zzOz blog: zig zag across Oz

A blog with tales from zig-zagging eastwards back across Australia from Perth to Melbourne via various obscure Outback roads on a magnificent old hardtail mountain bike.

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The man has a plan: those who know me, don't laugh too much

Cape to Cape to Prom map

The same vague “rules” as that westward leg of the Little Adventure apply:

Avoid the highways

It’s about the journey, not the destination

Don’t rush

Make a Moderate Effort

I sense there may be more than just the average level of Moderate Effort required.

zzOz blog begins here

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The rest of the blog


Training: that whole preparation regime



Oh, no! a little procrastination: ie postponement of departure



Might be going later, rather than sooner: but being an independent type, I'm going solar



Weight problems: looks like a severe diet is called for



Decisions made, people informed: date shuffled, finally fixed



Mountains, mountains, mountains: and I haven't even left the bedroom



Day 1 | Near Bullsbrook: 50km an hour winds make for a slow start



Day 2 | Lower Chittering: but it's actually at the top of a hill



Day 3 | 10km past Toodyay: it's been an up, up, down and up sort of day



Day 4 | Avon River near York: sometimes you just happen on an OK campsite



Day 5 | York Williams Road: hey! back on the dirt



Day 6 | Stuck in the same forest again: why move when it's coming down?



Day 7 | Congelin Dam: didn't quite expect it to be an old 4.25 million gallon capacity railway relic



Day 8 | Williams Collie road: just a sort of nowhere much camp



Day 9 | Williams Collie road: just a bit further on



Day 10 | On the road to Donnybrook: more obscure roads in the south west WA



Day 11 | Jarrahwood: been here so often, almost feels like going home



Day 12 | Jarrahwood again: hanging around, just like those roos



Day 13 | Dunsborough: down at the Indian Ocean again



Day 14 | Near Margaret River: but not being detained in so many wineries this time round



Day 15 | Point Road campsite: deep in the heart of Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park



Day 16 | Point Road campsite: waiting for the predicted cold front to hit



Day 17 | Glenarty Road, past Augusta: Stage One knocked off after 17 days



Day 18 | Coronation Road: a 2km granny cog hill climb to complete the day's riding



Day 19 | Muir Highway: 2 hours past Manjimup



Day 20 | Muir Highway: with a rainbow over the Frankland River



Day 21 | Nornalup Road: deep in Frankland River National Park



Day 22 | Nornalup Road: sitting still, reading a book as the rain comes, mostly, down 



Day 23 | Cosy Corner Beach: and cosy indeed with the rain coming down



Day 24 | Albany backpackers: What's that? A bed?



Day 25 | Albany backpackers: 3 nights for cost of 2, lucky 



Day 26 | Chester Pass Road: not quite to Stirling Range National Park



Day 27 | Jerramungup Road rest area: Hey, that's a different rest area on successive nights



Day 28 | Unnamed lake near Lake Pingrup: 10 km past the locality Pingrup, if you were wondering



Day 29 | Lake Grace North Road: day's riding cut short by, well, a few things



Day 30 | Near Hyden: almost out into the badlands



Day 31 | Near The Humps: a day of running around on granite rocks of the large variety 



Day 32 | More Humps: on the 7th day he rested 



Day 33 | Near Narembeen: been there, done that 



Day 34 | Merredin, Central Wheat Belt: one look in the mirror, time for some hot water 



Day 35 | Sandford Rocks: yeah, more of these lumps 



Day 36 | Baladjie Rock: Oh, trouble, trouble, trouble on the track 



Day 37 | Baladjie Rock: contemplation time 



Day 38 | Baladjie Rock: Rule 3 applied, Don't Rush 



Day 39 | Southern Cross: the whole road show hobbles into town, back wheel wobbly 



Day 40 | Retreat to Perth: the occasional breakdown can bring a surprising day 



Day 41 | Perth: getting a few things done, and off my chest 



Day 42 | Lake Koorkoordine: actually not so far from Southern Cross 



Day 43 | Chiddarcooping Hill: that's in Chiddacooping Nature Reserve 



Day 44 | Elachbutting rock: not quite as remote as expected 



Day 45 | Wialki: the tent fly's up in the doorless, abandoned, primary school 



Day 46 | Beacon, yes that's a township: still haven't seemed to get going 



Day 47 | Dalwallinu Kalannie Road: Finally found some roadside shrubbery 



Day 48 | Buntine Rocks: actually a tiny rock with great views on the top of a hill 



