landscape changed so many times.  When you look at it on Google Maps it's dry and baron, in reality it's nothing like this.  I'd say Google got their satellite images from a southern continent on Mars, not Earth.

 

Not only had I earlier on had a close encounter with a kangaroo but on this section came close to having my head taken off by a wedge tailed eagle.  The giant raptors use the wind off of vehicles to generate list, this was one must have been inexperienced as it wobbled from side to side before coming straight at me.  I ducked and it weaved and we missed each other, I wish the GoPro had captured it all.  Oh well!

 

Barcaldine is a beautiful place.  It still has an old world feel to it yet has managed to retain its

The Knowledge Tree ... an iPhone photo
can't do it justice.

heritage through the use of modern technologies and techniques.  The main street has 5 very classic pubs all next to each other.  They all have accommodation with massive verandas.  On the opposite side of the street is the railway station with the 'Knowledge' tree out the front of it. 

 

Using the original tree, the community has built a beautiful monument to a shearers strike, around 100 years ago, that led to the union movement in Australia.  The shearers would meet under the tree and eventually a number were imprisoned.  This monument is one of the most spectacular that I have ever seen.

 

Directly opposite this is the Artesian Hotel who were so kind to the riders that they essentially opened the pub to us.  The owners of the place are from New Zealand of Maori background and therefore put on a Hungi for us all.  The only problem was too many locals turned up and the food ran out.  Thank god the Girl Guides were running a BBQ across the road.

 

It was at the Artesian that I met a couple from Austria who are in Australia to do the ride and see our country in a very unique way.  The speak very little English, but are loving what they are doing and have decided to follow our small group to make sure they see what we are seeing.

 

The Artesian was such a great pub, I would certainly like top be back one day.  They people were so friendly they even gave us a lift back to the motel. 

 

After a few beers, we went and had a dessert at a cafe up the road that had stayed open for the riders.  These deserts, sorry I had two, a chocolate mousse and a raspberry thing (not sure what it was, but it was great) were both delicious.  The lady who owned the place filled me in on all of the details of the dinosaurs of the area and where we needed to go tomorrow.  I couldn't wait.

 

While today was only a relatively small day we still covered 412 kilometres taking the total to 1911.  There's still quite a way to go.

While at the Artesian we learnt that the total now raised by the Long Ride is over $208,000.  At this rate it could be a record year.

 

Here's something that might make some of you laugh.  I took my helmet off today and rubbed my head, oh Christ, what little hair I have up top seems to be getting rubbed off by my helmet.  Please

hair, hang on.

 

Anyway, tomorrow we are off to see some aeroplanes and a few dinosaurs.