Started off today feeling very angry. Looking around as we travelled from Singleton to Muswellbrook we passed mile after mile of the environmental disaster being created as they mine coal for the power stations. Absolutely disgraceful in this day and age, with the technology available that they continue to rape the country chasing coal. 

As we travelled north towards Glen Innes we finally saw how the countryside should look. Beautiful rolling hills and green paddocks dotted with cattle. Interestingly protest signs against mining are quite common on farm fences north of Muswellbrook.

I have concluded that the northern ranges are some of the coldest parts of the country. Really glad to have a winter jacket and heated grips. Just after Armidale the rain started and followed us right through to Tenterfield. Looking forward to finding some warmer weather as we head into Queensland. 

1st day of our next big trip

Lessons learned today. First a trip to Crookwell for lunch is not enough to prepare for dragging a trailer along the Putty Road. Absolutely exhausted. Secondly we need to leave earlier and get to our destination before dark. 

After a late start ( almost 10am) we did the boarding cruise up the doom highway. Awful road and a very strong wind. The Northern road was a slight improvement and as I had sworn on our last trip to Sydney, no tolls. The Putty road was not as scarey as I remembered though still hard work with a loaded trailer. Finally arrived in Singleton after dark and Kerry drew the short straw and stayed at the campsite putting up the tent while I went foreiging for food. Pizza and beer hit the spot. No photos today as basically nowhere to stop when there was something interesting to photograph. Hoping to make Teneterfield tomorrow 

Great day today. Did the whole Great Ocean Road from Warnambool right through to Geelong, then a nice quiet trip across from Queenscliffe to Sorrento on the ferry. Not long now till we get home. Kind of sad in one way but looking forward to seeing everyone and sleeping in our own bed

Great ride today from Kingston (home of the Big Lobster) to Warnambool. Great roads through beautiful coastal scenery and forests. Lunch at Mt Gambier followed by a quick trip to have a look at Blue Lake, which was actually looking quite blue. Tomorrow the Great Ocean road. Just hope the weather warms up a little - maximum today was only 17 degrees and with the wind it felt much colder. I had the heated grips on all day and even Kerry was feeling cold

Things didn't quite go as planned yesterday. We had hoped to go from Woomera to Semaphore a beach side area near Adelaide, however we ended up staying to the north at Elizabeth. No real problems, we made Port Augusta before lunch time, which completed the loop. When we got to the intersection of the Stuart and Eyre Highways again I suggested going round again, but Kerry didn't think it was a good idea. Guess we will have to go back home and go to work to pay for the next trip.

We lefty Port Augusta and travelled via Horrocks pass through the edge of te Flinder's Rangers and into the Clare Valley area. A beautiful part of the world and very different to what we had got used to through the centre. Lots of twisty roads and mountains and lots of big trees. I became aware that things were not right with my front tyre. At first I thought it was just the rough road but when we pulled into a motel in Elizabeth to escape the peak hour traffic I discovered that the tyre was seriously work down one side. Just as well we had decided to stop rather than press on to Semaphore.

A couple of calls this morning and I was able to find a bike shop not too far away that had a front tyre and they were able to fit it this morning. I eventually decided that a new rear tyre was also called for and this was also replace. Not very impressed with Perelli tyres. The original Bridgestones travelled 17000km. The Perellis that I replaced today had barely done 10000km. Needless to say I got Bridgestones again.

New tyres fitted we headed off to Murray Bridge for lunch. This also gave me a chance to scrubb off the new tyres a bit on the freeway. After lunch we headed down the Currong to Kingston SE. Nice twisty road with some beautiful scenery. Tomorrow we head to Mt Gambier and then hopefully Warnambool for the night before the Great Ocean road. The original plan was to then come over the Great Alpine way. I am however having second thoughts as it is getting cold and we only have summer jackets and limited winter clothes. Its a bit of a shock to the system riding in temperatures of 18 degrees after the heat of the north.