Day 49 | Caron Nature Reserve: I'm starting to find a certain affinity with the NR 



Day 50 | Pintharuka Rest Area: no nature reserves around tonight 



Day 51 | Canna Nature Reserve: about, err, 50km short of today's objective 



Day 52 | Wilroy Nature Reserve: raining or a cloudless sky, who can predict 



Day 53 | Near Pindaring Rocks: out on the Carnarvon Mullewa Road, ie, starting to get remote



Day 54 | Ballinyoo Bridge, Murchison River: the river might be flowing, but you don't need to salt your porridge



Day 55 | Murchison Settlement caravan park: the patch of grass out behind the roadhouse 



Day 56 | Near Breberie Lake: out on the Carnarvon Mullewa Road 



Day 57 | Bilung Pool, North Wooramel River: meeting place for raucous parrots 



Day 58 | Bilung Pool: Paradise, I made it 



Day 59 | Bilung Pool again: Water, silence, well of a kind when you shut out the continual parrot racket 



Day 60 | Congo Creek: it might be the Congo but, surprise, there's absolutely no water 



Day 61 | Jimba Jimba Station: somewhere out on the Carnarvon Mullewa Road 



Day 62 | Rocky Pool: the pool is more akin to a lake 



Day 63 | More Rocky Pool: a day perched on the edge of the water 



Day 64 | Carnarvon: down on Olivia Street 



Day 65 | Carnarvon again: and for a while more, here in Paradise 



Day 67 | Carnarvon Day 3: and still a few more days hanging around 



Day 68 | Carnarvon Day 4: gee, 4 days already, I feel I just got here 



Day 69 | Where else? Carnarvon: finding other things to do 



Day 73 | Last night in Carnarvon: enjoy that mattress boy 



Day 74 | Boologooro Station, North west Coastal Highway: another evening, another bushcamp 



Day 75 | Tropic of Capricorn Exmouth Road: he's finally gone troppo 



Day 76 | Coral Bay backpackers: actually the Ningaloo Reef Resort 



Day 77 | Ningaloo Beach Resort: if it's an upmarket backpackers why are those showers briny 



Day 78 | Ningaloo Beach Resort: just, sort of, hanging out really 



Day 79 | Ningaloo Beach Resort again: my world turns to salt 



Day 80 | Near the top, bottom?, of the Exmouth Gulf: back out in the bushes 



Day 81 | Near Charles Knife Road: just down on the beach, 25km from Exmouth 



Day 82 | Blue Reef Backpackers: a room to myself tonight, just "pretend" you snore loudly 



Day 83 | Yardie Homestead Caravan Park: he takes the easy option and checks in to paid accommodation



Day 84 | Yardie Homestead Caravan Park: tootling down the coast for the day 



Day 85 | More Yardie Homestead Caravan Park: gunna be hard to leave the beachcomber lifestyle 



Day 86 | Yardie Homestead Caravan Park: another perfect day 



Day 88 | Yardie Homestead Caravan Park: just bogged down here in Paradise 



Day 89 | Yardie Homestead Caravan Park: yes, another day 



Day 90 | Back to Exmouth: just breezing it in 



Day 91 | On the shore of the Exmouth Gulf: Finally making tracks for the interior 



Day 92 | Girala Station, Burkett Road: holiday over, the real journey begins 



Day 93 | Emu Creek Station, Towera Road: finding a spot to camp in the spinifex in a drainage channel



Day 94 | Lyndon Station, out on the Lyndon Towera Road: another bush camp watching a beautiful orange sunset 



Day 95 | Mangaroon Station, Lyndon Minnie Creek Road: just a solitary other traveller encountered today out on the road 



Day 96 | Lyons River, on the Cobra Gifford Creek Road: might be a river but don't think there's any water 



Day 97 | Mt Augustus Station: and just over there, ie, 25 km away, that mountain 



Day 98 | Cattle Pool, Mt Augustus National Park: those No Camping signs only refer to caravans, right? 



