Tag Archives: Burketown

A Snow Birds Paradise

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Leichardt falls (east of Burketown on the Savannah hwy). Don't tell, I was too hot and dust to avoid swimming in this potentially croc infested pool

Leichardt falls (east of Burketown on the Savannah hwy). Don’t tell, I was too hot and dust to avoid swimming in this potentially croc infested pool

The roads are full of retired couples driving Caravans. The outskirts of Aboriginal communities are littered with beer cans and drunk individuals. The day begins and ends with waves of birds, kangaroo and bandicoots, and I watch as the moon begins again. The scenery is slowly changing from Savannah to tropical as I make my way east to the coast. My body aches from the hard days of riding and I look forward to a few days off as I get closer to Cairns.

Karumba. A 70 km ride to Australia's Gulf. This was probably the first part of the continent reached by Europeans in the early 1600's. The place was a "Snow Birder's Paradise" and was full of affluent white Caravan retires. I left without camping the night

Karumba. A 70 km ride to Australia’s Gulf. This was probably the first part of the continent reached by Europeans in the early 1600’s. The place was a “Snow Birder’s Paradise” and was full of affluent white Caravan retires. I left without camping the night

Cycling Australia’s Old Gulf Track

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“For hundreds of miles it ran through poor scrubby country that taxed the ingenuity of the most experienced drovers; it will never be known how many died of thrust drink and disease, how many were murdered speared or committed suicide” (Quote taken from the Borroloola Museum).

Appropriately named roadhouse in the middle of nowhere

Appropriately named roadhouse in the middle of nowhere

Dangerous creek crossing. This one was at least a half meter deep with zero visibility in crocodile territory!

Dangerous creek crossing. This one was at least a half meter deep with zero visibility in crocodile territory!

DCIM101GOPRO

Keeping up regardless of the exhaustion I have pedaled over 1500 km in Australia now

“Man’s richness is the fewness of his needs” (The Borroloola Hermit)

I am 1,500 km from Darwin in a little town called Burketown in the state of Queensland. The last 7 days have been spent cycling an extremely remote 500 km dirt road through cattle country, crossing creeks, camping in the bush and fighting off hoards of Buffalo flies. Add a daily 20 km headwind to the above and you get some difficult days in the saddle. The road has taken me through several Aboriginal settlements and I have gotten an interesting perspective of their life.

I continue on and will write more when I find proper internet. Hope all is well!!

A taste for the Australian Outback

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DCIM100GOPRO

The last week has been spent getting acquainted to the remoteness of Australia’s Northern Territory. I pedal on roads that quickly change from asphalt, to dirt, to gravel and then back again and watch passing cars slowly fade away into the distance. There are very few mountains here and at night the headlights of the highway can be seen from miles away. The journey however has been a struggle against time and the elements, as I try to arrive in the southern state of New South Wales before my flight back to the states late July.

I have chosen a rather difficult route, which travels on 800 km of rough sandy roads, with towns spread at large distances. The upshot is that it saves me over 600 km on a busy highway, giving me more time to observe Australia’s Northern Coast.

DCIM100GOPRO

I have quickly noticed that labor is difficult to find in these remote areas and I have already been asked several times for work. The minimum wage for a receptionist or bar maid starts at $25 an hour including accommodation and food! Most of the time however employers are looking to trade food and a place to sleep for 3-4 hours of work! The food is usually oatmeal and biscuits and sleep is dirty comfortable bed, my simple cooking and tent are far superior.

It is peak caravan season and I have met many friendly retire couples traveling about in RV’s, trailers and vans. At rest stops, (which sometimes have water) I am almost always offered a cup of coffee from these friendly travelers and after a bit of conversation usually a sandwich and cookies are thrown in! This hospitality surely makes up for the continual coldness of the locals in road houses where a few days ago I was declined tap water!

DCIM100GOPRO

Going “Ultralite” All of the water I carry is pre-distilled to insure I am not carrying any unnecessary weight in terms of Total dissolved solids.

DCIM100GOPRO

Winter began last Friday and the evenings have been getting quite cold. The days are hot though and distances pedaling into the wind leaves me exhausted after 100 km. On a few occasions I would set up camp to find myself too tired to cook, only to awake at midnight with an empty stomach keeping me from sleep.

I am at the start of a 500 km section of extremely difficult riding, Borroloola to Burketown on the Northern Hwy 1. I will touch base again when I can!