Thanks for another great journal.

Congrats to you both on reaching Cairns. It’s been fun follow your ride from afar.
All the best for packing and trip home.

Interesting observation. It’s a retail business we take as normal and acceptable, but we shouldn’t.

There was a time when grog was even sold at petrol stations. At least here in Canberra. I don’t know if it was also a thing in other states. Eventually, our gormless legislators worked out that alcohol and driving wasn’t the safest mix, and stopped servos selling it.

But somehow these drive-through bottle shops seem to be exempt from the realisation that drink-driving still kills a lot of Australians. But far less nowadays than when I was a youth. Pre random breath testing, pre-seatbelts and back when it was almost considered unAustralian if you didn’t drink and drive.

Hi Graham. We're probably going to just take our time going up towards Cairns in a zigzag manner. There seem to be a number of options both on the coast and at the edges of the escarpment that could be worthwhile. The real spanner in the works is the week's worth of rainy weather that has been forecast.

If you did arrive in Cairns with time to spare, the Atherton Tableland is worth a look. It’d be quite an uphill haul on bikes but other transport modes are available.

Very nice!

Thanks Bill. The environment it was in matches the description in the link as well.

Might be a grey snake. Matches photos well.

https://wildlifeqld.com.au/grey-snake/

The Winter Solstice creeps up on one! Sunrise is is at about ten to seven here near Townsville and it is dark by six. I'm looking forward to longer days.

It’s only 10 days (but who’s counting:) before the days start to lengthen down our way. But it’ll take a while longer before the morning temperatures start to increase, so Coby might experience a few frosty mornings if he’s taking an inland route. -2°C here yesterday morning.

So lucky to get it. It disappeared into the undergrowth within seconds.

Wonderful shot.

Best kangaroo on the beach picture I’ve ever seen!

Speaking of state laws and one which is unique to QLD.

Having pet rabbits or selling them in Qld carries penalties of up to six months in jail and a $44,000 fine.

I saw a sign with that message when I cycled toward Brisbane. I should have taken a photo.

Hi Graham, I know nothing of Australia's federal and state laws but I would have thought the owners of dogs involving attacks on people and other animals would attract heavy sanctions as is the case in much of the world. However, even though I had walked past the dogs as directed by the owner, I still felt I should have detected it felt threatened and that I carried some of the liability because I didn't give it space. I believe the owner's contrition was genuine and her response, at the very least, adequate but I suspect she was relieved I didn't make a song and dance out of the affair.