Day 10 – MoN to Atherton

It was a long night and at first light I started walking back to the buildings where I’d turned back. Along the road my spirits were lifted when I saw a vehicle coming towards me. I jumped into the middle of the road and waved my arms like a dervish. The very nice lady in a four by four ute stopped and listened to my tale of woe and then took me back to my car.

She could not get past me to pull me forward and there didn’t seem to be much point in pulling me back so I got my rolled up tent out to the car and using this as a buffer between the back of the car and the ute, she pushed me out onto solid ground. I was not lost – this was a road to Georgetown. But the sign had neglected to mention that it was only suitable for tractors, Centurion tanks and large heavy four by four utes and not for Kia Ceratos!

Back at the farm we discussed with her husband and they agreed that I should go round the long way. But the long way was about 300kms and I did not have enough fuel. So they gave me a 20litre jerry can of petrol, drove me back to my car, helped me tip it into the tank and then refused payment of the petrol. What a great couple! Thank you Adelie and Eddie!

After a gentle ride to the end of their property, which is a cattle station probably about the size of Wales, I got to a T-junction and turned left as per instructions from Adelie. This was a quality gravel road that went on forever until I reached Forsayth and then Einsleigh where it turned back to being a tarred road. So on to Georgetown.

Filled up with petrol and asked the way to Atherton – I’m not getting lost again – then drove onward, ever onward. A good road most of the way with occasional bits of single lane tar. Just like Rhodesia years ago! Arrived at Atherton about 4pm and there got messages from the the previous day worrying about why I had not arrived! I upgraded to a cabin and booked for two nights. After last night I need a bit of pampering!

Time for an upgrade!