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Journal: |
The best laid plans….. I didn’t get to bed until nearly
10:30pm after struggling to get my laptop functioning with the
wireless modem and a tired phone call with Sharon who was trying to
talk me through a resolution.
Regardless of bed time, I
stuck to my rising time of 3am, knowing I had a big day’s riding.
I got on the road about 3:45am and was pleased to see a runner out
for his morning run. The traffic was extremely light and most
traffic lights were green, making for a relatively quick passage
through the sleeping southern suburbs and then across the Storey
Bridge with great views of the burgeoning city. Traffic was
building as I headed north out of the city, but not in my direction.
After about 15km the main road became a freeway which prohibits
cyclists and I had to carefully navigate an alternative route which
actually adds about an extra 10km. The sun rose in a clear
sky, although it was still quite cold as I neared the precipitous
and impressive green-clad Glasshouse Mountains which jut out of the
countryside, almost like tombstones. I passed Steve Irwin’s
Australia Zoo before stopping in Landsborough for a big brekky.
The staff were very interested in my ride and came out to talk with
me.
I continued on, worried that I still had many kilometers
to go, having lost time going through the city and being too
leisurely over breakfast. I joined the Bruce Highway
northwards, which although a freeway no longer prohibits cyclists.
The road was fast traveling, although there were many long climbs
and descents through low forested mountain ranges. As the road
left the hills, the land became agricultural, mainly grazing, but
some sugar cane. It was still demandingly undulating and it
was warm and hard work. I reached Gympie soon after noon and
stopped for a salad sandwich in a bakery. I still had over
140km to go and decided to ride the 81km to Maryborough where I knew
there was a big service station where I could get an early dinner
before riding the last 62km to Childers. The ride to
Maryborough continued undulating through agricultural country with
the obligatory mountain ranges to cross every so often. I
stopped for a very nice Chicken a la King with rice, the restaurant
special, at 5pm and sat outside watching the world finish its
working day.
I then rigged for night riding and rode the
relatively flat and straight, but very busy with trucks, road to
Childers where I checked into the motel. Another long day
tomorrow, although hopefully a little quicker traveling.
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