Decision time...

Took a shower this morning and then packed everything back onto the bike to be on the road by 8am but wound up soaked through with sweat in less than 15 minutes. The day is not starting well.

After taking a run along the waterfront I headed north. While parked up in Innisfail at McDonalds with a coffee texting my brother and complaining about the heat he gives me the usual "harden the f**k up" speach so I get out the tablet and start looking for some bendy roads. If I'm gonna be melting I might as well have some fun at the same time.

The route chosen, I ring Cooktown to book accommodation only to be told I'll never make it before dark (and we all remember what happens with roos when the sun goes down) so I just bite the bullet and keep heading north instead.

Turns out, it's the right choice. Cairns to Port Douglas - 57 klms of winding beachfront road. You know it's going to be good when the sign says Caution: Motorcycle Crash Zone Next 57klm.

Sea breezes, no traffic, and many, many corners (or perhaps it would be easier to say no straight sections).

From Port Douglas it was up over Mt Molloy and 32 klms of fantastic road surface and unbelievably great corners.

From Mt Molloy it was a roll on through to the Mulligan Highway which started out looking like another long straight stretch but wound up being the most interesting part of the journey to date.

Highlights along the way: dodged Brahman cattle countless times; rode 36 klm's through smoke from a bushfire; passed a mountain that looked like it was man made by giant dump trucks loaded with boulders; and in less than 100 metres got shunted to the right lane and back to the left by a whirlwind.

Glad to arrive in Cooktown at the end of a very long, eventful day. Oh, and just as I enter the township, the first police radar trap of the journey (and lucky for me he already had a victim).

Today's Route

The journey so far....

Next stop Cardwell by the beach

Hot, hot, hot. That's the only way to describe today. Sweltering heat. The sign entering Townsville said 36c but I'm sure the real-feel was much higher.

Hot temps and long straight roads made for a miserable and long day in the saddle. The speed limit has been mostly 110kph and even at that speed, there's no relief from the wind when the wind itself is bloody scorching hot.

Spent the night in Cardwell at a quiet camp ground back off the highway and left the top off the tent, sleeping in what amounted to be just a flyscreen with a groundsheet.

Today's Route

A day of changing scenery...

Got off to an early start today. Left Biloela at 8.30 and headed for Rockhampton. Flat roads, roadworks,  and trucks were the order of the day.  Stretched the tank all the way to Mount Morgan (no fuel stops in between) and was going to stop but it was too hot and the breeze on the bike wasn't cool, but it was better than standing still.

Not long after leaving I was just thinking that I hadn't seen any decent corners since Brisbane when I was suddenly staring down a brand new stretch of smooth bitumen that snaked its way down through a gorge.

Unfortunately, the run was short lived and within about 5 minutes I was back to the flat straight stuff again. I suspect the 40kph limit down the gorge was meant to make it seem longer but that only works if you stick to the limit.

Spent the rest of the day from Rocky on riding through cane fields and for once, the smell along the road wasn't road kill, but the sweet smell of sugar cane. Harvest is well underway and lots of activity with the cane trains.

Saw a number of hawks today. They tend to swoop down alongside the bike and dive just in front at the side of the road and then rise up quickly, usually with a rodent or a snake in their talons. Such a great thing to watch and not something you'd see in a car.

Traveled right through to O'Connell River (just short of Proserpine) and found a comfy little cabin kitted out with air-conditioning (cool, cool air) in a camp ground just prior to the bridge. Rode into Proserpine in the dark to get some groceries and wound up shopping in a darkened supermarket due to a power outage.

Day Route

Long hot day in the saddle....

Left it till after peak hour to hit the road this morning, although even at 9.30am it was still very much bumper to bumper.

Coffee and a pie for lunch in Blackbutt then on to Gayndah for a quick visit with my youngest brother.

Finished the day with a solid 3 hour stretch to Biloela, dodging wayward roos in the dark over the last hour (sunset around 5.30pm).

Broke my own cardinal rule of no travel after dark. It won't happen again.

Something to note: roadkill is easily detected at high speed on a motorcycle. The bouquet is especially fragrant in the Queensland heat and can be smelt for some distance.

Pleased with mileage so far. Getting 19 to 21 k/lt. Might be able to get away with carrying a 5lt fuel can from Cairns through to Adelaide.

Kaoko throttle lock is a godsend and will be looking for some highway pegs at next big town.

Kaoko Throttle Lock (the cog-looking thing towards the end of the bar)

Last chance shakedown....

Rode to Cunungra this morning, Mecca of motorcyclists in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Good ride, good coffee, great day.

Packed the panniers and pitched the tent in the back yard to make sure there's no surprises. Very impressed with the tent, and so was Odie...

It's good to be among people with similar interests that get what I'm about to do.

Sleep deprivation....

6.30pm Brisbane time and I've been up for 38 hours straight. Must sleep soon.

Took the beast for a run today. She's perfect for the job but it will take some getting used to a different riding style. I really have been spoiled rotten on the Honda.

Side panniers are cavernous. They should hold all the gear. Will do practice run with packing when I rise tomorrow. That, and will set up the tent and air it out so there's no surprises.

Several more runs planned for the weekend to make sure she's ready to go the distance then hoping to head north on Tuesday.

Eyes closing involuntarily. Must sleep.......

What a ride...

Helen Clark has nothing on the clown that just drove me to the airport. Non stop to Christchurch, 45 minutes ahead of schedule.

As tired as I was, by Hinds the guy was wandering across the lane and had me so nervous I couldn't even blink, let alone sleep.

It's 2.30am as I sit here at the International arrivals lounge waiting for the doors to open. Why would you close an airport when there's so many people waiting for their flights?

Oh well, nothing to do but wait....

Just tidying up some paperwork.

This will be the last time I even think about work for some months.

The last Supper.... Donette puts on a farewell spread for morning tea. Well done girl.

7 days before lift off.

Passport - check
Flights booked - check
Ride - check
Work - sorted

4 days and counting......