Day 140-141 Same road different days

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From Truck Stop (1) to Truck Stop (2) 91km
From Truck Stop (2) to The Lynd Oasis Roadhouse 102km

We continue to be well entertained on this Gregory Developmental Road or the Inland Way. It's either the cows, the changing landscape, the lookout for caltrope or, a new addition, the traffic control workers at the many road work sites we are passing today. 
It's just after seven pm and we have already retreated to our tent. With two big days throbbing in our legs, we feel it is totally legit to call it a day while half the nation is watching the seven o'clock news. 

Yesterday morning we woke up to a beautiful sunrise and the sound of nearby cattle making their first moves into another day out on the land.

Louise is glad to be up at the crack of dawn after a bad night sleep, tossing and turning while the mind is racing. It didn't help that I enjoyed a fairly good night's rest but in my sleep kept kicking my leg which delivered undesired sound effects. Our ultralight air mattresses have been working a treat but their one downside is the noise they make when one moves on them. Squeaky is just one word to describe it. But by sunrise, Louise's mood is very forgiving and we set out for the ride. No matter how many more thousands of cows we are going to ride by, we will never cease to be amused by their attitude and curiosity. Especially in the morning hours they show the habit of running along with us (as much as the fence line allows it). It's surprising how fast they are over quite some distance (easily 15-18 km/h). And then, of course, there is always the odd one on the wrong side of the fence:

We stop at a vintage looking roadhouse called Bluewater Springs, indulge in an ice-cream and a very brief window into internet connectivity before taking advantage of the increasing tailwind pushing us to our second truck stop overnighter. This one clear of any prickly enemies and Louise is snoring by nine o'clock, while I wander and wonder through the nightly hours in my head. 

The price for best character on the road today goes to the traffic controller at one of the many serious road work sites. Serious in the sense of having traffic lights either end, with kind human beings making sure that everyone does their part to adhere to the safety guidelines. When we stop at the red light, this chap was quick to have us reassured that he will make sure that we get to the other end safely and alive! He says: "imagine the paperwork I would have to do if something happens to you!" Very funny. He gives us the heads up in what order the traffic will move and when it will be our turn. Then he apologises for the wait, which will be approximately ten minutes. Enough time for us to lay the bikes down and engage in a friendly chat with the man in high visibility gear. What follows is a gig that could have entered the Melbourne Comedy Festival. I watch the humourous contest between him and Louise from the sidelines and laugh with them about the jokes that keep coming from both sides. 

These moments are priceless and the human touch in them is of the best kind. Eventually the light turns green for us and we hit the pedals with best intentions to honour the man's credo for our safety, still smiling about his sense of humour. 

About 20km before we reach our destination for today, we cross the Great Dividing Range a final time and officially enter the territory of Tropical North Queensland. It's something like 380km to Cairns from here, with a few mountains still to be climbed. But with the goodwill of the jolly good Queenslanders around us, we should make it just fine. 




 
Location: Kennedy Developmental Road, Conjuboy QLD 4872, Australia

Comments

  1. FrancieJune 29, 2022 at 5:43 PM

    Hoe that the Lynd Oasis Roadhouse is a good stop with some facilities.

    ReplyDelete

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