Day 97: Pinnarendi Station to Mount Surprise

May 18, 2021

Start: 8:00am
Distance: 73kms
Ride time: 3:23hrs
Average: 22km/hr
Max: 41km/hr
Finish: 12:45pm

Yesterday, Nadine the nice owner had told me that 2 cyclists had booked to stay with her tonight. They were coming from Mt Surprise. I would cross paths with them today.

To pass on my good bike karma from the generous gift I received the other day, I paid Nadine for the 2 cyclists to have dinner at her place.

It was to be a surprise for them when they arrived. I wasn't going to tell them.

The morning started off cool and overcast. This is Forty Mile Scrub National Park.

Then the clouds began to disperse and the sun came out.

It feels awesome to be heading west. I had to go a bit south west from Cairns to get over The Great Divide.

I saw 4 emus in the distance.

I managed to get this pic of one running away from me into the scrub.

This enormous truck was at a rest stop. The nice driver let me take the pic.

He was carting zinc ore to Mount Garnet to be refined.

I am now on the Gulf Development Road or Savannah Way.

This is now entering remote country. There are no cafes or servos in between the small towns.

There is a reduced amount of traffic with maybe one car every five minutes.

I like these roads. I can focus on the nature more and the traffic less.

I saw 2 different types of colourful parrots. They had green, red and blue feathers.

Here is a silhouette of a couple black cockatoos. They were making gentle soft screeching noises.

I also got to enjoy some tunes today. I was listening to the Triple J Hottest 100 of 1995.

I had a strong tailwind for most of today. I was cycling easily at 25km/hr. Sometimes even faster in top gear.

Crossing Elizabeth Creek. This is the only Creek I crossed today.

A town marker. It says Mount Surprise. Jewel of a town.

I think gems are found here. There is a black cockatoo statue on the top of the marker.

This tiny town is today's destination.

I went in to one shop that had mostly bare shelves.

When I came out I saw this little bug and I picked him up.

It's a Hibiscus Harlequin bug.

Staff use these bikes to show people to their camping sites.

These apostle birds were squawking about in the grass.

There were heaps of these common crow butterflies.

Common crow butterfly.

All day I was excited about meeting the other cyclists but unfortunately I didn't see them. There are no alternate roads. I don't know what could have happened.

There is a very nice cafe at this campground with a few local made foods.

Including this nice vanilla slice I had for afternoon tea.

I don't know how but the 2 cyclists did make it to Pinnarendi Station without us crossing paths.

Nadine sent me a pic of Bob and Bruce enjoying their free dinner.

Good bike karma success.

Today's ride: 73 km (45 miles)
Total: 4,276 km (2,655 miles)

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Rita McCarthyLots of great pics, Vince. Very impressed with how far you rode. The cockatoos always reminds me of a spot we had in WA near Harvey, they seem to be squawking consequently. Still it was a great spot.
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2 years ago

Vince McCarthyThank you Aunty Rita.
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2 years ago