Day 21 - Kiama Creek to Inca Creek- 106km
I awoke early and hit the road, the border was close and I wanted to cross it, its been a milestone which has been on my mind since I turned right on to the Barkly. It also marks 1500km about halfway of my trip to Cairns.
I made it across and I was waved through, the police at the border are for only those going into the NT. I stopped for the trademark photo in front of the Welcome to Queensland sign. I've been riding with a flagpole at the back of bike and plan to add flags as I crossed borders so it was also a moment to add my first flag. I have the Aboriginal flag up top, the land I will always be riding on, then the NT and now the QLD flag.
I made it to Camooweal and stocked up on water and had a bit of a rest. A couple of grey nomads pulled into the servo from each direction and were bickering over who gets the diesel nozzle first, I watched on in amusement.
As I left Camooweal full of powerade and a strawberry milk, I had a spring in my step, I was flying along in a new state and the landscape was back to the familiar red ochre and bush scrub. I looked down at my bike computer and I was really flying, I realised my old friend, the head wind had left me and I pedalled on.
A little later on a ute flashed its lights at me and pulled over, I stopped and from the window came "Have you got time for a beer?" I joined him on his side and we had a few cans of VB and had a chat. His name was John a man in his 70s from Humpty Doo. He was on his way back from Normanton, visiting a place he worked at when he was a young man. He said he had seen me pedalling into the headwind a few days ago and was on his way back. He gave me a few tips on the road ahead and I left with a smile and a little tipsy but still half a beer in hand.
I pulled into Inca Creek 30km down the road, for the night and to my surprise had reception and after a few calls to friends, I sat back and finished the beer, content of a good day cycling and that I had clocked over 100km again, a lovely welcome to the sunshine state.