Day 01 - Fri, 2 Jul Departure to Walcha

Well I am on my way. All the preparation, planning,  purchases, thinking, dreaming, etc are now coming to life.

I had dinner with my daughters and family last night. This morning  Kelly, Andrew and their children came around to see me off – I think it was to make sure that I actually left after so much talking about it. I planned to leave at 8:30 but with grandchildren (Samantha, Kimberley & Vanessa) wanting to climb on the bike, push buttons and generally be kids, I didn’t quite leave until just before nine – no problems when I still have many weeks ahead.

The ride north up the F3 was pretty uneventful – except for the temp around 8C and the full on Highway Patrol presence – must be school holidays again.

I met Gary Clark at the Warnervale F3 Caltex as he was riding with me for the 1st day. Travelled up through Maitland, Clarence Town then onto Gloucester for lunch. It warmed a bit 15C but generally that was the max for the day.

It started to sprinkle in Gloucester so we hit the road again in wet weather gear and it progressively got worse. Once up the mountain the rain increased and the temperatures dropped, 3.5C at Nowendoc and a real heat way of 4.5 at Walcha.

Thunderbolts Way is still the same – some rough sections but what fabulous scenery and Walcha and the Commercial Hotel staff are just fabulous.

The mapping of my Spot messages is working to plan – although it is not a true track of the roads, it is at least a guide to where I have been. Well that’s 400km down only about 19,600km to go – woo hoo.

Gary and I looked at each other after dinner, a couple of beers and a day’s riding and we were both looking weary. I checked the time and it was only 7pm – oh well us oldies need our beauty sleep.