This book is about adventure motorcycle riding, middle age, and chicken racing, but most of all it's about adventure and what it means to be an adventurer. On this journey, I learn to ride an adventure motorcycle in some of Queensland's most challenging terrain. I developed a sense of self reliance and found solitude wild camping in remote areas. This book is the beginning of my quest to ride around Australia. Queensland has some of the best adventure riding trails, tracks and roads in the world, from deep bull dust highways and long sandy beach rides to spectacular waterfalls and trails through tropical rainforests. Every town has a story, from bloody conflicts to the formation of political parties, throughout this journey, I take the reader through the heart of Queensland and the soul of Australia.
But this adventure is not just about traversing long, solitary highways and dusty dirt tracks. Along the way, I found myself dodging giant snakes, suicidal kangaroos, and even ghosts and tornadoes. I found myself preparing for a gunfight in an opal mining town and uncovering the true story behind the iconic Australian song "Waltzing Matilda" and the tragic fate of the old swaggie murdered at an outback billabong. These unexpected encounters added a layer of intrigue to my journey, allowing me to delve deeper into the quintessential Australian culture.
This book is for anyone interested in coming to Australia, riding an adventure motorcycle through Queensland, or who loves adventure and wants to plan their own escape. It is full of historical information about Queensland, motorcycle riding, and amazing people. The story takes the reader from Townsville in the north of Queensland to the heart of the outback and down to the Gold Coast before returning to Townsville via the Queensland coastal road.