This is from a post I made a few weeks back in the local motorcycle forum, Netrider . Please forgive the cut'n'paste format.
It has been a looong week and I need a break. So, before they finally plunge us into lockdown like all the cool states I thought I had better load up and get out of dodge for a few days. With pretty much zip planning or research conducted I clicked at Ride With GPS for a half hour to come up with the Border patrol route.
I may do all of it. Or, maybe some of it.....or maybe bugger all of it. I will take it as it comes and see what pans out along the way.
Goodbye to this.....

It was bloody hot on the plains leaving Brisvegas. I saw a top of 36C and it seemed to be averaging 34C but climbing Cunningham's Gap saw the temperature drop by 6 degrees. Much better! And it continued all the way down to 24° by Applethorpe. I had taken the back road from Warwick to Dalveen which included some nice dirt and the odd railway bridge and church.
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As it has been a late start I didn't hang around in Stanthorpe, just a splash of fuel then on toward Texas.

I got a few interesting photos along here but they are all on the camera which is refusing to talk to my phone, so they will have to wait until I get home to sort it. (now sorted)
The road from Stanthorpe to Texas is very underrated with vistas unfolding when you last expect them and some really nice twisties on the Texas end. Looking south to NSW from the Stanthorpe - Texas road.
I went out to the border crossing south of Texas to check how well guarded it was. No sneaking across to the unclean state here!

The camp ground to the left of the bridge was chocka block full of caravans. I got a picture with the bike by the river (and no caravans) with NSW in the background before heading back into town for beers and dinner. Thats Texas back there.....

The Southern Border Accomodation Park (caravan park to normal people) proved to be a winner with a nice grassy spot to put the tent and newly renovated toilet blocks. It was only a short-ish stumble to the pub too.

Texas is a great little out-of-the-way town. A real hidden gem.

Day 2
Up at the crack of noon today and packed up as quickly as I could to head for Yelarbon. I'm finding it really refreshing to be riding for the sake of riding, rather than to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible, which had been the case for pretty much the last 30 years. I was really savouring the back road to Yelarbon with its lush green grass along the verge and almost zero traffic.
I made great time and was at Yelarbon before I knowed it!
They have some sweet silo art there and I managed to get a few shots in the clear before a road train pulled up in front to fill up with wheat.
Turning left at the end of the main street instead of the usual right for Goondiwindi, I took "the river loop", another quiet but well sealed back road. I saw a couple of turns to the south that were signposted Yetman. Now Yetman is in the Covid state (NSW) so I took the second turn to take a look.
The low level bridge wasn't manned but it was blockaded. Some enterprising banana bender had left their car on the bridge and hoofed it home.


(Lots of farmers have land on both sides of the river/border which must be frustrating as hell)
A late breakfast in Goondi at the bakery filled a hole nicely and I picked up a few odds and ends at the Foodworks, checked out the old highway bridge in town that leads south, then out the road to Talwood.


I whipped the ponies hard, safe in the knowledge that most of the boys in blue are tied up on border watch. And why not? The roads are wide, well made and very empty.
A quick look around Talwood then off down the Mungindi Rd.

More pony whipping ensued and I was at Mungindi in no time. Unfortunately the pub was across the river and upon asking the cop at the control point for directions he indicated it might be a bad idea to cross for "lunch" (beer).

Bugger. So I fuelled up and headed north. Fcuk me, it's cheaper than Brisbane, at $1.60 a litre, waaaay out here!!


Another quick blat up to Thalon to take in their silo art.

And their cenotaph.

Walking into the pub for lunch I was greeted with a "g'day Dave!" Bugger me, it was a mutual mate of @Chiller and I who has been doing laps of QLD while he waits for the Sydney madness to abate so he can go home. He was tempted to take my bike for a spin as his 5 bikes haven't been ridden since he came north in May and he is suffering withdrawals!

Then, another blast through Dirranbandi to Hebel where I was greeted by the bar maid, who was out the front rolling her own, before I had even got off the bike with a "do you want a beer?"
Does the Pope wear a funny hat?

While I enjoyed a few light beers and a chat with said barmaid one of the police from the road block wandered over for a chat and to check out the AT. He seemed a decent bloke and keen rider too. He's keen for an ADV bike and is weighing his options. That's him walking back to work. (Oh, and that is pretty much all of Hebel!)

The bar maid had nearly talked me into staying the night (camped out the back of course- damnit) but I felt I needed to get back a bit further north so I thanked her for the beer and chat, waved to the police at the check point (it's at the cross road in Hebel, 5km from the border) then caned the horses again. Funnily enough, big distances can be dispatched in short lengths of time if one unleashes the ponies. Who knew. And no kittens died.
Dirran was to be the camp tonight. To be exact, the Dirran Hotel. Clean rooms, cold beer and great tukka. Oh, and last beer for a hunge klicks.



Who doesn't need a shower beer holder...?!

Tonight, I'm the Dandy, the Dandy from Dirranbandi....
(Goodonya Slim )

Ok, Ok, I'll be on the next train out of town.....
Might be a while.....

Reckon I'll sleep well tonight.










I'm not sure how the "Big Yabbie" fits in, but there it was....













