Day 391 | Wenlock River crossing: still on Frenchmans Track

31 km | zzOz total: 11,240 km

When you tootle along at an average speed of less than 7.5 km/hour for the time you are riding and only make 31 km from 8 30 to 3 30 you have the sense the terrain or surface ain’t the best.

The first 6 km out of Pascoe River was uphill but except for the initial 200 m it was all rideable. After that it was a majority of slightly downhill so it wasn’t the terrain.

Yup, it was the track surface.

A fair amount of walking the bike through the sand but surprisingly there was a fair amount of granny ring riding, my tolerance for the full body style riding has increased dramatically since I was riding over that first hill after the Daintree ferry almost 3 weeks ago.

A few vehicles came the other way including the incredulous family who presented me with the delicious fish at Musgrave, now on their return journey south: Hey guys, (the 3 teenagers in the back seat), I spoke to your dad and he said it’s OK for you to ride bikes up here next time, (looks of horror).

Then at Wenlock River there was a 5 car convoy, all with massive 2 ton camping trailers tackling the river, but more excitedly the greasy track out the other side.

Somehow I prefer my peace and quiet, a giant white sea eagle perched nearby and I was also finally able to get a view of the beautiful black Palm Cockatoo, some red on its head only and a big black crown, on vacation from the nearby PNG.

Despite these pleasures I don’t think I’ll take this little diversion on my way south.