Day 85,86 & 87

Day 85 was a slow start from Normanton due to the amount of kms i had done recently ,and  knowing i couldn't make it to Burke and Wills R.H in the day being 200kms away i conceded that a night in the tent will be needed. Even so i gave it a good shot but fell short by about 40kms. Stopped at a road side shelter during the day and met a nice couple, Gilbert and Jenny, who where heading to the Kimberleys for a four week holiday. They made me a half a cup of coffee with the water they had left in there thermos and gave me 4 boiled eggs which i regretted later while sweating naked in my closed tent trying to breath.

Gilbert who is a gold miner and Jenny an aged carer off to the Kimberleys in there 4 wheel drive that looks like its been packed by throwing everything in at the last moment.

One thing about riding a bicycle which is different to a car is that you can sneak up on the wild life before they know it. Ive seen wild jet black pigs and there piglets,snakes and dinosaur looking type birds. Plenty of cattle on the roads grazing and sizing me up when i go past. Some of the chase after you curious, along the fence line for about 100mts.

Excuse me , can i have some milk for my Vita Brix.

No, and stop chasing me

The sweat box and methane gas chamber for the night.

During the night it started to rain and my panniers where not closed properly so i had to get out of the tent butt naked and sort that out so my electric stuff didn't get wet. Woke up to a strange fog everywhere and misty rain and felt that i hadn't slept at all.

Day 86 started with a short 40 kms into the B &W Road House to restock my food supplies. I knew i had to get there in the morning as i remember years ago when Bourke arrived back to his support crew in the afternoon ,the buggers had left in the morning. No way was i arriving to a closed shop so i was there before 12 noon. Ate like a viking while there and loaded the panniers with stock and water for the next leg to Cloncurry. Just when i was about to leave a lovely lady by the name of Lucinder came over to me and started telling me about her husband Bruce ,who rides a lot on dirt roads around Australia. Later Bruce came over after filling his vehicle to say hello and it was amazing the resemblance to the man himself, Burke. Then next minute , there sons mate ,who  travelling with them, introduces himself and his name is Wills. After a quick photo i had to get out of there as it was starting to get spooky.

Wills,Lucinder and Bruce (Burke) stopping to have a chat  and a laugh  gave me inspiration as they too are riders.

Off i go heading to Cloncurry and end up coming to a caravan stopping area and pull in to see if any water is in the water tank but there wasn't. After talking to a caravan guy he asks me if I'm going to get to the Pub at Quamby which i didn't know existed only 35 kms away, and  also said,  a guy is walking a trolley along the road heading to Cloncurry. WTF. This gave me new life to get to the pub and see my first walker ever. Arriving at the Pub i found out the Pub had been bought by a Mining company and closed. Some guys where at the back  of it so i approached them and they said that they came to stay at the Pub  on the way to a job also and didn't know it was shut either. They said that they where going to camp there anyway and i was welcome to join them, and i did.
Then the fun started, they started there generator up and flood lite the place and we each got a bed out of the dongas and set them under a big shed with a camp fire in a drum which was custom made. Everything we needed came out of the pub that had been left there, as though they just walked away and left it. Chairs,frying pans,kettle and even free beer and coke from the fridge which was put into the newly acquired mini fridge. Very funny night, as caravans where slowing down as though the pub was open. Great bunch of guys to meet at a recently closed pub.

Terry and Frosty in the new kitchen.

Darryl  cooking Barrumundi for breaky. Don't know what the blender was bought out for, maybe just for effect.

This is the Quamby Pub

This is now the new Quamby Pub next door.

Bob had  a fascination for knives, that was his small one.

The boys, Darryl,Frosty,Terry and Bob

Day 87 was again a foggy start to the day and after saying goodbye to the guys i had a walker to catch and meet. Was this guy going to be a weirdo or religious monk?, excited to find out. Not long after starting off there he was ,moving at a steady pace. I stopped and spoke to him and his name was Brendon from Birmingham,England. I know a good character ,i think ,when i see one, so i said to him that i would be staying at Cloncurry and i will try and find a Motel room with two beds and  its my shout.

Brendon going for it.

On arriving finally in Cloncurry i found a motel room with two beds and sent a mud map back to Brendon with a Grey Nomad showing him the way. He eventually arrived exhausted and  grateful for the room but insisted he pay half or he is going.
O.K. I said and it was just like Broke back Mountain, all over again. We got on like a house on fire. He is walking from the Gulf to Melbourne, a total of 3600 kms ,covering more or less Burke and Wills track. Doing about 40 kms a day pushing the trolley is no easy feat with a sore  calf muscle. He doesn't mind losing a toe nail or two and having blisters but the calf is a bit of a problem he reckons. Tough bastard and head strong, which i suppose you need to be.

The bike and the Trolley are getting on too.

The man himself, Brendon. 46years old carpenter, happily Married with 3 grown up children.

We both spent the night buying food, packing our panniers and listening to music till it was time to turn the light out.

Well if i'm gunna be goin thru Bob Katter  territory i better look the part.

Hoo  Roo, hey I'm in Mt Isa but I'll really bore you and blog what happened today ,tomorrow. Bike trouble
Grant