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Prelude
March 1-10
March 11-20
March 21-31
April 1-10
April 11-20
April 21-30
May 1-10
May 11-20
May 21-31
June 1-10
June 11-20
June 21-30
July 1-10
July 11-20
July 21-31
August 1-10
August 11-20
August 21-31
September 1-10
September 11-20
September 21-30
October 1-10
October 11-20
October 21-31
November 1-10
November 11-20
November 21-30
December 1-10
December 11-20
December 21-31
January 1-10
January 11-20
January 21-31
February 1-10
February 11-20
February 21-28
Epilogue

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May 21st-31st, 2001

Map 06

May 21st; Mackay to 22 km south of Proserpine

Bikes Direct storeToy postal truck at the mallWobble no more!  Nice to be on the road again.  Today, a slightly shorter day due to a delayed start.  Slept in past sunrise for once, but still made it to Direct Bikes in time for an 8:30am open.  While the owner/mechanic was busy working on the bike, I walked over to the Mount Pleasant mall nearby.  Had a good breakfast and mailed off the second ten days worth of pictures.  My father has copied over previous pictures through the 10th.

Costing $AUS 11.00, and an extra day and a half, I was off!  Nearly 10:30am when starting out, more than four hours past my usual start.  Always a little bit of an eggshell feeling on the newly fixed bike, but all rode well.  Noticed that the road was typically either smooth or corrugated rough, with not much in between.

Country farmhouseCockatiel at Bloomsbury roadhouseRode past The Leap and stopped at Kuttabul for lunch.  From here, road went through multiple drainages, gently climbing and descending for the rest of the day.  Sugar cane and more sugar cane along the way.  Reasonable shoulders, though some areas with lots of loose stones that would make a zzzzzrrt sound as they stuck in the fenders and then broke free.  Settlements of Calen and Bloomsbury had roadhouses where I stopped.  Other towns didn't have much.  Bloomsbury roadhouse had a large aviary and was selling tropical birds.

After riding 66 km for the day, pondered stopping at the Calen caravan park, but decided to continue another 32 km.  Only 22 km from Proserpine, but wouldn't make it before sunset.  Nice caravan park, though not much to eat.
98 km today, 7479 km cumulative.

Map 07

May 22nd; South of Proserpine to Bowen

Cricket in caravan parkMural in BowenEasy ride today followed by sightseeing in Bowen.  Caravan park had quite a bit of insect and other life around.  Ants on the floor, mozzies (mosquitos) in the air and cricket-like creatures on the wall.  Cabin had a small device that made continuous chirping noises and high pitched sounds.  Not certain what it was supposed to ward off, but decided to keep it plugged in.  Outside bathrooms had toads hopping around.  Didn't see any little gecko lizards, but they are also prevalent here.

Made certain I didn't have too many stowaway passengers and set off for Proserpine.  Some low haze and also remnants of smoke.  Otherwise, mostly flat with cane.  The 22 km to Proserpine went quickly.  Nice and hungry, so had a good breakfast.

At Proserpine the road forks to the Whitsunday Islands and Airlie Beach.  Looks like a nice resort area.  I continued straight ahead.  Next 20 km of cane fields with several crossings of cane railway tracks.  One area was planted with trees and a sign indicated this was for "rat prevention".  Not quite certain how this works.

Stinger warningBlue crab on the beachAfter 20 km, the cane fields thinned out and more through forest/scrub area.  One service station at km 34 was selling local rock melons (cantelopes) and other vegetables.  Next stretch had an area with a small grass fire that was attended and I believe deliberate.  Some road with loose stones and then I was already at Bowen.

10:30am at Bowen, same time I started out the day before.  Stopped in the visitor center and then rode past the salt evaporating ponds and into town.

Played tourist and walked in the Bowen area.  Downtown has nice wall murals.  There is a nice town jetty and beach with warning about "stingers" (box jellyfish) between October and April.  Walked out of town about 5 km and over to picturesque Horseshoe Beach.  Beaches in the area with hard sand and little blue crabs (soldier crabs).  The soldier crabs would scurry away until you got close and then bury themselves in the sand.  Also a fair bit of coral washed up.  Overall, an easy day ride.
86 km today, 7565 km cumulative.

May 23rd; Bowen to Ayr

Communication towerLocal produceFlat terrain along the coast resulted in another easy ride today.  Time of first reasonable light has slowly been shifting later as I head slightly westward and as winter comes.  At least two people remarked about the "nippy" morning.  Found it strange since it was at least 10°C (50°F).

