Day 47: Childers to Bundaberg

April 2, 2021

Start: 8:40am
Distance: 86kms
Ride time: 5:18hrs
Average: 16km/hr
Max: 58km/hr
Finish: 2:30pm

My tent was shaded by the trees so I had a little sleep in.

I rode a few kms to get back on the Bruce Highway. It was very busy with holiday traffic.

After a few more kms, I arrived in Childers. I found a bakery that was open. Normally I choose salad rolls but that place only had pies. So I had a pie for breakfast. It was a delicious pie! The best bakery pie I've eaten. I should have bought two.

From Childers, I turned north away from the hwy and onto the Goodwood Road, it's a back way to Bundaberg.

I had macadamia trees on my left and sugar cane on my right.

After about 20kms, google maps suggested I take a short cut along Garryowen Road.

The short cut would save me 5kms and I get to travel on a quiet road. There was still a moderate level of traffic on the other road so I agreed to follow google maps advice.

I was surprised to see the railway tracks are only 2 foot apart.

I later found out this is only for carting sugar cane. This link has lots of information about it.

I rode along a quiet bitumen road for 5 kms. Then it turned into a gravel road.

And then the gravel road turned into a dirt track. I was starting to get a little concerned at this time.

I was still following google maps, even into cane sugar plantations. I was hoping I would pop out onto a bitumen road any minute.

Then more dirt track. At least I was out of the cane.

And then the dirt track just ended in an impenetrable ravine.

I think I may have swore at google maps.

I had travelled 7kms from the main road to this dead end. And I forgot to mention I had a big tailwind on the way in. Now I have another 7kms to backtrack into a headwind.

I need to learn from these errors although I'm sure I'll make the same mistake again before I get home.

I took the opportunity to taste some of the sugar cane and yep, it tasted like sugar.

I also saw a big goanna. He ran across the road and then climbed this tree while I was trying to get a pic of him.

Eventually I made it back to the main road and I continued heading north with the holiday traffic. I got several toots and waves of support which is always welcomed.

Today's ride: 86 km (53 miles)
Total: 2,255 km (1,400 miles)

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