Aussie Hospitality (I think not)

Glad he met some real Ozzies who showed him hospitality. Very disappointing to read of his experience at Balladonia. I know water is short out there, but really, that was mean.

Noted.

Funny you should mention Balladonia. We stopped at a parking bay on the side of the road between Coolgardie and Southern Cross on Monday and I spotted some graffiti on one of the concrete tables.

It said "beware the Balladonia road house, all staff had food poisoning in one weekend" or something like that. HAHAHAHA

Hay Ray

Didn't the pom know that we ozzie's have to PAY for our water.

I'm like you, it pees me off that these people come over here and think it's a free lunch.

they think is like riding across the UK 500 KM, gee they need to learn some manners

Richard

WA is a great state to be in (stoned is ok as well)

Member - Ray

I'm sorry but this tick's me

"miserable bastard in the roadhouse " did YOU go into the road house and talk to someone? or just take the pommie "miserable bastard" (sorry your words) for it?

You are canning someones business on hear say, or am I totally WRONG

Regards
Richard Kovac

Richard - I'm on your side - I usually pay for my water if I want good drinking water.
What stopped him filling up his bottles in the bathroom?
I have stopped several times at Balladonia and never had any problems with the staff - last time was 4 or 5 months ago. We stopped late in the morning and the prepared fast food looked a bit dry - I asked if we could have a freshly cooked breakfast - it was no trouble at all for them.

Lucky he didnt ask if he could have water for a free bath - but did Ray say he was a Pom?

At first sight, it does appear miserable and mean.
But think of it from the roadhouses point of view. They have to pay to have their water trucked in and it isn't cheap. Now a few litres for a passing cyclist won't break them. But how many tourists would want a free fill from your expensive water? Too many I suspect.
I always expect to pay for drinking water, a hot shower, laundry, food and fuel.

I had composed a reply to you people who stood up for the roadhouse but deleted it as it may have offended you. We spoke at length with that young bloke and I consider myself a fairly good judge of character. He was a very adventuous person who was obviously on a budget. He was riding direct south from Balladonia to the Cape Arrid National Park and I am sure if we had the guts to tackle as demanding a schedule as he has set himself we would not expect some one to refuse us a few litres of water.I have lived most of my life in the bush in WA and no matter how much water costs 99.99 percent of people will give water for drinking purposes.
And as for stealing water from the bathroom I think it would beneath his dignity to do so as I am sure it would be mine.
And I still say the roadhouse operater is a misserable bastard.

I agree with you Richard, he can pay for the water just like everyone else, its no reason to "black-ban" that roadhouse as he is only trying to make a living like everyone else, wake up people

Peter.

what a miserble bastard. The pommie cyclist will be able to tell his grandchildren how he cycled around the world and the only place where he was refused water was Australia. Some would say that's not a surprise.

Yet another road house w@nker to add to my blacklist.

Nothing like that story, but last Friday I stopped at Yellowdine Roadhouse with the inetention of stocking up locally (as I do with everything). I'm more than happy to pay more to keep the locals happy and this was no exception.

Well, they'd run out of LPG, run out of bread and run out of ICE!!!???? Yep, the Friday BEFORE a long weekend and they had bugger all. Four days later and no-one at the Roadhouse could even be bothered driving into Southern Cross to resupply with the hope of cashing in on the non-stop convoy of caravans on Gt Eastern Hwy. Total disorganisation and complete disinterest. Plenty of time for four people to sit outside right next to the fuel bowsers smoking Horizon 50's and comparing pimples, porn star fake nails and cliched bogan tattoos though.

On a happier note, went to the Marvel Loch pub and got to know all the staff on a first name basis (hi Porny!), free BBQ including rolls and salads and ice cold middies. Gotta be happy with that!

Havent personally experianced a bad roadhouse yet. Absolute best place ever pulled in at was the Blue Heeler Pub at Kynuna (bout 300km SE of Mt isa). Anyone passing through I would thoroughly reccomend to stop there especially on a Friday night. I dont think i ever drank so much bundy in one night or ate so much beautiful meat. Mixed grill was $25 bucks but it must have been 3/4 of a bull, 1/2 a pig and a weeks worth of eggs on that plate... Could have also had a salad but the look on the bar ladies face indicated that I should decline it.

As for this place in WA; maybe the owners had convict ancestors?

Q:The Blue Heeler Pub: have you left your name and number on my wall?
A: Yes, halfway up the left side of the door frame under SPUD in big letters!

Yeah Ray

I agree with some of the others in this thread.

You have perpetuated a 'hearsay' story with out first hand experience.

This not good. Poor form in fact.

I suggest you retract your story and apologise to Balladonia Roadhouse.

I think it has rained every time we have been passed Balladonia - twice very heavily. Maybe it only rains once a year.

Perhaps the first right of reply belonged to the road-house owner, not those passing an opinion. This has the look of a kangaroo court.........

No different than an "esteemed" member of the forum who takes off the tap handles during race week because mud may get tracked into the ammenities block , once bitten twice shy ,will never go to that establishment ever again ,

I understand both sides here, I think sometimes the problem may be staff that have been isntructed one way and are just "following orders" without taking the current situation into perspective. (not that I know the details of this particular incident).

Maybe there was an employee that had been told not to supply water to customers for free (to stop 4bys and caravans from taking 100's if not 1000's of litires of water for free) and just said "no sorry we don't give out water for free" without thinking of this guys circumstances. Maybe?

It reminds me of a time in Scarborugh (one of the main beaches in Perth). Ok, so I wasn't in the middle of nowhere but it was 40c. I had been swimming with some friends and returned to find that all our gear had been stolen, including my backback which had my car keys in it.

No money, no keys nothing! I had a pair of board shorts on and my friend a young girl (we were only about 19 at the time) only had her two peice bathers on! We walked up to the Mcdonalds who (after we explained our situation) refused to let us use their phone to call for help. We ended up finding someone who gave us some money for the pay phone. The real clincher though was while we were waiting the hour and a half the Mcdonalds staff outright REFUSED to let us have a drink of water without paying for it! We were tired and thirsty, our mouths full of salt water and sand and they just didn't give a crap. It didn't matter how much we exaplain that when everything you had was stolen and that it was impossible to pay for water when you DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY, it didn't change their attitude. In the 10 years that have passed I have NEVER bought anything from that store again. I remember once when we had been out on the town we even caught a taxi to the Mcdonalds in Inaloo (about 10 k's away) so we could eat there instead! LOL Now THAT's miserable!