About 5 km out of Bowen passed Merinda site of a coal export harbor.  From here another 5 km of fields before the road wound itself between low hills.  The next 40 km of road had a remarkably high density of road kill.  Mostly kangaroos but also hawks and remnants of small furry creatures.  Couldn't exactly see why since this area was dry grazing land with few trees.

At 50 km was the first service station.  Four military vehicles, an ambulance, a truck and half a dozen caravans.  One of the caravaners recognized me from nights before as they weren't going up the coast much quicker than I was.

Fields with plastic coversAyr Nature Display: Tasman Sea lobsterAt 65 km passed Gumlu.  Some orchards with mango trees and also vegetables covered in plastic.  This area has a very productive aquifer (liquid gold) used for irrigation as most rain falls during the summer.  A lot of fruit harvesting is done by "backpackers".  Apparently a good way for Australian, European and other youth to travel and also raise funds along the way.  Local papers carry a story of a wage dispute between British backpackers and a local mango grower.

After Gumlu, a service station at Mount Inkington with a friendly cat and this sign.  This area was start of the cane again.  At 100 km was the small town of Home Hill with a cute main street.  On the far side, I rode past a sugar plant and then over a large bumpy bridge crossing the Burdekin River.  The last kilometers went through thick cane and then into Ayr.  A few fields were newly planted with cane, something that is done every few years.

Ayr was another small town with an active downtown street.  Went to the Ayr Nature Display, an exhibit hall filled with dioramas made up from different shells, butterflies, etc.  The woman attending and her husband had put this collection together over 45 years.

In downtown Ayr a vendor was selling "Bushman's Smoko" or quick snacks of tea & something.  The term came from a quick bite to eat during a "smoke break" from work (at least how he explained it to the American tourist).
114 km today, 7689 km cumulative.

May 24th; Ayr to Townsville

Irrigation channelMango treesAn easy ride to the big city of Townsville.  Main street Ayr still quiet as I rode out of town.  Today mostly irrigated farming area of sugar cane and mangoes.  Most of the fields with large pumps to bring up water.  After Ayr was Brandon and then countryside.  In the distance, some taller hills that I approached and then skirted around.

Stopped at a service station with restrooms labeled "Mangoes" and "No Mangoes" without other clues.  I picked "Mangoes".  In the area following were orchards with many mango trees.  The road crossed many small creeks.  However, unlike further south, these creeks were more likely to have water.

Several places with road construction.  Unfortunately, when cars get bunched up on traffic lights, they come past in bursts, frequently trying to pass slower vehicles in their burst.

Reef HQUnderwater aquariumFairly quickly came to Alligator Creek roadhouse and thereafter to the Townsville info center.  In between was a large zinc plant and also Australia's largest copper plant.  At the info center, found a detailed route the last 10 km into town.  Nice motel, though I had to carry my bicycle up four flights of steps.  Seem to be in the bar district with one tavern named "The Mad Cow".  I suspect that name wouldn't do well in Britain right now.

Wandered around Townsville and bought a ticket for boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef for tomorrow.  Visited a nice aquarium, The Reef HQ.  The USS Blue Ridge, a US Navy ship is in port with 1100 sailors on shore leave.  McDonalds has longer lines and the tattoo parlor has a line of eight people waiting (not that I'm getting a tattoo, just counting lines :-)).
87 km today, 7776 km cumulative.

May 25th; Rest day in Townsville

Staying in the bar districtMagnetic Island dockToday a rest day and trip to the Great Barrier Reef.  The reef consists of around 2500 different reefs stretching over 2000 km from Cape York in the north to Bundaberg in the south.  Generally where water temperatures are over 20°C.  All together, the Great Barrier Reef is the most massive structure built by living creatures and can be seen from the moon.

Today's destination was Kelso Reef, approximately 90 km north of Townsville on the outer reef.  It took the fast catamaran slightly over two and a half hours to get to Kelso Reef.  The shallowest part of the reef was covered by a meter of water and the entire area was a lighter blue-green than surrounding waters.

Kelso ReefCatamaranAfter the catamaran anchored, a set of separate activities were possible.  One group went in a fishing boat.  A second group went scuba diving in deeper water.  A glass bottom boat went cruising with a marine biologist.  Snorkel gear was also provided.

I picked up snorkel gear and went swimming around the reef.  Amazing!  Many interesting corals, fish, jellyfish, clams, sea snakes, sea cucumbers, anemone and other creatures.  I was particularly enchanted by listening to parrot fish crunching coral, giant clams with little fish swimming inside and watching jellyfish float by.

