Week 7(A) Cairns(QLD) to Sydney(NSW) Gibsters Annex
Day 41 28/5/22 Cairns to Cooktown(QLD) to Cairns(QLD) via Port Douglas 725kms
After a tearful farewell as Hydro and Russ rode off into the distance, there was work to be done. First on the list to freight the spare tyre picked up yesterday back to Sydney. There was no way The Gibster is going to look like a Bangkok scooter rider with a tyre strapped to the back of the bike. Gassed up and hit the road to Cooktown. Once over the mountain and the chicken strips finally rubbed out, Atherton was just a memory, but there was still serious miles to cover. The road was good and no traffic except for the odd 4WD covered in red dust. The tropical mountains rose around and there was a curious sight of the disappearing Black Mountain which is made up of smaller rocks. Got into Cooktown, took the pictures, got the stickers and filled the tank. The return journey was fast, across the ranges and into Port Douglas. It was strange mingling with the Beautiful people again. Fabulous ride down the coast into Cairns in the twilight.
Day 42 29/5/22 Cairns(QLD) to Townsville(QLD) via inland route 486kms
Russ and Hydro had given Gibster the tip on the road works out of Cairns, so the inland route it was. Back up the winding road from Gordonvale to Atherton at a leisurely speed but 20km/h too much for the motorbike cops at the top of the hill. That broke a 44 year drought for the Gibster who has studiously avoided speeding fines since his Ducati riding days. A great ride over the ranges and into Townsville, except for the Kangaroo that refused to budge from the middle of the road.
Day 43/44 30/5/22 – 31/5/22 Townsville Rest Days
Day 45 1/6/22 Townsville to Rockhampton 718kms
Up and away again, down the Bruce Hwy; boring; slow; painful. Hit a bird and that’s it. Lots of sugar cane (The Gibster is running out of words)
Day 46 2/6/22 Rockhampton to Tamworth (1007kms)
Gibster left another old friend behind (where do these people come from) and headed off to Tamworth. The riding was great down the Leichardt Way until about 100kms from the border where the rain had turned the road into a minefield. The last two hours of the ride were in the dark and the cold and the lady at the Ampol station told Gibster to leaner over the chicko roll warmer to heat up. The longest and coldest day on tour.
Day 47/48/49 3/6/22-6/6/22 Rest Days in Tamworth
Day 50 7/6/22 Tamworth to Sydney via Port Macquarie
Leaving Tamworth, the weather was cold, the road wet and the clouds ominous. (spooky eh).As Walcha came into sight the clouds had lifted, the road was dry, and it was warmer (but still bloody cold…its a relative thing). Coffee and toast at the Royal (Its a Fox stop) and down the Oxley to Port Macquarie where the Gibster had lunch with his 91year old uncle. Then a meander down the freeway to Sydney. A remarkable trip 20,132kms in total.
Silver Foxes Motorcycle Club Australia 