Day 99 | Cattle Pool again: and on the 9th Day he rested 



Day 100 | Mt Augustus Station, Landor Mt Augustus Road: that's if I'm not blown back to Kansas 



Day 101 | Landor Station, Landor Mt Augustus Road: more encounters with flies and ants



Day 102 | Mt Gould Police Station: I'll point out it's a historic building no longer operational 



Day 103 | Belele Station bush camp: I finally find an ant free campsite 



Day 104 | Meekatharra Caravan Park: all night lights, road trains rattling past, dogs barking 



Day 105 | MCP: he puts his feet up after spending time washing them 



Day 106 | MCP: starting to warm up



Day 107 | Barlangi Rock, Meekatharra Sandstone Road: What? Camping at another one of those rocks 



Day 108 | Lake Mason Station, Meekatharra Sandstone Road: camping out in the Goldfields once again 



Day 109 | Depot Springs, Agnew Sandstone Road: just a fun afternoon out on the highway 



Day 110 | Leinster Caravan Park: back in some old familiar territory 



Day 111 | Leinster Caravan Park once again: the laziest day in living memory 



Day 112 | Near Sullivans Creek, Goldfields Highway: just a day plugging along the tarmac 



Day 113 | Malcolm Dam, near Leonora: finally striking out due east 



Day 114 | Leonora Laverton Road bushcamp: you just use one of those minor tracks off the side of the road 



Day 115 | Deba gnamma (rock) hole: after a slight diversion to Laverton 



Day 116 | The Pines: not actually pines of course, they are Casuarinas 



Day 117 | No particular place on the Great Central Road: a short day was called 



Day 118 | Beegull Rockholes and caves: well almost, camped on the old road nearby 



Day 119 | Another night, another gravel pit: who cares when the weather is great and the campsite A1 



Day 120 | Tjukayirla Roadhouse: well, across the road to save $20 



Near Parallel No 1 Road, Great Central Road: but might be closer to Parallel No 2 Road



Day 121 | Near Baker Lake turnoff: not that many vehicles appear to choose that route



Day 122 | Near the Heather Highway turnoff: I'm getting to like camping on bits of old road



Day 123 | Elder Creek bushcamp: yes, it's really a creek, it's even flowing 



Day 124 | Warburton Caravan Park: not so far today 



Day 125 | More Warburton: hey, civilisation isn't so bad after all 



Day 126 | Another gravel pit: no other distinguishing features anywhere close 



Day 127 | Another gravel pit, near Tjulun Waterhole: you might want to know 



Day 128 | 36 km from Warrakurna Roadhouse: just a stroll in tomorrow 



Warrakurna Roadhouse: Yeah, time for another shower



Day 129 | Giles Creek, I think: a (dry) creek and distant hills, finally



Day 130 | Edging closer to the border: the weather closes in



Day 131 | Lasseter's Cave, at least nearby: He's finally left WA



Day 132 | Somewhere past Irving Creek: looks like I'm beyond where Lassiter died back in 1931



Day 133 | 6 km outside the National Park: that's Uluru-Kata Tjuta NP



Day 134 | Yulara campground: civilisation makes its appearance 



Day 135 | Yulara Campground: time for a break 



Day 136 | Yulara Campground: one more day before the road 



Day 137 | Lasseter Highway, Mulga Park Road turnoff: fences both sides doesn't make for easy camping 



Day 138 | Near some Red Bluff, Luritja Road: better get those wet things dry 



Day 139 | Watarrka National Park Boundary: hey, that's an old familiar campsite 



Day 140 | Kings Canyon Resort campground: it's not supposed to be raining like this, ie, continuously



Day 141 | Larapinta Drive, somewhere in the gloom: rain, rain, more rain 



Day 142 | Larapinta Drive, a bit further: now I remember the Mereenie Loop 



Day 143 | Near Gosse Bluff: is that the pitta, patta of rain on the tent? 