Tide was dropping, so swam across the shallowest parts of the reef first.  Couldn't sit up, except in deeper pools.  After a long snorkel, came in and ate lunch.  Barbeque and a variety of potato salads.

After lunch, another snorkel and then a trip on the glass bottom boat.  One more short swim and our three and a half hours on the reef were up.  Extra boats got tied up, client list was checked off and we took off back to Townsville.

Overall, the reef trip was worthwhile.  One of my neighbors on the boat remarked he would be sore from all the swimming exercise.  I didn't say anything, but thought, "gee, this was a rest day."
0 km today, 7776 km cumulative.

May 26th; Townsville to Charters Towers

Billboard On the road again!  This time westward and even southward as I started towards the outback of Queensland.  Most of Australia is considered "outback", all except for populated east and west coasts and Tasmania.  Not quite certain where it begins, but saw my first ant hills and first road trains today.

Queensland scene with mistBars in Townsville must close at 4am, given the amount of noise and commotion outside.  I carefully carried my bicycle down four flights of steps to discover that I needed my room key to get out a locked door.  Back to my room and then out.

Townsville was barely waking up as I cycled out of town.  For the first half of today, the predominant direction was south.  There were slight grades to climb leaving town.  Tailwinds and flat terrain had spoiled me these past days.

Slowly went over the hills.  Cool cycling, even with some mist in the valleys.  Along the way, saw some 50 cm high boulders in the fields, anthills, though these stopped after some time.

Burdekin RiverAt 40 km, Woodstock service station was my first stop.  Dust covered everything that wasn't refrigerated, so this was a quick stop.  They've been refrigerating chocolate bars throughout most of Queensland.

Another 15 km further was a Mobil roadhouse and a brunch stop.  From here, the route had long gentle climbs and descents.  The climbs were hard to notice, except for feeling more tired, but the descents were wonderful.  Mostly grasslands with sparse trees along the way.

A small range of hills to climb as I neared Mingela at 80 km.  Signs indicated "Road Trains 50 meters".  I had a few triple trailers pass today, but nothing too bad.

Local watermelonsI had heard of a roadhouse near Mingela and was eagerly awaiting it as I climbed.  Nothing on top or until I passed the Burdekin River at 114 km.

The Burdekin was but a small creek, but had flood markers all the way up.  During the wet in 1997 and 1998 and many other years, flood waters were high enough over the bridge to make it impassible.  Hard to imagine today looking at the small trickle.

Last 20 km had some rolling hills, but nothing too bad as I came into the "Gold City", aka Charters Towers.  Most places closed on a Saturday afternoon, but looks like a nice center.  At almost 10,000 people, this will be the largest town for a month, except for Mount Isa and Darwin.
134 km today, 7910 km cumulative.

Map 08

May 27th; Charters Towers to Pentland

Interesting plantPeriodically had these road flooding signsShort day riding without much variety.  Charters Towers surprisingly alive as I rode through just past 6 am.  Newsagent store open.  Had breakfast at McDonalds and then headed out of town.  Just outside town were large sale yards filled with cattle and a notice that the next auction would occur on May 30th.  I've been seeing road trains and railway cars bringing out cattle now that dry season has started.

Gentle rolling hills with surprising contrasts between cool misty low areas and warmer hilltops.  Today mostly two or three types of trees and some flat areas without much trees at all.  As I cycled past one wooded section, some geese took off.  They were surprisingly awkward with feet out, but soon had landing gear tucked behind and looked more graceful.  Also surprised a large kangaroo munching brush on the side.

Cool temperatures cycling the first 43 km to Balfe's Creek.  Primary business was a hotel/motel/pub/gas station.  Filled up with water, 8 ppm of minerals, enough to taste but otherwise fine.  Brief talk with the owner and then on the road.

Open terrainBalfe's Creek figureApproximately 10 km further, a van pulled alongside as I was cycling.  About eight young adults inside and cargo trailer on behind.  We had a brief conversation.  Turns out, they were Christian evangelists on tour.  They asked if they could do a blessing.  I said, fine and so they gave a brief blessing of myself and bicycle trip.  Shortly thereafter, someone yelled, "road train!" and off the van zoomed.

