Day: |
012 |
Date: |
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
|
Accommodation |
Motel in Normanton
|
Summary |
Riding from Georgetown to Normanton
|
Start Time: |
1:20am
|
Finish Time: |
3:20pm
|
Daily
Map Kms: |
300
|
Total
Map Kms: |
3,158
|
Map Kms To Go: |
11,253
|
Map Kms ahead (+)/ behind (-) schedule: |
-192
|
Daily Odometer Kms: |
306.0
|
Daily Average Speed: |
25.43kph
|
Weather: |
Cool at first. Warm and sunny later. Light SE/NE
winds.
|
Nutrition: |
Big Brekky for breakfast. Hamburger, chips and yoghurt for
dinner. Various snacks during the day.
|
Encounters: |
A few kangaroos, a few eagles, and herd of wild boar crossing the
road in front of me (having been chased by a wild boar on a previous
trip, I did plenty of yelling as I approached and they took off into
the bush).
|
Highlights: |
The first three hours riding at night under the full moon on a
cloudless and windless night was fantastic. I only saw two
other vehicles and no other lights of any description. It was
like I had the whole world to myself. The silence was
palpable.
|
Lowlights: |
Very sleepy most of the day.
|
Daily Pictures: |
Here |
Daily Podcasts: |
Here &
Here |
Journal: |
I got up at 12:30am and was on the road by 1:20am. It was
cool but pleasant and I made good time on what seemed like my
private bike path through the brilliantly moonlit bush. The
countryside was mildly undulating savannah with occasional grazing
cattle, which I had to watch out for on the road. Around
dawn I suddenly started feeling very sleepy, the product of two
nights with little sleep and had to struggle to keep awake as I rode
over the last low mountain range and descended into the little
outback town of Croydon (148km) at 7:45am. I found a roadhouse
and ordered breakfast and two cups of coffee, and bought some drinks
and snacks to see me through to the next town, Normanton (152km), my
target for the day. With a full stomach and the day rapidly
warming up, I was soon dozing while pedalling again. The
countryside had flattened out with long straight stretches and light
traffic, mainly grey nomads towing caravans. There were
occasional partly dry creeks and stock waterholes that attracted a
variety of birdlife. The temperature rose into the high 20s
Centigrade and I distracted myself by listening to the ABC’s morning
talkback show where the recently announced Queensland local
government amalgamations was getting plenty of air time. I
broke the trip into 30km sections, stopping briefly at the end of
each for a drink and snack, and although it seemed to take forever,
I made reasonable time and got to the Normanton junction (7km south
of Normanton), Eugen’s next checkpoint, just before 3:00pm. I
then rode into Normanton, checked into a motel 2kms south of town
and rode into town to get some dinner and supplies for tomorrow.
I’ll leave very early again, and won’t see any settlements
until the Burke & Wills Roadhouse (192km) so need to be reasonably
self-sufficient. I’m hoping to continue onto Cloncurry,
another 181km, but it will depend on how I feel and whether I have
favourable riding conditions. Apart from the need for sleep
today, I don’t feel too bad, but don’t know how I’ll go doing
another long day tomorrow. I feel I’m near the edge.
|
|
ADVENTURE LIST
Round Ireland
(2016)
Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)
Via Alpina
(2012)
Australian Alps Walking
Track (2011)
Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)
Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)
Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)
Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)
Three Peaks Race
(2004)
Appalachian Trail
(1986)
Alpine Track
(1983)
|