Mike's Magical Mystery Tour - Mike_Veine
This is my blog for keeping my friends and family in touch with my adventures as I travel the world!

1st Post
Portland, United States
Hi all, this is my first post in my travel blog for my friends and family and it has been a great day to stay inside!
Today I worked on ordering the beer for my Bon Voyage Party on May 11th, I am getting a cornelius keg from Upright Brewing of their #5 beer which is an IPA.
The weather outside sucks...wind is howling and it looks pretty wet. I will be moving from rainy 50+ degrees Farenheit to rainy 10+ degrees Celcius so not much change except Summer is coming here and winter is deepening in Melbourne, AU...damn.
In mid July I should be in Cairns, AU near The Great Barrier Reef and in the Tropic of Capricorn which will be much warmer and drier.
That' s all for now....more when I have my party.
written by  Mike_Veine on May 3, 2012 from Portland, United States
from the travel blog: Mike's Magical Mystery Tour

Going away Party and Packing
Portland, United States
Time to write again...well, I had my going away party on May 11th and since Mother's Day was on May 13th several friends brought their Mom's which was a really nice touch.
I had a keg from Upright Brewing and my roommate Rob made Mojito's which were a huge hit. Menu included Sturgeon with sour cream, capers and red onion on crackers; Vegetarian Jambalya with cooked shrimp or Andoullie Sausage on the side for carnivores to add in; and slow cooked BBQ'ed Brisket. Homemade Pecan Pie and a Chocolate Fudge cake rounded out the desserts with some cheesecake my friend Diane brought and RJ brought chips and a veggie tray. So no one went hungry!
Thanks to everyone who came out to help me celebrate!
Now on the 16th I have completed some big things to prepare for the move. I have my Australian Bank account setup which was a pain and today I boxed my bike. Unfortunately I could not get as much in the box with it as I had hoped so more sorting and thinning. Tomorrow a non-profit group my friend Louisa turned me on to will come and pick up a donation of camping gear and other stuff that I have which will help reduce the pile in the garage. Now that the bike is done I hope to get another big bag packed soon. My date to leave, June 5th, is still aways off but I like to have things together so I can slack off. That's all for now!
written by  Mike_Veine on May 16, 2012 from Portland, United States
from the travel blog: Mike's Magical Mystery Tour

Last Day in USA
Portland, United States
Today is the day I leave...I am nervous, but excited as well and I know that this adventure will help me grow and change to be a better and wiser man.
Thanks to all my friends who have met up, partied, helped me get rid of stuff and in general made my life transition easier this past month; I will miss you all.
My life's possessions are now whittled down to a bike box, two large suitcases and two carry on size suitcases (which still seems like a lot of stuff).
I will try to take a picture of the stuff at the curb before I load it and put it with this post later so I can remember the effort it took.
Next Post from Downunder and sharing the new living situation with you!
Cheers for now, Mike
written by  Mike_Veine on June 5, 2012 from Portland, United States
from the travel blog: Mike's Magical Mystery Tour

I am in Melbourne!
Melbourne, Australia
I arrived on June 7th Australia date and everything went smoothly with my baggage and bike getting through quarantine and surviving the flight.
My friend, Carl, was at the Airport waiting for me with his UTE which is a small flatbed truck with a cage on the back. We loaded my stuff in the cage and put a homemade cover over it to keep the rain out. It is winter here and cold and wet and dark. Very much like Portland in the Fall. Gets dark at 6pm.
I am living in a 40x25x10 corrugated shed with a wood stove and electricty. It is on the property of Carl's friends- Mike and Haike. Carl has a fold out couch he sleeps on and I have a futon mat on the floor. I have not really had a problem with jet lag.
The area we are in now is not very bike friendly with no shoulders and I need to acclimate to riding on the Left side of the road so it will be awhile before I am on the bike again. They do have some bike lanes in other areas, but spotty. The suburb we are in is called Belgrave. There are over 150 named suburbs of Melbourne which really surprised me! Belgrave is about an hour East of downtown Melbourne.
I was delighted to see the beautiful birds they have here. Cockatoos are wild and so are some very striking scarlet and blue parrots. Haike says the parrots will eat out of Mike's hand so I may try this.
I will add some pictures of the area later and now I will post pics of the UTE and Shed.
We will be moving to another friends House where I can sleep in the House on Monday which is a Holiday for the Queen's Birthday. Hopefully we can get a two bedroom place later in the week, but it is a pain here like anywhere applying for rentals.
I have a phone number for contact now and will share it if you email me and ask.
That's it for now, Cheers to all!
written by  Mike_Veine on June 9, 2012 from Melbourne, Australia

