It was hard work dragging myself out of the serenity of Agnes Water and 1770, but new adventures lay ahead!
In Rockhampton I finally returned to the tropics which made me so happy that I even closed my eyes for the celebratory picture.
Sadly the tropics also came with a cold front and I found myself facing more freezing cold tenty nights.
It didn´t take long though before I made some new friends to share breakfast with.
And then I met the first cycle tourer I´ve seen in Australia.
Peter just so happened to be going in the same direction and despite being a real cyclist (he even wears lycra), on a circum-cycligation, even (believe it or not) did the same daily averages as me
It was awesome having a few days of cycle camaraderie, especially when my carrier broke and Austrian ingenuity (and wire and cable ties) saved the day.
The kilometers pedaled kept increasing and Cairns kept getting closer
Too close in fact, I had to start taking detours (and start stopping for more selfies)
The first sights and sounds of Airlie Beach made me feel quite at home
Outside Bowen I found (and licked) the Big Mango
And while the terrain turned harsh and arid, it was extraordinarily beautiful!
And then quite suddenly the road made me run into these too crazy souls: Joe and Josh are walking, yes, WALKING from Cairns to Melbourne.
It´s always good to find people on a crazier mission than your own!
(find their ´`walk the Line`` facebook page)
No, I think cycling is about as slow as it gets for this Part Time Professional Gypsy!
I like having time to put my feet down
...or up
And even if there is that occasional (or frequent as it´s been of late) breakdown, it´s all part of the adventure!
Townsville has greeted me so warmly that I´ve delayed departure substantially!
Taking time off to explore (thanks to the excellent services of Fantasea) Magnetic Island.
There are a few more hills than my gears like on the island (I'm finally fit enough to tackle them, but I fear my gears - like my wheels - might be on their last legs)
No, bicycle gypsying is amazing.
Everyone should give it a try.
The last leg begins tomorrow and I hope the craziest adventures are yet to come@
It´s the last leg and the final push, and if you haven´t done so already please don´t forget to get involved, donate and support www.bikes4life.com.au
And then get out of the house and off your computer and go ride your bicycle!!!
