|
Day: |
015 |
|
Date: |
Friday, 11 August 2006 |
|
Summary |
Riding from Charleville to Tambo. |
|
Start: |
Charleville |
|
Finish: |
Tambo |
|
Daily
Kilometres: |
198 |
|
Total
Kilometres: |
1956 |
|
Weather: |
Cold early (1°C) but warm and sunny for the
rest of the day with a moderate east (head early, following/cross
later) wind. |
|
Accommodation: |
Very basic hotel room in Tambo , Queensland
. |
|
Nutrition: |
Apple and pastries for breakfast, two pies
and a milkshake for lunch, and for beef sausages for dinner. |
|
Encounters: |
I rode into the very small town of
Augathella , which was a little way off the highway, looking for
something for an early lunch, and decided it must be the obesity
centre of Queensland . I cruised past the only hotel in town where,
on the verandah, were four of the biggest guys I have seen enjoying
a morning beer and then, when I stopped in at the general store, I
was greeted by two more of the biggest people I have seen. There
must be something in the water there. |
|
Highlights: |
In the late afternoon I crested a ridge to
find a sign saying it was the highest point on the Queensland Mains
Roads system (hard-to believe, but maybe they meant west of the
Great Divide). The ridge also marked the southern edge of the
Cooper River catchment system from where all water flows into Lake
Eyre . From the ridge there was a very gradual descent into a vast
basin which was treeless except for occasional lines of scraggly
gums that indicated where there were dry watercourses. The straight
road disappeared into the far distance and a road train that went
past me at high speed was still clearly visible several minutes
later. You could see mountain ranges to the north and east, some of
which would have been part of the Carnarvon National Park that Barb
and I have enjoyed visiting on several occasions in the past. |
|
Lowlights: |
The first two hours riding of the day when
it was freezing cold made worse by a steady headwind. Not only were
my fingers and toes frozen, but I could tell it was going to be a
long day unless the wind changed. |
|
Journal: |
I left the motel at 6:15am, stopping at the
town bakery on the way out to pick up some pastries to eat later for
breakfast. It was very cold and I quickly realised that the
headwind was making it even colder. The wind was an easterly and I
therefore had it against me until I reached Augathella (83km) in
late morning. The terrain had become more hilly and my average
speed must have been under 20kph. The countryside, which was a
mixture of grass and scrub, looked quite healthy and the cattle all
seemed in good condition (to my very untrained eye). The few
homesteads I could see from the road also looked large and
prosperous.
I rode into Augathella, which seemed a pleasant
Queensland-style small town in the hope of finding a bakery for an
early lunch, but finally ended up at a roadhouse where I got a
couple of pies and a milkshake. While at the roadhouse I called a
hotel/motel in Tambo to book a room for the night. I had heard on
the ABC that it was some kind of anniversary weekend in Tambo with a
number of events scheduled and crowds expected. No motel rooms were
available, but the publican said he had a basic hotel room that he
would hold for me.
To my delight, when I set out from the
roadhouse for the remaining 115km to Tambo, I found that the wind
was now either across me or from behind, and I made much better
speed during the afternoon. This road, which is now the main route
between Brisbane and Mount Isa , is a little busier, but still not
bad and there are often long periods with no traffic in either
direction. Almost all motorists and truckies give me a wave when
they pass.
I reached Tambo, which is a very old town around
5:15pm and checked into my very basic hotel room. I doubt that it
has changed much since shearers stayed here in the 19th Century!
The town was buzzing as the Tambo Shire celebrated its 125th
anniversary and the pub was humming until well after midnight,
making it difficult to get to sleep.
I’ve only got two more
days now on sealed roads before 500+km of gravel roads in
little-travelled parts of the outback. I’m starting to get a bit
apprehensive about how rough they will be and how slowly I will have
to travel. |
|
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
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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)
|