Whoo Hoo got a House and a Guitar on the same day!
Melbourne, Australia
Today was a really cool day...signed the papers on a three bedroom duplex and randomly found a beautiful Fender Acoustic Guitar in a small music shop.
The house is in Bayswater which is an Eastern suburb of Melbourne about an hour from the CBD (Central Business District) which is what they call Downtown. We will be able to move in on 6/23 so still staying with Carl's friend Shane until then in the little village of Sassafrass.
Shane's place is a small two bedroom house that he calls a cabin. The funny thing about it is it is a prefab that was made in OREGON so, I am walking around on Douglas Fir floors right now! Small world, huh? Shane works as a gardner on some of the expensive estates in this area. We are living in a mecca for hikers and outdoor enthusisasts in Melbourne and for tourists looking for a little country life. It is very beautiful here. The village of Sassafrass is basically a tourist attraction with antique shops, tea shops, little restaurants, and trinket shops.
We moved here from Mike and Heike's on Sunday night and spent Tues., Wed. and Thurs. house hunting. Most places were not so great, but the one we liked best for being newest, most spacious and in the best neighborhood is the one we were accepted for. I will post pics of it when we move in. Friends will loan some furniture and I am looking for deals on Gumtree.com.au which is like Craigslist in the states.
The move in date keeps me on schedule for leaving on my trip North in the middle or last week on July depending on how quickly I get my act together. So that is good.
Finding the guitar was pure serendipity, Carl has a problem with viral conjunctivitis in his left eye since before I arrived and he wanted to go to his Doctor and get it looked at and while he did that I wandered into a tiny music shop. I started looking at guitars and the brands were all unfamiliar and then I saw a Fender six string acoustic sitting on a rack away from the "For Sale" guitars on the wall.
The man who owned the store is named "Heinz" and he is from Austria originally, nice guy a little older than me. He said the guitar was a resale they had just inspected and done a little work on and it was not even priced yet. I picked it up and it felt and sounded just right for me...love at first string! Heinz and I made a deal and I got what looks like a Crocodile leather hardcase for it included with the guitar. I will take a pic and post it when I can get it out in the daylight for a good shot.
You cannot imagine how happy I am to have found it and to make a little music over here. So all in all a very nice day!
Tonight I've got the cabin all to myself, Shane and Carl are both out on dates so a little peace and quiet is nice. i will post some pics of the area around Sassafrass and of Carl's creepy eye for your amusement and amazement.
Remember, you can post comments here for me to see if you want instead of sending me emails about the blog! Cheers!
written by  Mike_Veine on June 15, 2012 from Melbourne, Australia

Moving Weekend and Earthquake
Melbourne, Australia
This is going to be an exciting and difficult weekend. Tonight I am picking up the keys to the new House and starting to move in.
It has been raining hard pretty much non stop for three days now with no let up in sight so much like moving in Portland!
Carl and I are scrounging furniture from friends and I bought a futon and a washing machine and should get a dryer (that most exotic of beasts) today hopefully. So tonight I may be sleeping in my own place finally.
Heike has also convinced me to make a Thanksgiving style Turkey dinner for the 4th of July which sounds fun. I will cook the turkey at her House and we will have her family and a German couple that are cousins and an Indian foreign exchange student.
Wednesday night we had an earthquake that was a 5.5 with an epiCenter only about 60 Miles from here. Shane's cabin started shaking and the noise was so extreme and the shaking so violent that I thought we were having a landslide because of all the rain and the hills around this place. I ran to the Center of the room expecting mud to come shooting through some window at any time. Carl had been in Christchurch, NZ for the big earthquakes they had so he was less affected, but it was kind of scary.
So I have at least three days of moving in the rain to look forward to...yuk.
written by  Mike_Veine on June 21, 2012 from Melbourne, Australia