Road trains today had up to four trailers behind one cab.  The roads became narrower and so I had to watch out more.  In a few places, there were rather poor, bumpy roads, but mostly surfaces were fine.  Primary cargos appear to be cattle, ores/rock and petrol.  Saw a turnoff to a copper mine nearby and many turnoffs to "stations", the term for large ranches.

Next stop was Homestead at km 74.  Another one store town, though there was also a small school.  Proprietor at the store recommended Pentland motel over Torrens Creek, "I've been hearing about them ripping off tourists."  So it was in Pentland where I stopped in the early afternoon.  Hotel/motel/pub had a room for $AUS 17.00 (or ~$9 US).

Pentland has a population of around 300 and a height of 397m.  A caravan park, hotel/motel/pub, antique shop, service station and a general store/post office.  Otherwise mostly quiet little town on a Sunday afternoon.
107 km today, 8017 km cumulative.

May 28th; Pentland to Hughenden

FrogGreat Dividing RangeThere was a frog in the toilet under the rim.  Flushing was sufficient to bring him into the bowl, but not back down the drain.  Not certain if he was otherwise harmful, so I left him to crawl back to his perch to delight the next visitor.

A change in landscape in the last 35 km of today.  Less trees, different trees and much more open grassland.  Watch out for wind!

The day started with gentle climbing through forested areas.  Narrow roads with a few road trains.  I've decided they are worse coming from head on, partially because they are a bit of a surprise from behind (I know it is a truck, but not how long), and it seems like the blast is at least as big head on, than from behind.  After 20 km, the signs said White Mountains National Park.  A scenic overlook for the Great Dividing Range and elevation 550m was 10 km further.

Straight roadsHughenden dinosaurThe next 25 km, the road was almost completely straight, with only gentle grades.  This brought me to Torrens Creek and a brekky break of sausage, eggs, toast, tomato and a pot of tea.  I had breakfast with another guest, an American who moved from LA to Cairns 24 years ago, and now did odd jobs and enjoyed the more relaxed lifestyles.

Mostly straight roads from Torrens Creek.  Eucalyptus trees with some grass and cattle.  Narrow and rather bumpy road surfaces for most of the 45 km to Prairie.  The Prairie cafe was for sale ($AUS 170,000 including a house on 1/2 acre).  Otherwise, a small settlement without much other business.

Approximately 10 km past Prairie, the landscape began to change.  First some of the eucalyptus were in bloom.  Then, the wooded areas gave way to much more open grassy areas.  When the trees came back, they were different types.  Also, noticed the wind more, though fortunately it was mostly a cross-wind.  I found out later that this area was known as "The Downs".

Reached Hughenden at the end of a 140 km day.  There was a small dinosaur on display at the info center.  Otherwise, a big enough town to have choice of several motels and several cafes.
140 km today, 8157 km cumulative.

Map 09

May 29th; Hughenden to Richmond

Grid == cattle grateGridHome on the Aussie range, where sheep, roos and cattle graze...Still needs some work :-).  Today, riding through open grassland without much in the way of trees.  Today starts and area of what I'll call "one day-ers", meaning no places for water or provisions except at beginning and end of the day.  I packed five liters of water today.  However, favorable tailwinds made it a pretty easy day, only two liters consumed and in Richmond by 12:30pm.  After Mount Isa, I expect a few "two day-ers".

Filled up on water and brekky before leaving Hughenden.  Better roads in this area.  Very gentle climbs and descents, but mostly a straight road with power lines on one side and railroad tracks on the other.  Saw a train with cars labeled "sulphuric acid" and another with mixed containers and tank cars.  Most of the road trains were cattle trucks.  Empty as they passed and full as they came back.

A few hawks, magpies and three emus were the wildlife today.  Mostly cattle country with a few sheep.  Sometimes a cow would get spooked as I passed and start running, leading to more of the herd running along.  Bicycle speeds were about right to be herding these cattle as I pedaled west.

Shops in RichmondDinosaur museumAfter about 30 km, the wind started picking up.  A glorious tailwind!  This open range will make wind more of a factor, and I was lucky today.

After 65 km, a small roadside rest area with picnic tables and toilets.  Good place for a mid-morning snack.  From here, fairly quick ride the last 47 km into Richmond.

Richmond has a very interesting museum of marine dinosaur bones from the area.  The rest of town fits on two streets.  Many stores closed between 12:30pm and 1:30pm, except for two pubs that serve counter meals between 12 and 2.  Post office and laundromat share a building.  Three bedroom house for $AUS 40k.
112 km today, 8269 km cumulative.

