Day 9 – Charters Towers to the middle of nowhere

My intended destination was Atherton in the hills behind Cairns. Flossie told me to go the coast and then drive up the Pacific Highway. But I’ve done that before, so I decided on the alternative route inland. Flossie told me how to get out of Charters Towers and then told me to continue straight for 220kms. So I did.

I came to a fork in the road just as a monstrous road train bore down upon me. My concentration on avoiding the monster meant that I did not study the road signs but Flossy had said continue straight so I did. After a while, as the road became a gravel road, I began to suspect that I might have gone wrong. But no problem I thought - I’ll just turn right at the next opportunity and I’ll join up with where I was meant to be. Of course my internet coverage had ceased a few kilometres outside CT so Flossy was silent.

I turned right and drove on. The road got more and more minor, there were no signs to anywhere and my only map showed what I was on as a dotted line. When I admitted to myself that I was now lost, I decided that I should head for Georgetown which would then put me on a major road to Atherton. I came to an intersection where there was a sign to Georgetown. Not exactly a major road - in fact a farm track! - but I followed it.

It got steadily worse, but I’m no quitter so I pressed on. I came to a series of creek crossings. The first was rocky but I crept across slowly then came to the next two which were sandy so I rushed at them more boldly and managed enough momentum to get through before I bogged down. Then I came to a group of farm buildings so I got out and had a look for a human – something I hadn’t seen for the past two hours. There were none and the gates leading on were all closed. I decided that the sign I was following had lied. So I turned back.

Through the first creek crossing and about seven eighths of the way through the second when I became bogged down in the loose sand. I had a few attempts to go backwards and forwards, each time getting in deeper and deeper. So I gave up and sat in the shade waiting for someone to come by. It was now nearly 5pm and nobody came. Then I heard footsteps in the bush and out came a Brahman bull about the size of a house! He was followed by some more so I decided it was only fair to get out of their way and I retreated to the car. It got dark and I had an uncomfortable night. But I did have food and drink and I even thought of putting up my tent but I thought of the bull and decided I’d stay in the car.

My night's accommodation