Turkey Dinner and Trip Prep!
Today is a big day...I booked the first stage of my travel to Cairns to start my bicycle trip from Cairns to Darwin. I will be leaving by Greyhound Bus from Melbourne to Brisbane on July 20th for a 25 hour bus trip! Should be a hoot!!
Since blogging last I have been busy moving in, purchasing used furniture and outfitting the house to make it livable for the next year. That is all pretty much done now so to celebrate my first month in Australia I made another "ethnic" American dinner for my friends Mike and Haike.
I wanted to make a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner for the 4th of July (which would have been the 5th here), but I had not counted on the general inavailability of turkeys in this country. Apparently turkeys are only eaten for Christmas Dinner and not all the time so you cannot just go to a market and buy one. I ordered one special from the Belgrave butcher and even though I ordered a week early they couldn't get one until the 4th in the afternoon...so that changed the timetable and I picked Saturday since it was my one month anniversary in Australia.
When I picked up my Turkey on Thursday it weighed in at a whopping 3.76 Kilos or a little over 8 lbs. It looked like a large chicken. It cost $64.00 so it was the smallest, most expensive turkey ever! The upside is that it would cook in only about three hours so I did not have to start early to make it.
The menu for Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner was:
Turkey with Southern Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing
Mashed Potatos and Homemade Turkey Giblet Gravy
Green Bean Cassarole
Cranberry Sauce
Dinner Rolls
Dessert-
Scratch Made Pumpkin Pies with Vanilla Ice Cream
Since they do not have canned pumpkin here either I had to steam fresh pumpkin and make a puree and drain the excess water to get the Pumpkin part. That was fun and made a really great flavor so I think I will always do this.
The 7th was also Mike's Mother's birthday so his Mom and Dad came to dinner and we celebrated that too. It was a very special, fun dinner and Haike contributed some delicious wine. And even though the turkey was small there were leftovers for other dinners and sandwiches.
So, to get back to the begining of the post...I will leave Melbourne on the 20th by bus to Brisbane and I am booking a sleeper on the Sunlander Express leaving Brisbane on Sunday, 22 July arriving 31 hours later in Cairns. I will start booking rooms and other stuff now that I have a timetable to work with spending 5-7 days in Cairns and on the coast camping before setting out on The Ride.
I have a riding plan that a private tour group uses with mileages and overnight stops and activities for each day and I will use it as a guide. If you would like to see it I can send it to your email in a PDF so let me know in comments here or please email me!
It looks like I will spend 30-35 days on the road, maybe longer if I take multiple rest days in one place because I like it. The route takes me East out of Cairns and then South and East to Mount Issa then North to Darwin.
From Darwin I will take The Ghan outback train to Alice Springs and a bus to The Rock in Uluru. After that I will take the train from Alice Springs to Adelaide and either take a bus from there or have Carl meet me for a road trip.
So more before leaving and then more from the road soon.
Thanks for reading! Pics of the Little Turkey added as well.
written by  Mike_Veine on July 10, 2012 from Melbourne, Australia

Leaving Melbourne Tomorrow
Hi All...Well, organizing and getting gear for my bike ride from Cairns to Darwin is done and all that is left to do is pack up and catch the bus tomorrow evening. Spent the past two days chasing last minute stuff and seeing if it will all fit. Everything seems good.
I will spend two days in Brisbane now because my train doesn't leave until Monday evening arriving Cairns on Tuesday evening. While I am in Brisbane I will probably go to the Art Museum and maybe catch a movie. I am staying in hostels in Brisbane and Cairns but I have a private room in Cairns for two nights and maybe three. I will check out the diving and snorkeling boat trips before heading North of Cairns for a couple of camping nights somewhere near the beach hopefully, crocodiles permiting!
Then the Ride begins and I estimate 28- 30 days of riding and 5-8 rest days depending on where I am and what there is to see. I considered taking the less improved and more isolated Northern Route (which is 600-700 K shorter), but one look at Google Earth convinced me that the Southern Route on sealed roads is adventurous and isolated enough!
The main climbing is on the second day at the end and is moderate but long and then it is a short descent and a fairly flat ride across the desert. The temperature today in Mt. Isa which is deep in the desert middle of nowhere and my approximate Halfway point was a low of 10.9C/ 51f and a high of 22.3C/ 70.9F, with light to moderate winds (22- 30Kph) from the S-SE so no big deal. I should be there before August 14th maybe as early as the 10th so still time for plenty of weather changes.
i am posting a pic of me and the guitar (which I will miss) and one of my gear piled up so you can see what I am carrying.
From now on any posts will be made from my IPhone or an Internet cafe.
I will try to update every 4 days or so and post pics when I can as well.
Wish you were here!
written by  Mike_Veine on July 19, 2012 from Melbourne, Australia

