Evening of June 18: my mobile phone has had no reception since leaving West from Charters Towers – no contact with home for two days.

Bushcamping West of the Campaspe River between the road and the railway line. A rough, restless night. Three goods trains thundered past the campsite, and a dozen or more road-trains shook the earth nearby. Sleep became elusive with images of a huge, black, wild pig dead on the roadside earlier in the day.

At last I sleep, only to be woken by a dreadful feeling of foreboding, misgiving and apprehension…

…I knew: I shouldn’t go on.

In the morning, tinned tuna and biscuits for breakfast and a 16 km ride to Pentland where I checked into a cabin. Over lunch, and still filled with the foreboding of the previous evening, I made my decision – abandon my ride totally, and return home.

I always listen to my feelings – I received a message two days later: my wife was in hospital again.

I won’t be resuming my venture. Such is life!

John spent yesterday resting and enjoying the fascinating history of Charters Towers. You can find some photos in the Gallery.

On the road again…

He left Charters Towers early this morning, heading towards Hughenden – a stretch of about 250 km (above). It is likely that he will be camping tonight, but he hopes to be in Hughenden by late tomorrow if terrain and fate are both in his favour.

During a break today, he was quick enough to photograph a massive four-trailer Road Train as it roared past him and Cooee (image above).

He pushed on from Townsville today, making the turn westward towards Charters Towers.

Keeping him company on the road are four-tralier road-trains… something difficult to imagine for those of us from the Southern states!

After pushing Cooee on foot on a particularly long (5 km) uphill stretch of the highway across the Mingela ranges, he has set up tonight’s camp atop the ancient mountains. The night is expected to be quite cold, but he is prepared. Apparently the Milky Way is extraordinarily bright and expansive above him!

Tomorrow, he expects to reach Charters Towers.

John has arrived in Townsville, the “Capital of North Queensland”, this afternoon.

“I haven’t forgotten how to ride!” he reports, and verily, he rode 93km today.

Once he has gathered the necessary provisions, he will set off for Charters Towers.

Left: Townsville welcomes John

After being reunited with Cooee and after a long train trip on the Sunlander, John spent the first night of his resumed journey in Ayr.

John and Cooee are back on the road today, once again heading North, en route to Townsville.

Way to go, John!

Right: Cooee, about to leave Ayr