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.
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.
This is the turn off and this is the sign hidden on the side of the road only visible if you're heading east.
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.