Traveling notes
Brisbane, Australia
Day on bus memories
Lots of flat ranch land like going from PDX to Salem but with different trees and cactus by the roadside. I saw emus sheep and cattle and lots of birds. Two memorable sights- a tiny church graveyard with a young blond woman kneeling in the middle of it and an extremely shaggy white pony loping down a hill. Bus was not too bad got 4-5 hours of sleep but it gets monotonous.
Brisbane notes
Reminds me of Portland with a River and Bridges and an esplanade with runners and cyclists. Good weather. Uncomfortable room share with 3 Irish girls on a 7 week holiday and top bunk in dirty hostel. Cockroach city.
Met two girls named Carherine at breakfast. They had been fitness walking and we ended up eating at the same west end sidewalk cafe. One of the Catherines was going to a food and wine festival in the Southbank which is like Portland's waterfront park so I met up with her and and friend for walking and wine and cheese. Later she took me to the oldest hotel in Brisbane which was famous for their steaks and I had a good dinner.
I went to two art museums. One had a show of women artists of Australia and the other had a traveling collection from The Prado, a Spanish museum that has the art collection of the kings of Spain going back to the 15th Century. This show was only exhibiting paintings.
I enjoyed the women's art more probably because it was more varied in type of works and more contemporary.
Then leaving Brisbane onto the Tilt train to Cairns. Saw a Joey for the first time right after I woke up on the train. We left Brisbane at 6:25pm for a 24 hour trip. Lots of fields of sugar cane some hills and saw the Ocean in the distance.
written by  Mike_Veine on July 23, 2012 from Brisbane, Australia

Last post before the ride
Cairns, Australia
Hi All,
I'm using notepad on my iPhone and my rubber keyboard to make this posting. This will be my way on the trip and it actually works pretty well!
I am in Cairns now (pronounced CANS) and I have a large private room at a hostel for only 39 a night! Better than Motel 6.
I slept really well after the 24 hour train ride and even woke up at 4:30 AM which will be about the time I get up on the ride every morning. Today I booked a diving and snorkeling excursion to the Reef for tomorrow and it will last pretty much all day. When I get back I will load up all my panniers and plan to start just after sunup for the first leg.
I have everything I need now and even purchased another phone from a company that has better reception in the Outback.
I got the bike all put back together and test rode it and she is fine.
I was up so early today that I even wrote a short Story I've been meaning to do and I am considering putting a second "trip" on this site just for my short stories. For now please just email me at mveine7@gmail.com or comment in the comments section of the blog.
The 27th is GO Day and my first stop will be a town called Mareeba a short 60k but with climbing out of the coast through a coastal range so I should still get a good workout for the first day.
More from the road in two or three days if I have service.
written by  Mike_Veine on July 24, 2012 from Cairns, Australia

One More for the Road
Cairns, Australia
Well i am doing one more post before leaving.
Just put EVERYTHING on the bike for the first time
and I think it weighs 100 lbs. That is with only one MSR
Drom Bag full.
But it all fits and is super well balanced so far so we will
see. I spent the day on the Great Barrier Reef and it was
fun.
But that is another Story so now to bed and get an early start
to Mareeba tomorrow. Thanks to all of you reading and please
wish me good luck and fair winds!
written by  Mike_Veine on July 26, 2012 from Cairns, Australia

Update to the Third Day starting
Atherton, Australia
Using my little keyboard on the floor of the tent to write this. On my second day of biking and I haven't gotten as far as planned. The first day leaving Cairns had a large climb to get over and it was steep enough that controlling the heavy bike in low gear on the very narrow road was too dicey. I ended up walking the bike about 4K to get over and ended up really tired. Made about 50k only and stayed with a very nice couple, Arlene and Ian who treated me like a king. You know the old saying, "always be kind to fools and madmen" and I probably seem like a little bit of both to them.
They fed me and offered a spare bed, but I slept in an open shed overlooking their creek. Very sweet and I could see the stars and hear things that go bump in the night. Off early the next morning and had a very hard time with a headwind and still not recovered from the day before. Stopped a little short of Atherton with another 50k day at only noon to rest and recover more. I found a free campsite at a War Memorial Park with many Caravan Campers (Trailers in the US).
I will turn in early and see if I can do better tomorrow. I hope to get to Ravenshoe or even a little farther, but I am really trying to listen to my body and not risk an injury that would end the trip.
The country around me looks kind of like Idaho around Emmett and there is a large River called the Atherton that I passed over today. Arlene said that many of the landmarks are named for early explorers and that name sounds familiar, but I don't know the history...one more thing I should have done! Oh well, it is what it is. I am happy and seeing cool things. I will post some pics when I get to an internet cafe.
Quick add on... I'm in Atherton now having a nice breakfast and feeling better this am. Still hard riding because it is constant long but not steep climbing with very few flats and no descents to speak of. I am getting tired of the small chain ring lol.
written by  Mike_Veine on July 28, 2012 from Atherton, Australia

