The Slightly Modified Adventure (30th May - 2nd June 2007)
It turns out that some of Sam's parts required for repairs are not available anywhere worldwide! Already the Austrian manufacturer of our machines has a bit to answer for, this would never happen with a Japanese bike.
We made the decision to hit the road minus Sam on the Saturday morning, we'd been in Rockhampton for a full four days with no resolution and it didn't sound as though we'd find out any more until the following Tuesday. It was a tough moment leaving Sam behind but chasing down Lee and Chris so we could at least have a bit of an adventure whilst Sam had his bike sorted out was the right decision.
Saturday was a hard blast up to Mackay to get our off-road tyres fitted before the shop closed. When we arrived with only about three quarters of an hour before the workshop closed the manager called us in to use the workshop to remove the wheels so his boys could fit the new tyres and tubes. That manager turned out to be a guy I "almost" knew! He was posted to Richmond in the RAAF for the same time as I was there, and was an ex-CISCON, the trade/mustering in the RAAF that works hand in hand with my old trade. We knew all the same people, worked only about 30 meters for each other, and I definitely remember his name used in conversation in the past. Once the connection was made he did a great job of looking after us, he fitted both Scott's and my tyres for free, and Scott didn't even buy them from him. A top bloke!
We had some lunch and continued up to Bowen(wood). Bowen is the location of a Hugh Jackman/Nicole Kidman movie being filmed. The locals had painted Bowenwood on the tanks that sit above the town. I don't think the Bowen(wood) has the same population or socioeconomic standing as Hollywood, but it is definitely a lovely spot, and getting a campsite was a nightmare.
A quick nip up to Flagstaff Hill to see the view and a look at the big Mango and we were ready to set up camp.
We discovered that Lee only made it to Cardwell so the moving target was getting closer!
We made the decision to hit the road minus Sam on the Saturday morning, we'd been in Rockhampton for a full four days with no resolution and it didn't sound as though we'd find out any more until the following Tuesday. It was a tough moment leaving Sam behind but chasing down Lee and Chris so we could at least have a bit of an adventure whilst Sam had his bike sorted out was the right decision.
Saturday was a hard blast up to Mackay to get our off-road tyres fitted before the shop closed. When we arrived with only about three quarters of an hour before the workshop closed the manager called us in to use the workshop to remove the wheels so his boys could fit the new tyres and tubes. That manager turned out to be a guy I "almost" knew! He was posted to Richmond in the RAAF for the same time as I was there, and was an ex-CISCON, the trade/mustering in the RAAF that works hand in hand with my old trade. We knew all the same people, worked only about 30 meters for each other, and I definitely remember his name used in conversation in the past. Once the connection was made he did a great job of looking after us, he fitted both Scott's and my tyres for free, and Scott didn't even buy them from him. A top bloke!
We had some lunch and continued up to Bowen(wood). Bowen is the location of a Hugh Jackman/Nicole Kidman movie being filmed. The locals had painted Bowenwood on the tanks that sit above the town. I don't think the Bowen(wood) has the same population or socioeconomic standing as Hollywood, but it is definitely a lovely spot, and getting a campsite was a nightmare.
A quick nip up to Flagstaff Hill to see the view and a look at the big Mango and we were ready to set up camp.
We discovered that Lee only made it to Cardwell so the moving target was getting closer!
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