The beginning of day two…..
It’s day two of my outback Queensland motorcycle tour. Last night I had strategically pitched my tent away from the main road in the vain hope of reducing the traffic noise from giant trucks rattling past at almost regular intervals throughout the night. Little did I know, I had pitched it close to a train line. The blaring horn of a freight train shocked me from my blissful sleep, looking at my watch it was 3:30 AM.
The rest of the campers took the train’s arrival as their early morning wake-up call, there was a buzz of activity all around. I peered out from my makeshift home, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and wondered how I’d managed to get any rest at all what with the constant sound of Kenwood trucks and engine braking. I looked across at the grey nomads. It seemed the grey nomads around me had some sort of superhuman ability to sleep through it all; perhaps there was a silver lining to hearing loss after all.
A peaceful night of sleep
Day two of my motorcycle tour of Queensland felt quite different from the first day. There was no more anxiety, it was just about experiencing this new environment. The previous day had camped at the Campaspe River rest area, a mere hour from Hughenden. As I packed my gear, the dawn light painted the sky in hues of purple and gold, the perfect prelude to a day of adventure. I made a coffee, the first of many, and slowly savoured my breakfast of muesli and cheese biscuits. I waited for the morning sun to rise enough that any Kangaroos on the road would have found a quiet tree to sleep under for the day before riding out and up to the top of the Great Dividing Range, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. The landscape was stunning, with minimal traffic and cool fresh air.
White Mountain National Park
I stopped at the lookout for White Mountain National Park. I was thankful for my choice to camp at the rest area; the national park’s camping ground was too remote and lacked secure parking. The view from the lookout was breathtaking. I stood there, taking in the vastness of the park, feeling small yet invigorated by the grandeur of nature. It was a moment of pure serenity.
Camping near the Mango tree. 
Emu fully loaded ready to ride 
Dry Riverbed Flinders River 
Watch your lunch. 
The view over White Mountain National Park – Top of the Great Dividing Range
As I rode down towards, Hughenden, the landscape shifted dramatically. The dry, dusty plains were dotted with wind turbines, their giant blades casting eerie shadows. It was as if a mechanical alien army was slowly marching across the outback, an illusion that made me chuckle as I rode. Hughenden, nestled along the Flinders River, bore witness to the history of exploration and settlement in this region. The tales of early European expeditions fuelled my imagination as I navigated the town’s dusty streets.
Home of the dinosaur
I stopped in Hughenden for an hour before riding on through Richmond, the home of the most famous dinosaur display and museum. The ride through the dry, parched land was exhausting. Eventually I made it to Julia Creek. Managing to find a free camping site at the Julia Creek show ground, I settled in for the night.
Camping Julia Creek Show Grounds 
Sunset Julia Creek 
Anyone for golf at Dead Man’s Island 
There’s only one way out of town, Richmond 
Emu at White Mountain National Park
A magnificent sunset
As I settled down to watch the sunset with my modest glass of wine, I reflected on the journey I had embarked on. The day had been long, yet I felt a deep sense of contentment. I was only at the beginning of my adventure, and already I had experienced the beauty and rawness of Western Queensland. With two bucket list items in sight, I realised, this was just the start of a remarkable exploration through the heart of Australia’s outback, and I couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead. If you missed day one you can click on the following link: https://digitalswaggie.com.au/day-one-gun-fights-ghosts-and-goannas