August 1
Mount Surprise, Australia
I am staying over a day in Mt Surprise today, been riding for five days so now I will take one off.
Yesterday was the first day I actually got into The Outback and the riding is definitely easier  now with more gentle rolling hills. Long ride- I finally topped 100K with a 112k ride.
It seems to be cattle country out here with large ranches. Ian told me that there were two ranches larger than the entire state of Texas!
This is Savannah Land with stunted trees and long grasses predominant. I've only seen birds and cattle out here alive, but many dead kangaroos or wallabies on the side of the road victims of collisions with road trains.
I've been passed by many road trains now and the drivers are very professional and honk sometimes when overtaking me. I hear the cars and trucks behind me from very far away and it is no problem getting over for them.
I left at sunup to get a jump on the heat and took a 1/2 hour nap at noon after eating and hydrating before continuing on. This and the easier terrain made the afternoon ride better than the day before. Once when I felt too hot I just dumped a water bottle out over my head to cool off and rested in some roadside shade for 10 minutes and then back at it.
When I was riding at about 4pm the sun angle lit up the tall grasses around me and I could see the grassheads reflecting pinks and purples as they waved in a gentle breeze. A small herd of cattle all turned their heads together to watch me ride by- guess they'd never seen a bike before!
I heard from several local residents that there is a woman ahead of me who is walking to Darwin. She is from Siberia and started walking around the world when she was 17 and she is now 42- pretty amazing! I hope I will catch up with her around Croydon a couple of days and hear her Story.
Resting, reading and eating today, catch you all later!
written by  Mike_Veine on July 31, 2012 from Mount Surprise, Australia

Just for the Map

Just for the map

3 am August 4th
Gilbert River, Australia
3AM Aug. 4th
Sleeping by the banks of the Gilbert River tonight and on to Croyden or past tomorrow.
A lot to catch up on since my last post; rest day turned into two rest days when the Road construction workers and truck drivers advised me to not ride from Mt Surprise on the highway due to 45k of roadwork in progress. They said I would not be able to keep up with the cars they pass thru and would probably have to walk.
Julie, the woman who runs the Mt Surprise Hotel, suggested that I avoid the construction by taking a tourist train called the Savannahlander that runs from Cairns to the little town of Forsayth (pop. 43) which is 40k south of Georgetown on a quiet and mostly paved road.
I slept on that and in the end voted for the safety of the train practicing at listening and taking the advice of the people I meet.
The train was a two car affair with the engine and first car being one and the same. Seemed like a big streetcar to me. Pictures of it are already posted to the blog when I had a brief period to use a computer on Georgetown.
Riding on the train we got away from the road and deeper into the backcountry and I finally saw some kangaroos. Mostly the grey kangaroos but we saw a couple of what are called Big Reds who are larger and more aggressive.
The train left at about 12:30 and had one stop at the Ensleigh River before heading to Foesayth just after 5pm. Because it was so late I couldn't begin the ride to Georgetown and spent the night camping behind the hotel/pub in Forsayth.
Forsayth reminded me of all of the small towns in Idaho that have ranches and farmers around who come to the pub or organize the community events. This weekend was a big festival and fundraiser for them with bands and competitions and I wish I could have stayed for it, but two rest days are one too many so back on the road at sunup.
The 40k ride to Georgetown was going really well- I am stronger in the saddle now and my endurance is improving- until I hit a 15k stretch of gravel and sand where the old paving had died.
Very tricky riding the heavy bike in the softer stuff and a lot more effort. It made me really glad I invested I'm the Schwabe Mondial hybrid tires because they handled the soft stuff really well.
I took a long break in Georgetown to check email and post a quick note to my blog and put up some of the pictures using their Library computers.
Riding today has been the first day I have spooked kangaroos.
It is so cool to see them hopping along beside you on the bike.
The cattle are all over the road as well- they breed Brahmans here that are genetically superior for drought conditions and disease and they will stand in the middle of the road until I get close and scatter at the last minute running to the side. I just hope I don't run into a bull! Not much chance of that since the breeding bulls are probably tens of thousands of dollars and very well cared for.
I spent the night by the Gilbert River and it had a little water left in it so I was able to fill my water bags with water I treated and have plenty of water for dinner.
I turned in early to get an early start and the light of the full moon awoke me so I am writing this up.
Hopefully I will be able to post it in Croyden but we will see, there seems to be no Vodafone access out here and very little WiFi.
written by  Mike_Veine on August 6, 2012 from Gilbert River, Australia

