All good things come to an end someday. After the AGM, people started leaving in droves, but the four of us stayed on until Wedensday the 2nd of June. We left early and rode hard with the intention to spending the first night back in Mackay, Qld. obviously we had no plans to smell the flowers. It was of course raining when we found our way into the city, it was getting dark and since we didn't plan on being tourists we went straight to the motel. I ate in the resturant while the others had greasy hambugers and fish/chips. The next morning we again left early and headed to Rockhampton so that Colin could say hello to an old friend who turned out not to be there. We continued on all the way south near Gladstone, Bundaberg, Maryborugh and then through the rain at Gympie (some good twisties there !). As we headed south we started to peel off in different directions to see various friends and relatives. For me the fear was about to begin. 

I had intentions of visiting some long lost friends on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, north of Brisbane. So when I peeled off the highway at the Landborough exit I thought I was almost finished for the day. I rode up a good road to Landsborough and easily followed the directions to Maleny. Thought I would top up the fuel, and then head for Maleny.. Just as I started off, the sun came down (and it gets dark really quick), I see a sign "VERY STEEP ACCENT", 3.8 Km., I look to the left and see a huge drop, maybe 50 Mtr. then its dark, the road narrows, the incline gets steep, and it STARTS to RAIN. Here is the picture, strange road, bad lighting, no guard rails, and rain.... I made it right to the top, acid is building in the gut, but I made it, now turn left after the service station. Instructions are to ride about 9km and look for the house with the red roof. Remember, it is dark, raining and the last view I had of the road had a HUGE drop on the left. All I have is my headlight, and wet visor, and lots of fear ! Nine Kilometers later, I don't see a house, much less a red roof... 10km, 11km, 14km..ooops DIRT Road.. WET dirt road...Stop, take off the helmet, find the Cellular phone.. NO SIGNAL!...ok.. I know, turn around phone in left hand, helmet on..ride until signal.. I call my friends and tell them what I'm seeing, I see a town sign.. They have no idea where I am... Visibility now 25 Meters.. In the end, I returned the way I came and they stood near the road with a Flashlight (Torch) and guided me in. But be assured it was scarey, and the bike was hot from 20km riding.. and sooooo dirty ! But it was worth it. Catching up was wonderful, meeting their two young and beautiful girls, and seeing some of the most magnificant country side in Australia made it all worthwhile.

Late the next day, after my hosts drove me around the area, we had lunch and I repacked the bike and went DOWN that hill, actually not as bad as I feared, and it is daylight. I left about 2:30 PM with only 140 Km to travel to the Gold Coast. I get on the Freeway, into Brisbane and head over the Gateway Toll Bridge. I'll be with my friends in Southport in 30 Minutes or so. What is that  in front of me, looks like traffic ! It's construction, 78Km of road works, it's peak hour, and guess what, IT'S RAINING !. Thank goodness I've got a K bike, 20Km/hr all the way !. I stayed in the Surfers Paradise area for three nights and then on Monday saddled up to meet with the others in Tamworth, NSW. I decided to take a shortcut through the town of Beaudesert, a great ride, really enjoyed being on my own in good weather, Warwick, Stanthorpe. At Tenterfield stopped for fuel and a late breakfast, Colin caught up here. Just as we were to leave, down comes the RAIN, can't stop so on with the wets, then Glen Innes, Armidale and at last Tamworth (The home of Country Music in OZ). We stayed the night and the next day, Gunnedah, Coonabarabran, Gilandra, Dubbo, Parkes, Forbes, West Wyalong, and finally Hay! The next day home via, Balranald, Pinneroo, Tallem Bend, then finally Adelaide ! About 7500 Km in 16 Days. The Adventure is over, home safe, sound and much wiser !