Day 144 | Ridgetop campground, Redbank Gorge: that's in the West MacDonnell National Park



Day 145 | Ridgetop campground again: a day off, time for a walk up a hill 



Day 146 | Ellery Big Hole camping ground, WMNP: back to the best swimming south of Buley Rockholes 



Day 147 | Alice: time for a break 



Day 152 | Alice: sliding into the civilisation groove 



Day 170 | A day trip to an Alice tourist sight: time for a quickish spin on the bike 



Day 176 | Floating around in Alice: I'm getting to like the sniff of this town



Day 199 | On the move, just around the corner: silence is golden 



Day 204 | End of the year: the wheel turns, sort of 



Day 247 | Midway through my time in Alice: a working bike but more replacement bits required 



Day 261 | passing the days in Alice: just getting stuck into the muck



Day 267 | Surprises keep coming: the long awaited Wiggle parcels arrive 



Day 272 | Getting to grips with Alice: only 4 more weeks of work, yippee 



Day 281 | Off to the source: a short trip to the actual springs, ie, Alice Springs 



Day 288 | Out into the light: preparing for departure 



Day 292 | Back training: but do I really need to practise night riding? 



Day 299 | Wallaby Gap: marching off on the Larapinta 



Day 300 | Simpson's Gap: been here a few times in recent months 



Day 301 | Mulga Camp: out on my lonesome again 



Day 302 | Jay Creek: cooking by gas 



Day 303 | More Jay Creek: rest those feet 



Day 304 | Stanley Chasm: looks more impressive from the top 



Day 305 | Brinkley Bluff: on top of the world 



Day 306 | Birthday Waterhole: another OK campsite



Day 307 | Fringed Lily Creek: some company tonight 



Day 308 | Hugh Gorge campsite: beaut day after the rain. 



Day 309 | Rocky Gully campsite: a relaxing arvo after a longish walk 



Day 310 | Ellery Creek Big Hole: end of the Larapinta for me 



Day 311 | Back in Alice: a few days before blast off 



Day 314 | Last day in Alice: finally 



Day 315 | riding days can have a few surprises: sometimes not good



Day 318 | Bluff campsite, Trephina Gorge: finally on my way 



Day 319 | Bluff campsite: climb every mountain 



Day 320 | Bluff campsite: yeah, still here 



Day 321 | 5 km past Arltunga: on the road to Ambalindum 



Day 322 | Near The Garden: no Cattlewater Pass for you, sonny 



Day 323 | Ongeva Creek: Yay, finally made the Plenty Highway 



Day 324 | Entire Creek: entire, except for the water 



Day 325 | First Up Bore: the neighbours, cows, are a little rowdy 



Day 326 | Somewhere near Mt Cornish: not many landmarks here 



Day 327 | Algamba Creek: water, but not many miles 



Day 328 | Some unknown bore: just past Heartbreak Bore 



Day 329 | Just over the Queensland border: so long NT 



Day 330 | Near Pituri Creek crossing: another cloudless day 



Day 331 | Georgina River crossing: yeah, that's actual water down there 



Day 332 | Georgina River again: feet up day 



Day 333 | Waterhole 35km from Boulia: Noisy joint actually 



Day 334 | Boulia Caravan Park: down on the Burke River 



Day 336 | Hamilton Hotel ruins: the generator drones on 



Day 337 | Chilton Hills Station: out on my lonesome 



Day 338 | Mackunda Creek: nice stretch of waterhole 



Day 339 | 18 km from Lark Quarry: almost Dinosaurland 



Day 340 | 40 km north of Lark Quarry: Dinosaurs! 



Day 341 | Long Waterhole, Winton: I'm Waltzing Matilda 



Day 342 | Long Waterhole, Winton: Full of bull 



Day 344 | Pelican Caravan Park, Winton: Pelican? Wot the … 



Day 345 | Corfield Sports Club: great free campsite 



Day 346 | Warianna Creek: camped behind the only bush for miles 



Day 347 | Allan Terry Caravan Park: that's Hughenden 



Day 348 | Allan Terry Caravan Park: it's raining finally 



Day 350 | Pyramid campsite: out in Porcupine National Park 



Day 351 | Louisa Lake, Hann Highway: nice 



Day 352 | Unnamed creek: somewhere past Bundock Creek 



Day 353 | Near Lava Plains Station: where's the tropical part of Tropical North Queensland 



Day 354 | Travellers Rest CP: that's Mt Garnet 



Day 355 | Herberton/Atherton turnoff: via the back road, obviously 



Day 356 | Ray's place, Speewah: hills, rain, fog 



Day 357 | Ray's Place, Speewah: on the verandah actually 



Day 359 | Ray's Place: exercise of the on foot variety 



Day 360 | Some Cairns backpacker: it's got bike parking 



Day 361 | Some Cairns backpacker: let's get that bike fixed 



Day 362 | Some Cairns backpacker: the years go by 



Day 363 | Some Cairns backpacker: the people you meet 



Day 367 | Some Cairns backpacker: last night in civilisation 



Day 368 | Dougies, Port Douglas: Gee, those tents are packed in 



Day 369 | Dougies, Port Douglas: jungle in the town 



Day 370 | Dougies, Port Douglas: yeah, another day here 



Day 371 | Wonga Beach: just sorta nestled in by the beach 



Day 372 | PKs Jungle Resort, Cape Tribulation: well, why not? 



