Day out

[Cormanus]

It was an OK day Down Under yesterday. Temperatures in the high 20°-low 30°s Celsius with threats of rain that never really materialised—at least where I happened to be. I did see evidence from time to time that I'd just missed a fall. I was jealous of Pterodactyl heading south to Phillip Island as I'd been unable to make the trek south to join him. So, by way of consolation, I thought to take myself for a ride.

[url=https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zwzS5Q1Lo7Yk.k0H4SXFTqZJc]

Point E on the map (which you see in all its exquisite detail by clicking on it) is also Point A and, therefore, start and finish point. I did the ride anticlockwise, thereby starting along one of my favourite roads to Kin Kin and from there to Gympie. From Gympie it's a pleasant ride through Glastonbury and Widgee until you join the Wide Bay Highway (route 49). It's then pretty straight and not all that interesting a ride to Kilkivan.

I don't know what it is about Kilkivan, but I never find it very enjoyable. It doesn't look it in this photo, but it's usually hot and dry and altogether unappetising. As it was yesterday when I made a comfort stop.



From Kilkivan, the road took me to Goomeri where I turned south. It was interesting to me that, although I was not all that far inland, the landscape was a great deal drier than on the coast.

On the way I passed one of those palindromic and symmetrical milestones.



I had planned to cut off the south-west corner of the ride by taking a road through Jimna, but when I got onto it the sign told me there was 88 kms of gravel to be dealt with. I'm not averse to gravel, but it was near to lunch time; my blood sugar was down and I wasn't sure where I'd get a meal or fuel on the way through; and the prospect of having to travel as slowly as the gravel would require put me off. I turned around at point C resolved to make an earlier start and ride the road some time as it looked attractive enough and I'm hoping the southern stretch will be sealed and an OK ride. Perhaps the trick will be to approach Jimna from the south one day and see how it looks.

Seduced by a sign, I then took a detour into Lake Barambah (no point letter—how did that happen) which promised food. The kiosk/bait shop at the lake very dreary. My low blood sugar was making me so cranky. So I pushed on. The trip to Nanango was given extra spice by not being completely certain I'd have enough fuel to get there. Of course, the CB always goes a bit further on a tank than I expect.

At Nanango I filled up with petrol and found a bakery where I could find coffee and that great Australian delicacy—the meat pie slathered with tomato sauce (ketchup). No one could see me so I had an entirely unnecessary apple turnover. A bakery whose wall looks like this has to appeal to a rider.



There are some nice bits of road from Nanango to Kilcoy, although by the standards of the Sunshine Coast hinterland they're not spectacular. From Kilcoy to just after Stanmore is also fairly ordinary, although it's quick and could be fun if you were prepared to risk a speeding ticket. At the end of the flat, the road twists delightfully up the hill until you turn left onto the Maleney-Stanley River Road, about which I've written before. It twists happily up hill and I love it.

At the top, I turned left down the narrow, windy, slow Postman's Track. It has these marvellous signposted 'Dips' from in you could easily bottom out the suspension before becoming airborne were you so inclined. I'm not. So they work well to keep my speed low. But they're worth negotiating because at the bottom of the hill, where it becomes Ahern's Road, the road's well sealed, narrow, largely traffic free and good fun. Every now and again I find a bit which punctures the bubble of my illusion that I'm Marc Marquez. Most definitely I'm not.

My route then took me through a glorious twisty stretch into Kennilworth, another glorious (but too short) twisty stretch on the other side and through attractive country side back to the main highway. At one point, on the Tuchekoi Road I actually saw cattle grazing in grass so long I could just see the top of their backs.

I'd hoped to avoid the main highway, but I was again pushing the fuel envelope and decided on a route that would get me home without risk. The reward is the delightful (but short) set of twisties immediately off the main highway and up and over the hill to Pomona.

440 kms or therebaouts and a pleasant day out. I'm glad I remembered to put the AirHawk on; dang* that seat's uncomfortable after a while.


*Almost no self-respecting Australian would say 'dang'; we'd go for 'd#mn' or 'bloody he#l...or ... never mind ... but I keep getting caught by the forum unacceptable language detector.