Day 9 (04 August 2024) - Karumba to Mount Isa - 558 km

After a leisurely start to the day, Neil and Dave set off for Mount Isa. The journey was a bit windy for most of the way to Normanton, but the weather improved for the rest of the trip.

The road was in good condition, and to their surprise, there wasn’t much traffic.

They caught up with Kim, who was riding his BMW ‘Vacilando Cruising,’ at the Bourke and Wills Roadhouse and again in Cloncurry. Kim is always up for a chat, so if anyone crosses paths with him, they should definitely say hello. Unfortunately, Neil and Dave don’t expect to see Kim again on their Lap for Legacy, as their timelines differ significantly, even though they are heading in the same direction.

In Cloncurry, Neil reconnected with his friends Ruth and Pete from Morwell. Ruth and Pete are enjoying their nomadic lifestyle, helping out at community events across Queensland.

Peter, Neil’s friend from Scootaville 2023, rode from Mount Isa with a couple of other riders to escort them to Mount Isa. It was a pleasure for Neil and Dave to see Pete again and meet their other escorts.

The scenery on nearly all of their legs continued to impress, with the landscape or flora changing almost every hour. The stretch from Cloncurry to Mount Isa was no exception. Ruth perfectly described this leg as "stunning and breathtaking."

Not only did Peter escort Neil and Dave to Mount Isa, but he and his lovely wife Jenny also graciously hosted them for the night. Peter had also arranged for the Mount Isa RSL sub-branch to provide them with dinner. In addition to the meal, the sub-branch made a generous donation to their Lap for Legacy Facebook donation page.

Peter’s contributions to the Mount Isa community have been recognized, as he was awarded Senior Citizen of the Year in 2023. Beyond that, he and Jenny are raising money for Blue Dragon, a charity dedicated to rescuing trafficked children in Asia.

Support Their Cause
Neil and Dave are riding to raise awareness and funds for Legacy. Donations can be made via their Facebook donation page or directly to Legacy, noting 'Lap for Legacy' in the comments.


Follow the adventure of Day 10.
See the previous day's track notes.