I stayed in a small country town called Cooyar, swinging again. (In the hammock, calm down!). The local pub was banging, full of interesting characters. The local house painter Dave (Rembrandt), Dave the cowboy and Dave McCoy. All bikers who run the Viagra Outlaws club, sworn enemies of the blue rinse brigade. One guy even rides with his oxygen cylinder. Hardcore or what?

Dave Mac was a flat track racer who did well in his time, father of Garry McCoy, current GP racer doing really well. Great people and a cracking night out!

I’d set up in the back field away from everyone, next to a fenced off area. I knew it was a grave, but that didn’t really bother me. In the morning I had a closer look. Poor Ethel Tebb wasn’t even 5 years old when she died. I don’t know why she wasn’t in a cemetery, details were scarce. Such a small plot from over a century ago, yet still very moving.

Rest in peace Ethel.

So we’ve had the big pineapple, big apple and now… The big orange! (Maybe the big prawn was a red herring?). Whatever next??

I have a stowaway on the bike! Looks like a baby gecko. A cute little thing, doing no harm to anyone. He can stay as long as he doesn’t run up my arm!!

I don’t think he was too impressed with the cold wind, but as I head ever northwards it should warm up a treat. I wonder how long he’ll stay?

Officially the biker friendliest pub in Australia! At least that’s what the owner’s wife Colin told me, not that he’s biased in any way of course!

Having said that, I did receive a very warm welcome. I met up with an old friend Mal and we bush camped at the outskirts of town. Mal got me into hammock camping and it’s great! (I’m blogging from my hammock right now).

The hotel has leaflets printed with great riding roads, routes and directions. Every room has bike cleaning kit included and the locals all seem to ride. By the end of the night I almost felt guilty for not staying there.

In the morning Colin got some shots for the bike MAG he works for, but I’m not holding out any hope of being famous. (Been there before!).

… in half a day. Even Concorde couldn’t do that!

One thing I will say about Byron Bay though, the wildlife isn’t so wild. Brush turkeys bring a real pain when it came to food, pinching it and ripping open bags! They’re protected, which for them is a good thing!

But, I managed to get closer to a kookaburra than I’ve ever done before. This fella let me come and take his picture no problem. They’re a lovely looking and sounding bird.

I spent a couple of days spent holed up in Byron Bay, it rained all the time. Last time I went there, it rained solid for 3 days. It’s probably a nice place when it’s not raining! As soon as I got a few km away it stopped. Hey ho.

Moving again today and I managed to get across the border to Queensland. Just across the border, by a few yards! Texas is a great place, it turns out to be a real biker friendly Mecca. Great roads, good hospitality and (at last) it’s starting to get a little warmer. Hurrah!

It’s also nice to be able to say I’ve been to Texas – both of them!

Sod the big pineapple, look at the BIG prawn! It’s huge!! Slightly intimidating, completely pointless and no one even seems to know why???

I bumped into a couple of guys in a Rolls Royce, looking to take some pictures like me. They’d also driven up from Melbourne, how much did they spend in fuel??

Either way, whatever it’s for, the big prawn has certainly made an impression. Whoever made it, and for whatever reason, I salute you!!

So the Ozzie’s are into big things. The big rock, big koala, big banana etc.. On the way to the big prawn (see above) I came across the big pineapple.

Not sure what the window is for, but as a stand alone piece or was quite impressive….. Until I saw the big prawn!!

Australian whit at its finest. What more can I say?