Last night I reviewed my options for the next two days. I had intended a 52Km plus day for today, Monday, but found a more direct route of about 32Km shown above. The original route is the road looping around the north. The new route shows a steady climb all day and it is a minor road with no stores to buy any supplies.
I left the Railway Hotel about 8.00am and rode into Gympie's main business area Mary Street and bought myself a big breakfast. Actually it was too big with three fried eggs, five rashers of bacon and four slices of toast accompanied by a glass of orange juice and a pot of tea with the promise of more toast if required.
With this large meal inside me I head south from Gympie looking for the East Deep Creek Road which lead to today's destination Kin Kin. When I arrived at the Noosa Road I thought I had missed the turn off. At the time I was being swooped by an irate magpie which is a big problem at this time of the year. See living with/magpie_safe.html .
I braved him again and retraced my route back to the previous intersection but it showed up on my map as too soon. I was back up the road pass the magpie and another series of swoops to the next intersection which was again called the Noosa Road. That's right two of them. It was back to the first one and my attendant magpie and 200 metres down this Noosa Road was East Deep Creek Road
This is a mainly quiet country with regular rolling hills resulting in a steady climb. I was riding well and only walked for safely reasons on the narrower climbing sections.
This is the view back to Gympie at about 7Km which is just visible in the distance.
As I got higher the countryside opened out and I could see across to the range of hills I had ridden two days earlier.
My only sight of any community on the way was the Cedar Pocket Community Hall and Regional Fire Service HQ'
I was headed up over those hills but was still enjoying the ride. The temperature climbed into the 30s (85F+) so I stopped every 5Km for a long drink of water. I was carrying three large bottles and had nearly finish them all by the end of the day.
I crossed over three of these one way bridges on my way. I had right of way as you can just see the Give Way Sign for traffic coming the over way. Note that the bridge had a wooded plank road surface running along the bride direction. The gaps between the planks are great trap for unwary cyclists.
Just before the highest point of my ride I came across this little dam this was being serviced by South East Queensland Water Supply workers.
Behind it was this pretty little reservoir.
I now had reached the top of my final big climb and saw this wonderful sign. Yes that's 15% downhill .
A the bottom was this sign was this sign. I an glad I came the other way!
Now it was a gentle ride a few kilometres to Kin Kin which is stock horse country. He just trotted up for a feed as I rode passed.
This sign is for the Noosa Trail Network for horse riders and walkers and runs near my home in Tewantin.
I made it. It had been a hard slog but without the dramas of yesterday. The climbing was long and hard but I never once felt that I was overdoing it. Where necessary I walked and enjoyed the scenery.
When I reached Kin Kin I checked into the Country Life Hotel whose web page has some great pictures.
My outside balcony.
The communal bathroom facilities. There are two for 11 rooms. I was the only guest.
After having a shower I had a couple of beers in the covered outside area. being Monday it was quite deserted but I am told that it gets packed on a Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
My little bike is parked in the barn.
I had meal specially prepared by the publican as the dining room is shut on a Monday. It was a great roast but about three times as big as I could eat. I had a few glasses of white wine with the publican and another regular before going to bed at 9.00pm.
A tiring but great day.
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