2nd September Wooloowin 347 kms today 10,524 kms to date

Alan was up and raring to go so we packed up early but still were able to see the Prentice family at breakfast and make our farewells -- thanks for looking after us and for the big Concert!

We headed off into the Darling Downs - huge paddocks of Sorghum or some other bulk crop.  Farming on an industrial scale.  We stopped in Dalby for our last Big Brekky together. I even managed to remember my pot of mustard when we left. I forgot to pick it up at Parkes on our last trip.

We aimed to stop at the Blacksoil Roadhouse outside Ipswich as our ways would part after that.  I was going to Bob and Barbara Shaw's house at Wooloowin to drop off the DR650 and Alan was going to Rochedale to stay with his niece Louise.  We pulled in beside a white van and found a man cooking up his lunch behind it.  He took our final photo after 6 1/2 weeks on the road and 10,500 kms under our wheels.  We had a few adventures and misadventures, but as we proved on our 2010 ride around Australia, we are a good team and never a cross word passed between us, even when Alan's GS was axle deep in mud in the Bungle Bungles!

We part ways after 6 1/2 weeks on the road

The man with the van was traveling with his 14 year old son following the tennis circuit with hopes of fame and glory no doubt.  Not much luxury for them at this stage as they lived in the van and inquired if there was suitable place in Melbourne near the Rod Laver Arena as they were coming down for the Australian Open in January.  I suggested along the river beside the Botanic Gardens and I plan to drive past to see if they do stop there! (post script - I did see a white van parked there during the Australian Open)

I can't say what happened to Alan on his journey south to Sydney, save that he arrived safely on Thursday 4th; his 70th birthday.  I had a merry old time finding Wooloowin.  I turned off on the M7 and immediately got lost, found the M3 but headed the wrong way south instead of north.  I had to go all the way to Rochedale to turn around and come back into the City.  I probably wasn't too far away from Alan at this stage.  Eventually I arrived at Wooloowin, but on the wrong side of the park that the Shaw's house adjoined.  I was tempted to do one last bit of dirt riding across the park, but went around to Brook Road.  Barbara had left a bed made up and some meals in the freezer, so I was well set up. Bob and Barbara were away on a trip on the Trans Siberian Express and they called me from Ulan Bator in Mongolia to check things were OK.   I unpacked the DR and gave it a well earned wash down.  The Council had concreted the driveway just that afternoon, so I couldn't wheel the bike around the back of the house until the next day, when the concrete had hardened.

A big crack had developed in the screen I had bought for the DR650.  I will bring it back to Mick Hone hopefully for a replacement.  There was no impact or stone chip to cause the crack - it must be a fault.  I settled into the comfort of a double bed - Alan had commandeered all the double beds on the trip - because he's a whole 3 inches taller.