The Lights Are On!

I thought that I might start talking about some of my equipment, bike equipment that is...lol.

First up I'd like to talk about my headlights. I have several that I use and that I am extremely happy with.
There are some things that you do need to spend that little extra on as many cheap lights talk the talk but can't cut the custard when it comes to performance.
Whether it be a road bike, commuter, tourer, mountain bike or just you general recreational ride, I'm sure that either of these three lights that I have been using will deliver the ability that you are after.


1. BONTRAGER ION 700 - I've had this light for a couple of years now and have used it extensively. It is a rugged and tough light that is also rather small and compact. It is fitted to my road bike and the beam that it has is fantastic. So good in fact that I have had cars flash me thinking I had a light on high beam, and well, essentially I did.
Shining at 700 lumens, it has multiple settings, high 700 lm, medium 450 lm, low 200 lm, flash and flash with a 50 lm low beam. It is rechargeable via USB and has a seemingly good battery life once fully charged. If I am using it on high, I can get around a week out of it, using it for about an hour per day. When it is on flashing only it seems as though I an get weeks out of it before a charge.
I am one to use my lights during the day especially when riding alone and this lights has never let me down. It is tough, I haven't been kind to it. It has been dropped, I have crashed with it on and it still keeps churning out a great quality beam.
The only issues I have had with it is the rubber USB cover split and if pulled too hard can dislodge. I don't think that it is the light's fault but more the user being a bit too rough one day. The other issue is the standard rubber mount that it comes with has seemed to loosen. It is adjustable but after time it can get a bit wobbly. I doesn't bother me at all when riding but it can be noticed especially on a dark ride. It would be alleviated if I had a blender style head stem.
All in all it is a fantastic product and I think you would be hard pressed to find a better head light on the market. They don't come cheap, but nothing that is worth it is...$149.00
Bontrager claim 1.75 hours on high beam, but I think you get a bit more than that.

For more information - check it out here

2. SOLAR STORM X 2 1800 - I haven't had this light all that long in the scheme of things but I am over the moon with it's performance thus far. A cheaper Chinese manufactured light comes in a X2 or a X3 models along with variants in lumens. My X2 shines at 1800 lumens and it is one I have mounted on my commuter/tourer, that I ride in the dark often for work.
It is light, compact and wow, does it pack out a beam...This thing lights up the road in front of you like Rudolf on a cloudy night. With 1800 lumes and Cree T6 LED lenses it is literally as bright as a spot light.
It has a rechargeable external battery that has its onwn carry case and fits easily to the frame or handle bar by way of a velcro strap. I have put extra velcro around it as it appears to move around a bit if you don't. I also use a little piece of non-slip matting under it just to help it stay put.
Otherwise it is a great light that has a great battery life. It has multiple settings, high, meduim, low, sequenced flash, unsequenced flash. The sequenced flash can be a bit trippy, flashing really fast like some disco ball on steroids. Other than that all other settings are fine.
Bang for buck it is fantastic and would be also great for the MTBer that likes a night ride. It comes with light, battery, charger, a couple of different sized rubber bands and can be fitted to the bar of your bike, or your helmet. The battery lead is long, so if you where mounting it to your helmet it could be easily stored in a back pack or hydration pack. It could be even stored in the back pocket of a jersey as it isn't much heavier than a banana...$50.00 from my Local Bike Store. You can pick these up on line from various places and on E-bay for a bit cheaper.

3. GUEE SOL 700+ - This is a great light for a budget price. 700 Lumens all the way with the added benefit of a light sensitive on/off, or SAS Smart Ambient Sensor. This means that you can set and when it gets dark enough your light will automatically come on.

It is USB rechargeable with four settings, high 700 lm, medium 400 lm & low 250 lm along with a flashing  mode.

It is a little bulkier and heavier than some of its caliber on the market, but it is certainly a great price for the level and quality of light.

