The best laid plans of mice and men always seems to be my way of late.
Heading off on a much cooler Friday Morning I pedalled my way along the Isis Hwy to Pine Creek Rd. Diverting onto Sully Dowding Rd would be somewhat longer. Weighing up the option of extra kilometers on the highway, or a slightly longer, quieter and mostly gravel route, well...
Now on Sully Dowding Rd I was after a forestry road that would connect me to Phillips Rd and onto Cordalba. The first road no longer existed, this is the joys of State Forest timber plantations, roads constantly change. But I did find one and I was then on my way, stopping at a pump house for a drink and then Promiseland MTB Park for lunch.
Back on the bike it wasn't long before I had navigated bast the sugar mill and heading into Apple Tree Creek. Up onto Old Creek Rd it was time for a stop at Childers to top up on water. I knew that I was not going to make Brooweena this night as I had somehow gotten the wrong distance in my head.
Out of Childers now and down Taylor Street I was on the beginning of Rainbows Rd. It quickly turned to gravel and no cars made it the perfect afternoon ride.
With the sun getting low it was time to start considering a place to set up camp. There were still a lot of driveways out where I was and I didn't want to intrude on people. But I eventually found a clear sandy spot to set up the tent, away from any driveways and well clear of the nearby fence line.
Catching up.on a quick FB post and sitting back enjoying the serenity the sun slowly sank low to the horizon...then...the onslaught of mozzies moved in like a buzzing, biting sunami.
Normally they disappeared after dark so I cowardly retreated to the tent and waited. But they didn't go away. They remained, flying, lurking and buzzing waiting for their next attack. I had to eat so sprayed up I went outside to cook, but the buggers were relentless.
After dinner it was time to call it a night and I have to say that I slept like a log. I did wake several times throughout the night, but that is nothing unusual for me.
The morning came around and the biting hoard had gone. Out of the tent, the billy put on for coffee and poridge, I packed up some gear, pulled down the tent ready for the day's adventure.
I continued along Rainbows Rd for a while longer. The Komoot route had adjusted the afternoon before when it tries to send me down a road that didn't exist. It wasn't long until it directed me to turn off. It's always a little nerve racking when you have no idea where you are, and the road you are now expected to travel is narrowing fast.
The road did open up and I continued along it for around ten kilometers. The road surface was washed out badly in places after the recent rains we had had. The gullies moreso and the evidence of water being over the road at one stage was clear. Some gullies were badly washed out making it difficult to ride. Off the bike and push was become more and more regular.
Large gouges in the road from water left a variety of rock or sand filled holes. But besides all this the ride was scenic and enjoyable.
After around ten kilometers I turned right at the direction of the GPS app, and this is where the fun really started.
I was planning on an approximate sixty kilometer ride for the day. I had about 3.5 lt of water left when departing my camp-site earlier. Thinking this was enough in the morning I didn't pay too much mind. But as the morning went on my concern for water grew.
I've always been probably too over concerned with water. I have a habit of taking far more than I need. I suppose it is just habit now, but travelling in remote areas I'd rather be over prepared than under.
After the turn right I stopped to check the amount of liquid gold I had left. I had consumed too much for the time I had been out riding. The road conditions making for slow going and the humidity that had been building had caught me off guard.
I spotted what looked like an old cattle camp. Logs laid deeper around a fire pit. There it was, tall and green, a water tank, or was it. No it wasn't, it was a molasses tank. Molasses is used for cattle, no good for drinking unless it has been distilled into rum. From here I was now on strict water rations. I still had just under fifty kilometers to go.
From the camp the road began to get worse, much worse. The road quickly turned to a trail, then it turned to a track, then it wasn't long before I was following cattle tracks. Thicketts of lantana and scrub lay on my way as I pushed the bike through. Handlebars and pedals catching on vines made it even harder.
Creek crossings now, although dry, were badly washed out. The need to lift the bike down and drag it up out of the creek bed became a regular occurrence.
Walking was more of a given now, far more than I cared for. Hills steep and severely washed out made it hard to push the bike up them. Thirty kilometers down and I was done for the day. I had had enough and it was time to set up camp.
Earlier I had found a muddy puddle. It was the only water that I had seen since leaving Childers. I drew som from it and poured it into my filter bladder. I managed to filter about 500 ml before the sediment blocked my Sawyer water filter. I came across a running creek shortly after but it was far from clear, but with my filter block it was impossible to filter it.
After setting up camp I strolled back down to the creek and caught up around 2 lt. I went back to camp and boiled some, but even after boiling the dirty tast was still strong. But it was what I had and made the best of it.
Being on rations for most of the day dehydration had already started to set in. I was already feeling unwell and still had twenty eight kilometers to ride the next day. I didn't eat that night, but instead I laid in my mesh covering sipping on what clean water I had.
The next morning came around and I organised a coffee and a double portion of Oats to make up for not having dinner the previous night.
I was feeling groggy and heavy. My balance was a little off as I started the remainder of the trip to Brooweena.
After five kilometres I was feeling shot. Low on energy, feeling sick and starting with a pretty bad headache I stopped to get some if the remainder of my water into me. I was only sipping slowly, and I was now down to 1100 ml.
I pulled out my bladder and tipped the remainder of my water into it. I added some orange flavoured hydration tablets to hide the taste and to help keep some electrolytes in me.
I didn't have the energy to ride up the hills, so that left me with pushing. Now my throat was swelling. The clavicle that had been dusplaced in last year's accident was pushing against my windpipe, or visa versa. I was unable to eat as my mouth was to dry. When I tried to have a wrap with peanut butter and honey on it, I couldn't process it in my mouth. I sucked on the honey bottle for sugars to fuel my body some. But sugars need water for the body to process them.
I pushed on a little further, rolling down hills and pushing up them. My water was getting lower and lower. Even though I sipped, I was scared thatbI would run out.
The road condition had improved by now. But the hills killed me. I finally had to make a decision. I checked my phone for service and I had enough to text my wife for pick up. I was done, and the plan was to struggle on to Brooweena. But I couldn't make it that far. I only had 200 ml left with fifteen kilometres still to go.
I didn't know this area and I had no idea of what lay ahead. All I knew was there was a big incline before me that I knew I would struggle with. I was done, I was just about to vomit and the swollen throat made it hard to swallow anything.
I pulled over to the side of the road and pulled my groundsheet off my bike. I strung it between two trees to provide shade. Luckily for me I had made it to a mapped and named road. This made it a lot easier for my wife to find me. I wasn't going to make Brooweena.
After making necessary arrangements I laid in the shade sipping slowly on the remaining 200 ml of water. It eventually ran out and all I could do is lay there still, in the shade to preserve what moisture I had left in my body.
The ending was a happy one as I am writing this blog. But I have to say I was scared, very scared. Two cars drove by me that day, and even though I motioned them for help they continued pas. All I wanted was a bit of water, my wife was on her way.
Needless to say there is one thing I will not forget in future. There is one tool that O left behind as I didn't think I would need it. I was riding the rail trails after all. There is plenty of water sources along them.
That tool is the flushing syringe for back flushing my Sawyer water filter. Had I remember that, I could have filled all my water bottles and bladder up, 7 lt in total. I could've spent another night camped on thw side of the road I needed, I wouldn't have suffered from severe dehydration as I did.
But I didn't remember it, and now I am at home preparing to do the trip again. This time it will be successful. I have a couple friends who know the area very well. I now have a mapped route far easier than the one I had planned for myself.
But that is for another time, not too far away. Now it will be a pleasant week down to South Grafton to visit family, and maybe a detour on the way home. Yes the bike will be coming.
Cheers all, and ride safe out there.
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