Lismore, NSW to Kingscliff, NSW
Today's Milage: 125 km (75 mi)
Total Trip Mileage: 3057 km (1832 mi)
Weather: Sun, 35 C.

We had a fantastic ride into the highly touted Byron's Bay. This ocean front town has a big history of "hippie culture" and a feel of Northern California with a few "yuppies" sprinkled in. We took in the famous lighthouse, "...saw live dolphins swimming...", and watched hang-gliders jump off a nearby cliff and soar away. Yes, we were among a bunch of bus "tourists" again!

Walked through the monthly arts and crafts market in town (kind of a 'dead-fest' with really good vendors) before blowing this overcrowded area. Cycling out put us back on the Pacific Highway 1 for 20 km and drove us both MAD as cars and trucks raced by within centimeters of us. At times we were forced to ride in the center of our lane to hold back traffic, since passing was NOT a safe option (keep in mind that this "highway" is a two-lane 110 kph mess)! By the time we got to the next tourist drive offshoot, our nerves were shot. We calmed ourselves with a couple liters of barley/malt beverage at cocktail hour.

A little further down the road in Kingscliff, NSW, we disappeared down a beach access trail and set up camp on our private beach.

Cheers! Nick & Nick

Kingscliff, NSW to Robina, QLD (bike)
Robina, QLD to Cooroy, QLD (via train through Brisbane)
Cooroy, QLD to Gympie, QLD (bike)
Today's Milage: 89 km (53 mi)
Total Trip Mileage: 3146 km (1885 mi)
Weather: Sun, 30 C.

Broke a some notable barriers today...crossed border into Queensland first off, changed time zones back one hour, and broke the 3,000 km barrier for the trip!

Made a quick trip through the much-touted Surfer's Paradise, QLD...an overdeveloped Daytona Beach-like strip. Interesting fact we learned about the area is the high-rise buildings are so close to the water, the beach is actually eclipsed by them in early-afternoon. Sounds like a great place, huh?

In an effort to avoid our last major town and the traffic that goes along with it, we hopped the City Line into downtown Brisbane and then straight out to the north end of town. As we have found to date, there is much more to see in the country than any city has to offer...besides, we have the Great Barrier Reef on our minds right now!

Exited the train in Cooroy, QLD and after a nutritious lunch at Peter's Cafe (recommended by the train conductor) we rode a swift 40 km into Gympie for Mexican dinner and XXXX beers! Found a sweet camp area in the town's football oval, a little refreshment stand with covered service counter.

Cheers! Nick & Nick

Gympie, QLD to Gin Gin, QLD
Today's Milage: 220 km (132 mi)
Total Trip Mileage: 3366 km (2017 mi)
Weather: Sun, 34 C.

Just to give you and idea of what it's been like to bike on some of these "highways" down here, we captured one of the behemoth "road trains" on film as it ripped by us on this hilly turn (photo). Notice the set of armor on the front...standard equipment on all trucks and many cars...built to repel even the biggest of 'roos, many of which lay motionless on the side of the road in a pile of stink, that we call "death".

After a nice early sunrise at 4:30 am and "breakie" at McDonald's pad, we got on the road. Tailwinds, sunshine, flat roads...we were ready to ride past the 200 km mark! The country side has changed now from cattle and banana farms to sugar cane. Things are flatter. And we are finally traveling with the winds as we go Northwest up the coast. In a short 3 hours we had finished 100 km and celebrated with pizza in Maryborough. In another 5 hours we were 120 km further...landed in Gin Gin around 7 pm, just after a glorious sunset ride into town.

Our newest friend, Marj, the owner of the town's hotel, gave us a "good feed," supplied us with showers, free coldie holdie souvenirs, was amazed by the amount of food we ate, and recommended a great place to camp in town at the rest area.

Cheers! Nick & Nick

Gin Gin, QLD to Gladstone, QLD
Today's Milage: 184 km (110 mi)
Total Trip Mileage: 3550 km (2127 mi)
Weather: Sun, 34 C.

Pulled into Miriam Vale Cafe for lunch after cranking off 100 km in a nice cool drizzle. The cafe and the hotel are the centers of every Australian town...if there is nothing else in a town, there will always be one of them.

The riding has been amazingly fast compared to the first part of the trip...flatter terrain, nicer roads, less traffic (photo is what we saw most of today).

We pulled into Gladstone at 5 pm, and biked directly into the drive thru for a sixer of XXXX Gold. Found a nice park at the waterfront marina, sat back in our Crazy Creek's and took in all the activity...female lifeboat rowing practice, dingy sailing, etc. Several chatty locals recommended cool things around town.

Today's "cultural point:" one thing that is different in OZ is that "clubs," (ie. sailing, golf and lawn bowling) are usually open to the public and have a bar and good restaurant. Tonight we partook of the yacht club's "Surf and Turf" for only $15AU ($10US).

Cheers! Nick & Nick

Gladstone, QLD to Yaamba, QLD
Today's Milage: 154 km (92 mi)
Total Trip Mileage: 3704 km (2219 mi)
Weather: Rain, 30 C.

Another day of smooth roads and excellent tail winds provided for great riding...even the gentle rain was welcome, since it cooled us down.

We experienced our first "burning off" this morning. "Controlled" burnings of many fields are conducted to prevent random and destructive bush fires...the road took us right through an area on fire (photo).

Received a lesson on the native snakes...after Nick Powers almost picked up a 5 foot brown snake by the head last night, just to scare me, we decided it might be a good idea to ask which snakes are good and which bad. "I wouldn't go near ANY of them," the owner of the camping store shouted! We've stayed away from them since.

Cheers! Nick & Nick

Yaamba, QLD to Clairview, QLD
Today's Milage: 182 km (109 mi)
Total Trip Mileage: 3886 km (2328 mi)
Weather: Overcast, 30 C.

After the incident, I coerced Nick to push on, as the women are supposed to be prettier in Cairns. Once underway the miles went by pretty easy with nice tail winds and graded roads.

In the afternoon we came across a small hand painted sign nailed up on a tree that said "Famous Burgers 50 K". We thought to ourselves, "How does this guy get any business with that small sign?" If we were not on bikes there is no way we would have seen it. This turned out to be the "Pedro's South of the Border" of Australia. As we rode on every 5k there was a sign on a tree for famous burgers. No doubt, by the time we got there we were starving and drooling with expectation for this great burger. When we pulled around the bend in the road it turned out to be a BP Roadhouse run by an old Dutch couple. When we inquired about the use of so many signs, they explained that in order to get people to stop, they had to price the gas real low. This, however, eliminates the profit...so the only way to make money is selling these burgers, which were quite good by the way.

Cheers! Nick & Nick

Clairview, QLD to Kuttabul, QLD
Today's Milage: 177 km (106 mi)
Total Trip Mileage: 4063 km (2434 mi)
Weather: Overcast, rain, 30 C.

Up until this week, we've only each had one flat...however, in the past three days, we've somehow managed to have three flats each...Thursday, one flat each as our rear tires had worn down to minimal thicknesses...Friday, Motz has two...Saturday, Powers takes his turn with two more...no wonder he's "bitter!"

We're hoping that the "curse" has now been lifted and we can continue on without flats!

Cheers! Nick & Nick