Thursday: I set off at 07:30. It was so bloody cold that I put my moon suit on over the leathers at Yass. The sun didn't manage to pierce the clouds until well after Temora, at which point I removed the moon suit again. I stayed the night in a motel at Goolgowi (a bit further along from Griffith) because I reckoned I'd earned it. Friday: Once again I set off at 07:30, once again it was bloody cold. My top speed had dropped a bit by the time I got to Hay, and some investigation revealed it to be due to the exhaust valve tappet clearance closing up. It seems these old posties really don't like unleaded, even with that valvesaver stuff added. Buying some tools and fixing that cost me an hour, but I made good time to Balranald with the assistance of a tailwind. There was a roadblock at Balranald directing people through Tooleybuc because of a truck crash blocking the highway at Euston. As a result of that and my earlier tappet- fixing delay I arrived in Mildura about an hour after sunset. Met the lads at near the Mallee Burger van, set up the tent, got moderately drunk. A total of 920km, and 14:40 of in-the-saddle time. Saturday: Spent the entire day hanging shit on Geoff, eating Mallee burgers, and losing in Gymkhana events. Had a quiet 4-drink night due to needing an early start on Sunday. Sunday: Up at 07:00, packed and away by about 07:40. Had a dead-calm day on the Hay plain, and as a result made very good time (averaged 70km/h). Pulled up for the evening at Temora after covering 600km via Euston- Balranald-Hay-Narrandera-Coolamon. I had to add about half a cup of oil and adjust the drive chain at Hay, and adjust the exhaust tappet again at Narrandera. Overall I thought it was a fair effort for the day. Monday: Stayed at my Aunt & Uncle's house in Temora, had a late start and on the road at 08:45. Adjusted the drive chain again at Murrumburrah, arrived home safely at 13:30. The chain and sprockets are worn out, the front one to the point that it's skipping under load. The indicator flasher unit has decided to be "always on" now, too. A total of 820km, and 12:20 in the saddle. Anyone got a working 6V indicator flasher unit? Apparently they're getting to be a bit like rocking-horse shit around here... Photos to follow later in the week, I've gone all old-school and used a film camera. BTH
