Even though we have been riding for long periods each day we are not sleeping well at all. As way of an example was being fully awake before 3.30 this morning. We didn’t miss the shuttle to the airport for our flight to Auckland at 9.45am! Jane had the window seat and took some great shots. I've used 3 ... with permission! Accommodation is central, downtown Auckland and the room is very roomy, quiet and high class. We shuttled in by shuttle …definitely the cheapest and delivery right to the door. We have spent the remainder of the day looking at maps, hard copies and internet variety, and reading of places of interest to explore. We came with an overview of what we wanted to do in the North Island but for Auckland itself we were ... read more

UNBELIEVABLE! Jane and I are sitting outside NZ’s longest operating general store, “Gilchrists General Store”, in the town of Oturehua, consisting of the aforementioned store, the pub across the road, the local hall and 3 houses, when 5 blokes who have just stopped and poured out of a vehicle, give us a look, go into the store and after a while emerge and come to our table … the leader of the group, a strong, good looking guy says to me … “Are you Andrew, Andrew Belotti?” (Jane is wide eyed and shaking her head saying, “not again”, as this has occurred a few times before). Naturally I reply in the affirmative. He continues, “You used to coach me in football and athletics. I’m Jaimie. Jaimie Walsh.” (son of the former Australian hockey great, Terry) I ... read more

Cooked! Stuffed! Buggered! Rooted! Challenged, physically and mentally. We cannot remember a time when we were so exhausted. A difficult trail in undertaken during the rising heat of the day. There was no escape. Shade was non-existent unless one hugged the side of the cliff face which we did numerous times in our exhaustion. We coped with the first 20km from Cromwell to the “Coffee Float”, two small river craft selling coffee, icecream, burgers, muffins, cold drinks, etc, quite well. Literally metres from the Coffee Float the trail morphed into one out of a horror movie. The Cairnmuir Ladder began with steep climbing switchbacks with steep drop offs that seemed never ending. (Watch the 2min and 1min 20 sec videos) We walked most of them. It rose 130 vertical metres. There is a total of 580m ... read more

I loved: - Steve Woods friendship and hospitality, Coolgardie - Royal Flying Doctor Nullarbor Highway airstrips - the Bunda Cliffs, Great Australian Bight - Head of Bight - Windmills, Penong - Fowlers Bay and the sand dunes - Meeting up with John and Pauline Gummery - Bunyeroo Valley Geological Trail, Flinders Ranges - Acacia Ridge hike to the summit, Arkaroola, Gamon Ranges - Farina Bakehouse - Oodnadatta Track - William Creek Pub - Painted Desert - The Breakaways, Coober Pedy - Coward Springs on Oodnadatta Track - Marree Pub dinners number 29 twice! - Helpful mechanical advice from Sam Belotti - convoying with David Date and Kerry Date, Birdsville Track - free camping at Tippipilia Creek with David and Kerry - Koonchera Dune on Birdsville Track - Birdsville Track - Diamantina River - Big Red ... read more

From The Pines campsite we continued our onwards journey towards Kalgoorlie but not before rising to a beautiful sunrise and a deviation to Giles Breakaway a further 70km down the track. We were greeted by a landscape full of rich colours and rugged with drop away cliff walls. One not to be missed with camping available under trees We hit the bitumen just before Laverton, slowly fuelled due to the blowback. Pulled into Leonora where we did want to stay for a few days, however plans have changed. On the way out we came across more than 6 wedge-tailed eagles and crows feeding on a road killed kangaroo. It was a beautiful sight as we had never seen that many in one group before. Broad Arrow beckoned as did the Broady Burger. Kalgoorlie. Running total of ... read more