Broken Hill is a significant mining town in the far west of New South Wales. As the sign so rightly points out, visitors to this magic town are welcome.
It’s not just the town of Broken Hill that attracts tourists. The surrounding communities do too, for example Silvereton, where the original Mad Max movie was filmed and Tibooburra, the most isolated and far western town in New South Wales, tucked away right in the corner of three states, New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland.
We don’t visit Tibooburra when we are on the bikes as the many many miles of dirt road out to the village is totally unsuitable to our road bikes. There are two great pubs there though, the Family and the Tibooburra Hotel. Well worth a visit, that’s for sure.
For many years now a group of us have made a biannual ride to Broken Hill. From my place, if I ride directly to The Hill it’s shade over 2200 kms or roughly around 1,300 miles return. Of course, once we all get going we rarely take the shortest route so sometimes we travel over twice those distances.
Not everyone in ‘Big Al’s Mob’ ride Harleys so there’s always a bit of competition in the performance stakes. Most of the bike out perform my Harley in every respect except two, presence and comfort. As you get on a bit, presence is vital for the ego and comfort is vital for the bum and the back.
‘Big Al’s Mob’ is made up of mature age riders and those of us who have never raced bikes in competition are in the minority. It seems to me that the older we riders get, the faster we were!
Big Al’s rides to the Hill are organised to give the most fun and these days the rides are by invitation only. Fortunately for me, I’m stolen the OK list.
Our visit to The Hill included a number of must dos.
Firstly the Broken Hill Musicians Club. Great beer, great food, great entertainment and only a short walk from our favourite motel in town.
Secondly, The Day Dream Mine, on the way to Silverton.
Thirdly, Silverton itself and one of the Mad Max movie locations.
Forthly, the Sculptures just out of The Hill.
Fifthly, generally having fun at the end of each day’s ride.
As this is the last of the five by fives for me, I thought enough of the words and a few more images from our trips to The Hill. The images aren’t in chronological or significance order. I just selected them at random to give you a taste of the fun we have.
Big Al is in the photograph but values his anonymity
While we were having coffee at a small town en route to The Hill I noticed this bloke staring at us and using a note pad. As we went to leave, he surprised me by introducing himself and giving me the following sketch of our little band.
I framed it when I got home and it now hangs proudly here in my office. The other three amigos only got duplicate copies.
The young lady is named Laurie. She is an identity on Radio 2BH Broken Hill. We have got to know her over the years and now when she knows we are on our way, she plays’ The Boys Are Back in Town’ on her program and broadcasts a nice welcoming promo for our visit.
One final image, just for a bit of self promotion and exhibiting my egotistical approach:
What a hoot this 5×5 has been. Now it’s all done and dusted I’m sorry to have to let go of the reigns and hand over.
I’ve asked Greg Long to take up the job and I hope he can spare the time. Greg is a fascinating bloke who possesses great computer skills and is an artist to boot. I’m looking forward to seeing more of his images and great writing. Fingers crossed.
Hoo roo and thanks for reading and looking for the last five days.
CREAKINGBONES 
There’s nothing like a road trip with friends. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure. Hope you liked it.
I did. Loved the “Boys are Back in Town” bit. Those are the details that make life fun. Is the young man in that photo your son? I see a resemblance.
No, The young bloke is Louie, no relation. I have no offspring, when I shuffle off this mortal coil, there will be no one of my line left. I’m glad you enjoyed day 5.
A grand finale 🙂 Travelling tales are brilliant because they take us with you. 🙂 This said, I am happy to grasp the torch for a brief five stories but I fear my tales will pale compared with yours. Nevertheless, a large thankyou for your faith 🙂 Greg
Thanks Greg, I’m looking forward to five great reads and their accompanying beaut images.
First one done ☺
Very interesting! Also, nice photos!
Thank you.I’ve now corrected the typos too. Thanks for not pointing them out to me.
LOL! I didn’t even notice them. I was too busy looking at the photos.
That’s good, images make for great distractions.
LOL! I honestly did read your article but I read it real fast so I could look at the images. I have never seen Australia before and I mesmerized by the landscaping there.
We are blessed with enormous open spaces and a population that clings to our east coast. We have desserts galore, great snowfields in our high country during winter, and a tropical north that enjoys a wet and dry season. I’ve a T-shirt on the front of which is printed, ‘So many Roads, So Little Time’.
I’d better get busy or the bucket will stay almost full.
I noticed how flat the landscaped looked where you and your friends traveled. I live in a semi-desert area in the US. I live in the southwest (Four Corners). Our landscaping isn’t that flat nor is it going to Phoenix, Arizona (high desert). It is mostly flat there but there are also some hills, mesas and small mountains here and there. I live 50 miles from high desert and 50 miles from mountains where there is snow skiing in the winter. I hope you have plenty of time to get your bucket list accomplished.
Your place sounds like a little bit of paradise too. I hope to have the bucket empty or close to it when the time eventually comes around. Not too soon though.
That’s good to know. That you still have plenty of time.
For a 75 year old who pretends to be only 70, which is now the new 60, I reckon I’ve time enough left . I’ve given up all hope of owning my own hot air balloon though. My mates reckon I generate enough hot air anyway.
I loved this post! Thought it was so interesting and it really was fun to read. Looks like you have had many amazing times and thank you for sharing this. Really gives a broader insight to the adventures you can have.
Thanks, much appreciated.
As always, great photos and entertaining writing! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, much appreciated