Starting off 2011 in
Australia: the first of many road closures due to floods.
This was taken on New Years Day just
outside Warwick.
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| On the way down to Melbourne, I avoided the rain by
taking an inland route via Griffith. The route took me
through Bogan Gate, on the Bogan Way. "Bogan"
in Australia means something like "chav". I
didn't stop long enough to see whether the town deserves
its name ...
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| In Condobolin everything seemed to be closed; I at
last got a cold drink and a pie in West Wyalong. Then I
entered the ominously-named Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone.
Looking at the sign, you would think the fruit flies are
the size of small dogs.
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On the way back to Brisbane I
couldn't avoid the rain or the floods. This picture was
taken on the Gwydir Highway east of Inverell. Shortly
afterwards I had to stop my journey at Glen Innes,
because all the roads towards Brisbane were blocked by
floods or landslides.
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| To my great relief, I was able to reach Brisbane the
following day via Tenterfield, Casino and the Pacific
Coast Highway. Two days later the major flood wave hit
Brisbane. More
pictures ...
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| Back in Queensland in October: practising my skills
on dirt roads near Tambo. |
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| With Anna and Ash the next day: an impromptu stop in
the Carnarvon National Park. (OK, I fell off.) |
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| Heading north up the New South Wales coast near the
border with Victoria: the Bega Valley lookout. |
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| The bridge shown in the first picture on this page
has now been repaired. |
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| Heading back towards Brisbane on the scenic back road
from Queen Mary's Falls to Rathdowney. More
pictures
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Last revised: 26 Dec 2011.