It was with some trepidation I started on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. Cairns is a long way away from Brisbane through challenging areas and it's not like the South Island of New Zealand where I've lived and driven the roads and know people.
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail and the Kingaroy to Kilkivan Rail Trail were good ways of starting with plenty of other cyclists around. However, these rail trails are a bit more rough compared to the "highway" rail trails I'm used to such as the Otago Rail Trail and the Rimutaka Incline.
It took a few days to get into a good rhythm. One of my favourite memories was at 3pm one afternoon when I came past a couple in a caravan next to the trail. The lovely lady stuck her head out and asked: "Would you like a cup of tea dear?" "I'd love a cup of tea" I answered. We sat down and talked and talked and I ended up putting my tent up behind their caravan and staying there for the night.
I'm enjoying the colourful bird life. Lots of pretty finches, lorrikeets and parrots. However, the dawn chorus is somewhat "squawking" as I wake up in my tent.
I've made a few blunders with the wildlife, thinking it's some amazing animal I've spotted. I tried to chase a big white and black bird with my camera in Brisbane, but my friends laughed because it was a "bin chicken". Another time I was photographing an introduced toad the Australians are trying to get rid off.
I get to sample some fine Australian food. There are some good pies and sausage rolls in this country. I'm also enjoying the fresh fruit and vegetables. They are so much cheaper than NZ: I paid 73 cents for a broccoli. Maybe I should setup an import business of Australian broccoli to NZ instead of cycling?? However, I have a sneaking suspicion that it's GST and the supply chain that makes our veggies so expensive.
Time to motor on north...
