Black Dog Ride around Australia

Blog - Day 7

Day 7 - Friday 1st August - Cloncurry to Tennant Creek, 782kms

Mt Isa to Camooweal for refreshments

Camooweal to Barkly Homestead for refuel

Barkly Homestead to Tennant Creek

Click on the image to see live tracking. Password: BDR

What a beautiful drive to Camooweal, the countryside put on a spectacular show for our riders. The wide open country and endless plains were mesmerising. The abandoned homes and derelict towns on route were a harsh reminder of the difficulties others have faced.

First stop was Mt Isa SES who were up at 5am making sandwiches and slices for our lunch that afternoon. What a wonderful group of people.

At last we were in NT and as usual, there were hijinks and happy snaps at the border crossing before moving on.

Riders are usually aware of roos and other wildlife on the roads, but we were in cattle country now, and needed to be doubly cautious of these big beasts munching by the roadsides.

We arrived together at Avon Downs for an informal lunch courtesy of Mt Isa SES before riding to Barkly Homestead en masse, ready for our police escort to Tennant Creek. This was headed up by none other than the NT Police Commissioner himself!

We're not entirely sure, but we believe this may be the longest police escorted motorbike ride in Australia! Over 200kms in the northern tablelands our convoy stretched, a remarkable sight.

Once we rode into the township of Tennant Creek and saw a welcome sign for Black Dog Ride, the Command Crew nearly came acropper getting a pic, and then we headed off to the local RSL for a Lions dinner.

The NT Police Commissioner, John McRoberts, gave a rousing speech on the importance of raising awareness of depression and suicide prevention, throwing his support behind Black Dog Ride with a $5000 donation. Tennant Creek Lions also donated $2000 plus the takings of the evening dinner, all of which goes directly to Lifeline and Mental Health First Aid to support people in crisis. Thank you John, NT Police, and Tennant Creek Lions!

Black Dog Rider and Senior Journalist at Channel 9 spoke to John McRoberts earlier, who said "This is Australia, this is a country where we should be able to support one another. The quintessential Australian mateship is alive and well and Black Dog Ride epitomises all of that," You can read Simon's blog here.