It comes with a mounting bracket, extra rubber spaces with the bracket being adjustable in several different ways and is also compatible to mount a Shimano sports cam, along with some other brands. It is probably suited for a hybrid or commuter, or even mountain bike rather than a streamlined road bike. But if you don't care about aerodynamics too much, it is a great light for around $75.00.

The light has a good battery life and I use it in line with my Solar Storm and I have a good 200 mts light up in front of me. The Aquee on its own would give you close to 100 mts, plenty to spy out hidden pot holes or hazards on a dark road or trail.

Housed in a tough aluminium body I don't think that it will suffer much getting knocked around.

For more information - check it out here

There's A Big Problem!

I have a big problem. That problem is that I have become addicted to bicycle touring. I knew I would, and I am still excited about my last short but exhilarating trip.

I have had thoughts of upgrading to a new bike, a Kona Sutra. I am still up in arms about it. Do I need it? Do I just want it? Yes it is a far better bike that I have. But I have to be honest, I very much enjoyed riding the Merida as tourer. It gave me little trouble and seemed to handle the eight, that was carried over the back wheel very well. Yes, there was that small issue of the chain jumping, but I put that down to cable stretch as it had new cables installed not long before I left on my trip. And let's face it, that could happen to any bike really!

I suppose I can look over the last trip, not so much as I need to upgrade my bike, but rather what have I learned. This is what that trip was all about, a learning process. I had never done it before so of course I was going to make mistakes.

The first mistake was I tried to carry too much. Even though the bike handled the weight alright, the weight placement made it difficult in some situations. There was on one occasion that I thought I was going to flip after hitting a sudden sharp incline. The front wheel lifted and it seemed to guide me back and forth across the road on the back wheel. Nail biting stuff.
If I had front panniers, truly the weight distribution would have been far better. It's not so much that I tried to carry too much as I needed and used most of the stuff that I carried. Nearly all my food was gone. Maybe I could've cut back on one or two canned items, and I did not use all the clothes I packed.

The items I had were also bulky. I used my old mozzie dome as a tent, it was bulkier than a hiking tent, and I had to carry the fibreglass poles ontop of my rack, sticking out from the back. My sleeping bag, which I had purchased just prior to the trip, was still somewhat bulky. Even though it was smaller than my winter Black Wolf, it still took up some room in the pannier, making packing a squeeze to pack.

So, to fix these problems, I have bitten the bullet and purchased a new tent. A one man Outdoor Expedition hiking tent that is half the size of my old one when pack down. It also has aluminium magnetic poles making it much quicker to set up. And it is half the weight. It is a generic brand of Ray's Outdooors, but I am still trying to work within a budget. $179.00 reduced to $129.00 on sale.
I have purchased a new hiking sleeping bag, a Ronan brand. It is only a +5 temperature rating, but coming onto summer, I don't think I'm going to need anything that needs deep thermal capabilities. It is slightly narrower than my other bags, but like my Black Wolf, it has a zip all the way around and can opened right up. I'm not a stuff myself in a sleeping bag kinda guy anyway, so I can just use it as a light doona.

My second mistake. I underestimated water. Although I went through towns and was able to fill up, I had to change my plans because of my concerns with water storage. I suppose normally touring up and down highways where water can be plentiful, there is a lot of area in this country that town aren't so close. When camping in between them towns, and possibly needing to be two days before a refill, these are things I need to consider more greatly. After all my plan is to be fully self sufficient and travel into remote areas.
With the front panniers and smaller camping equipment it will be possible to carry some extra bottles with the panniers themselves. On this trial trip I carried three liters in a container on top of my rack. The storage container held a two litre hydration bladder, as well as a one litre water bottle. This on top of my rack coupled with a blow out in items that filled my back pack on the rear as well made the load quite high, causing a higher center of gravity. Down low is best, especially for weightier items.

