Day 22 Hughenden to Mt Isa 535kms

Not much to report today.... We got away around 8 and knocked off 250 KM's before we stopped for a bacon an egg sandwich and coffee at the BP roadhouse... This is becoming a daily ritual. The Roadhouses have become our saviour as we ride in to small one horse towns... I recall a comment by John before we left Fremantle 3 weeks ago " a road house you have got to be kidding".  

The first 450kms was boring boring straight the only excitement as dodging the road kill... And there was plenty off it, the most we have seen on the trip... We rode into Cloncurry the hottest place in Australia at 51.3c .... It was a lovely 23c when we arrived.. The ride and scenery from Cloncurry to Mt Isa was awesome ... The centre of the outback... we passed a Burke and Wills monument on the way..

Booked into the Ibis in Mt Isa...l not sure what will happen for the rest of the day but I am sure beer and food will be involved...

Not many pics today

Day 21 Undara - Mt Surprise to Hughenden 392 KM's

We head off fairly early after a cup of tea and headed to Mt Surprise for fuel and breakfast.. This is where I realised that we where heading in the wrong direction ... We we heading up to the gulf rather than Charters Towers... It's hard to believe but John met an old NMHG MD from China at Mt Surprise Small world. We had a quick chat took some pictures... I figured out that we had come 60kms in the wrong direction so back on the bikes to the turn off we missed the previous evening.... Fortunate really as we would not have spotted the railway carriages... 

We stopped off for fuel before we tacked a section of road 258kms of gravel and bitumen... Another surprise moment a truck driver gave me $20 for the charity.... People are amazing....

The first section of the road was fine then it got really difficult.... Story of the day John dropped his bike in a tricking section... All I heard in the headphone was "mayday mayday" I am down , I looked in my mirror and John was rolling on the ground ( very theatrical ) . I turns around stop, everything was fine so a took a couple of pic before we lifted the bike up.... The remaining 3 hrs where tough either of us could have been down at anytime.... It's was great to see bitumen again...we rode in Hughenden and checked into a motel... Both of us totally stuffed...

Beer time...

 

Day 20 Cooktown to Cairns then the outback (Undara) 494 KM's

An interesting day which started in Cooktown and ended somewhere in the outback after a wrong turn.. Great ride from Cooktown down to Cairns to get our rear tyres... We stopped off at the "roadhouse with legs " for breakfast but where disappointed with 2 old boilers servicing... Anyway the breakfast and coffee where good... Got into Cairns just before lunch, headed to the bike stop where Cameron quickly fitted the tyres $270 bargain...cheaper than Perth.

We fuelled and headed up the Atherton tableland on the Savannah Way... We started to run out of daylight at forty mile scrub where we made the wrong turn towards Mt Surprise... We passed a few very crappy places along the way (according to John)  so we push on to find somewhere better to stay... We came across the sign to Undara ( John suggested we go and investigate) a stroke of genius... A great place where you stay in old train carriages... ( see pics ). We had to get past the wild life and cattle ... A few heart stopping moments . 

Day 19 Port Douglas to the Daintree to Cooktown 368 KM's

,Day 19 started with breakfast in the room, Weetbix and fruit... We need to start looking after the body... ( Lost cause for me I think) Far too many bacon and eggs.  We headed out of Port Douglas and missed the turning to Cooktown .... We took the scenic route along the coast to the village of Daintree... The scenery is spectacular ... After a short stop we headed back to the turning and on the way to Cooktown...  For me this section of our trip was totally unexpected , the scenery changed as we moved into the mountains. The road has to be one of the top motorcycle routes in Australia, everything from long straights to great sections of turns ... You have to keep an eye out for Kangaroos and wild pigs. 

We saw a number of large wedge tail eagles , one had a wing span half way across the road.  

We stop at the Lakeside Roadhouse for lunch and coffee.. Certainly one of the best roadhouse we have used... The local scenery was particularly special ...long legs and short shorts. Roll on Broome

We rolled into Cooktown to find out that most of the accommodation was booked... A tax payer paid government junket was on (national trust). We managed to get the last 2 rooms in a very average motel..  

Couple of beers and some reef fish from the local fishy. ( and a very special sunset with John)

Day 18 Cairns to Port Douglas... 66 KM's

A very easy day today... Started with a full breakfast at the hotel then we set off to find the bike shop to arrange 2 rear tyres to be fitted later in the week...  After that we headed of on one of the most scenic rides in Australia.... Cairns to Port Douglas ..

We found an excellent place to stay ... A newly refurbished motel call the Port Douglas Motel , Susie and Leo made us most welcome and also donated $50 to the charity... Certainly one of the best if not the best place we have stayed..

Fund raising know stands at $22,073.70

John headed to town for a haircut... Sorry no before and after shots, while I headed off to see a guy make acoustic guitars.  

The afternoon was spend at the marina waiting for a sighting of George the Groper... George decided not to turn up...  Had a bucket of prawns and a beer while we waited.

I also caught up no washing ...

Here's is some pics of the day...

Day 17 Airlie Beach to Cairns 623 KM's

A great night at Airlie beach....we left at 8:15 and headed back to the Bruce Highway and onto our next stop.... It was overcast for most of the day but no rain... We went into to Bowen, as I decided I needed a Macca's breakfast, this turn out to be a poor decision on  my part as we wondered around looking for the place... John was very patient .... I was in a out in 5 mins and left Bowen behind us... Glad we did not stay there...

We pushed on up the coast , through Townville and on into Cairns where we are staying tonight.

We stopped off at Etty Bay where the rain forest meets the sea... 

We are just over half way .... around Australia .

Day 16 Emu Park to Airlie Beach 506 KM's

The best way to explain last nights camping experience is interesting... After a great meal at the pub we retired to bed at 7:30pm .... Yep 7:30pm.

Woke up this morning with Johns  camping equipment completed wet through from the dew a d condensation.  John was a missable site looking very dejected , so he threw everything on the bike (wet) and headed for the bakery... Me on the other hand was completely dry (in the orange tent). i had a shower packed up and headed for the bakery..

See pic of John drying out the sleeping bag...

The original decision was to head to Bowen but once we saw the Airlie beach sign we decided to detour and stay in a hotel on the beach... We both needed a good nights sleep.  The Whitsunday coast is awesome, my explanation a pics do not do it justice...

You need to see it to appreciate the views.  

We had a reasonably big night at the local beer cafe and tapas bar... I managed to find a Feral Hop Hog from Swan Valley... Best Pale Ale on the planet...