4400k's and Tom's at the Cape!!!

Yes, Tom's made it. As have Barb and Liz, all supported by Terry.

After setting up base camp yesterday arvo at Pusand Bay near Bamaga, the team spent a night of anticipation waiting for the dawn of the final day.  The three riders set off in high spirits, and after an easy ride of about 28k's reached the Cape about mid morning.  It was then a case of lumping the bike across a headland to the very tip of Cape York.  Photos were taken, and congratulations began to pour in. Photos show some very happy riders. Then it was a ride back to base camp where cool drinks, a shower, a rest, and a night on the town are the order of business.

At this stage, we don't have any strava results for the last six days of tom's ride and these may take a few days to get up to date, according to Tom.  So in the meantime, this is it - the post from Cape York, and the end of an epic journey.

We can only wonder what Tom has in mind for next time?????

The end of the road!!

A very happy Tom at the very top of Cape York!!

The riders - Tom, Barb, Liz

Looking from the cape.  Now, just where will tom go next!???

Are we there yet? News from the Cape

Sorry to all of you who have been waiting on the edge of your seats for news from the Cape.

The communications from the team have been very minimal over the last few days - no reception, very little battery.  I have received a couple of messages from Tom and Terry as they passed through some very poor reception points on the trail, and I can report that the team are now at Bamaga. Saturday is the big day - they have only 28 k's to go to the tip, and it will be all over.

Tom reported that he is tired and would love a good bed and a good shower.  I think that he may have to wait a little for the good bed, as he is still camping out in his little pop-up tent and blow-up bed. I have had no news from Liz and Barb, but understand from Terry that they are going well, and are keeping each other company on the road.  Tom of course does his own thing.

View from Punsand Bay to the tip of Cape York

Day of rest at Coen

UPDATE FROM TERRY:

Sunday - our day of rest.  We were all up late, with breakfast over by 8.30am.  Washing went into the washing machine, and was finished by 9.30am.  So what do we do now!???

Let's go for a coffee!  There is a coffee shop 400m south of the town.  We get there, only to find it closed on a Sunday.  We walk into the town - primary school, medical centre, community centre, ambulance station, couple of houses, the pub, the supermarket + fuel station + tourist info centre + post office one-stop-shop. This last is a family business, and one of the boys comes out "Do you want to see the stamper going?"  "Well...yes" we replied hesitantly.  After a few tries, a very old and tired 5hp Honda barks into life, driving a couple of V belts driving an old gearbox which drives another old gearbox driving a rising cam which lifts the stamper.  An old timer apparently built it 40 years ago and used it in his mine just out of town somewhere.  When he retired, or died I'm not quite sure, the boys got it and brought it into their yard and keep it going. 

Terry

From Barb:  Sounds like a great day!!!

Musgrave to Coen

A big ride today of 110k's to Coen.  Motivation is high, with a rest day scheduled for tomorrow at Coen.

Tom describes the day as "A tough day.  In all, 70k's of dirt and the remainder bitumen.  There was an early climb, on the bitumen.  Plus there were a lot of "ups and downs" into creeks.  There were quite a few patches of sand, where I had to get off and push."

Traffic was light, with only two road trains, and a few camper trailers and boats.

For most of the ride, there had been a tail wind, and once again the temperature had not been too hot.  (29).

Terry has not as yet reported in about how Barb and Liz are going.

UPDATE FROM TERRY:

It was an early start, on the road by 7.15am to lap up the good oil before the bad.  27k's of bitumen and a hill for Tom.  210m over about 4k's all bitumen and very little downhill.  We are now on top of the Bamboo Range, part of the Great Divide.

Follow this with corrugated dirt road and a bit of samd, and what seemed like 150 little dips of creek crossings, a lot with water and some with washed out rock, some with concrete, but all with a steep down into it and a steep climb out.  The rock crossings required a bike carry at the bottom to avoid any pinched tubes.  

This was all in the first 40k's.  We then hit the road works - 75k's of new seal and prepared-for-seal, and about 20k's of grader and roller stop-and-go lolly-pop works.  Tom has decided he doesn't like Sheep's Foot rollers any more!

All the riders were in camp by 3.30pm and considered they had earned a sleep in on their Sunday  rest day.

Bamboo Range, just north of Musgrave.  How many times across the Divide?  About 5 at least....

Click here for Strava result Musgrave to Coen.

