Day 5 - Wadeville to Varsity Lakes

Distance: 121 kms
Ride time: 6 hours 15 minutes
Climbing: 465 metres
Energy: 6585 calories

View the ride here:

http://cyclemeter.com/4539622a02fdb662/Cycle-20170715-0704

The last day and home beckons.

On the road at 7am. Today there are a couple of long-ish climbs in the first 10km. I love climbs, or at least the downhill part. Plain sailing after that, except for a couple of those ‘pick your plank’ wooden bridges.

The road flattens a little on the way to Uki, as it follows the Tweed River. The Tweed Valley really is magnificent cycling country - it is beautiful out here. There's still plenty of evidence of the amount of water that went through here a few months ago, washing away the road we are currently riding.

Things are going great until the Gold Coast. Google Maps took us on a wild goose chase but we did eventually get to Varsity Lakes Railway Station, but with a few extra km's I could have done without. Caught the train all the way through to Palmwoods on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, and then a short 20km squirt home.

That was as good a bike ride as I've been on. The roads are really quiet and good quality and you get to see the best that the southern Queensland border region has to offer, which is some of the very best scenery in Australia! Through cotton fields, vineyards and ancient forests, we even got through a couple legendary climbs.

Thoughts now turn to Devonport to Hobart in a few months. Need to be a few kilos lighter before I do that.

Once again, thank you so much for those of you have generously donated to Future2 Foundation. Your support is really appreciated. I'm still a little short of my target, so if you'd like to help, or to find out more, visit my fundraising page.

https://give.everydayhero.com/au/tony-63

All downhill from here

Day 4 - Woodenbong to Wadeville

Distance: 80 kms
Ride time: 4 hours 36 minutes
Climbing: 853 metres
Energy: 5883 calories
View the ride here:

http://cyclemeter.com/4539622a02fdb662/Cycle-20170714-0724

Thick fog this morning. Headed off regardless, and the first climb straight out of town soon had us above it. The Bell Birds and Whip Birds sing you up the climb - what a sound!!

It's then pretty much downhill all the way to Kyogle. Today is all about trees. The route runs right through the glorious forests of the Border Ranges as it winds its way through the Richmond Valley, crossing the Richmond River several times.  

Morning tea at the little hamlet of Grevillea shared with a couple of friendly dogs. They chase every car and run with us all the way out of town. How they have not been run over yet, I don't know!!

At Kyogle, we stop for lunch - the "Big Fella" burger seemed the obvious choice. 

Kyogle has some wonderful art deco architecture. Apparently, a lot of the original timber buildings were lost in fires, and replaced with art deco which must have been all the rage at the time.

There are a couple of tough climbs straight out of Kyogle - granny gear at full throttle. Hard work at the best of times, let alone towing 20kgs. We then give all that climbing away on a fast down hill through Cawongle, and then straight up again getting in to Wadeville.  Fely like we could do a bit more, but Murwillumbah at 50kms might be a bit too far. Still earned our beer though.

We are the only people staying at the "Wadeville Woolies" camp site. Top spot with great views of the Border Ranges National Park.

Thank you so much for those of you have generously donated to Future2 Foundation. Your support is really appreciated. If you'd like to help, or to find out more, visit my fundraising page.

https://give.everydayhero.com/au/tony-63

Early morning fog - not ideal

Woodenbong is back in there

Top of first climb out of Kyogle

Wadeville Woolies camp

Takeaway tonight

Day 3 - Stanthorpe to Woodenbong (granny gear)

Distance: 103 kms
Ride time: 6 hours 14 minutes
Climbing: 868 metres
Energy: 7250 calories
View the ride here:
http://cyclemeter.com/4539622a02fdb662/Cycle-20170713-0732

It's Thursday morning. For those of you outside of the second best rugby league state in Australia, I can confirm that the sun did still come up in NSW. The locals aren't happy though, seems to be all Laurie Daley's fault. Didn't realise he played.

Liberal use of the granny gear today. From Stanthorpe, there was an easy climb to about a thousand metres, which is as high as we get on this ride. We cruise across the NSW border downhill hugging the valleys and ridgelines through the mountains towards Woodenbong and the Border Ranges.

First stop for tucker was at Legume. Legume has probably a dozen houses, a couple of friendly dogs and a store that will sell you anything from the Courier Mail to Corn Flakes to a six pack of Bundy and Cola (for $21.99 in case you are wondering) and everything in between. There's no housing affordability crisis out here either, plenty of cheap real estate to be had.

It is a spectacular ride. It's a volcanic region, creating the nearby peaks of Glassy Mountain, Edinburgh Castle and Dome Mountain. They are covered in the remnants of the World Heritage Listed Gondwana Rainforest and protected in Toonumbar National Park.

The last 60kms or so are tough.

Woodenbong is a pretty sleepy town of a few hundred people. Once upon a time this would have been a bustling timber town, not much going on these days though. World class snitty and chips at the pub however.

