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Date: Sun, August 09 1998 Hello, Always happens when I get to a town, so much to do there's always very little time for sightseeing, or even relaxing. How I wish it was possible to have a trip where all I had to do was just ride and sightsee and nothing else! If only that were possible! Today though, I must admit I was able to slow down a bit (being Sunday) and just potter around -- riding around the waterfront & having a quiet lunch in the sun on the lawn there, waching the view and listening to one of my favourite radio programs. Tomorrow I'll be moving from the caravan park where I've been staying (being reasonable comfortable there, even though it's very busy; managed to find a quiet corner for my tent and use the kitchen at less busy times -- at least it has free gas rings to cook and lots of sinks) to a Backpackers close to the station. I've booked myself into a single room there so I can be poised for a quick start (quick for me that is) on Tuesday morning, without having to pack up the tent etc. I'll be catching the Scenic Railway up to Kuranda on the Atherton Tablelands. I'll stay one night at the caravan park in Kuranda, then ride to Maranda, one night there and on to Atherton. Once there I'll be back in my old stamping ground -- everything will be suddenly familiar again from the time I spent with Dani and Darryl last December through Jan. & most of Feb. I might ride from there to Herberton, or might end up getting a lift with them (they go there often) back to the property. It was a great feeling to arrive in Cairns. I can now say that I have now riden almost the entire eastern coast -- from Melbourne way down the bottom to Cairns, not quite the tippy top, but getting there. It will be a bit sad to say goodbye to my old friend the Pacific Ocean, but none the less I'm looking forward to a change of scenery -- to the Tablelands and then especially the Gulf, then the Northern Territory. I'm very especially looking forward to getting to Darwin -- very different from any other Australian city I'm told. Which reminds me, my daughter Gabrielle (who lives in Melbourne) will be going to Darwin in October, mainly with the intention of visitting Kakadu. Would be great if I can swing things to coincide. Yes, that brings me to that decision I made, that I told you about last time, i.e. to do some selective "cheating" over the long bits. It's really my only chance of making Darwin by October, but even apart from that I must admit that leading up to the decision even before hearing of Gabrielle's plans I was feeling moments of extreme "travel weariness". Not of the riding I hasten to point out, not even of the hardships etc. Certainly not even of riding the huge load I've been inflicting on myself right through the entire journey. No what I've been weary of most is (a) the constant rigmarole and (b) the lack of privacy. Running out of time now so I'll elaborate more on that next time. Basically I was contemplating the journey continuing on for years and years which I don't really want. Not the way it's been working out anyway. I'm looking at a way of optimising the "fun" component. So the idea is to catch buses over the "long bits". More next time. Gorgeous weather here. 28 degs. C max day after day. Can't complain about that. Regards, |