This is the first trip update. I had some easy days with trains being used more than my bike. I stayed with the Mortons in Brisbane and the Reynolds’ in Broadbeach and didn’t really get going until last Sunday.
Sunday took me to Pottsville after a coffee with Charlie Greene on the way. On Monday, I made it to Ballina and had coffee with Sam Wood in Brunswick Heads. That’s the last of the social engagements !
Today (Tuesday) was always going to be ugly. Overnight there was driving wind and rain in Ballina. I had to wait for it to stop so I could pack up the tent. I only made it into town before the next downpour, so it was a late wet start.
The ferry wasn’t running, so I had to ride on the freeway for a bit – yuk. I took back roads to Wardell which is where the recent flood disaster was apparent.
The sun came out, so I put on some sun sleeves and put my watch on a pannier to do that. You know the story – I took off without thinking about it. It’s a sentimental and classic piece, a Seiko SKX
I noticed it gone when I got to Woodburn – 21kms later. My anger and disappointment were short lived as, all around me I could see the destruction from the floods. There were streets and streets where every house had a huge pile of rubbish outside where they’d been forced to discard large parts of their lives. I realised I wasn’t so badly off.
I took no photos in this area for obvious reasons.
The last part of the day was a grind along the freeway to Maclean. Glad to finish what is hopefully the ugliest day of the trip.