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Australia 7 MOUNT MORGAN TILL TOWNSVILLE

MOUNT MORGAN TILL TOWNSVILLE



Mount Morgan – Kabra – Stanwell – rosewood 80
Rosewood – fitzoy river – forest home – develin creek 82
Develin creek – malborought 25
Mac kay – walkerston – pinnacle 61
Pinnacle – haton – engella dam 61
Engella dam – emu farm+10 91
Emu farm+10 – collinsville – binbe – armuna 94
Armuna – bowen – gumlu+15 108
Gumlu+15 – ayr – alligator creek 118
Alligator creek – Townsville + tour 60Mount Morgan – Kabra – Stanwell – Kapala road – Rosewood 4 aout 2011
So I stay 3 days in Pete and Sue home, in Mount Morgan. Then I go back way to Boulercombe for 1 km, and turn left to Kabra, 22 km gentle hilly through fields.
I join Kabra, which is a few houses and a large sport field.
I turn left on Capricorn hgw, rather busy with trucks, but with a shoulder. I cross Starwell, which is nothing more than a few houses, a store and a sport field. I turn right after 13 km at Kapala black mountain road. I follow that road till the end, for 11 km. It is just a trail rather hilly, one lane and gravel, through large fields with some farms.
At the end I turn left on Native road, for 1 km, and I meet Rosewod road, wich is gravel too, but with 2 lanes. I turn right to follow, and it continues gentle hilly through fields and little groups of trees. I see some bottle trees too. There are 20 km till Rosewood farm, where I camp. The farmer proposes me a place in the garage.
Roosewood Farm – Fitzroy river – Forest home – Develin – Marlborough – Mac Kay

The road continues hilly, but nothing hard, through large yellow fields and groups of trees. There are farms about each 15 km.
At km 37 the road cross an other one coming from Rockampton, and I turn left. At km 50 I cross the river by a causeway. Later a farmer explains me that for 6 months that causeway was under water and closed. At km 65 there is a cross, I take right, way to Malborought. At km 72 I stop in the farm Forest home, where I take water. The farmer lets me understand he would like I camp far away. So I continue till Develin creek, 10 km more.
Day after I make 100 m, and the desrailer brakes. I try to repair it but no way. So I push the bicycle for 25 km and 5 hours, without meeting anyone, or seeing a car. It seems me end of human beings happened. I join Malborought, a small town, a store, and a garage for tractors. I ask help to his owner, but He can`t repair too. Anyway he ask me 40 $ for that.
I find a free campsite along the Bruce hgw near the petrol station, and the next day I hitch hyke, and a couple with a caravan brings me in Mac Kay town. Fortunatly here Alison (warmshowers) hosts me for 2 days, and drives me to her favourite bicycle shop. The owner repairs the bicycle the same day, 350 $. I take a day more to rest and then I move.

Mac Kay – Walkerston – Engella Dam – Collinsvile – Bowen
I take the road 64 to Walkerston and Engella park. It is flat through sugar can fields, for 75 km. I met a couple of swiss cyclists, finishing the complete tour of Australia, great, and we talk 2 hours. (Philippe and Ursula, www.andakt.ch). So it was late when I arrive in Gargett. I go in the village and I discover the rodeo ground, where I camp. There is also a store with petrol.
12 km away is the last petrol station. 2km more and comes Itaton, grocery. Then 10 km more and there is a picnic area, but no services. That the end of the flat.
Then comes 5 km very steep, I push the bicycle, through the cloud forest, till Engella, village with a store, and a beautiful lookout on the valley. Then I take the road till the dam, 30 km hilly, the first 10 through the rain forest, and then through the open eucalyptus forest. I arrive at the dam, where I camp, water, toilet, shower, beautiful lake, and very quiet.
I follow the official road along the pipeline for 20 km. At the cross there is a farm, and I turn right. there are 20 km more till Bleinheim farm, and 12 km more to cross the Bowen river by a causeway, and km 81 i see Emu farm. I ask to camp there but the farmer refuses. So I continue about 10 km and find a site in a field. Then there are yet 17 km till the sealed road. All that is mostly through gentle hilly country with open forest and yellow grass, between 2 lanes of of little mountains. The gravel road is smooth, and there are some creeks with clear water.
On the sealed road I turn right to Collinsville, 40 km away. Collinsville has all services, a park in the entrance, and the sport fields at the end. It is a mining town.
Then I decide to go to Bowen by the main road Peter Delamoth, through gentle hills, open forest, with farms on km 31 and 47. On km 47, after the railway crossing, I take the trail on left, I follow it 2 km, and the fence desapears. So I go down in the field on right till the creek, where I camp.
Till Bowen it is the same country side. 4 km before Bowen city, I turn left on the Bruce hgw. At this cross there are a petrol station, a supermarket closed on Sunday, and a pony club 500 ahead on left.
Bowen – Ayr – Townsville
Bowen Ayr the Bruce hgw is flat, through large yellow fields. I see some peaks on the left. There is a picnic area and petrol station on km 45, at Guthalundra. I turn left 15 km ahead, in Bobarwaba farm, and camp along the alley which go to the farm. There is a picnic area 5 km ahead, but without water or toilet (km 35 before Ayr).
Then comes Home Hills, which is the perfect place. There is a confort house, that means hot showers and toilet free, in front a very good tourist office. The sport field is behind the tourist office, crossing the railway. And the town has all services.
To go to Ayr, I have to cross the river by a long bridge with 2 lanes without shoulder but the cars go slow, so it is OK. Just before Ayr there is a big park with picnic area, but I am not sure it is possible to camp. The cole supermarket is at the get out of the city.
Then the road crosses can sugar fields for 40 km. There is a place to camp, with water and toilet, I should use it, at the foot of the big anten, at the cross to WoodStock and Giru. Then there is nothing till Townsville. The road enters between 2 big hills, with forest. Then there is a large dry lagon, beautiful, but protected. 7 km ahead I turn on left at Aligator creek road. The park is yet 6 km ahead, and the small campsite is full. So I camp in the picnic area. The other campers were very noisy for the evening and early morning. At 6h30 I already pack all, and I go for a walk in the park, beautiful forest with wallaby. I suppose the ranger was fair and don`t ask me to pay.
Then I go back to Bruce hgw, and do the 10 km till Townsville, and 10 km more till the home of Kent and his family, warmshowers. I take there a day rest, very good thai food, nice couple with 2 children. Townsville have some antic building in the main road, a nice walk along the sea, and a beautiful park along the river. I drink too a very good café.
I buy the fly ticket to Darwin, on 31 of August, and I forget the idea to go till Cooktown, very steep road, expensive trip, and I am not sure the bus Cooktown Cairns (100 $) will accept the bicycle.

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