Day 19 -Mareeba-Daintree-Mareeba

We took the opportunity to ride up to the Daintree on the weekend, via the coast road to Daintree Ferry, up to Cape Tribulation, then most of the way up to Bloomfield before heading back across the tablelands to Mareeba. Check the photos, great ride.

Day 18 - Charters-Mareeba

We were up at sparrows for the hour long ride out to Newmont's Pajingo underground operation. We arrived at site and were in time to address the oncoming shift about the importance of the RFDS to those living and working in remote areas. After our spiel we had a worker approach us and tell us his RFDS story. He injured his neck underground whilst driving a bogger, and the RFDS liased via phone to the underground to provide the correct advice for how to move him, administer pain medication and so on - hopefully the full story will be on our site soon.
We then had to get on with it, and head to Tom's Mums place in Mareeba. We went via the coast road in order to get Tom's Dakar looked at, it has developed a habit of leaking fuel when fully filled. The ride finished with us climbing the range in darkness, and getting into Mareeba exhausted.

Day 17 - Ravenswood-Townsville-CT

The Railway Hotel, Ravenswood

Photo at pub. Went to Townsville. Dodged a King Brown snake on the road at Mingela. After buying a back protector and some goggles for the dirt we were off to BMW where Neil got his front disc looked at - he has a slightly warped rotor, which matches his sense of humor. He also talked himself into a new set of BMW boots to replace the hundred quid specials from Edinburgh, and a set of gloves. Thanks to Marius at BMW for discounting the new kit for us. We then trammed to Charters Towers and had an early night in preparation for the Pajingo visit.

Day 16 - Bowen-Ravenswood

An interesting day to say the least. It commenced with the ride through the canefields then up the range and on to just outside Collinsville, where we left the tar and headed for the Burdekin. 50km of good dirt, and 50km of goat track, including a council truck that had tipped a load of dirt in a dip, that neither of us saw. Both of us had a bit of a moment as we hit 6-8inches of loose dirt piled on the road, thank gawd the grader had smoothed it out that much. We pulled up then, and when the truckie came past us to do a u-ey Neil heard him on his UHF, saying something like 'these @#%@#'s are taking photos" Neil then replied sorry he couldn't resist, just as the supervisor pulled up, p^%ing himself laughing becuase of the fright Neil gave the truckie.

Two Way Shenanigans With The Truckies

Light entertainment, courtesy of Phillcom who gave us the radios. Mang annoyed himself by loosing his extended side stand, less said about that the better really, his words were on the wrong side of unprintable. We then made it to the spillway. Check the photos, it will save me typing. Well worth the dust.

Burdekin Dam

Where is Mang?

MT WRIGHT

We caught up with 'Crazy' Dave Mackay at Carpetaria Gold's new Mt Wright operation. Dave sorted us with an underground tour, and the company put us up for the night in camp. It was great for us to have a sniff around down the hole, it having been a decent while since either of us had been to a similar underground. We also managed to gather another RFDS testimonial the next morning in camp, which will be on the main site soon - thanks to Dave for singlehandedly sorting us out, and helping us to get our message out in Ravenswood.

LH Drill - Mt Wright

PS The old pubs there are ace - go see em if you can. The beer is extremely cold...

Day 15 - Nebo-Bowen

Day 15: After a blat up the dirt road from Nebo to Collinsville, Neil navigated us on to site, having worked there for Thiess as a grad. Unfortunately due to an administrative stuff up we arrived on site to discover the visit was off, and so made our way into Bowen to do our banking and stay at a pub for the night. For the record the darts club and other patrons at the North Australian Hotel contributed $39 when they heard about our trip - thanks guys and gals.

Day 14 - Moranbah Nebo

GOONYELLA RIVERSIDE AND BROADMEADOWS

Another Monday, another coal mine, but this one was a bit different. Goonyella Riverside, CQO and Broadmeadows combined to host us for a BBQ breakfast, and contributed a whopping $2000 to the RFDS. Megan and Cara organised the whole shebang, and Steve Johnson cooked, and he must have done alright becuase we collected a further $150 from those who made it to the BBQ.

Neil, Tom, Ben Zietsman and Andrew Clough

We had a natter with Ben Zietsman (GYRV) and Andrew Clough (Broadmeadow) - unfortuantely Ben was unable to ride his 1200GS to work that day, which is probably for the best becuase we would have got bike envy, and Tyso would have got leg envy (too short to touch the ground on those hooas). It was an outstanding effort from the Goonside crew and we appreciate everything that was done to make the breakfast a success.

SOUTH WALKER CREEK

After dodging a truck tray on the road near Coppabella, we made it safely to SWC, where Thiess and BMA combined to host us for a BBQ lunch. Yes, we are both struggling to fit into our strides. Neil last worked there as a grad, and things have changed a bit since then, most notably the bitumen road in. We caught up with Carl O'Hehir, a mate from uni and the project manager for Thiess, as well as Tom's recent workmates from his stint re-negotiating the contract on site.

Out of my way tray

Many feasted, and then we spoke to them before they could escape to explain the importance to the RFDS to all who work in mines, and pointed out that the rescue helicopter is not the be all and end all when it comes to their families' safety. Carl then piped up with his recent brush with the RFDS, who performed a lifesaving flight from Mackay to Townsville so their newborn could be operated on hours after birth.

Thiess Project Manager Carl O'Hehir Shows Us How It's Done

Hopefully this story should be on the main site soon. We raised $235 at the BBQ, and both Thiess and South Walker Creek donated $250, as well as accommodation for the night in camp and a feed at the pub - thanks from us for such a good effort, and making the time when all and sundry are flat out.

Day 13 - Schuler Dysart

Day 13 got underway with a hangover breakfast feast prepared by Schuler and Carrie. We then hung around at Schulers until we could no longer dodge his efforts to get us out to the enduro track. We kitted up and headed out there, via some nasty sand, which the bikes got through OK at walking pace. We then had a blat around the blacksoil tracks, before Schuler cut loose on the Gasgas (the brand of his rocket). When he suggested us either a) taking the beemers down into the creek, or b) having a crack on the Gasgas, we both declined. I could see myself explaining a compound fracture femur, with a story starting "Well I was riding with Schuler....", which most would agree is asking for it, and whatever happens is my own stupid fault. We persisted for a bit, then bailed out and headed back to Moranbah. Got some wicked video however bandwidth means you won't be seeing it for now.

Schuler and the GasGas