Day 373 | PKs Jungle Resort, Cape Tribulation: climb every mountain 



Day 374 | Weary Beach: yeah, well named 



Day 375 | Cooktown Caravan Park: but don't expect to use any power, sonny 



Day 376 | 3 km past Endeavour Falls: bush camping behind that long grass 



Day 376 | Starcke Station homestead: well, sort of 



Day 377 | Starcke River bushcamp: now this is getting plenty wild



Day 378 | Almost at Howick River: no water there anyway 



Day 379 | Near Old Kalpowar: a day of two halves 



Day 380 | Hann River crossing: no crocs in evidence here 



Day 381 | Musgrave roadhouse: finally joined the mainstream 



Day 382 | Musgrave roadhouse: first rest day for 10 or 12 



Day 383 | Stewart River crossing: out alone for once 



Day 384 | Exchange Hotel campsite, Coen: just down by the creek 



Day 385 | Archer River roadhouse: more company for the evening 



Day 386 | Wenlock River bushcamp: actually a billabong nearby 



Day 387 | Approaching Iron Range National Park: another bush camp 



Day 388 | Cooks Hut campsite: in the Iron Range National Park 



Day 389 | Cooks Hut, Iron Range, NP: but been out and around 



Day 390 | Pascoe River crossing: now that's a crossing 



Day 391 | Wenlock River crossing: still on Frenchmans Track 



Day 392 | Bramwell Junction roadhouse: with that night time generator pulse 



Day 393 | Dulhunty River crossing: terrific campsite next to the water 



Day 394 | Cockatoo Creek campsite: another day of 4WD action 



Day 395 | Sam Creek crossing: Jardine River National Park 



Day 396 | Jardine River, south side: a day watching hi-jinks 



Day 397 | Jardine River again: no hurry when the shops are closed 



Day 398 | Jackey Jackey Creek campsite: last solitary night for a while 



Day 399 | Alau Beach so this is Paradise 



Day 400 | Alau Beach: ain't moving 



Day 401 | Alau Beach: fishy times 



Day 402 | Alau Beach: Paradise? Almost 



Day 403 | Punsand Bay: heading to The Tip 



Day 404 | Punsand Bay: but now heading to Wilsons Prom 



Day 405 | Bamaga: picked up by Andi and Susie 



Day 406 | Bamaga: slipping in some island tourism for the day 



Day 407 | Back to the Jardine River: out alone for once 



Day 408 | Sam Creek again: but a nicer campsite this time 



Day 409 | Cockatoo Creek again: and the music's pumping 



Day 410 | Bertie Creek, Telegraph Track: finally on my lonesome again 



Day 411 | 25 km from Moreton Telegraph Station: surprise, it's a gravel pit 



Day 412 | Rocky Creek: off on another side track, way off 



Day 413 | Pascoe River crossing: although not the usual tourist campsite 



Day 414 | Wenlock River: actually right next to the water 



Day 415 | 50 km from Coen: on a bumpy road 



Day 416 | Coen camping: not the pub this time 



Day 417 | 20 km from Musgrave: what a beautiful day 



Day 418 | Nifold Plain: back here in Lakefield National Park 



Day 419 | Old Faithful waterhole: Normanby River, Lakefield National Park 



Day 420 | 10 km past Laura: finally off the dirt 



Day 421 | Lakeland Caravan Park: hills, wind and someone's burning off 



Day 422 | Spring Creek: just out in the middle of not much 



Day 423 | Billabong near Lake Mitchell: civilisation beckons 



Day 424 | Finally to Ray's place: little circuit to the north complete 



Day 430 | Having a few days, a week, at Ray's: a big trip into Cairns 



Day 435 | Tobacum Telephone exchange: mown grass, why not? 



