The journey west stalls....Roadhouse Blues....

Monday 13/10/08 - Day 1 Turkey Creek (41C)
We were given a spot of grass out near the road, a small tranquil triangle, frequented by travellers by day and cattle by night !
Spent our first day assessing the damage and seeing what we needed to get going again. Then started ringing around our friends in Sydney Leo and Marty, and Brett in Cairns, prognosis looked a bit grim.
Spent the rest of the day reading (Thks Kees), hadn't touched a book upto this point, and watching the Turkey Creek day unfold.
Tuesday 14/10/08 - Day 2 Turkey Creek (41C)
Lots of time again spent on the phone, with finally the ever resourceful Marty, coming up with the goods....the goods unfortunately were in Sydney. Horror stories about the length of time it would take to get here.
read heaps, swam, watched the world, trying to be as philosophical about the situation as I could.
Met up with some travellers in the evening and played Cards.
One, a French girl was hitching, mainly from Roadhouses, travelling around with no tent, basically sleeping where she could, she was about mid twenties...what guts...amazing what people we've met and how they lived.
Wednesday 15/10/08 - Day 3 Turkey Creek (40C)
Did I mention this place is hot, so hot that a fully wet towel drys in about 5 minutes, a ratchet left out in the sun for 5 minutes will give you 3rd degree burns when you pick it up !
Normal Turkey day...smoking, reading, swimming (Thank God there's a pool here ).
Walked upto the "World Reknowned" Art Gallery in the Aboriginal Community with Geoff and Liz. Walked up part of ridge line behind the Roadhouse and watched the late afternoon colours, gorgeous scenery from high up, with the rocks really lighting up in the afternoon light.
Thursday 16/10/08 - Day 4 Turkey Creek (41C)
"Well I woke up in mornin' and got myself a"...cup of Tea, I don't think I mentioned that because of the Aboriginal community, Turkey Creek is a dry community. When Jimbo wrote Roadhouse Blues, I think he had it summed up pretty well, " The futures uncertain, the end is always near, let it roll baby roll....
Am starting to wonder if this place has become the Road trip, and what it's purpose is...
This evening was visited by about 8 Aboroiginal girls ranging from about 8 - 16, someones car had broken down and they were left to watch it and wait for the adults to return...they never did, about 12.30 Police and Child protection finally came and took them back to the community.
They were pretty hyped to start with and very inquisitive, they thought they recognised Geoff from TV, so told them, he was the original Jackass, and had been trying stunts a couple of days before with Cows and Motor bikes.
We finally went off to bed, about 10.30pm....that's wild for camp sites..normally by 8, there is a deathly hush...anyway kids decided to entertain themselves with the Car, which was about 20 metres from us. Next couple of hours were filled with slamming and smashing car noises...and heaps of laughter, finally just a smy patience was wearing thin, cops turned up.
Friday 17/10/08 - Day 5 - Turkey Creek (41c)
Woke up expectantly waiting for the mail (it's delivered twice a day by Greyhound, (The bus variety unfortunately) but nothing doing. Finished Kee's book and moved on to Geoff's, which was an old favourate and really apt, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance", I hadn't read it for over 10 years and it was great to reread and recognise some of the thoughts and ideas.
Went for a walk up the range behind the Roadhouse, late in the afternoon and got to the top around sunset. a stunning view of the whole valley, Kimberleys to one side, McDonnell ranges to the other. Took lots of photos and signed the plaque up there.
Spent the evening playing cards and listening to music (Mobile phones are great gadgets, even without phone reception).
Even with the disappointment of the non mail this morning, we were both feeling fairly upbeat and mellow.
Saturday 18/10/08 - Turkey Creek to Fitzroy Crossing - Deliverance
Waited to see the mail arrive and still no joy....Liz grabbed a lift to Hall's Creek and we both sat down to our breakfast resigned to having to stay the weekend.
Feeling a little low, and slightly less philosophical when the Roadhouse Manager turns up "is This for one of you guys ?" he says holding an Australian Air Express parcel, apparently came in a day or two ago and was assumed to be for one of the road crews who had returned it that day !
Was not sure whether to kiss him or smack him in the head.....luckily decided on neither....
Geoff set off to introduce to his bike, and whammo works first time !
Leave about 11 and head to Hall's Creek, get there and decide to press on, longest leg of the journey without fuel stops, 290 km to Fitzroy Crossing. We take it easy, Road great, scenery ever changing. About 100km before FC decide to take a break and some photos then go to take off and battery almost flat.....ahhhhh! Ride the next 100kms, wondering if I'll make it, great scenery though, a little reminscent of Monument Valley, Utah.
arrive safe and sound, find someone with a battery charger and then head off to the pub for Barra and Chips and beer....you little beauty !
speak to Leo....prognosis again not good...electrics are the weak link on the old GSX1100s
Sunday - 19/10/08 Fitzroy Crossing to Broome
Up early to try and fault diagnose with Geoff, charging system seems to be working fine now...bizarre, but I'm happy. Do the 217 kms to Willare Roadhouse and stop half way there to find charging system again not working ! At Willare, go through the fault finding and it appears to be pointing to bad connections, go through them all and hit them with some WD40, find some that are over heating and refix....beautiful charging again !
Finally arrive in Broome about 40 minutes before dusk and set up up just back from the beach, meet Soren, a Harley riding, Danish guy doing the same trip solo and in only 3 weeks ! Crazy !
Decide to go out and drink beer and watch the highly unusaual Crab racing