The Kandanga Pub doesn't provide breakfasts but has an area set aside as a guests lounge where you can make tea or coffee. I made do with a couple of nutrition bars and a cup of tea before wandering around Kandanga and taking a few photos.
The Kandanga Pup - a great little place to stay except for no breakfast and it only serves evening meals Thursday to Sunday inclusive. There is a little cafe but it doesn't open until 9.00am.
The main street
The main store and petrol pumps - I should have bought some supplies there.
The War Memorial - the town dates from 1914 and still managed to do it's bit.
The view of the pub around the back. My room is third room the left and the next two rooms are the common room. I sat on this veranda with Matt and Rhianna drinking beer for three hours.
I finally got on my way at 8.00 am and passed under the railway bridge which used to carry the Rattler to Imbil.
The ride was very pleasant but a bit hillier than I had expected as I was never far from the railway line. It, however, had a nice graded track but the road followed all the original natural contours which resulted in a series of rolling hills.
This doesn't show up too well but the tree in the middle is a bright fed Poinciana.
and these are a group of Bougainvillea gone mad.
After 9Km I reached Amamoor where the Rattler track looks deserted and derelict.
By now I was getting hungry but the Amamoor general store doesn't do much food at 9.00am on a Sunday morning so I made do with a Kit Kat and a diet Coke - not really cycling fare.
I continued to ride through some beautiful rolling country but was getting slower and slower. Now I realise that I was suffering from lack of food and in the old English cycling term had the bonk. This is also known as hitting the wall.
About 4Km from Amamoor I rejoined the Mary Valley Highway and turned left to Gympie and I was beginning to struggle.
The Rattler travelled over this trestle bridge and it is the cost of maintaining this and the other track which has driven it broke.
My last picture of the day.
I struggled on and on the outskirts of Gympie climbed Jones Hill hill which finished me. I stopped and had a large chunk of fruit cake and an Iced Coffee but it was too late the only remedy to the bonk is a long rest and some easily digestible sustenance. Although I have always considered them a fad perhaps it is the time for easily digested energy gels as used by triathletes .
By the time I got to Gympie I was walking and didn't even take a last photo of the Mary River as I crossed over it.
I was too early to check into my hotel so sat in a local park for an hour and read my Kindle where Fantine is having an even tougher time in Les Mis!
Just after 12.00 noon I walked into the front bar of the Railway Hotel and bought myself a beer before checking in for the night. I needed food and after a shower went into the hotel's dining room for steak, chips and salad. I only managed to eat about half of it before I had to go back to my room to sleep for two hours before getting up and posting yesterdays blog.
Then I felt hungry and as the hotel doesn't serve evening meals on a Sunday I went and got some Fish (Barramundi) and chips and ate them with a bottle of orange juice in my room. After another beer in the bar I went to bed at 7.30pm
I woke up at 2.00am and started preparing this blog.
While walking to get my fish and chips I took this picture of the grand old Gympie Railway Hotel. It has seen better days but the staff are friendly and the bed comfortable.
My evening meal.
Now it is gone 3.00am and time to go back to sleep.
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