If you have ever been to North Queensland you will know that rain doesn’t really bring the temperature down a great deal. We awoke to rain and it was still a barmy 19 degrees as we made our way to the start point on the Cairns Esplanade.
Following a radio interview with Cairns Community Radio, 9:00am rolled around and we were off. The first stop was to see the team at Design Lab who were applying the finishing touches to the support vehicle, which looks great.
Soon after, we headed to Freedom Prosthetics where we had our last catch up with Jerry Vella and completed an interview with Channel 7 News. The interview was aired on tonight’s news as the fifth report. Amp Camp has been able to get a good plug across North Queensland media today. With final good-byes, we were on the road heading south. The rain had abated but this just meant the humidity and heat had risen. When we set off, it was approximately 25 degrees and 70% humidity.
Heading down the Bruce Highway is very different to last year’s ride as there is considerable traffic and multiple intersections through which Grant secured safe passage for me by ‘running block’. This was a successful approach. Eventually we left the outskirts of Cairns and began a steady ride south. The weather was not my friend today with a strong head wind and gusts up to 39 km per hour (Weather Zone). Intermittent rain helped reduce the stickiness but it wasn’t until much later that it cooled the air. The road was lined with cane fields and the occasional banana plantation and I knew I was no longer anywhere remotely near Bunbury, WA, when I saw a few signs near creaks advising crocodiles could be present in the water ways.
Between Cairns and Innisfail there are few locations to stop but we still managed to locate the occasional roadside store for a quick drink and something to eat. Riding with mountains to the left and the main range to the right creates an incredible funnel for the wind to mount its assault on this unsuspecting cyclist. Before long the dehydration and fatigue of fighting a cold for the past two weeks, no sleep on the flight over and a change in climatic conditions left me with cramping in one calf followed shortly after by the other. I haven’t had leg cramps since I was about 16 years old so what I can say is that Queensland has brought about a new experience.
After navigating through a number of sections of roadworks and with the rain falling again we eventually rolled into Innisfail. Settling into our accommodation, having a nice hot shower before heading to the laundromat and then dinner at the Goondi Hill Hotel. An excellent place for a feed if you are ever driving through Innisfail.
Tomorrow will be a more intense day as we head to Ingham with weather similar to today predicted only the distance is 150kms. An early departure is on the agenda and I’m hoping that the body recovers tonight.
Strava Data from each day’s ride is available to the left of the blog.
Donations to Riding 4 Amp Camp can be made from either of the links on the home page of this site. While riding through Qld, our focus is on supporting the Amputees & Family Support Group Qld (AFSG.org.au).
Thanks to Lynda and Holly at AFSG for there support and especially Holly re/Facebook and Instagram.
Until Tomorrow,
Mike and Grant
Crocodiles!! They are something new! I hadn’t even thought of crocodiles being in the equation…ouch!!
It certainly didn’t sound like a day you’d choose to go out for a ride though with the wind, rain and humidity all thrown in together. Hopefully today won’t be as bad as you have a longer distance to cover to your next hot shower and rest. Thinking of you both today, Mike as you pedal ‘Black Adder’ up hill and down dale and Grant as you drive the very impressively decorated Suburu. Stay safe!