Day 81 & 82

Stage 81 Tour de Australia started from Mareeba and headed to Atherton. Still quite hilly and heading into a stiff S.W made it a tough ride. On approaching Atherton i noticed an unusual Remembrance tribute to a cyclist who was killed on the road. His name was Lindsay(47) and he took up riding to lose weight which he did (40kg) but unfortunately it cost him his life ,one morning they found him dead  and no witnesses on the side of the road.

Lindsay's bike looks good all painted white ,with flowers stuck in the frame

On arriving at Atherton and getting smarter as the trip goes on, when seeing a  bike shop i get my tyres pumped up, as do you realise how hard it is to find the pump in my panniers. Plus those guys know the roads and you can suck there brains of whats ahead, that's how i found out about Lindsay. After my hot chocolate at Maca's and a peep at the Blog for inspiration i rode off flat to the highest town in Queensland,Ravenshoe. Not much there so i made a booking at Innot Hot Springs Motel 20 km further down the road and after booking in went and soaked the body in the hot mineral creek as you do.

Soaking the boys

The next James Bond.

Went back ,showered and had a counter meal at the Pub and discovered my camera was broken and the plan of attack to sort that was to buy a new one from the Post Office at Mt Garnet. Looking for a Canon, the same as my old one. Theres always something challenging you to think out a solution.

Give me a break will ya.

Day 82 was a slow start as the Post Office  wouldn't open till 9 and i was only 20 km from Mt Garnet, on arriving it was pension day for the Aboriginals and it had a line you wouldn't believe. Huge amounts of money where being handed over by a little old lady behind the counter and when i asked how much do they get a week she just said, as she shook her head , i don't know, I've never worked it out but it's a lot.
Back to the camera, she only had one ,a canon but not the same as my old one. Good enough though, and beggars can't be choosy, so i bought it.

Holly Smoke Batman they try anything to stop me.

Off on the bike again to Mt Surprise some 125km away and the wind not really helping till i turned more to a West direction and it was up my freckle and had me in a frenzy on the flat , flat out turning the wheels.
Made it into Mt Surprise about 4.30 and booked into the Pub for something different. Had the standard shower and meal and blogged.
Now let me say this guys, I'm heading into some remote areas and reception is not going to be around all the time so if i don't respond to you it's because i can't. I think i will have to do some camping out with the snakes and croc's to harden up a bit for the rest of the trip and to achieve the distances between towns. If your wondering how i'm feeling , don't worry I'm pumped and ready for anything and remaining positive. Just keep those comments coming in for me to read when i can, much appreciated.

So that's where Julia lives,44k away.

Hey ,what about a lift

Stuff you too.

Hoo roo ,and one last thing the location button at the bottom shows my mate John, The French Connection  starting point of his 300 kms walk across the Pyrenees.He starts today and finishers in 19 days which includes 2 days rest. The last town is Bagneres de luchon.