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I had to try out the new Karoos and the fork brace so looked at the map in search of a dirt road with a view. Left Townsville and headed for Harvey Range. There was lots of smoke around so the view from the top was very hazy.
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The road heads west from here and I was looking for Keelbottom Creek but I think Yasi may may blown the sign down. Eventually I turned north expecting a dirt road as the sign said, but instead there was a fairly new bitumen one with a bit of water damage.
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This is the turn off and this is the sign hidden on the side of the road only visible if you're heading east.
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From here it was a pleasant ride with plenty of wildlife to watch for. A couple of curious emus followed by three wedge tailed eagles and numerous macropods.
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Eventually I found the turn off to Paluma and promises of dirt. Apart from the water in a couple of places I reckon my family car could do this with a little car, but not in the wet.
The road passes through a property called Zig Zag and sign inform you that there is absolutely no camping etc, I reckon you wouldn't be able to drive a tent peg into this billy goat country if you tried.
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There is a bridge on this road that is a grid for its entire length, I hate to cross it in the wet and putting a foot down would/could be very interesting.
You cross Spinfex Creek a few times as well.
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The bike went well over this and I felt the improvements in front end feel and traction we well worth the changes. If you haven't put a set of true off road tres on your Strom then you are missing a lot of the bikes potential as a tourer. I don't expect to get big mileage from the karoos but already I'm getting big smileage. ( How corny is that?)
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This road goes past the turn off to Mt Fox and Hidden Valley, I'll do those another day. I stopped in Paluma for a coffee and scone ( how very quaint) then headed home down the narrow windy range back to Townsville all up 298kms a very enjoyable morning.
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I'm looking forward now to the Bloomfield track and Cooktown. I'll post a thread to see if anyone on the forum wants to join me or if you can't wait send me an email. As a retiree any day is a good day for a ride.
The road heads west from here and I was looking for Keelbottom Creek but I think Yasi may may blown the sign down. Eventually I turned north expecting a dirt road as the sign said, but instead there was a fairly new bitumen one with a bit of water damage.
From here it was a pleasant ride with plenty of wildlife to watch for. A couple of curious emus followed by three wedge tailed eagles and numerous macropods.
Eventually I found the turn off to Paluma and promises of dirt. Apart from the water in a couple of places I reckon my family car could do this with a little car, but not in the wet.
The road passes through a property called Zig Zag and sign inform you that there is absolutely no camping etc, I reckon you wouldn't be able to drive a tent peg into this billy goat country if you tried.
There is a bridge on this road that is a grid for its entire length, I hate to cross it in the wet and putting a foot down would/could be very interesting.
You cross Spinfex Creek a few times as well.
The bike went well over this and I felt the improvements in front end feel and traction we well worth the changes. If you haven't put a set of true off road tres on your Strom then you are missing a lot of the bikes potential as a tourer. I don't expect to get big mileage from the karoos but already I'm getting big smileage. ( How corny is that?)
This road goes past the turn off to Mt Fox and Hidden Valley, I'll do those another day. I stopped in Paluma for a coffee and scone ( how very quaint) then headed home down the narrow windy range back to Townsville all up 298kms a very enjoyable morning.
I'm looking forward now to the Bloomfield track and Cooktown. I'll post a thread to see if anyone on the forum wants to join me or if you can't wait send me an email. As a retiree any day is a good day for a ride.
