Day 110 - Go West

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Moura - Bauhinia 76km

Before we get to the highlights of today's ride, let's share some insight where we are heading next. Some of you may wonder why we didn't turn right at Biloela, heading for the coast to finally dip our toes into the Pacific? The thing with the coastal route is the troublesome Bruce Highway. The lack of alternatives to one of the most dangerous highways in the country and the many warnings we have been given (stay away from it) has us searching for more pleasant and still interesting routes inland. So before we are heading north again, we are going west first. Which, according to the Pet Shop Boys' hit song, sounds like a promising proposition:

life is peaceful there
(Go west) in the open air
(Go west) where the skies are blue
(Go west) this is what we're gonna do
(Go west, this is what we're gonna do, go west)

Of course, they didn't have Queensland in mind, but the skies are blue and the open air bit certainly fit the bill. We leave Moura after a hearty breakfast at the Ambience Cafe, which is a peculiar name for a coffee shop in a town where the ambience is largely defined by the impacting sound effects of the mining industry and the dress code of your main clientele is high vis clothing and steel capped safety boots. I thought the name of the local tavern was a better match: Coal'N'Cattle. 

Anyway, we are heading west to visit one of the National Parks that has been highlighted on our map since we started planning for this trip. Carnarvon Gorge NP promises a real scenic natural delight and has been recommended to us by many fellow travellers. But getting there comes at likely sweaty price of a 89km ride in and then the same way back out again (from Rolleston). After that the plan is to head to Emerald where we will likely stay for a few days and address some needed bicycle upgrades (new tyres). And from there we are thinking of heading north...

Just a few ks outside Moura we stop at the Dawson River to hit the reset button before facing what is going to be a long day of "straight ahead" in the saddle. 

Great for fishing: Dawson River

On a day like today any kind of distraction is welcome, even if it means we need to hop off the highway quickly to let this massive oversize road train pass. With one hand we wave to the driver in awe, with the other we hold onto our bikes trying not to fall over.


Given it's Saturday there is a lot less traffic on the Dawson Highway and a recent road upgrade in some parts also means smooth riding. But the monotony and repetitiveness of riding over 70kms still pushes the boundaries of boredom. Something we fix after a late lunch by tuning into our Spokesongs soundtrack and amplify the ride with some happy tunes. It is amazing what a difference it makes, when you cruise down a hill at 30 km/h while Kenny Chesney is blasting "you know we're here for the ride" (from the song We Do) into your ear. 

Straight ahead at KM 42...

Straight ahead at KM 52...

Still straight ahead at KM 62.

We arrive in the little hamlet of Bauhinia in good spirits and with an honest sense of a job well done. Camp is set up behind the petrol station (which is the official campground) and the traditional post ride cup of tea has rarely tasted better. 

Louise working cup of tea magic

The truckies have once again impressed us today with their considerate driving and examplery demonstration of "the road is a shared space and therefore we all need to do our bit to keep it safe for everyone". It makes me want to write a thank you note to be published in the "Big Rigs" magazine. And to seal the day with a truckload of gratitude we get another up close and personal with these two livestock trucks:


And tomorrow we "go west" again.





Location: Bauhinia QLD 4718, Australia

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