I'm at home now, and I have used up most of my "image allowance". So I'll close with one of my most enduring images. Black Kite. Near Bedourie.

Rob

Ok, I lied. Not quite finished.
I suppose that we all need a little time to reflect and see the major and minor elements.

I was often struck by peoples' surprise regarding the presence of a Harley in such rough country. And why not? I would query.

"After all the first motorbike to travel around Australia was an HD over 80 years ago, two-up and with a sidecar, where few (or no) roads existed."

"Yeah, but...?? "

I do understand.
Rough desert and bush roads are hardly within the common image of Harleys and (God forbid!) not at ALL within the scope of Willie G Davidson.
Not too many sales to be made with Adventure Bike crowd.

And besides they are doing just fine in their traditional markets. I understand that nearly half of the big bike sales in this country last year were Harleys.

So then I got the shock/horror reaction to all those gravel roads being travelled on a belt drive bike. When I got a new tyre fitted in Darwin, the mechanic was aghast to find: " Rob! You have two holes in your drive belt! "
"Actually, old boy, There are 3 holes. Been there for tens of thousands of kilometers. The Birdsville roads did not cause any new ones."

Besides, I didn't add, I carry a spare belt. A relative virgin with only 2 holes. And I carry enough tools to change the belt at the side of the road if necessary.

I might have mentioned my only maintenance hastle of the trip: My left rear shock absorber (Progressive, after market fit) spat out it's oil, and while it continued to work well enough, the oil ended up on the rear brake - and totally stuffed it.
And let me tell you this boys and girls: after such an event, DO NOT spend money on cans of Brake Kleen. Because those pads are screwed. Just buy new ones, clean and roughen up the disc and Ride On.


Then I get the query; "How can you spend all that time on long, straight boring, roads without going mad from boredom. And this is the best bit: Three letters: MP3.

Yes you can listen to truckies swearing at each other if you like that.
I dont. Or you can listen to hours of canned music. Yeeaah I do that some.

But what turns the boredom into enlightement for me is the smorgasbord of internet downloads from the broadcasters. ABC, BBC, CNN.....

My cup runneth over! Science, astronomy, religion, history, philosophy...
My vast overload of kilometres has transmogrified into a nexus of rock-solid conviction.

We are created; not just evolved; and Jesus of Nazareth was exactly what He was claimed to be.
The Son of God. And I'll say no more on this matter.

Rob

Map?
 

Rob,
I love your story & photos. Thanks so much for sharing. As an American who fantasizes about circumnavigating Australia one day, I include a map with an overview of your route. Is it accurate?
Thanks again. - Fabini Moto Fabini Tour

Hi John
No that is not quite the route I travelled to Darwin.I travelled from Caloundra Qld via Quilpie, Windorah, Birdsville, Broken Hill, Camooweal, then Three Ways to Darwin.
And then came the return journey, backtracking to Camooweal, thence to Gregory Downs (the worst 100km) to Cloncurry.
I stayed there for a few days, while waiting for my wife and friends, to ride in the Southern Cross Club's Poker Run.
This took us North to Karumba, Normanton, Croydon, Ravenshoe to Cooktown.
Then South, south, south, to home again in Caloundra. 14 000km in all.

Sorry; cannot show you the map, seems I have used my full credit of 2mb. But you can follow all the place names through on Google Maps.
Rob