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A different type of luxury holiday
Rachael Stone thinks adventure riding might just be the new Bali, and can see some definite advantages for the girls – if they know how to work the angles.
Dawn over the Paroo River.
If there’s a romantic getaway to be had the fairer sex are the ones to plan it.
Not so with a week away on bikes, though. My husband not only plans the destination, but gets my DRZ400 ready for the long haul. This is a good thing as I’m directionally and mechanically challenged.
I’ve done a few small trips here and there – Roma, Rainbow Beach and Kilcoy – but always with a lovely cabin waiting at the end of the day. Wives, if you’re looking at ways to let your man serve you, take all your camping gear with you on the bikes. Not only did my husband carry most of my gear – he has a bigger bike – but he set up our tent and cooked all my food (if you call heating vacuum-sealed microwave meals on the burner ‘cooking’). It got even better than this. If you want a romantic meal, eat your porridge out of the same saucepan. That also saves on washing up.
It’s a lovely moment of sharing that money can’t buy!
The author can see a lot of advantages in a bike holiday.
Going swimmingly
Are you finding it hard to get away because you have children at home that don’t cook and clean for themselves? I have four children and we home school.
There’s always someone to con (sorry, ‘persuade’) into looking after your beautiful offspring. Not enough money in the bank? Get your hubby to buy you a bike for your birthday – it’s less expensive than a diamond and it’s a whole lot more fun.
“I just couldn’t do it,” you say. “I’m not strong enough and surely I would die having to sit on a bike all day.” Not so, I say. With your other half planning your trip he’s sure to find many dirt roads that ease the strain on your back and posterior as it’s so slippery or sandy that standing up is a must (a bonus workout for your thighs and deltoids).
We turned off the Job’s Gate Road to Engonia on our second day and I can honestly say I lost kilograms manoeuvring the bike and sweating from the hard work of trying to stay upright. My sense of achievement at the end of that particular 100km could not have been obtained from any yoga session I know of.
If you’re lucky, your man will even find you an amazing fresh-water lake in the middle of nowhere to make up for the landscaped pool you’re missing out on.
We rode from the Hungerford pub – a must if you’re in the area, with cold drinks and fuel – into Lake Numalla and it was spectacular. The water was frigidly cold but oh so refreshing and well worth the fun, 30km ride in.
Rachael at Shearing Shed (Currawinya)
Dead set
Go on an adventure ride and you don’t need to feel like you’re missing out on those big-city perks. Who needs a zoo when you’re riding on the dirt? I must’ve seen six or seven different types of animals on the back road from Currawinya to Eulo.
Some were even friendly enough to come out and try and greet me personally on the bitumen.
On an adventure bike you experience everything firsthand, whether it’s a field of native flowers just in bloom, watching the sun gently rise as you ride along or riding past a decomposing animal and forgetting to exhale instead of inhale. Sure there may be one or two negatives to adventure riding, but the thrill of the ride, camaraderie between riders and sense of accomplishment far outweigh them.
Give it a go, ladies…you never know until you try it. You might have an inner dirt-bike chick just waiting to be let loose on the gravel.
Breakfast at Collarenebri.
A rider from Bundaberg did some damage to his BMW, but was unhurt.
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