Collis and I stopped at a roadside fruit stall on our way out of Townsville and we were told to try the steak sandwich at Belyando Crossing. We were told they were the best in Australia and they were to die for!! As lovers of a decent steak sandwich and looking out for the best steak for one of our riders we had to try it. The experience was so bad that I got the giggles watching Collis trying to finish it (he hates to see food wasted). I had to walk out of the cafeteria/restaurant- I thought the fruit stall holder must have been talking literally.
Since then I have been worried about what will be available for the riders to eat. They sold other things other than steak sandwiches so I thought it couldn't be all bad. Looks like I may have been wrong by some excerpts from a web site called "Caravan Park Photos" which weren't very complimentary.
I think we may have a BBQ that night, due to the uncertainty of the riders getting a large nourishing meal. We planned on a BBQ a couple of nights previously at Emerald to celebrate our half way mark but this may be a better place to celebrate the half way mark, just because.
The people working there were a very young bunch but very friendly so Collis & I decided it wasn't too bad with the camping area looking dry (with very little grass) but it was a large area with power and the toilets looked clean. The cabin accommodation didn't look fantastic so I wouldn't advise people upgrading. According to the previous website we may need to remind the riders to have a supply of ear plugs and not to camp near the car park as apparently the bar can get lively on some nights.
Cycle across oz has very little choice as to where we lay our heads especially after such a long day, so hopefully the pub will be quiet for us that night. It's a bit dangerous for us to take off at 3.15 am and we don't encourage any of the riders to leave before sun up.
Belando Crossing to Bush Camp 130 kms approximately
Not such a long day but you won't want to be too tired either. Small gradual climb from here but mostly the road looks straight and mostly flat. Very lonely road with very little traffic and not many buildings (if any). A few mining properties around here that provides the mining truck traffic and entrances that ensure you don't feel welcome to visit. Lots of road kill along this road so it should be a busy day spotting wild life that hasn't been run over.
We have picked out a nice area for lunch at the Cape River rest area, hoping there is plenty of water in the river. Bush camp area looks pretty good on the corner of a side road with plenty of wood for the fire and flat areas. No shower this night.
Bush Camp to Charters Towers 70 kms
Nice short day today and we should be arriving at our caravan park before lunch if all goes well. It is unlikely that we will stop for morning tea today. Drink stops will happen but it takes us much longer to pack up and clean the camping area after a bush camp so we probably won't catch the cyclists before town.
Michael and Anna will be driving also so they can provide water top ups as needed. The main thing we noticed when we drove down this way were the number of dead but also live snakes and lizards out on the road. We will have to keep an eye out for them while camping especially first thing in the morning- best to stay in bed until first light so you can see what you are stepping on. Don't mean to scare anyone as with all our travels and camping trips we have never had snakes bothering us at all.
Charters Towers is a very historic town and worth the time to tour on the rest day. Collis is hoping he may run into Bob Kater (some politician) in the main street as this is his home town. We should hear him before we see him although if he is wearing his customary 10 gallon hat then we may see him first.
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