My third mistake. I planned my route by distance I thought I was capable of riding in a day. This made it a push some days as there wasn't a lot of crown land that I could camp on. It made sight seeing difficult, and getting video footage and photos difficult.
Next trip I will work out what I want to see, rather than a distance I need to travel. I will plan a day the is "x" amount of hours long, on and off the bike. If I only travel fifty kilometers in that day so be it. Working out the sights I want to see and planning an allotted time to spend at each one, my trip will be more like a joining of the dots. Some days will be short in distance, some days I will need to get the kilometers done. But that will all be worked out before I leave.

My fourth mistake. I underestimated what it was like to climb a hill with a heavily loaded bike. I spent little time riding prior to my trip which was a big fizzle in my books.That is being rectified as I am back on my bike on a daily schedule. Track season has started so that has been a great motivator.
I also need to consider the possibility in changing the gear ratio on the bike. Although I do think with better weight distribution and some better fitness it probably won't be a major drama.
The front chainring on the bike is a 48/34/24 combo with a 7 speed 12-30 cassette on the rear. Maybe I need to consider going to a 42/3020 chainring and 12/36 cassette. I don't know...or maybe stay away from hills. All in all there was only one I couldn't ride up and it was about a 25% gradient. It was also dirt which made traction difficult. The way the bike was loaded made it hard to push the bike up this hill as well.

My fifth mistake. I forgot stuff. Yes, twenty minutes out from home on day one I realised I left my pump at home. Day three I realised I left my chain lube at home. Yes, they were only small things, but they were important things. So, once the bike is packed, it remains packed. It will also be packed a couple of days out prior to a trip and a list gone over several times in those days.

My sixth mistake. I overestimated the capabilities of my home made solar pack. Yes it worked, but being only 5 watts the slightest bit of shade stopped it from charging. It was also slow, trying to charge the battery, phone and Garmin just didn't happen. I will upgrade to a 15-20 watt panel. I also have a small 1.5-2 watt panel here at home that I will set up to be a charger for my phone and Garmin whilst riding. Mounted on the lid of my handlebar bag it will help keep power for when I need it keeping things topped up throughout the day. I also plan to purchase a small lithium charger unit just to keep charged up for a just in case moment. Day two was overcast and rainy all day. I had very little charge left in my phone as I was Live Tracking on Garmin, which chewed the power. These little things will make a big difference to security and safety.

That's probably about it really. I expected mistakes, this was the purpose, make them close to home. I don't mind admitting to them as I do never  intent to refer myself as a touring pro. The purpose of these blogs are to document my journey in learning this wonderful side of cycling. Yes some days can be hard, but as I have learned it all comes down to planning. Something I lacked a little on as I changed plans midstream although it was necessary.

Some more weekend trips are planned over the coming months with a week or two long trip planned at Christmas. Hopefully the smaller trips will help me refine my theories and practice before the biggy.

I have long term goals that I want to achieve through all this, longer trips, more remote areas and I need all the practice I can get. That's my story and I'm sticking to it, just in case my wife asks...lol

And yes, I do sooo want the Kona, but I need to justify it...more trips, more trip, more trips :)

Cheers, and ride safe.

Biking The Burnett. Pt 2 Days 3 & 4

Day 3

Considering the previous day was quite a tough one I woke in a reasonable condition. Looking out through the opening of the tent I saw nothing but clear blue skies above, a good sign in my opinion.

After stretching and lazing for a while I decided to make a move. I wasn't in any particular hurry on this day as I knew the road well and only had about eighty five kilometers to travel. Slowly pulling  myself out of the tent I gave the bike a look over as I was preparing a cuppa. Every thing looked, a little muddy still but the rear spokes all looked ok. A lot of the mud that had remained after the dirt sections was washed off in the continuing rain and puddles but I did give the running gear a better wash.

Some breaky and another cuppa and I decided to make the move to start packing up. A clear blue sky meant I could get a good charge into my phone, Garmin and battery whilst I was packing. Eventually I made my way off just after 10:00 am.

The breeze was lovely and cool, and was at my back. This made a wonderful change from the last two days and the constant headwinds that persisted. It was lovely cruising easily at a constant twenty five km/h for a change.

My first planned stop was to be Biggenden for lunch and I was more than happy just tottling along. I had traveled the Isis Hwy many times before but only once on a bike, and that was in the opposite direction. I was looking forward to this ride, even though it was on a highway there is a reasonable shoulder most of the way to travel in.

First township, only small, along the way was Coulston Lakes. Coulstion Lakes is nothing more that a General Store, School and a Leprechaun Club...yes a Leprichaun Club. I was going to st0p in for a coffee but I didn't think I would be allowed in on account that I would be too tall.

By the time I had reach Coulston the wind had changed, yes, back to a strong head wind...great! I had to tackle the range, not really big but long and gradual, and now with a headwind. In the end it wasn't too bad. I had come from the other direction and it was quite a solid little ride, but I had a bit of luck this way as the wind changed again too my back. You've got to take the wins when you can.

Once on top of the range it was pretty cruisy riding into Biggenden where I stopped for lunch. I had developed a squeaky chain earlier in the day and had forgotten to take along some chain lube. Yes, I had it packed but decided to give the chain a lube the night before leaving. All the water and mud from the previous day had taken its toll on the existing lube.
With no bike shop in Biggenden the closest thing was the local hardware store. A small bottle of sewing machine oil was the next best thing and certainly took the squeak out of things.

After lunch and coffee I was on my way again. More undulating landscape and a close call with a caravaner pulling a punishment pass just made me want to get to camp and get set up.

I knew there was a back way into Apple Tree Creek but couldn't remember it. I didn't want to run the Bruce Hwy between Childers and here. Although not fat it is rather narrow on the edge, with  lot of B-doubles. I decided to plot a course in my Garmin to navigate me the back way. Well that didn't go too well. Turn left, turn left it kept directing me. Problem was I need to go right and there were no left turns. After a quick search on Google Maps I found the back route which I just happened to be stopped near. Twenty more minutes through some more gravel and hilly roads and I was pulling into the free camp at The Creek.

It was about 4:30 pm when I arrived, and I found a good spot near a picnic table and shelter. I was quickly set up and what for you know? I just happened to be only a two minute walk from the local pub. A good wash and a change and I was off to return with a lovely cold 6 pack...ahhh! Just what the Doctor ordered...no really...lol.

With the cold beer washing away the dryness from my throat, dinner was soon on. Unfortunately I had to drink the whole 6 pack as I had no refrigeration to keep them cold; and I couldn't have them getting hot now, could I?

Dinner done, beer gone, I was knackered and headed for bed. I knew I only had around fifty kilometers to ride on my last day so as usual, I was not planning to be in a hurry in the morning.
I'm glad I wasn't planning an early departure, the traffic was horrendous. Between heavy vehicles and school holiday revelers, there was just no end.

Day 4

I managed to get some sleep however through the night, and in the morning sheepishly arose , made a quick coffee to get the heart started and then started packing.

I skipped breakfast as the little town of Cordalba was only a fifteen to twenty minute ride away. The General Store here is a favourite stop of our riding group and the owners are extremely friendly and supportive of riders. They do a good coffee, offer fantastic service and are always willing to fill your water bottles up with some cold water at no charge.
The owners, a husband and wife, are no strangers to cycling themselves and have many kilometers of touring experience under their belts. The husband being away did not allow for a chat but a good coffee and some good eats were still a must.

After filling up at Cordalba I turned down and headed up Promiseland Road...SHIT! NOT AGAIN...
The bloody chain did it's little nasty once again. So over to the side of the road and an unloading the bike I went. It don't take long to sort out and I got repacked and on my way once again...AND SHIT! NOT AGAIN! BASTARD THING!...Yes, one more time. So here we go again. It was here that the third time unlucky took its toll. Snap, twang went a spoke. Great, the buckle in the rim was so bloody obvious.
All this time I worried about the standard rims on the bike holding true for the trip. All this time they appears to do it well. But no, the bloody shifter and chain did it's little evil. Upon a closer inspection other spokes looked scored as well. The only way home now was to open up the back brake (V Brake) fully by unhooking the cable. This made it able to ride, now I just has to hope the other damaged spokes held. I suppose there is a good reason why those plastic protectors are between the cassette and spokes. Maybe I shouldn't have been so "roadie" and removed it when I got the bike.
After all these are one of the first things, along with wheel reflectors, you take off, aren't they?

My plan was to head out the back way via Promiseland Road and onto Phillips Road which is dirt. I hadn't ridden this way before and I didn't know what to expect as far as road conditions. My concern was that if the road was too rough, how would the other damaged spokes hold up? Do I remain on this tack, or do I change and head in via the highway?
The highway didn't seem like a good option to me. Holiday traffic was building quite heavily when I left Apple Tree Creek. Ah well, here we go, if worse comes to worse I can always ring my wife, if there was service...lol. Gotta love adventure.

Anyway, off I trundled on my original plan. I headed up via the Mountain Bike trails and onto Phillips Road. I assume that the chain jumping back was due to cable stretch and thought I wouldn't be able to use first gear. But assuming it was not that hilly I thought that this would OK. That thought didn't last long, five minutes in and the hills got steeper as I progressed. I soon worked out that if I didn't shift into first gear too hard it was all good.

The ride was shady, which cooled a rather warm day, and once onto Phillips it flattened out. The road was rough in sections, sandy in some and beautiful in others. It was a nice ride through this way as it mostly State Forest. Hoop pines littered the horizon, mixed with some farm leasing for other crops such as sugar cane..

It wasn't long before I hit the highway much closer to home. It was good coming out onto the main road here as I  missed two bridges that didn't have much shoulder on them.

It wasn't long before I passed the all too familiar sign for Cedars, a lovely river crossing, and then into Kentucky Blue, one of the outer suburbs of Bundaberg.

I knew that I would be entering Magpie territory soon so I hit the flashing lights that I have mounted on my helmet. I was told that they work, whether they do or not I don't know. But the aggressive attacks did seem somewhat subdued, maybe they do?

There she was, The Bundaberg Sign, I had done it, I had completed my first bike tour. No, it was as long as some, it may not been as adventurous as others, but it was my first. I was chuffed, elated. So elated, and so in love with this genre of cycling I started planning my next trip as I was entering in past the airport.

Where to next? Stay tuned...

Biking The Burnett! Part 1 - Days 1 & 2

Well I've done it. I completed my first trip and absolutely loved it. I knew I would before I left, but you never know until you try it. I'm hooked.

Day 1...

I left Bundaberg on a beautiful sunny morning about 8:15 am and after about fifteen minutes, I realised my first newby mistake...lol, but got it sorted pretty quick. I left my pump at home. I hadn't had much of a chance prior to the ride to get used to the bike fully loaded, and especially with 20 kgs over the back wheel, another newby error. It didn't take long to get used to it though and after a while I really didn't notice it too much.

I headed north out through North Bundaberg and across through Tantitha and onto Rosedale Rd. I eventually worked my way through the cane fields and worked my way zig-zagging through back roads, some sealed, some gravel. The diversity of agriculture in our region never ceases to amaze me. One minute you are riding through cane fields, then macadamia trees, bananas and a myriad of crop varieties.

After going out through the back of Bullyard it didn't take long to start hitting the hills. Down a gravel road called Snake Creek Road then onto Wallaville - Goondoon Rd the hills kept persisting and did so all the way through Mcilwraith to Gin Gin. Finally, after seventy-five kilometers a much needed break was had. The gas stove was brought out and the coffee was on.

I rested at Gin Gin for about an hour, and with no rush I headed off through back roads again. I headed out through a little town called Tirroan, nothing more than a pub, where the hills persisted and actually got worse. Back on gravel and tackling a lot of ten to fifteen percenters, and even more, the legs were starting to feel it and I started to think, "What the bloody hell am I doing?" I'm not one to shy away from a good hill, but on a heavy bike that was loaded to the hilt, jeez...

After walking up one that was too steep I had time to gather some perspective and reflect on the ride thus far. Earlier on I had tried to keep a constant pace, after all this is what you do when you are out on your road bike. The problem was, I wasn't on my road bike and I had to change my mind set. I had been pushing it too hard and it is on this hill when I remember saying to myself, "I'm doing it all wrong!" Yes, it was on this hill that I realised that it was time to slow down, relax and chill a little. This wasn't a race, it was a holiday, not a Tour de France, but a touring break. For the rest of the afternoon I settled down and stopped more frequently to check out the sights, take in the views and smell the roses so to speak.

I finally got to the destination for my first night's camp, Moolboolaman. I had intended to go a further few kilometers up Duckponds Rd road and stay on a friends property. But that extra few kilometers were straight up and I just didn't have it in me.

I opted to make camp just of the main road (Mt Perry Gin Gin Rd) behind a couple of large dirt mounds. It was a lovely shady spot sheltered from the roads. After setting up camp I thought I'd have a good wash and have a rest before dinner. It was getting close to dark by then and the mozzies, man...were they starting to set in. I thought that if I had a rest until after dark the mosquitoes might dissipate into the night sky. But I was wrong, they swarmed in. In the end I had to light a small billy fire just to create some smoke. As I was camped on Moolboolaman Station, private property, I was rather hesitant. But I needed some smoke to herd off the swarms of mozzies that were attacking from every angle. It was also rather warm so being clothed in winter tights and a long sleeve jersey, it was going to make it even more uncomfortable.

After lighting the fire, the mozzie attack was warded of and I was able to strip down to cooler clothing. After a nice pot of curry chicken and vegetables with some rice, I was able to relax further. There was no phone or internet service so I was unable to chat, blog or just find out what else was happening. This here was another mistake...next time I'll take a book with me to do some reading.

Day 2...

After waking early in the morning and hearing the sound of very light  rain on the fly of the tent, I rolled over and went back to sleep. The rain didn't last long as when I awoke the outside of the tent was dry.

It was about a thirty five, or so, kilometer ride to Mt Perry and as I had used the majority of my water the previous day I skipped breakfast and my morning coffee...ouch!
I packed up steadily and feeling good after a good night's sleep I set off on my way just after 8:00 am. I had consumed nearly six litres of water the day before so was apprehensive of the route I had originally planned. My original plan included some long stretches between towns.

Heading back out onto the main road I headed south. There were some back roads I had planned to take along here as well but had about fifteen kilometers to ride before I could turn off. Eventually I made it to Cambria Flats Rd heading the back way for Boolboonda Tunnel. The scenery was magnificent and ever changing. I had now left cane country and was in beef cattle territory. Although it was rather dry there was still enough greenery around to make the ride pleasurable.

After riding on the back roads of gravel and many short sharp gradients I made it to the tunnel. Boolboonda Tunnel was part of the original Mt Perry Rail Line that ran into Bundaberg. The line's construction was started in the mid 1800's to service the copper mines that had started in Mt Perry. After the copper depleted the rail was used for timber and cattle with a rail car running a shuttle service connecting all the towns in between. The line was finally closed only in the 1990's, not that long ago. It is something I would like to see re-opened as a rial trail.

After stopping and having a rest, rode through the tunnel and headed south once again. In my original plan I was aiming at riding a section of the BNT, or the Bicentennial National Trail that runs from Boolboonda to Mt Perry. But it is a rather remote section of trail, no phone service and unknown to me. I rode down to have a look at the entrance to the section but opted against going that way. One water bottle and not knowing the trail and on my own, I erred on the side of caution.

The BNT is a 5,500 km trail that runs from north of Melbourne in Victoria to Cooktown in Queensland's top end. It mainly follows the Great Dividing Range and is open to horse riders, hikers and cyclists. Many have completed the trail in it's entirety and it would be a great experience, although there are quite a few sections inaccessible to push bikes.

After a photo or two it was time to get to Mt Perry, hunger and a lack of caffeine was calling louder than the desire to sight see. I made my way back out onto Mt Perry Rd and then only had a reasonable short distance to travel. After arriving in town I went straight for the General Store where a large long black, egg and bacon muffin and sausage roll was swiftly ordered.

I finally had phone and internet service once again and was able to check up on a few things, mainly my planned route. It was here I decided to change things. After considering my previous day's water usage, it was a key element. I was unable to carry anymore on the bike, I was loaded to the hilt. I had planned to head west from Mt Perry and make camp at a small area called Ceratodus. After Ceretodus I was heading north to Monto, about a fifty plus kilometer ride. Then after Monto I had wo days to go before I could get water.
A lot of the planned stop overs were without water. Ceratodus used to have a water tank, but no longer. It had been a while since I was out that way so I can only assume the the big floods in 2013 washed the tank away. Kalpower State Forest had no water and with Graeta. So a change was made.

I decided to keep heading south down through Mingo Crossing, Byrnestown and onto Ban Ban Springs. I knew it was a quiet road, dirt most of the way and plenty of undulation to keep me honest. I finished lunch and headed off.

Just as I was finishing lunch a light shower started. The weather had predicted some rain for the day but for late morning and I thought I may have escaped it. It wasn't heavy and in the beginning I didn't even need a rain jacket on. But as the trip progressed, the rain set in. It had been a while since I had been this way and I knew the road wasn't flash, but was looking forward to a quiet day's ride no matter if it was raining or not.

I continued on sealed road for some time and was hoping for some improvement of the dirt section's condition. The gravel roads traveled on the  previous day were smooth and easy. Well, this one was not. It started out rough, extremely rough, and rocky. Then there were patches of sand that would catch the front wheel with it sinking down, then there were clay sections that with the rain were like an ice skating rink. The road was constantly changing and didn't even allow me to gather a decent momentum on down hill runs. OH...and there were the hills. It was lovely and scenic though...lol

After about twelve kilometers I came across some road works that were several kilometers long. Fresh road base unpacked mixed with previously graded dirt made up a muddy treat, one that had the front and back wheels traveling in different directions. Boy, was I glad to see the end of that.

After returning to a sealed surface down through Mingo Crossing I stopped to have a break, a drink and a breather. A local stopped opposite me and asked if I was OK. We chatted for awhile and he informed me that it was now sealed all the way, with the exception of a little bit of road works. I thought, "Great!", but he forgot to tell me that the road works was the other twenty kilometer stretch of dirt that I was originally expecting. The sealed road over and the struggle began once gain, only with bigger hills. The mud was that thick at times that I had to stop and and wash it out of my chain and derailleurs.

I eventually made it back onto sealed road and with the rain set in for the afternoon it gave the appearance that it was much later than it was. Not far to the Burnett Hwy now...bang, clink, clunk...Oh shit! My first mishap.
Nothing major, the chain had decided to jump up over first gear and get jammed between the cassette and spokes. It didn't take long to fix but was a pain in the arse to have to unload everything to repair. No damage done, and it wasn't long before I was on my way. Twenty kilometers to go, it could have waited.

Heading down the Burnett Hwy, finally the street light, yes light...singular, was shining, the road house was open and the rain has stopped. I pulled into the free camp there, found a spot, took off my wet mud covers shoes and headed across to the shop, ginger beer and two Mars bars were the order of the evening. After returning from the shop, the billy was on the boil as I set up camp. Plenty of water at this campsite mean't a warm wash for the night. The mozzies weren't as harsh and the breeze subtle but not cold.
It was finally time to relax with a lovely hot meal. Day two was a tough day, but I made it...phew!!