Made Mount Isa with no further issues and a new tire has been fitted that has solved that problem. It is not a tyre I have tried before but have heard that they are OK. Has to be better than the one that was on there.

They also inspected the chain and sprockets and gave them both the last rites. With a bit of care, they were confident they would get me to Townsville as they could not get parts until Monday at the earliest. The bike is booked in at the Suzuki dealer in Townsville for the new parts to be fitted either sometime Monday or most probably Tuesday morning. At least I am not stuck at Mount Isa till Monday or Tuesday this way.

This has meant quite a large route change as I was intending to be heading up to Normanton today and then east to the Atherton Tablelands and then further north but that is not an option at present. The current plan is to get to Townsville tommorow afternoon and find somewhere to stay till Tuesday morning. Then find some stuff to do over the weekend, this may involve a reef or Hayley’s left field suggestion of an NRL match, time will See. I was planning on a stay somewhere next week on the way down fron Cairns so this will be it instead.

Will have a bit of a think about a revised route over the weekend.

Staying at the Julia Creek pub tonight so I can get an early start in the morning.