Day 11 – Mon 12 Jul to Port Douglas

This is the first night I have internet access for a few days, so check out the posts for days 9, 10 and today.

Well today was a slow start, although an early rise we simply packed up the camp and then headed off about 10am. The weather was becoming overcast and through the morning would become more showery. We rode through light showers and mist until we reached the eastern side of the range where there was sun and 28+C.

We were basically riding without a plan today. Rod wanted to get his bike looked at at Cairns and then nothing more planned than that. So we rode for an hour or so, pulled into a picnic area for morning tea then rode some more.

My GPS was saying straight ahead as we left Ravenshoe but with a sign to the right saying unsuitable for caravans what more enticement was there. So I took the right turn off to Millaa Millaa and we were quickly into rain and dairy country. The road was basically a single car width, I was hoping that it wouldn’t turn to mud but we proceeded on – no wet weather gear on. They didn’t need to have signs to Misty Mountains because we were in them.

Well what a simply stunning road it turned out to be – passing though dairy country, lush rainforests across tops of the range and down through valleys. At the end we both had big smiles, even though we were a little wet we were internally glowing.

We then proceeded on a road to Malandra before taking the Gillies Road across the Gillies Ranges to Gordonvale on the coast. Every bike rider will know the Oxley Hwy and similar road types  – well this was just one such road with all elements included. It was showering on the western side and hot on the east. There were smiles all around by the end of it and we nearly turned around simply to do it again. Try it if you are up this way you will not be disappointed.

After checking out with BMW, consuming a couple of meat pies with a couple of local bikers we set off north towards Daintree. Well we road to Port Douglas and decided that this was far enough for the day. We found a bed for the night had a swim in the pool – how relaxing is that after a day’s ride – then headed for a walk to the beach.

Well the beach walk took us up to town where we decided to have a couple of cold ones in the Surf Club, a walk further into town and we were in the thick of it. Well another well timed beer before we headed back to our base – all in all around 3-4km walk with adequate lubrication.

We then managed a couple of lamb shanks for dinner with a nice red – oh the trials and tribulations of a hard days riding. Now for a good night’s sleep before we head north tomorrow – we expect a ferry crossing and maybe a river crossing or two – must keep an eye out for the croc or two. So for now I’ll sat “see ya later alligator,” and my grandkids would say “in a while crocodile”.