Day 436 | 4 Mile Creek: out on the Burke Development Road 



Day 437 | Chillagoe Eco Park: time for a shower 



Day 438 | Elizabeth Creek, Wrotham Park Station: a fine body of water 



Day 439 | Lynd River: a campsite right next to the water 



Day 440 | More Lynd River: with a campsite like this, what's the hurry 



Day 441 | somewhere on Dunbar Station: halfway along the Burke Development Road 



Day 442 | Mentana Creek: as good a spot as any 



Day 443 | Gilbert River: perched high above the waterhole 



Day 444 | Gilbert River: a day watching the crocs 



Day 445 | Walker Creek: it's quiet here, so far 



Day 446 | Karumba: time for some food and a shower 



Day 447 | Aye Karumba!! Time out called 



Day 448 | Even more Karumba! can't have too much 



Day 449 | Back to Walker Creek: been here before 



Day 450 | Burke and Wills Camp 119: but I'm not intending their fate 



Day 451 | Another waterhole: somewhere on the Wills Development Road 



Day 452 | Millars Creek: after a bumpy old day 



Day 453 | Burketown: the best little caravan park around 



Day 454 | Near Nicholson River: out on the Savannah Highway 



Day 455 | Somewhere out there: quite remote 



Day 456 | Lawn Hill Creek: never a dull time 



Day 457 | Middle Gorge campsite: Boodjamulla National Park



Day 458 | Boodjamulla again: a 'rest day' spent walking 



Day 459 | Miyumba Bush Camp: down near the Gregory River 



Day 460 | Near Thornton River: except there ain't no water 



Day 461 | Almost to the Barkly Highway: end of the dirt 



Day 462 | 30 km from Mt Isa: just next to the old road 



Day 463 | The famous Mt Isa: civilisation, of a sort 



Day 468 | Mt Isa for a while: where would you rather be? 



Day 470 | Near Yappo Creek: on a farm track near the road 



Day 471 | Dajarra roadside stop: why not stay here? 



Day 472 | Limestone Creek: what? more shooting? 



Day 473 | Back to Boulia: but not much has changed 



Day 474 | Boulia: a cold, wet, Grand Final day



Day 475 | Hillary Floodplain: basically just out nowhere 



Day 476 | 40 km north of Bedourie: out on the plains 



Day 477 | Just south of the Windorah turnoff: on the side of the road



Day 478 | 70 km north of Birdsville: still out nowhere



Day 479 | Birdsville: hey, that wasn't so bad 



Day 480 | Birdsville: with the feet up 



Day 481 | Blue Ute Bore: out on the Birdsville Track 



Day 482 | Damperanie Creek: nice spot, hunh?



Day 483 | Mt Gason Creek: with swarms of small black ants 



Day 484 | Kirrawadinna Creek: just over halfway 



Day 485 | Mungeranie Pub: OK, I succumbed 



Day 486 | Windy Mungeranie: howl, oh howl, you beast 



Day 487 | Coopers Creek: but not the official campsite 



Day 488 | Clayton Wetlands: I'm now official 



Day 489 | Marree: no internet, so it's not civilisation 



Day 490 | Just north of Copley: found a great spot 



Day 491 | Leigh Creek Caravan Park: even lounge chairs here 



Day 493 | Leigh Creek Caravan Park: good for 3 nights



Day 494 | Parachilna Gorge: near, but not under, humungous Red Gums 



Day 495 | Bulls Pass Track: back on the Mawson Trail 



Day 496 | Middlesight Water Hut: yup, the Hilton, just no service



Day 497 | Wilpena: back here again



Day 498 | Wilpena: the Eternal Return         



Day 499 | Wilpena: plentiful wildlife around



Day 500 | 35 km NW of Hawker: another creek bed 



Day 501 | Almost to Hawker: "Holy Smoke" film camp 



Day 502 | Near Death Rock: guess what? another creek bed



Day 503 | Warren Gorge: rockhopper territory



Day 504 | 12 km north of Wilmington: still on the Mawson 



Day 505 | Melrose: over in the "bush camp" area 



Day 507 | Wirrabara Forest: didn't quite make it to the official campsite 



Day 508 | Bundaleer Forest: are those lights just down there? 



