Day Two - Bourke NSW

I had a good nights sleep falling asleep after the All Blacks / Argentina match last night. Great being in motels as I get foxtell :)

I left before 9am and made good time to Cobar and then Bourke. I finally got to see the wildlife I was expecting to see up here which I have grown so fond of. Heaps of goats and emus. After our last trip where we saw first hand how stupid a kamakasi emu can be, they have my utter respect and when I see one, the brakes instinctively go on.... Hard!! Unfortunately I saw at least +50 grey and red roos but they were all road kill. I do not ride around dusk and dawn so as to avoid them, but seeing a red roo in flight is gorgeous so I hope to see a few soon. Just hope they aint hopping towards me!!

Griffith is a town full of Harleys. I was told there are many Italians living in the Griffith area and they all have a soft spot for Harleys. So as I was leaving, I came across about 20 at the service station, just finished up filling. Amazing how these country Harley riders are similar to the city. None of them said hi or nodded the usual motorbike nod.

Many years ago, we had a hunting trip near Cobar for goats and pigs but this was the first time I actually made it the town. There is a lookout just before town so I rode up, expecting to see a great vista of the town. Boy was I shocked and my heart stopped a beat when I looked down. Literary straight down.

A huge mining operation. Everything was closed, so you can google what they are mining for :). Very impressive seeing this, but I suspect it is small when compared to other mining ventures further north.

Cobar Twonship in the background [you can double click on the pics for the full version]

For the entire days ride I only overtook one car. Many small roadtrains and the grey brigade heading south but very few going north. 

Below is a pic of a small road train. The driver have a well earned kip.

So after 578kms with plenty of stops and I booked into the Major Mitchell Motel at 4pm. After unpacking the bike, I went for a ride around Bourke. I must say I am very dissapointed. It is picturesque being on the banks of the Darling river, but the town is not much. The main street has the usual shops for a small town, but every shop is boarded up. Seriously the night life here must be VERY entertaining. I was going to write this blog in the pub with a beer or 3, but thought rather than walking the 1-2 km's each way with a laptop, I thought I better do it at the motel, outside enjoying the motels owner small dog bark and bark.

Karen / Phil - you will appreciate the pics below. Griffith has a great outdoor  public gym area.

 

Pic of an orange orchard with trees full of fruit just left to rot as they are worthless.

Finally pics below are of the Darling River at Bourke. They were taken from the Bourke Wharf which they rebuilt several years ago to the same blueprint as it was a few hundred years ago. 

 It's going on 6pm, so its walking to the pub for an ale or 3 and dinner. My bike has been stripped of all its valuables, just in case.

Enjoy

RP