August 4th and 5th
Croydon, Australia
Aug 4, 5
Woke up to two flat tires today so changing tubes before I can get on the road.
Saw a bunch of kangaroos all day hopping from the roadside when I would ride up. I was able to get pretty close if they had their backs to me.
I met a French couple on touring bikes headed the opposite direction from me. Jean and Keely were riding around the world and have been on the road since 2006. They started in Darwin and intend to be in Melbourne in December. I invited them to stay with us there and they invited me to ride Tasmania with them if I want.
I rode from the Gilbert River to Croyden today and found a caravan park with a swimming pool, much appreciated!
I will get up early tomorrow and ride to Black Bull about halfway to Normanton.
Aug 5
Up late. Slept in because it was windy when my alarm went off at 5:45 and I wanted see what it was going to do so up at 6:45 instead. The wind died a bit and I took my time getting ready and did not leave town until about 8:30.
No kangaroos today, but I did meet up with a brahma bull!
He was standing by the roadway minding his own business and he was huge and had big horns that looked sharp- a very fierce fellow.
His head was down as I was approaching so I rode to the middle of the road and coasted quietly by. He noticed me after I passed and looked up and snorted. I avoided eye contact and kept riding hoping he would not chase me- he didnt! Yea!
It is easier riding now; mostly flat and the wind blew all over but lightly. Black Bull station turned out to be way too close so I rode all day. I couldn't quite make it the 158k to Normanton
but I did about 130 which is my longest and with a late start that is pretty good.
Camped in the bush with some trees screening me from the road and the sun has just gone down. If is quite the chorus out here with cicadas, other bugs and birds all going off at once. Oh well, I am so tired I should sleep well no matter.
No fire for stove tonight as there is too much dry grass and I don't want to cook by the highway so it is dried fruit for dinner with a water bottle chaser. That's ok, I had pizza and beer last night!
written by  Mike_Veine on August 7, 2012 from Croydon, Australia

August 6
Normanton, Australia
Aug. 6
Woke up at 4 with the bright moonlight in my eyes. Very quiet and peaceful out here. It is cool at night and I am in the sleeping bag and wearing a long sleeve shirt to keep the chill off.
I have a very short ride to Normanton today where I mailed a supply package with food and goodies and I will sleep in a caravan park with a pool tonight.
Hopefully they have WiFi somewhere and I can post all of the last week to the blog. If you are reading this I was successful.
No wifi I may buy a Telstra sim card for the phone in Cloncurry just to post my blog .
I met the New Zealand National Bronco Riding Champion in the pub tonight- very nice young man with the Champion belt buckle. His name is Paul and he has been to Oregon and Idaho and Cali working on ranches. You meet so many interesting people on the road. Alas, I will never meet up with the Siberian woman- apparently she is going one way and I am traveling another. C'set la vie.
Had a nice day at the pool and picked up my package, hurrah! Power foods again!
Will leave Normanton behind tomorrow and head for Bang Bang. Shout out to NASA for a successful Mars landing today. Awesome!
written by  Mike_Veine on August 8, 2012 from Normanton, Australia

August 8 Nomanton to Bang Bang Camp
Normanton, Australia
August 7
Today I rode from Normanton to a campsite (no water) called Bang Bang about 107k away. I had a great morning ride and covered 60k in the first 3 hours easily. I stopped by a large River for lunch after crossing a narrow bridge. The cool thing is there was no place a car could have stopped- no pullouts and a very narrow two lane road, but it was no problem for the bike!
In the River were three huge storks or cranes swimming along. Each must have been easily 6 feet tall with stilt legs. Two took off while I watched them and they were slow and very graceful for the biggest birds I have ever seen flying.
After lunch the riding was much much tougher with 30 k of single lane road with just red dirt beside it when cars came. Also there was a large gravel section that was tricky riding and slow and to top it off my tailwind turned into a headwind and really wore me out!
Today was gradual climbing and the land changed again. All of a sudden the trees disappeared and it was open fields of grasses with very few trees! It looked like the pictures of the African plains. This is the real Savannah Country now.
Every day holds surprises, some good and some just a bother but I am under the stars tonight and content to be still.
Tomorrow on to Burke and Wills Roadhouse 100 k away.
written by  Mike_Veine on August 9, 2012 from Normanton, Australia

Animals and Birds
Cloncurry, Australia
Before I forget birds and animals
I've seen huge beautiful cranes or Storks our here several times. Today it was 6 foot tall stilt legged birds with Stork like beaks. The beaks were yellow like a goose's and their feathers were mostly white with some black and grey on the wings and about the face.
They are so big when they fly but graceful in a languorous way with their long legs dragging behind them.
The other type I've seen is all black with only Circle of white on the wings. Black heads and black long beaks and looked to be 7 feet tall or taller! They were standing in a small lake fishing.
Other cool birds I've seen are hawks hunting and a bird with powder blue feathers on it's wings. Tonight at bang bang camp I saw three birds that may have been parrots with pinkish red underwings flying at sunset.
There are some crows or ravens and some mockingbirds with black and white wings that are very noisy in the morning.
Other animal notes
Kangaroos- I've seen Grey and Red. They look very much like the termite mounds which are everywhere when they stand still
and the termite mounds are grey in some areas and red in others where the dirt is red. Isn't evolution amazing!
I've seen dead wild pigs by the road but never a live one. They are black and the biggest was about 6 feet long.
Today I saw feral cats two grey tabbies.
And what about termites anyway? Their mounds are so many here- just where I can see they are every 10 feet or so apart as far as I can see! How many billions of billions of them must there be out here?
written by  Mike_Veine on August 13, 2012 from Cloncurry, Australia

August 8 Nightime
Cloncurry, Australia
Aug 8
Up at 5:45 and on the road by 7:15. Made the 90 k from Bang Bang to Burke & Wills by 12:30 with some rest stops.
Today I saw a flock of parakeets flying together- maybe 60 to 80 all turning together and making beautiful patterns. They were bright green with almost neon green underwings and when they flapped their wings it looked like bright green strobe lights in the early morning low angle sun. They flew by me and in front of me a couple of minutes because on the bike were at the same speed. In a car I would probably have missed the whole thing.
Even as cool as the trip is I am having doubtful moments and getting tired of being on the bike so many days. I will think hard about this over the next few days to [[Australia/Mount-Isa]] and I may decide I am done. We shall see.
Burke & Wills is nice enough but busy and noisy, tomorrow night I will have to sleep in the bush so it should be quieter. Adding more water every day to see how the weight is on the bike.
written by  Mike_Veine on August 10, 2012 from Cloncurry, Australia

Cloncurry, Australia
Mike's folly and a brutal day.
Today I learned a valuable lesson.
The day started off well- I have loaded two days plus reserve water on the bike to see what riding with all that weight is like and I left Burke & Wills camp on  time at about 7:15. The bike felt heavy, but balanced, and I was slower than yesterday out of the gate.
A helicopter pilot named Dale that I met the night before told me to expect some climbs today and he did not lie- it seemed like the whole day was a very gradual long climb.
I decided to experiment today since I have had so much trouble making mileage in the afternoon and to take a long rest during the hottest part of the day. I would pick a shady spot, put down the ground sheet and inflate my air mattress to have a comfy nest against the sun. I would also change out of my road  shorts and air them and take the  bike shoes off and rest my feet.
I did this for two hours between 11:30 and 1:30 and I felt very smart. The problem that developed while a rested was a 8-10 mile an hour headwind! That was when I remembered the Tortoise and The Hare Story and realized I was the stupid Hare and the Tortoise was kicking my ass!
When I got back on the bike I was in good shape but an hour of long climbs directly into the wind on the heavy bike soon fixed that. My average speed plummeted from 20 kph to 15 or even 13! I was back in the little chain ring again spinning for all I was worth and my feet and seat started to ache and complain seriously.
The day broke my spirit once and left me humbled at how fortunate I've been so far. I go only as far as Australia lets me and she can cut me off at anytime.
I very fortunately found a camping/ picnic area to bed down in for the night so I didn't have o sleep in the bushes and I could make some hot soup and tea!
I feel very low now and looking forward to sleeping tonight. Hopefully things will be brighter tomorrow.
written by  Mike_Veine on August 11, 2012 from Cloncurry, Australia

Headwind to Cloncurry
Very hard day only 80k but all into a headwind with climbing and some descents but the wind stole the fun out of them.
Made it to Cloncurry finally but so very tired...will take a rest day here tomorrow.
Burned out!

