Day Two

Please bear with me while I just take a minute to address the bikers in the audience.

You know when you’re out on a ride, clear blue sky with perhaps just the occasional fluffy white cloud. Dry tarmac stretching out into the distance, with a bit of age-related wear but not a pothole in sight. You come across just the occasional other vehicle, and always in a place where you can safely and quickly pass. Other bikers let on to you, and when you stop for a brew everyone is friendly.

Just as you’re loving life, you wake up. Riding in the UK means the above is often just a dream state rather than a reality.

But I lived the dream today, riding in Queensland. It also  included riding a strip of tarmac bordered by the Daintree Rainforest on one side and the Coral Sea on the other, and riding up through the rainforest to the top of a hill and looking down over the trees to the coast.

If I lived here I’d be using my bike all the time, and the rideouts and road trips would be epic. Clearly the locals feel the same, as both the bikes we rode had around eighty thousand kilometres on the clock. You wouldn’t have known that just by riding them though, and it’s good to see them being used as intended.

Anyway we attached my Beeline to the Bonneville which recorded the ride stats. This doesn’t show any of the incredible scenery though, so next time we’ll put a camera on each bike so we can share some of the action.

Kerry found the Bonneville to be the most comfortable, so until Conor and I swapped bikes I had my daughter as pillion. On the other side of the world. How cool is that!

A quick mention here for my latest piece of riding kit that I bought especially for this trip, my Roadskin Motorcycle Hoodie. It kept the wet and cold out at the start of my trip in Manchester, and kept me cool and protected riding in the heat yesterday. A lightweight riding jacket which works well on and off the bike thanks to removeable armour and detachable hood. I know it sounds like an advert, but I just think it was a really good buy.

Later in the afternoon we went on the Lady Douglas River Cruise which, if you’re ever here, you’ve got to do. It’s relaxed, interesting, entertaining, includes beer, and I saw my first wild crocodile! At two metres it was regarded as a small one, but that’s bigger than me and with more teeth so I was happy just to watch it just breaking the surface of the water, totally unfazed by the boat.

After the cruise a quick drink at the Tin Shed, a Not For Profit entity which uses quality low cost drink and dining to raise money for good causes including veterans. A great idea which looked to be well supported.

Then it was on to dinner at Salsa, a restaurant where Conor used to work. He knows all the staff and, it seemed, most of the other dinner guests, many of whom stopped to talk to him. One even sent us over a bottle of wine! To say he knows half the town is probably understating it! This is another ‘Must Do’ if you’re ever over this way, but be warned it can often be booked weeks in advance during the peak season of May to November. As well as local dignitaries a number of world-famous people have eaten here and signed plates which are on display, including one by Bill Clinton on September 11, 2001. Nine Eleven.

Now time for a few pictures of another very full and enjoyable day. They show the bike ride route, the two bikes, Kerry and Conor in Mossman with the bikes, Conor and I in the rainforest, Kerry and Conor overlooking the rainforest when we stopped for a break at the Julatten Hotel, all of us at and on the Lady Douglas, me looking for the crocodile, my first wild crocodile, dining at Salsa, me and Kerry leaving Salsa at the end of the night.