Hann River Roadhouse to Musgrave Roadhouse

A shorter ride today of only 62 k's to Musgrave Roadhouse.

Tom describes sister Barb as motivated, as she takes off again to tackle the dirt.  She is getting used to it by now, while Liz is still settling in to the slog after only a few days on the road so far.

Tom describes that he is now riding on the dirt without being clipped in, as the sandy patches are treacherous and bring you quickly to a halt.  He is now riding with his wider tyres, although he says he has not yet lowered the tyre pressure, as he is concerned about possible pinching with the stones on the road.

Traffic is light, and Tom describes the temperature as "not too hot".  (A quick check of the weather shows it to be about 29 at Musgrave with overnight temperatures dropping down to about 18.)  For those of you who know Tom, you know that he loves the hot!!!

Tom pulls into Musgrave just over three hours after he started.  Time for a snooze after lunch.

UPDATE FROM TERRY:

What can I say - the good thing is that it was only 60k's, and the last 12 were bitumen.  Very corrugated, lots of bulldust holes, some as wide as the road, and sand.  Another good thing for the girls was no real hills!  Tom got a bit bored, with just one 40m and one 60m climb.

All were in camp by 2, a nice shady spot just inside the gate, mind you the only shady spot in camp.  Being inside the gate, we felt obliged to open it for everyone that came in.

We then got the good or bad oil on the road ahead.  It is amazing what some people call good and bad roads!  Everything from badly corrugated to nearly sealed all the way.  With 112k's to go for the next ride, we were hoping for the latter.

After a good feed of one pot chicken thighs and rice, the riders all having seconds, and then a late night walk up to the pub for an ice cream, they were all back in camp and in bed at their normal time of 8 o'clock.

Terry

Another river crossing

Click here for strava results.

Lakeland to Laura then on to Hann River Roahouse (two days in one)

Tom, Barb and Liz start the day at Lakeland at 7.30am with the intention of riding to Laura, a short ride on bitumen of about 60k's.

As they ride, they are assisted by a good tail wind of about 25kph and the ride goes quickly and well. They are all in Lakeland by 10.45am beating Terry there, (he had to pack up camp - a lengthy process).

After hearing stories that the dirt road from Laura on was in good condition, and there was quite a bit of bitumen, the decision is made to push on.  Yet another case of "don't believe what you;re told".  The bitumen runs out in about 3 k's, and yes the dirt might have been better than a lot of roads in Australia somewhere, but it is a hard slog.  A couple of stretches of 5k sealed road, but overall it does not improve.

Tom describes the road surface as okay,  with sandy patches in places, with a little bit of grading to smooth out the surface. According to Terry, "Tom gobbled up the dirt with a smile on his face" arriving at Hann Rover a bit after three.  Liz and Barb arrived behind him at about five.  Just in time to beat the sun going down.

With this sort of travelling, you take whatever camping facilities you can, and in this case the Hann River roadhouse is just a bare area under some trees at the back of a two pump roadhouse.  An emu and some guinea fowls keep the area mown. Terry informs me that the that amenities are very basic, and fuel is $1.51 a litre.  What's different Terry!!  We've seen a few of those along the way!!

A sign at the roadhouse reminds Tom, Barb and Liz that there are only 592 k's left to "The Top" (see below).

First taste of dust out of Laura

Different termite mounds

Distances from Hann River - only 592 k's to "The Top"...

Click here for Strava results Lakeland to Laura.

Click here for Strava results Laura to Hann River Roadhouse.

Mt Carbine to Lakeland

I am now reporting Tom's progress remotely, sitting at our daughter's table in Sydney. So here goes:

Tom rode 116k's today leaving from Mt Carbine, and arriving at Lakeland in the afternoon, accompanied by sister Barb and Liz.  He reported:

"Tough day with a couple of major climbs and lots of ups and downs and a strong cross wind."

Update:  Terry reports " A big ride today, with Tom leading out from Lakeland.  There is a long
160m climb once more over the Great Divide to Bob's Lookout, then a lot of little ups and downs.  Then a big drop off the northern side of James Earls Lookout into Lakeland, passing a huge solar array covering perhaps 1 1/2 ha. 80+ strings of double panels, 100m long with a big substation right alongside. We eventually find the caravan park, two blocks off the road, small and quite green grass that we shared with the wallabies and cane toads, a large number of toads."

Liz at Bobs Lookout

Palmer River

View from James Earl Lookout

Check out Tom's strava results here.