Long day today. Made it into the northern teritory. This is an amazing country! I will so turn into a grey nomad when I retire. What gets me is the sheer size of it and its diversity. Highly recommend to anyone to explore this continent by bike - or by car if riding is not your thing. Found this really cool termite hill at the side of the road. And have a look at the petrol station in the outback where 100 bikers tried to pump. From tomorrow on its straight up north.

Long but extremely diverse ride today. Went from lush green in winton to very dry soils then to tussoc grasses to red rocks. Stopped at the mckinley pub where the famous crocodile dundee movies where made. When riding into mt isa the first thing you see is smoke stacks from mines and then power plant. Staying at the irish club tonight which is putting on a dinner for us later on.

Having our 'rest day' today, hence only 200 km. Went to see the qantas museum in longreach and then did some gravel to see dinosaurs frolicing around. Unfortunately they were long dead but came past a monster long train. Check out the panorama. Not getting much better than that.

Good ride today. Everybody tells us how lucky we are to see the outback so green. Bike is leaking some oil from the counter shaft seal. Better buy a liter of oil tomorrow to top up. Sleeping in a cabin tonight since the airforce guys had a spare bed. Better than camping but wonder if there is a catch with this offer? Hmmm...

Made it into queensland. Rode for most of the day with 4 airforce guys on cagivas a duke and a klr. Went along mitchel highway with a 200 km dead straight stretch. Very lush and green up here after the floods. Also never seen so many dead kangaroos.

Lots of these juggernaut s around here being at the back of bourke. Scary stuff.

Wonder how many more of these signs I will find on my trip?

The first day was amazing. Feels so good to be back on the road. Had the most diverse day - starting with a drizzle and cold in the blue mountains to green hills to grassy flat land. Highlight was a lap around the bathhurst race course and being dropped off in the morning. Spend most of the day riding with guys from the australian air force, even met the chief. Bike runs like a dream.

Its really happening. First stop glenbrook. Sent using a Sony Ericsson mobile phone

Time flies and it is only 3 more sleeps until we take off onto our most excellent Long Ride trip up north. I am very exited and can't wait to hit the road again. After all, it's been almost exactly one year since I returned from my South American adventure and Dakki and I are ready to go to clock up some more ks. Compared to last year's travel preparation, things are so much more organised and relaxed, since there is no air or sea freight involved - straight out of the garage onto the open road (well, if Sydney traffic plays ball, that is).

Thank you so much for all the sponsorship that I have received so far and I am sure the Prostate Cancer Foundation will greatly appreciate all your generous donations. For all who haven's sponsored me yet but wish to do so can visit the following fund raising page:

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/yamarider

Our itinerary will be as follows:

1-May-10	Nyngan
2-May-10	Charleville
3-May-10	Longreach
4-May-10	Winton
5-May-10	Mt Isa
6-May-10	Tennant Creek
7-May-10	Katherine
8-May-10	Darwin

That's approximately 500km per day of riding. Here's a map of the route from Sydney to Darwin: