Goodnight Goodnight. Day 3.

The morning attempted a start at 6.20 am, but with the still dawning sun's light being washed out by heavy fog, it was difficult to justify an early rise from the comfort of my bed. So, I lay there listening intently to early calls of crows, warbles of magpies and the myriad of other bird calls. It was Sunday after all, and I would get up soon. Yep, soon, that's for sure.

The photo doesn't do the fog justice, but it was clearing as I exited the tent.

So who hit the snooze button? I awoke for a second time about an hour later. I did this time however, manage to drag my backside out of the tent. The air was still thick and moist and the fly I had draped over my small tent was drenched like it had been drowned in a heavy downpour, even the under side.

The chilly dampness gave me a brazened wake up call as I tucked myself down to exit, only to drag my back along the top of the fly. It was still a little chilly so I rummaged through the small pile of sticks I had laying on the ground for some dry kindling. It wasn't long before I had a small billy fire ablaze and the subtle heat was enough to warm my hands. Coffee was on.

Again, I had great plans of getting up early and attacking the dawn with pedal power, but... I took my time with breakfast and then attempted to catch the now shining sun's rays to dry out the fly and tent somewhat. I did eventually get  packed up.

It was now about 9:15 in the morning and the steed was mounted for the ride home. I had worked out that it was approximately 75 - 85 km's, so I took the later as an estimate. Riding out of the forest was so much easier then entering. One, because I suppose my legs were fresh and two, it was a lot more down hill than uphill. Although I still wasn't without a great many climbing challenges.

I just love roads like this

My plan was to head out of Goodnight the same way I headed in. But instead of heading back towards Wallaville, I would head South-East for Booyal. It wasn't long before I was back at the Goodnight-Booyal Road. I had knocked that eighteen or so kilometers over rather quickly. I now only had 11 km's to go to get to the Bruce Hwy at Booyal, and the road was sealed. This was going to a sinch. Or was it?

Although the road remained sealed for a short way, it was a continual uphill run. Not a steady 2% climb, oh no. I was excited when a climb was only 5-6%. Now, the sealed road had run out and the hill continued. I say hill because there was only one, it just started a long way back.

Wow, now a down hill run and the road was sealed again. Down over the Burnett River through Booyal Crossing I hurtled. But that was it, it wasn't a hill that faced me, it was a mountain. I think the Garmin showed about 27% at one stage, and yes I was walking. It was so steep that even walking I had to stop. But the problem with stopping was, it was so hard to get started again. Who's idea was it to come this way?

I eventually made it to the top, I laid the bike against a small tree and just sat. After getting to my feet I just stood there slumped over the handle bars. Ok, it wasn't far to Booyal now, and it wasn't. It was also down hill...YOU BEAUTY.

I pulled into the roadhouse at Booyal and purchased a Gatorade and a Snickers then went over to the grassed area and sat under a tree to prepare some lunch and a coffee. I sat there for about an hour before packing up and moving on. I headed out along Old Booyal Rd as I didn't want to be on the Bruce Hwy. I knew that there was a turn off somewhere to travel along the old Isis-Dallarnil Branch Line, but I missed it and came out onto the highway...bummer.

I travelled along the Bruce for about 200 meters and by then I'd had enough. I stopped at the turn off to Uphams Rd and searched Google Maps for a better way, and I found it, a track approximately 100 meters in off the highway. It didn't take me long to work out that I had stumbled onto the branch Line that I wanted to find 15 minutes prior.

Gotta love adventure

I followed the tracks along and it eventually bought me out onto Marule Rd. I knew now where I was. I had thought of continuing along the line but as I was unsure of it's condition and accessibility I opted for the way I knew, Svensons Rd. Back to Promiseland through the forest via a familiar way it was. It was along this stretch I was stranded for a night on a previous trip due to my own haste, ahhh, the memories...lol. As I knew where I was, I just casually strolled along in no great hurry. I stopped for the odd photo, snack and rest.

Quiet forestry roads. The Kona eats these up.

Onto Promiseland Rd and Phillips Rd I now wasn't far from home. Around 20 km's to go and my short trip would be over. My last stop was at the corner of the Isis Hwy, where a quick muesli bar and gulp of water was had, then it was hightail it for home. The traffic wasn't bad so that was a good thing, and the usual easterly Bundaberg wind was at a lull.

Reaching the airport I started to dream of my next trip, as I always do. Where to next? How long could I go for? I finally arrived home about 4:30 pm and then, of course reality bit. I was due to start work again at 2:00 am and thus on the mouse wheel once again.

But it was fantastic, I hadn't been to this part of my area before, and to do it by bike...wow. A 200 plus kilometer weekend away was what I needed, it rejuvenated the soul as it always does. It also hammered home of bicycle touring not only being the grand months or years long travelcade, but also the smaller weekends away. The weekends that are much more a reality for the most of us.

Cheers, and as always Ride Safe.

Goodnight Here I come. Day 2.

The morning started with the sun trying it's hardest to break through the thick fog and heavy dew that had settled through the night. I poked my head out though the fly of the tent and thought to myself, "Five more minutes".

7:45 am was more than five minutes later. I had dozed again and was only woken by a small cricket that was excitedly jumping around the inside of the tent. I knew this time I had to get started. You see, when I travel I have all these great intentions of getting up and hitting the road early. Ah well, it is a restful recharge and break after all.

