Electric Ants and Crocodiles

Sat outside at 7.30 am enjoying my first brew of the day and I realised this was a Monday morning feeling I could easily get used to, and probably never tire of!

After a few housekeeping tasks – laundry, haircut, beard trim – I fitted the new levers and rear indicators to the triple then took it for a run into town. As is customary now I went via the Mowbray River (which is in the opposite direction) to look for crocodiles. Also customary – there were none there again!

Never mind. On into town to get the bits I needed to cook tea, then back to have a cold one and a dip in the pool.

Kerry and I went to have a walk on the beach before tea, but when we got there the beach was underwater due to high tide and a stiff onshore breeze so it was a much shorter walk than we’d planned.

I got a photo of a sign warning about electric ants as it’s not something you see every day in Wilmslow. They are one of the world's most invasive pests. They affect human health and lifestyle, can blind pets, damage the environment, and have the potential to severely affect agricultural industries. They get their name as they Inflict painful stings on humans relative to their size, that cause painful, itchy, persistent pimples and, rarely, severe allergic reactions. It is a legal requirement to report any suspicion of electric ants, and this sign indicates an infestation has been found and is being dealt with.

Conor was working at Salsa tonight and we turned in before he got back, and he was up and out before I got up on Tuesday morning. We’ll catch up later.

In the meantime I enjoyed a nice leisurely start to the day (again), then washed my bedding and checked the weather forecast before venturing out on the bike. Twenty nine degrees and a gentle breeze, but it’s forecast to get a bit warmer next week. For now I’ll make the most of no rain.

First stop – you’ve guessed it – Mowbray Bridge. Those of you who think you know what’s coming – well, this time you’re wrong!

Today I saw four crocodiles. They were at a distance from me on the surface and swimming away so it wasn’t possible to get a decent photo. I hung around for a while as one guy started fishing from the bank, then two others climbed over the rail to retrieve their baited crab nets and throw them back in again, but there was nothing doing. I wouldn’t personally stand on a river bank, disturbing the water by dropping food into a crocodile infested river, but each to their own! Instead I carried on down to Ellis Beach for a coffee and some crispy squid.

I had my camera on the handlebars so I got a few photos, but as I hadn’t charged it since the reef there aren’t many and the brilliant video footage didn’t happen! Just as well I’m here for a while yet. We’ll also be trying Conor’s GoPro with the helmet mount and a full battery, so things can only get better!

Another stop at the river on the way back, but no crocs this time. No fishermen either. I’m assuming they got home ok…

The beach walk was aborted again due to a lack of sand. The onshore wind and continuing high tide had claimed the beach, although going inland past the fringe of trees there was little discernible breeze.

Extremely good burritos for tea thanks to Kerry and Conor and some more of the pulled pork, followed by a bit of Clarksons Farm, and it was the end of another day.

Pictures show the electric ants sign, and various views of riding where the rainforest meets the sea = before the battery died!