North of the Hinchinbrook lookout was like entering a different, more gentle place in the tropical north Queensland. There were mountains and beautiful bush, more gorgeous backcountry roads and places to relax.
Again, my pace and travel form paid off: It was morning tea time, and I was going to have another boring muslibar - until a couple of ladies yelled out to me, if I wanted a cup of tea? Yes, of course! It was the CWA, Country Women's Association (similar to New Zealand's Women's Institute), in the middle of a craft session. They had been expecting another guest and the spread was amazing. I greedily helped myself to two sandwiches and three pieces of cake. After some great conversation and photos, they sent me on my way with two large containers with sandwiches and treats for lunch.
Bananas! Staying with the important theme of food: I love bananas, but this takes my love to a whole other level: What is not to love about sun ripe bananas at $1.50 kg?!
If I'm not biking through tropical rainforests, I'm likely to have either sugar cane or bananas on my sides. I was quite curious about the bags flapping in the breeze from the banana palms: They are apparently pest control and the different colours indicate the ripeness and when the bananas are ready to go to market. Here are sugar cane to the left and bananas to the right:
On occasion, I'll bike past a beach, but it's so different from New Zealand. In northern Queensland the most stunning beaches with golden sand are completely empty. People don't go for a walk on the beach, they don't go swimming and they don't fish off the beach. Why? Crocodiles! While I've been in Australia, I've heard of a couple of incidents, but it mainly involves people walking their dogs, and unfortunately they return home without their beloved pet. Very sad!
I haven't seen any crocs, and I don't really have a great need for that, so I too will leave the beach empty.