Up and at it the billy was on, the Aeropress charged with some of my home roasted finest and the porridge was simmering away. I steadily stripped the tent down, hanging the fly over a railing nearby to dry in the now shining sun. Bedding was packed, panniers were packed as much as I could and all was ready to  make a move after breakfast and coffee was finished.

The Aeropress is a marvelous invention

I suppose it was around 9:45 am when I finally departed, much later than I intended. The plan for today was to make my way up to Goodnight Scrub National Park via Bullyard and Wallaville.

Down over the weir and out onto Bucca Road and south west for Bullyard which is a small village with a schools and a few houses. I used to work at the school as a cleaner, so iut was a very familiar sight to me.
From here I decided to head down Delan Road and then onto Wallaville Road. I was able to find a few good stealth camping sites along here. The things you miss when driving, or racing along this section of road. This area is a regular racing loop for Bundaberg Cycling Club throughout their road season. It was actually good to travel along this section and take it in stopping along the way for the odd photo or drink.

The Bucca Weir

It was around lunch time when I made it into Wallaville. It was time for a needed coffee and something to eat. I decided t buy a coffee from the local coffee shop and eat an olive and cheese focaccia that I had bought along with me. It was a restful stop, the sleepy little township was at it's usual low hum, the people friendly and the coffee reasonable.

Delan Hall

Wallaville Hotel

After about an hour I decided it was time to move on and after a quick check on Google Maps I thought I had only another thirty one kilometers to go...thought being the operative word here.

Heading out of Wallaville for the Bruce Hwy, a road I din't want to be on for long, I opted for the service roads that run along either side of it. Much quieter and safer from the speeding cars. Although I have to say that the short times I did travel on the Bruce motorists were more than generous in regards to distance. A thankful and appreciated bonus.

I didn't have far to go along this stretch before I was on Walla Road  heading for Goodnight Scrub. Now I thought I would share a little history here.

Turning onto Walla Road. Glad the logging trucks don't work Saturdays

Why is it called Goodnight Scrub you may ask?
Well back in the day before it was a National park, it was cattle country. It is reported that the scrub was so thick that if your cattle got loose and went into it, it was goodnight for those head of cattle. Goodnight meaning that they'd never be seen again; and hence the name Goodnight Scrub.

The scrub thickets only remain in sections now and have been replaced mainly by State Forestry plantations, with logging trucks running instead of cattle drovers. There is still cattle bred in the area but not as significantly as in the past.

Walla Road was awesomely quiet, hardly a car to be seen. I think in the afternoon's travels I was doing well to see four cars, all slowing down with a friendly wave. Not to mention the strange look from one or two. They must have been thinking to themselves, "What the ....".

I had earlier estimated that it was around sixty-five kilometers from Bucca to Goodnight. Although this was correct, it was entirely true. It was sixty-five kilometers to the border, or start, of the national park. I still had another twenty-three to pedal to my intended camp.

The many hills were now wearing out the legs and walking the bike became a much more viable option for many of them. Now I was on a gravel road I was worried about slipping like I did on my attempted Brisbane trip. But this didn't happen, the road was in really good condition. It was well graded and rolled with very little loose gravel on the sides. The perfect gravel experience...lol.

After checking Google maps several times I decided that it might be better to head down a road call River Road. This would take me down to the banks of the Burnett River were I could camp by and draw water from the river. My intended spot was a lookout/picnic area overlooking the back of the Paradise Dam wall.

Once I got to River Road this option was canned as it was a private access road only, so onward I pursued. After checking Maps again I noticed a lookout called One Tree Hill Lookout about half way in. It was only a couple of hundred meters off the main road so it was worth checking it out. Well wallah, not two hundred meters in was the perfect camping spot. It wasn't all the way up to the lookout but it was flat, sheltered and with a water tank...just perfect.

This was it, I had pedaled enough for today and the afternoon sun was setting fast. I set up the tent and found some good sized rocks to make a fire ring. after scavenging a short time for some wood the fire was going, all just in time for darkness to set in.

With the fire ablaze and keeping the light chill at bay, and a wash, it was time to just sit and relax. Even though I was starving and the worms were biting, I just needed some "ahhhh" time. Just some time to sit, relax, reflect and let the quietness of the bush set in. To me I had found the perfect spot for this, just crickets, some night birds and the odd howl from a dingo in the distance. At least I hoped they were dingoes and not wild dogs.

Ok, time for some grub and a much needed coffee. On the menu tonight was some packet Alfredo pasta with a tin of chicken added. The powdered milk I carry gives me a great substitute for cream. A serving of three per packet didn't last long at all, time to finish off the left over focaccia.

By now a stiff chill was settling in with a dampness to it. I knew I was going to be in for another foggy and dewy morning. On this particular night I decided to set up my hiking tarp over my tent just to give me a little extra cover from the dew. By finding an old branch I was able to drape the tarp over the tent and open at the front giving me an awning.

After eats and a clean up, another coffee was on and it was more relaxing time. Just sitting there under the stars with an open fire crackling in the night's silence, it's just what my soul and mind needed. It was a shame this was only a weekend's trip, I could have easily had this last longer.

As I lay there on my seating mat I started to doze off as another spine tingling howl opened up the silence once again. These howls in the distance had a way of standing up the hairs on the back of my neck. But they didn't appear to be getting closer, so that was a bonus.

Spreading the fire out it was time to hit the sack, and sleep didn't wait long to cover me.

So ended day two of my brief weekend away, I couldn't believe that I was heading for home the next day. But that was tomorrow, for now sleep...