DARLIN’COMPANION

The town centre is to the west of the darlin’ companion and you’ll find all grades of fuel available plus a SuperIGA on Sandwych St, just around the corner from the very well equipped and staffed Tourist Info Office at 68 Darling St.

The Darling Junction Motel, is on the eastern side of the river at: 26 William St, T: 03 5027 3636, but if you need any servicing or tyre changing on your bike you’re best to ride back to Mildura and see the boys at Mildura Motorcycles at 733 Fifteenth St ( T: 03 5023 2046).

For Road Conditions for your ride north it’s best to go to the Council’s Tourism website at: www.visitwentworth.com.au and hit the links.

POONCARIE.

The General Store, known as the ‘Port Pitstop’ is open 7.30-6.00 M-F and 8.00-6.00 on weekends. You can get 91 and 98 BP fuel here and it’s best to top up here as part of your ‘keep the fluids up’ routine!

MENINDEE

You can get 91 and 98 at Coombes Transport Depot at 10 Henley St and the best place to stay is at Maidens Hotel on Yartla St. (T 08 8091 4208) If you want to camp, probably it’s best to head west on Nora St and follow the brown signs to Kinchega National Park. You don’t have tar for long. At the park entrance take the first left onto River Rd. You now have the Darling River on your left elbow.

Every few hundred metres you’ll find a camping spot. If one’s already hosting some travellers, you can be pretty sure the next one’ll be free.

TILPA

Tilpa reminds me of the hostelry equivalent of a legal oath: it’s the pub, the whole pub and nothing but the pub. (so help you God). Actually it also sells 91 fuel but the price is bordering on exploitation and so better to keep going to Louth. Owned by locals but run by backpackers, one of whom had good English.

LOUTH

Louth is like Tilpa but here the pub, Shindy’s Inn, is still family owned and run and has the friendly feel of a family business. You’ll get the idea from their website at: http://shindysinn.com.au/ They sell BP 91 at a justifiable rate during pub hours.

WILCANNIA

There’s a couple of fuel outlets here.

The very friendly Pat runs the BP on Martin St and sells 91 and 95 from 7.00am til 7.30pm everyday. At Miss Barretts Coffee and Cake Café on Reid St. (T: 08 8091 5888) you’ll fi nd very acceptable coffee and delicious homemade cakes and slices which self described, “Shearers’ Cook” Chris, bakes fresh each morning.

An absolute gem of a place, but not always open on weekends.

BOURKE

This town is nothing like you probable expect. Proud of its noble history with some beautifully restored and maintained buildings, friendly locals and a few good watering holes and cafés, topped off with at least one very good pub in the Port of Bourke on Mitchell St (T 02 6872 2544). Gotta say the Bourke Riverside Motel on Mitchell St also appealed as a place for couples to stay.

There’s a huge Supa IGA on Oxley St and the best bar and restaurant is the Diggers on the Darling inside the RSL at 23 Sturt St.

Paul runs the BP around on Mooculta St. It’s open and selling 91 and 95 on Mon to Sat from 4.30am til 8.00pm and an hour less at each end on Sundays.

And don’t forget…

Riding in the outback is hazardous and requires planning and care.

In addition to the usual tools clothing etc, we each carried the following essential equipment:

• A FindmeSpot GPS Satellite Messenger to message our ICE’s when we are all good, or when we need help.

• Scala Rider inter-bike coms so that we could keep in contact with each other

• GME UHF transceiver to keep in contact with local heavy vehicles and homesteads

• Mobile phones

• You should NEVER be totally out of contact.

• Also: spare tubes, tyre levers and a 12V compressor for inflating tyres. Using this stuff, Robb changed a rear tube and was back riding in 22 minutes!

• A Camelbak 3 litre hydration backpack with another 3 litre backup. We didn’t leave any town without 6 litres of water each.

A CHALLENGING RIDE ALONG A MAJESTIC RIVER WORDS/PHOTOS COLIN WHELAN

For more stories, go to: https://advridermag.com.au

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