Wednesday 12 Dec 2018

My plan to just do 45-ish kms per day is all going to ratshit. Today was almost 70 with a fair bit of up and down, much warmer again (35º) and my rear tire had a slow leak. Well, really not so slow because I had to pump it up every half hour or less. My saddle sores, pimples, whatever they are, also keep biting me, not comfortable. But there were some nice views and I am camped at a river again. I arrived at 1pm and had a swim, rinsed my sweaty clothes, fixed my tire, and had a cup of soup.

Trail markers!

The Fitzroy has occasionally shown some crocodile activity so you are discouraged from swimming. But people have created shallow rock pools that of course are perfectly safe. This time I am camped high on the bank because the only alternative is right by the water and that is always a bit tricky since the water level can quickly rise if there is any rain somewhere up in the catch basin.

I lost another one of my Mexican 1.5 litre water bottles damn it. I must have forgotten to secure it. This is the second one already, stupid stupid. Here 1.25 L is more common so I’ll be carrying a little less water, 5.5 instead of 6 litres.

Tomorrow off to Kabra where there is free camping by the Kabra Hotel I believe. It shouldn’t be more than 55k. Still more than I want to do, but there is nothing much in between here and there.

Another thing I’m noticing (again) is that you cannot sit your ass down anywhere in Australia since in no time flat you’re accosted by ants. Just little ones, but they always try a little bite. And sitting in the water both yesterday and today you are constantly getting nibbled by tiny little shrimp like creatures. They have sharp little claws or mandibles, also very annoying. Okay, enough whining, it’s nothing too serious.

There were again about 12 vehicles on the roads today. Something definitely has changed since the last time I was here, when setting a vehicle was a novelty.

Getting ready for “tea” now, pasta with salmon and probably some peas and tomato. A real gourmet feast!

Today’s totals: 69k, 585m of uphill, 5.5 hours riding time.