Day 509 | Bundaleer Channel: hey, this campsite looks familiar 



Day 510 | Hallett Railway Station: 2nd time around these parts 



Day 511 | Hallett Railway Station: still waiting for the train 



Day 512 | Old Mt Bryan East schoolhouse: even a free mattress 



Day 513 | More hills, views, and, err, hill climbs as I head to Burra



Day 516 | Burra: the prettiest little town in South Australia 



Day 517 | Sevenhill picnic area: sound familiar?



Day 518 | Rhynie Railway Station shelter: why not stop here? 



Day 519 | Hill past Kapunda Rifle Range: but not in the firing line 



Day 520 | 2 km north of Nuriootpa: looks pretty quiet 



Day 521 | Near Steingarten vineyard: overlooking the Barossa 



Day 522 | Near Birdwood: on the side of an unused parallel road 



Day 523 | Dropping down to Adelaide: way down there 



Day 528 | At Mary's in Adelaide: feet up 



Day 536 | At Mary's: getting that old bike ready 



Day 537 | At Mary's: don't think I like the sound of my voice



Day 539 | Onkaparinga Recreation Park: just out of the suburbs 



Day 540 | Basham Beach Regional Park: I can hear the surf 



Day 541 | Currency Creek: tucked away at the back of the picnic area 



Day 542 | Wellington: that's South Australia, not New Zealand 



Day 543 | Near, but not at, Greenings Landing: Murray River 



Day 544 | 10 km north of Blanchetown: on the dirt road side 



Day 545 | Near Lock 2: in a roadside rest area 



Day 546 | Heron Bend Reserve: finally camping out by the river 



Day 547 | Herons Bend Reserve: again 



Day 548 | Lyrup Flats, Murray River NP: plenty of ants again 



Day 549 | Calperum Information Bay parking area: feeling rather dampened 



Day 550 | Rufus River: reviewing old trails 



Day 551 | Rufus River: a Sunday off 



Day 552 | Wentworth Ski Reserve: back at the river 



Day 553 | Mildura: somewhere down by the river 



Day 554 | Mildura: still lurking by the river after dark



Day 555 | Spences Bend: down on the ol' Murray 



Day 556 | Almost Belsar Island: the day the world ended 



Day 557 | Speewa Rd crossing: no trailing "h" down south 



Day 558 | Pental Island: away from the roads 



Day 559 | Benwell State Forest: some grass and the pegs even go in 



Day 560 | River Track, Gunbower State Forest: near Wee Wee Rup Track 



Day 561 | Ballieu Lagoon Reserve: far from the madding crowd 



Day 562 | Edward River Bridge: it's National Park now 



Day 563 | Almost Tocumwal: kipping with the throng 



Day 564 | Kyffins Reserve, Lake Mulwalla: blown away 



Day 565 | Howlong, Murray River: yeah, you can go on with the jokes



Day 566 | Bethunga Bridge: the tide is high in Lake Hume 



Day 567 | Jingellic River Reserve: some company for the night 



Day 568 | Khancoban: just nestled under a tree 



Day 569 | Devil's Grip Gorge campsite: deep in Kosciuszko National Park 



Day 570 | Geehi Dam NP campsite: all to myself except for March Flies 



Day 571 | Just before Grey Mare Mountain: not where I should be 



Day 572 | Grey Mare Hut: just camping outside to avoid the mossies 



Day 573 | Near Round Mountain carpark: I can hear cars on the asphalt 



Day 574 | A few kms from Adaminaby: last night in K National Park 



Day 575 | Jindabyne: and a lovely cosy bed 



Day 578 | Jacobs River, KNP: seems this is the last night in the park 



Day 579 | Suggan Buggan campsite: this looks real familiar 



Day 580 | Murrindal River: down in the valley 



Day 581 | Bumberrah Railway Station (extinct): almost total civilisation 



Day 582 | Thomson River bridge: just outta Sale 



Day 583 | Agnes River rest area: and do I need some rest 



Day 584 | Bass Coast Rail Trail: another day, another rail trail, or 2 



Day 585 | St Leonards: wow, the last few days has covered territory 



Day 594 | St Leonards: a week at the beach



Day 595 | Melbourne: that's the end of the road 



Melbourne: organisation required 



More Melbourne: catching up 



Leaving Melbourne finally: up, up and away