Ian needed another break from Maroochydore and invited a few Geese along for the ride. Nine of us set out from Peachester along the well worn road to Kilcoy, and on to Moore for coffee. Then the more scenic route north through Linville. We criss-crossed the (rather dry) Brisbane River a number of times on the gravel road leading back to the A3 north of Nanango. Onward to Kingaroy, Wondai, ending the day at Mundubbera. We were well looked after by the landlord at the Mundubbera Royal Hotel - good rooms, locked shelter for the bikes, and really good value. Recommended!
Day 2: up the main drag to Eidsvold before turning east through Mount Perry and Gin Gin with a brief detour along Tunnel Road thanks to local information gleaned by Mike, who insists on talking to the natives.
We turned north a little way above Bundaberg and continued to Rosedale for lunch. Then on again with a detour to 1770 where Brad discovered that he had acquired a puncture from a wayward screw - soon fixed with one of several puncture repair kits brought along by well prepared Geese.
We retraced our steps from 1770 and turned west to Miriam Vale, then south west through Colosseum and finally south towards Boyne Valley and our lodgings for the night at the "Grand Hotel", Many Peaks. An experience, but being the only choice in town the landlord charged whatever he felt like. Max even got stung for the double room rate. Bike accommodation was also a bit less impressive than in Mundubbera.
The choice of a stop in Many Peaks was fully justified the next day by a fantastic gravel road through the Dawes National Park followed by excellent country road twisties most of the way to Monto. From Monto we made our way back to Eidsvold and retraced our route to Mundubbera where we detoured south and followed the Burnett River to Gayndah - a nice alternative to the main road. From here a short stretch of main road led to Byrnestown where we again took the option of minor roads to Biggenden, with a brief detour to historic Chowey Bridge (where Max and I also managed a brief off-road detour when one gravel corner proved to be less grippy than expected) - as I said later, I would follow Max anywhere!
It was around this point when the weather started to turn sour and we encountered the first rain of the trip. From Biggenden we took the always enjoyable country road south to Woolooga. The nastiest weather was reserved for the one gravel stretch on this road so the adventure bikes were now starting to look the part. We sat out some of the rain in Woolooga before splitting into smaller groups for the final ride home.
Once again a great few days out and about with good company. Many thanks to Ian for organising it all.