​Today I fitted the Black Duck canvas seat covers to the MU-X. I’ve used these covers before in the Triton and was really impressed with their quality and durability. They held up brilliantly, so I didn’t hesitate to go with them again.

​I recently picked up a 2022 MU-X LSM, and it's been a bit of a love-hate relationship so far. The car tends to complain a fair bit, and there have been a few surprises along the way. I'm gradually figuring out how to switch certain things on and off so it nags me a little less.

But here's a nice little bonus I stumbled upon…
While trying to stash some gear under the passenger seat today (we were heading to the beach), I spotted a small grey box tucked underneath. It caught my attention, and I found myself thinking about it all day.

Later tonight, I managed to snap a somewhat abstract photo of it—just enough to help me identify it.

Turns out, the vehicle was originally a government fleet car, used in the Dubbo region by the NSW Farmers Association. That means it’s mostly done good country kilometres, which is a plus.
​
The mystery box? It’s a CEL-FI Go G31 mobile phone signal booster. I’d originally assumed the antenna was for a CB radio that had been removed, but nope—this thing boosts mobile reception. Brand new, it retails for around $900, though it’s now been superseded by the G41. Even so, secondhand G31 units still go for around $600.
Needless to say, I’m pretty chuffed! Best part? The dealer had no idea it was even in there.

The CEL-FI GO G31 uses the propriety Nextivity IntelliBoost chip to improve 3G, 4G, and 5G cellular coverage for voice and data in stationary or mobile environments.
Features and benefits include:
• Superior Performance: 100 dB Max Gain
• Environmental rating: Outdoor NEMA 4 Rating
• Multi-Carrier Support with Carrier Switching App
• Multi-user support
• Carrier Approved for 3G, 4G, and 5G Voice and Data
• Unconditionally Network Safe
• SMA Female Antenna Connectors

It was time to head back to South Australia. The smoke was present nearly all the way to Narrandera. It was good to be in fresh air again. I stopped overnight at Mildura and the next morning I went for a ride at.....

Coomealla. Mountainless MTB park
What a cracking good fun course. What they lack in climbing/descending, they make up with fun stuff. Especially the A lines. I didn't do two A lines, due to riding by myself and if I fell, I could be in a spot of bother, but the rest were fun.
This course is suited to a hard tail. I had no issues riding this on fully rigid, but hard tail, would make it a bit more fun.

Unfortunately my GPS shut down before I finished one lap, about 1.5Km short. There is a truncated loop that you can do as well, so all up about 16kms, If I had more time, I would've done this as well.
Map of ride.

Post ride, it was back on the road to South Australia, and home.

I will start this post with we made a hasty retreat from Merimbula, as the country was going up in flames. More so the fact that there was a chance of us being cut off from getting to Canberra. This wikipedia article, shows the bushfires and especially the fires on the South Coast which had the potential to affect us.
Subsequently a number of places we visited just days before were engulfed. None more than Cobargo. Here are the photos from a few days ago, when we were at Cobargo.

We made it up to Canberra, only to face incredible temperatures and more smoke from the bushfires. We ended up leaving the caravan park and moving into Rebekah's parents house, so we did not have to suffer the heat and smoke.

Even though it was still stoopid hot and smokey, I was still determined to go for a ride or three.
Smoke on the Ridge
Smoky, dusty, humid ride around Bruce Ridge.
Map of ride.

Returning tools
Always good when you can ride dirt to visit a friend.
Map of Ride.

Hot, hot, hot
Channeling the Cure for the ride title.
The tunnel was sweet bliss.
Had to ride Bruce Ridge trails again.
Map of Ride.

The aborted group ride. :-(
We were meant to do a 50km meander, but the fire ban has closed nearly every place that I was going to take people.
So we went to the pub, as it is better to be safe than sorry.
Map of ride.

Tathra

This route called enduro felt like it was a cross between downhill and xc. 😉
Evil Tom is!
Some wicked gullies to negotiate.
Would be interesting to see how silly it could be on a dual suspension bike.
Map of ride.

Ben Boyd National Park
We went for a bit of a look around the park and checked out some of the whaling history.

Mandeni Mountain Bike Track (Merimbula)
My hands are rooted and so is my cassette. 
Let me say that I recommend a dualie for this ride. So many roots, ergo why my hands are rooted.
Lots of bridges on the back half and a number of things to keep the shore kiddies interested. Then the rocks appeared and some deep crossings.
At some stage my cassette suffered a catastrophic failure.
Then my GPS died (lost satellites due to low battery).

Map of ride.

I then had to ride 6km's with a busted cassette to get back out.

Photos from a road trip from South Australia to Merimbula. This section is From Deniliquin, via Blighty, Finley and eventually camping overnight at Tumut.

Deni
What a great place. Rode the best pump track that I've ever ridden, even if you mulched it, you could still pump back up to speed.
Found some MTB trails, visited a pub and the Ute on a stick.
Fun was had.
Map of ride.

Willoughby National Park MTB trails
I rode the Crater and Echidna trails this morning and although it is flat floodplain area, it was a bit of fun. Would've liked to have explored some of the other trails, but that will have to be another time maybe.
The Echidna trail was the better of the two as it had berms.
Map of ride.

Tumut MTB sampler
What a great bunch of trails. Unfortunately time was once again, against me.
These trails remind me of Jetta trails. Twisty and a few rocks scattered around to make it interesting.
Would be great to have had suspension.
Map of ride.

Day 4- - ​North Largs to Mawson Lakes and our new house (20Kms)

Day 30 - ​Melrose to North Largs (284Kms)

Day 28 - ​Arno Bay to Melrose Caravan Park (292Kms)

The first stop out of Arno bay was to visit Justin Galbraith and his family at Lucky Bay.
We made it to Melrose and set ourselves up at the ​Melrose Caravan & Tourist Park.

Day 26 - Port Lincoln to Arno Bay Caravan Park (120Kms)

​On our way to Arno bay we stopped by Tumby Bay to check the place out for future visits. Tumby bay is a pretty coastal town with some great attractions.