Thank you so much for those of you have generously donated to Future2 Foundation. Your support is really appreciated. If you'd like to help, or to find out more, visit my fundraising page.

https://give.everydayhero.com/au/tony-63

Ready to pull out of Stanthorpe, fully loaded

Morning tea, very quiet

Not far from Nimbin, no doubt

One of many creek crossings, this one is followed by a long, steep climb to get back on the plateau

School Concert in full swing

Woodenbong Community Park - $5 a night.

Day 2 - Texas to Stanthorpe (6km/he or 56 km/hr, not much in between)

Distance: 101 kms
Ride time: 6 hours 15 minutes
Climbing: 1378 metres
Energy: 7450 calories
View the ride here:
http://cyclemeter.com/4539622a02fdb662/Cycle-20170711-0717

After a frigid night in Goondiwindi, decided to ratchet it up a notch - thermals top and bottom, 2 extra shirts, balaclava, beanie, gloves, woolly socks and a down sleeping bag. Just enough.

A foggy start at Texas out on Route 89, and then straight in to a climb. The first 30kms are tough. There's hardly a flat bit of road out here, either up or down and not much in between. Some sharp climbs too.

Despite that, one of the best days cycling ever. You could not ask for better conditions - sunny, cool and a tail wind.

Riding out of Texas, the landscape changes from river flats to rolling hills giving superb views of the surrounding tree-studded mountains which dominate the Granite Belt region

Cruised in to Stanthorpe about 3 pm in pretty good nick.

Remember how I said the first 30 kms were tough? Well, at the first break we ate six fruit buns between us, washed down with an iced coffee. An upside of cycling all day is you get to eat what you want.....no guilt!!

Day off tomorrow, tasting some Granite Belt wine.

Next stage is Stanthorpe to Woodenbong, about 100 kms and 1000 metres of climbing.

Very quiet roads, a bit skinny though

Fruit bun delivery service

State of Origin on the big screen

Day 1 - Goondiwindi to Texas (QLD not USA)

Distance: 111 kms
Ride time: 5 hours 33 minutes
Climbing: 256 metres
Energy: 7366 calories
View the ride here:
http://cyclemeter.com/4539622a02fdb662/Cycle-20170710-0729

Pretty good day for cycling. Cool, overcast and in to a very light head wind.

Brass monkey start at Goondiwindi. The are a few ways to get there, we took the tourist drive, that follows the river north of the border.

What I like about riding out here is everyone waves. Not that there's many cars. What cars there are, all seem to be Toyotas, I reckon about 100 to 1. That's a bit like the kangaroos. You see 100 dead ones for every live one.

They love their single lane of bitumen out here. Great for cycling, it climbs just 100 metres over the whole 100kms, so I'm not sure why we were so slow with a grade of just 0.1%.

We crossed the border in to NSW at a place called Keetah. Got to be the best unknown camping spot in Queensland, (or is that NSW). It was about here we came across the only pothole for the entire day, coinciding with a caravan - covered in mud.

The second best unknown camping spot in Queensland (or is that New South Wales) is the Cunningham weir which we crossed to get back into Queensland. Not a soul there.

The closer you get to civilisation of course, the less waves you get. The locals are still mighty friendly though, especially the folk at the Stockman hotel in Texas, where we commenced the all important rehydration program, the cornerstone of every endurance athletes recovery. Only three beers on tap however, XXXX Bitter, XXXX Gold and Hahn Super Dry - life is too short. Just as well we had an esky with a few Coopers Extra Stout.

Spent the night at the Texas Caravan Park. It's the Bernard Tomic of tourist facilities - not sure if it wants to be a caravan park or not, but they take the money anyway? The showers were hot, and that's all that matters.

Big day tomorrow. Texas to Stanthorpe, lots of hills, expect to be tired and emotional when we get there.

Thank you so much for those of you have generously donated to Future2 Foundation. Your support is really appreciated. If you'd like to help, or to find out more, visit my fundraising page.

https://give.everydayhero.com/au/tony-63

And to finish, some of you might be wondering why is there a town called Texas in Queensland. So were we. Please respond.

Cotton country. Agriculture on a big scale out here.

Road provides glimpses of the river

Superb camping spot - Keetah Bridge

Nice spot - Cunningham Weir

Take 2

My second go at this ride. Had a mechanical problem last time, hopefully my faithful old tredley will get me there this time around. A bit of an expedition getting out of here. Caught the train from Palmwoods through to Roma Street, then coach to Gundiwindi. There's some hills out here, lets see how I go getting my fat arse back over them in a few days time. Doing this ride with my brother, who I meeting out there.

Train

Bus

Check out the decor

Day 2 - Texas to Inglewood - Abandon

A first. Never abandoned a tour until today. 

I got a really early start. Rain overnight and some drizzle along the way. Rain bought a lot of wildlife to the pools of water on the side of the road, even some pigs. Saw a Euro kangaroo, not sure how common they are but haven't seen one in a long time. A few corncobs on the side of the road as well.

Got in to Inglewood in plenty of time, only to find out that the bus didn't stop in Ioswich. It would take me through to Roma Street, arrival time about 5.30pm or after bike shops closed.  There'd be no new bike pedal today and probably wouldn't get going again until lunchtime tomorrow.

Generally pissed off with a lack action, decided to catch the train home and try again in a few weeks.  Really disappointed but the best use of my time. So until then.