Getting Away...Finally...Part 6!

I was awake early, I suppose after a few days on the road you just begin to get accustomed to getting up and going. It wasn't long and the bike was packed and I was heading down to a cafe for coffee and breakfast.

After fueling up the tank, mine, I embarked on yet another picturesque section of the trail. I think that the old station reminders are more prevalent from Esk onward, as there are plenty of posted reminders along the way.

Leaving Esk the trail is smooth, and well maintained. A museum in the standing, it is as pristine as it is historical. It is a credit to those who have built this trail for our convenience. Not far out of town, the track does toughen up a bit and it's not long before you are on the bone shaking run into Coominya.

Coominya is a small, but quaint little town. I sports the basics for survival and it's good to know for future reference that the pub is doing free camping. A good free camp is worth the price of a cold schooner.

Once out of Coominya small acreage lots become standard and a lot of the scenery is of peoples' back yards. It's not as though you are looking in their back windows or anything. But this doesn't last long and opens itself up to farm land once again.

Heading well on the way to Fernvale by now you begin to see a variety of lightly undulating landscape and snippets of the upper reaches of the Brisbane River. Again, as you encroach the outer limits of Fernvale small hobby farms and acreage lots begin a familiar sight.

I followed the trail just to the outskirts of town where I turned onto a dirt road that ran down past the local sporting grounds. It was then a quick dash out along the Brisbane Valley Hwy to my night's camp, Geoffery Fischer Bridge. It is only a couple of kilometers out of town, and is rather an open area that is perched neatly beside the Brisbane River. As I was the only one there I was able to set up at the only covered table there was. I looked down by the banks of the river but camping was not permitted. It was also extremely overpopulated on the banks of the river, obviously the local swimming hole.

It was here I had my worst night's sleep. Close to a major road that is frequented by empty gravel tippers all hours, I was left with a drumming in the ears all night long. Needless to say I was up early, packed and heading into town for breakfast. I've scratch this area off the free camp list indefinitely.

Chowed down and full I then headed for Wulkaraka. I think this section is one of the most scenic of the trip. Lush bush land, sweeping valleys and periodic river views. Couple that with a relatively smooth trail and you are in heaven.

As stated the scenery never fails and as you continue to ride past the reminders of years gone by, you can't but help imagine of what was. I know we are only a relatively young country, but we have come so far and accomplished so much in that short time. Sometimes I think maybe we should have been a bit slower, but unfortunately dollar signs and progress out weight sentiment.

It wasn't long before houses become the distinguishing statement of the trail, paired with concrete overpasses I knew the trip was sadly coming to an end. It was just as I started to see the concrete, the trail gave way from gravel to concrete under my tyres. It was no longer a crunching and bouncing, but the mountain bike tyres began a humming sound. This was now suburbia.

I couldn't help but notice how quickly the city was growing. Only eighteen months prior this was still bush land, now housing estates. Whilst progress can be a good thing, it's sometimes sad to see.

From now on it was a smooth and easy ride along the bike way, and also among phone using BMW drivers. I love how along the Brassal Bike Way the road crossings are unique where as cyclists must be given way to by cars. It's a kind of pedestrian crossings for bikes. This is fantastic and works well in most cases, except for the odd time when a driver or two couldn't look up from their phones long enough...mobile use whilst driving is mt pet peave...I hate it and it should be treated the same as drink driving...OK, rant over...lol.

Heading down the hill to Wulkara Station all I really wanted to do was turn around and do it all over again. The South Burnett and Brisbane Valley Rail Trails have this effect on you. It's a bit strange, feeling so isolated and free but at the same time feeling part of a community. A community of hikers, trail runners, cyclists and horse riders that always have time to stop and chat for a time. Whilst being alone a lot of the time, you never get lonely.

Until next time then...I can't wait.

Cheers all and ride safe out there.