May 30th; Richmond to Julia Creek

All important water...Early morning, road to ChatfieldToday a long, but not too difficult one day-er with more wonderful tailwinds.  A beautiful sunrise today.  Landscape was golden colored as no rain has fallen since March.  I watched the stars slowly go away and reds and blues on the horizon as the sun slowly come up on the golden fields from behind me.

My intention had been to have brekky at the roadhouse on outskirts of town and I was there at 6:10am, ten minutes after it was posted to open.  Nope, nothing yet, so I started down the road at risk of running on empty.  The first 20 km out of town, saw the wonderful sunrise.

Winds were calm for the first 40 km, but picked up considerably through the day.  Wonderful tailwinds!  Landscape was mostly golden grasslands with an occasional shrub.  I saw a black and white wild pig, less cattle then yesterday and numerous birds.  Also a snake road kill.  The density of flies has increased.  I don't think this is entirely me :-).

Vet schedules his visitsStore in Julia CreekAt 50 km, was a roadside rest area.  Maximum stay was 48 hours, though it looked a bit bleak to stay for even 24 hours.  There was a water spigot, though I'd carried six liters today (and consumed two).  This place was named Maxwellton and had a few houses, though no commercial establishments.

Mostly straight, flat and downwind until the next settlement of Neila almost 50 km further.  Here a sign pointed to a Post Office and phone about a km away.  The last 50 km from Neila included an obnoxious stretch of 10 km of dirt due to road construction before coming to Julia Creek.  I was just in time to get a counter meal at the pub.  Asked the bartender, "What is there to see in Julia Creek?"  He looked at me funny, paused and said, "this is a problem, you've cycled all day from Richmond. but there isn't much to see here..."  I did however walk through the main street, looked briefly at the (closed) museum and otherwise checked out Julia Creek.

This area, the McKinley Shire, has a population of 1301 in an area of 40,728 km2.  Industries in the area include cattle, sheep and mining.
144 km today, 8413 km cumulative.

Map 10

May 31st; Julia Creek to Cloncurry

Tree in grassland areaEmus (I believe)A one day-er with a big change in landscape today.  I was able to get brekky at the roadhouse out of town before leaving, so it was nice and light when I left.

The first 95 km continued mostly open grassland and cattle grazing country.  Grasses were shorter and more of a rust color.  Not too far out of town, I startled an owl from beside the road and saw three kangaroos bouncing along.  Saw three emus not too much further.

There was a turnoff to McKinlay after 22 km.  This is location of the "Walkabout Hotel", used in the film Crocodile Dundee (though the actual setting is the "top end", about 1500 km from here...I don't think there are crocodiles in McKinley).

The route strayed further from the railroad and also tended to wind a bit more.  As a result, had mostly tail winds, but also occasional side winds.  There were multiple grids (cattle grates) to cross and several areas of open range with cattle on the road.  This made bicycle cattle herding more interesting, particularly when cows running ahead decided to cross, but kept running along to keep out of way of the bicycle.

Mining equipment at Mary Kathleen Park in CloncurryStopped briefly at rest area at 70 km.  Again, this had a water faucet, though I'd brought more than enough for a full day.  This area crossed several creeks.  Some were empty, some a chain of water holes and a few were full.  The creeks meant more trees.

About 40 km from Cloncurry, I noticed a set of changes.  It became somewhat hillier, there were termite mounds, there were quite a few more shrubs and also more red soil.  All happened fairly close together.  It looks like I might have reached the edge of the open grassland region for a while.

Fourteen km from Cloncurry, the road from Rockhampton joined and added considerably to traffic on the road.  Road surfaces were a bumpy chip-seal as I rode into Cloncurry.

Cloncurry is a town of 2700.  In contrast to Julia Creek, the Info Center had a guide of how to spend two days seeing everything in town.  I stopped at the Mary Kathleen exhibit which had interesting machinery from this town, though I skipped the mineral museum and its $7 admission (supposed to be one of the best mineral museums around).  I did pay admission to see the John Flynn exhibits.  Cloncurry was site where Royal Flying Doctor Service was started by John Flynn in 1928.  Very interesting exhibits and also some about the Radio School of the Air.  Cloncurry became a center for some of these services to more remote bush outposts.

John Flynn center was keeping tallies of where their visitors came from and had headings for states in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, US & Canada, Japan and "other".  The majority were fairly evenly split between Victoria, NSW and Queensland.  I was their first US tourist in May, considerably fewer than from European countries.
134 km today, 8547 km cumulative.
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