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Date: Wed, Apr 01 1998 This will have to be quick. I have only paid for 30 minutes this time, and now I've only got 10 left of that. Crazy, I've been in Hervey Bay now for about 20 hours, and so far I've only had one short glympse of the beach. Just that I've had so much "administration" to do, one way an another, inc. shopping. So all I've seen is the inside of the caravan park, the main road, and the shopping centre. First up, two items of news (both good) on the home front:- First:- Second:- >I don't know when you'll get this, but I'm writing to let you know that Very exciting! The course starts in September. The only catch is that he has to find the fare over, pay for the course, and live while he's there. But he's working on that. Now, an update on my movements. I don't have any maps with me this time, so I can't tell you any distances etc. but I have now passed through Maryborough (rode from there to here yesterday; 40 km) which was the next major "milestone" after Gympie. And once again, I have actually pedalled a lot further than the distance from Brisbane along Highway One. I went to Maryborough via Tin Can Bay and Poona Bay, which is much further than going straight down the highway. Flashing back to Gympie then, you'll recall that I commented that it was a beautiful sunny day outside, and the road was beckoning. It was, too, but by the time I had finished sending that Newsletter, and one or two individual messages, printed out some of my incoming mail, I had left my run too late. I knew very well, that if I started packing up at that stage it would be 3 PM before I got away, so I paid for yet another night. Not that I minded really, because it was a very comfortable caravan park, and the managers (Michael and Sharon -- hello!!) are very nice. But I was missing out on yet another glorious day for riding. At least I managed to have a swim though. As it happened, the next day was very windy. We were getting the turbulence from a cyclone just a little north, and out to see. It was causing gale force winds on some sections of the coast. Oh, well, them's the breaks! Was extremely windy in the park, and made packing up, taking the tent down etc, very difficult. Once I was on the road though (in the early afternoon, as always happens) the wind didn't bother me much. The road was mostly through forest and sheltered from it. But it was a hard ride. I had been off the road for a while by then, and somewhat "softened". What's more, it was 61 km from Gympie to Tin Can - a long ride for an afternoon, with no breaks. So by the time I got there, it was starting to get dark and I was utterly, utterly exhausted. When I reached the caravan park I immediately enquired about an onsite van. $25 with an ensuite toilet and shower. I grabbed it! It was dark by then and anyway, I just didn't have the strength to put up my tent. As it was, I could barely manage to cook my dinner -- I had to stop and sit down a few times -- feeling faint. When I finally lay down, I came closer than I ever have so far to considering chucking the whole thing in. I felt sure that I would sleep for 12 hours straight, and wouldn't be able to ride again for at least 3 days. But not so. I woke up at my usual time (around 3 AM) and feeling much more optimistic. The stiffness was gone and I felt ready for another day's riding. The next 2 days went well, i.e. Tin Can to Poon Bay and Poona Bay to Maryborough. I was enjoying riding again, and feeling a great sense of satisfaction. I liked Maryborough; a nice, quiet, unassuming little town with no commercialisation whatever. But Hervey Bay is another kettle of fish. It's huge. I've run out of time. More next time. |