Biblio Turismo 2011 road trip

"Biblio Turismo is the NSW public library event of the year when librarians from across the state meet and visit public libraries over a three day period. We do it on motorbikes and use the event to help market public libraries. All those working in the library industry and their partners are invited to come."

Biblio Turismo went on its first ride in 2006 and since then has visited (2006) Springwood; Bathurst; Orange; Cowra; Cootamundra; Tumut; Tumbarumba; Corryong; Holbrook; Wagga Wagga; Gundaroo; (2007) Engadine; Corrimal; Bowral; Ulladulla; Bateman's Bay; Narooma; Bombala; Eden; Merimbula; Tathra; Bermagui; Nowra; Kiama; (2008) Gosford; Maitland; Gloucester; Tamworth; Armidale; Dorrigo; Bellingen; Coffs Harbour; Nambucca Heads; Stuarts Point; Taree; Forster; (2009) Singleton; Denman; Mudgee; Wellington; Dubbo; Parkes; Forbes; Eugowra; Canowindra; Blaney; Bathurst; Katoomba; (2010) Campbelltown; Mittagong; Goulburn; Braidwood; Queanbeyan; Canberra; Tidbinbilla; Cooma; and Thredbo libraries. 

 

(the 2011 Biblio shirt)

This year (Dec 1-3) I joined the 'mild ones' as they set out to visit Cessnock; Muswellbrook; Scone; Gunnedah; Manilla; Walcha; Wauchope; Port Macquarie; Nabiac; Raymond Terrace; Tomaree; and Shoal Bay libraries.  
I also tweeted the event (a first for biblio apparently - http://storify.com/CatyJ/biblioturismo2011 also http://storify.com/CatyJ/road-trip) and kept my family fully informed of my progress via Facebook (always good to keep in touch!)...... At each library I was sure to be the one running straight to a PAC asking "can I log on?".....

Riding down from Grafton I got as far as Bulahdelah before stopping for the night (beating a torrential thunderstorm by only minutes). I have to say the Bulahdelah Motor Lodge is a friendly spot, they offered to let me park my m50 in their locked garage overnight keeping it well out of the rain and safe and secure. The motel restaurant is also out of this world (I recommend the gnocci & prawns in blue cheese sauce followed by the home-made sticky date pudding).

I left Bulahdelah the next morning in the pouring rain and headed in to Cessnock where I planned to meet the rest of the Biblio Turismo crew. This year it consisted of Alan Flores (Gosford), Alan Arnold (Campbelltown), Leon Alavoine (Blacktown), Ian McCallum & Sherrey Quinn (ACT), Ross Balharrie (State Library) & myself (Coffs Harbour). Thankfully along the way the weather cleared and when I finally turned up at Cessnock Library (well before everyone else) I was more than happy to remove my "Michelin Man" wet weather gear (aka 'the pool liner').

 Cessnock Library provided our first ever Biblio Cake!!

Rose-Marie offered that I could bring my bike into the library foyer where she would also be setting up morning tea for us - so I did. When the rest of biblio turned up Alan brought his Ducati inside too and then decided to try out what it feels like to sit on a "real" bike!!

(now Alan, this is a real bike!)

From Cessnock we headed out to Muswellbrook. Now according to the map, the plan, and the instructions we were travelling via Denman. I must've double, triple & quadruple checked this with Alan before we left........ anyway, I went via Denman, everyone else followed Alan and hurtled straight up the highway....... Mind you, they did hold off on eating lunch at Muswellbrook Library until I got there which I though was nice of everyone.


At Muswellbrook Ross left us and returned to Sydney whilst the rest of us took a quick jaunt up the highway to Scone Library for more tea, coffee, and cake - trust me, you can never have enough cake!  

(Scone Library)

The original plan from Scone to Gunnedah had been to ride via Caroona, Spring Ridge, Premer, Tambar Springs, and Mullaley. Given the heavy rainfall and road closures of the week before it was decided to simply head straight up from Scone to Gunnedah via Quirindi. This was a good plan and managed to put us back on schedule (with some creative riding thrown in for good measure).


