Day 23 - WWII Memorial to Mt. Isa - 53km
The road became more hilly as I made it closer to Mt. Isa, winding through the landscape. In the distance a chimney stack appears and then another. Great piles of dirt pile up and vast machinery. I've never been to a mining town but I didn't realise the mine is literally in the middle of town, dwarfing it as you walk the streets, plumes of smoke pumping out around the clock.
I check into a cheap motel for 2 nights, strip my bike down, its so light without the gear, maybe I should try and cut some of the weight down. I hit the streets to see what's in town. I bumped into some friends from Darwin outside a Cafe they were heading for the coast, strange how of all places we meet here.
The bike shop is fully stocked and has a workshop out the back, I organised to bring it in at 9am tomorrow morning to get the spoke fixed. I bought some more bar tape and regriped the bars my hands have been getting numb.
Clothes washed and belly full, I relax in the motel, soak in this air-con and try and bring my internal temperature down, its 33 outside and there is not a cloud in the sky.
I'm glad I chose here as my rest day, a town like this fascinates me.