DAY 69

From Miriam Vale to Calliope. 60 km in beautiful weather, but the first puncture and flat tire on the journey puts a stopper to the possibility of reaching the original target Mount Larson.

After a few rough days in a row with over 100 km per day, they slept a bit longer than usual. They bought a big breakfast and didn’t stress. 94 km should be doable on a nice day like this. The highway A1 turns out to have a wide shoulder and the boys feel safe.

Before 10 km is done they got their first puncture. It would take 4000 km before they got their first flat tire, quite incredible. Anders’ rear tire that is not even a week old is flat. He gets of the bike and walks it 100 meters to the next turnout. Lasse arrives and good is that because he has more or less all the necessary equipment. First Anders tries to repair the tube. The result isn’t good, but at least he tried. He decides to use a new tube that they brought from Norway. They decide to go for the easy and expensive option after failing with fixing the tube. After an long hour they are back on the road and this time they are more afraid of glass than traffic.

Due to a relaxed morning, puncture and quite slow speed they first take lunch at 2:30. McDonald’s in Calliope is as un-formal as always and they decide to spend the night there. 60 km will have to do. The other option was 35 km to Mount Larcom. Just the name that includes Mount makes Lasse state “that means we are going uphill, Anders!”

They cycle a few extra km to find a caravan park. An Asian girl is at the front desk and obviously is a Rookie. She wants 40 dollars (!) from the two boys. They boys pay but thinks the price is a bit to high. They set up the tent before Anders says to Lasse; “you could go and ask where the camp kitchen is, and if they don’t have that you can say that 40 dollars is a bit to much”. Lasse does it without doubting and is gone for 4 minutes. He returns with a smile on his face and 30 dollars in his hands. “She charged us for two tents, two people. Therefore she gave me 30 bucks back and called me sir twice in the end of the conversation”. Sometimes it’s good to ask questions.

PS! They are now officially in crocodile-county. In a review of one of the other caravan park nearby the warned about crocs in the water.

Awesomestralia – a normal life is boring