I love these roads. Turning left off the highway at Willow Tree saw us move on to some lovely open pavement with sweeping bends and little traffic. Perfect. Ian & Sherrey hurtled ahead to make sure someone got to Gunnedah Library before they closed. As it was we ended up arriving fairly close to each other and well in time for Alan to bring his Ducati into the library and read the kids a delightful story - "Once upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude". The ensuing line up of kids to have their photo taken on Alan's Ducati seemed endless!!


After locating our various accommodations we then met up at the Courthouse Hotel for drinks, dinner, and good conversation. By the end of the evening though the weather had turned decidedly chilly and a touch on the breezy side - a portent of what the next day would bring.


Meeting again outside Gunnedah Library the next morning we were all fueled up and rearing to go. So we headed up the Oxley past Carroll and then turned north towards Manilla, skirting around Lake Keepit and leaning into that cool southerly wind tearing across the Manilla plains. A short ride later we arrived at Manilla Library well ahead of time and happy. Alan once again motored his Ducati into the library and was content.

 

(Manilla Library)

From Manilla we began the trek to Walcha Library via Tamworth - so that Alan could fuel up, having a bike with a range of 125kms certainly provided the rest of us with much mirth. After a brief pause at the Moonbi Roadhouse, we then headed up the Moonbi's to Bendemeer and then right onto Walcha Road and through the ranges to Walcha Library where we were met with a much appreciated hot lunch. At this point I was feeling the chill factor and dashed across the road to Vinnies to stock up on some extra layers - which I was rather grateful for later on.

(Walcha Library)

Leaving Walcha we trundled along at a steady pace as we waited for Alan to catch up to us, which he finally did at the Apsley Falls turn off (it would have been nice to stop for a look but we were on a fairly tight schedule). After a brief pause at Gingers Creek (where I donned my wet weather gear again - more for the added protection from the cold than the threatening rain) we then continued down Walcha Mountain. This is where the others moved ahead. I'll be the first to admit I lack confidence on mountain bends. I love them but I'm also rather cautious around them. I guess having had a few near misses with oncoming trucks over the years has added to my caution. The addition of numerous roadworks featuring loose gravel also slowed things down a bit. ......... Bottom line though, it was a great ride!

(Jim Maguire documenting the evidence of a Ducati in one of his libraries)

I finally arrived at Wauchope Library an hour later than scheduled but all in one piece and fairly close behind everyone else (Ian & Sherry had arrived at 4:30 so I didn't feel too badly being only 20 minutes behind them). Jim Maguire met us there with tea, coffee, and some scrumptious carrot cake while Alan again manoeuvred his bike into the library.  Earlier in the day Ross had a replied to a tweet of mine making the comment that 'the Ducati has been in more libraries than popular fiction titles' - this is oh, so true. (I vaguely remember visiting Wauchope Library as a small child in both its previous locations. I also mentioned to Jim that I'd also done my Year10 work experience at Port Macquarie Library in its original location. I was certainly on some home territory here.)


After Wauchope I left biblio and rode to Taree (for the best & quietest night's sleep I'd had in ages) while they headed to Port Macquarie for the night and then on to Nabiac, Raymond Terrace, Tomaree, and Shoal Bay Libraries the next day. 


On Saturday morning after a relaxed morning spent chatting with my parents I then headed home to Grafton. Just north of Kew I passed the biblio crew heading south. I waved and wished them well.


I had a great biblio. By the time I arrived home I was exhausted but happy and felt I could do it all again in a flash - once you get on the bike and start going all the tiredness just melts away. Nothing beats it.


Already the planning for Biblio Turismo 2012 has started as Alan begins to plot and scheme a trip down south and across the border into Victoria. 2013 will hopefully see everyone head up north towards Byron Bay (I have my fingers crossed for this one as there are some great bike roads up here) and I dare say 2014 is shaping up for a visit to Western Australia (why the heck not?!). Already I'm working out whether to put the bike on the Indian Pacific and train across or fly to Perth and hire something. It's contagious this bike trip stuff. Darwin anyone??

Happy Biblio Turismo 2011 one and all - see you next year!