Aug 12
Mount Isa, Australia
Long 120k ride to Mt Isa from Cloncurry today through a small Mountain range that took 5 hours to ge thru. At least the winds were fair and I finally got some good descents including a fast 5k at the end that took me almost all the way into town!
There is a Mc Donalds here so I used the WiFI to update this blog thru the 9th of August and I used an Inet Cafe to add some pictures. Getting lonely and a little tired of riding but my friends buoy my spirits and so off again after another rest day to the real savannah lands and due west!
Mt Isa post service is incompetent and could not locate my food drop so I will miss my special power foods and have to substitute heavier alternatives.
Off to Cammoweal(pop.300) or rather the bush east of Cammoweal because it is 198 k away from Mt Isa. I will find a bush camp 100k down the road or so and sleep there for the night of the 14th.
written by  Mike_Veine on August 14, 2012 from Mount Isa, Australia

Cammoweal
Camooweal, Australia
Rode into town today just after noon- very favorable winds and making 22-25 kph and sometimes over 30 in the big chain ring! Fun to move more quickly in the flats. Nice night in the bush at a wide spot in the road by a big tree. Stars are amazing out here now that the moon is waned and it is still very cold in the morning. Maybe 4 celcius? Definitely need the jacket when the sun goes down and the fly on the tent for wamth at night. Harder to get going in the AM as well.
I am camping behind the pub tonight and will probably have a drink or two- thenext 4 days will be difficult with a 120 and 140k day respectively and I may ignore the campsites on my plan and ride 130 and 130 instead or some other combination.
Wish me luck and don't expect to hear from me for awhile! Email Carl if you need to send me a message please!
written by  Mike_Veine on August 15, 2012 from Camooweal, Australia

Awesome Ride and On to the Final Phase
Tennant Creek, Australia
Well I am now in Tennant Creek and waiting to go to the Post Office tomorrow to see if some packages have arrived for me. Mt Isa managed to lose my food drop so I have been scavanging snickers bars and tangerines to supplement my soup since snack items or prepared foods are all I could find some days.
I just had two great riding days- one of 150k and one which would have been 160 with the wind at my back on pretty flat terrain. FUN!
Yesterday near the end of my ride I had a mechanical failure that forced me to get a ride about 90k to Tennant Creek- my seatpost clamp bolt and nut stripped and I could not control seat height or right to left movement so pretty much the bike was unrideable. I did not bring anything suitable as a spare and I am not a bright enough mechanic to kludge something up on the road so I stuck out my thumb!
The funny thing is, I was picked up by a guy I'd met 90k back the road at the Barkley Homestead when I had a late breakfast. He had no intention of going my way originally but some transportation issues forced him to drive to Tennant Creek and he said he was looking for me along the way. He was surprised to find me 90k down the road flagging him down for assistance just as I was surprised to actually have someone I knew helping me!!! Small world.
He gave me ride to Tennant Creek and it was too late to go to the hardware store to fix the bike so I got a motel room and took my new friend out to dinner for hauling me around.
Today is Sunday so I am staying over at the Motel, maybe get a swim in- it is really windy here though and warm, but not hot, eat some pizza later and pack up to leave tomorrow.
I still need to hit the Post Office when they open to see about my packages, then if all is good I am off North now 990k to Darwin on the Last Leg of the Journey!
I will post some more pictures and some of my kludgey repair job for the shop guys to laugh at....
written by  Mike_Veine on August 18, 2012 from Tennant Creek, Australia

Stuck for a couple of days
Elliott, Australia
Lots has happened in the last few days- I am now staying at a camp in Renner Springs Roadhouse while I wait for a new downtube seatpost clamp to arrive from Melbourne.
The various fixes I have tried all failed and most of the bolts sheared or deformed so badly they would not hold the seat and I would end up riding like I was 5 foot tall with my knees I'm my chest. Not fun.
I've made 163 k out of Tennant Creek though and tomorrow I will cover 100 k to Elliot where the part is being mailed. Big thanks to my support team, my friend, Carl here and Louisa in the States and a shout out to Bruce the REI shop guru for his advice and assistance.
I am making the best of this time out, doing laundry and resting up for the last push, but I am anxious to get on the road again. 9 or 10 more days should finish this trip and then on to other things.
There is a windmill and a pond here with geese and cormorants, eagles and hawks and a bird people call stupid gullahs. The gullahs fly around madly in the morning squawking a horrible squawk and are a general nuisance.
Starting to miss home and bed, but still more to see and do before then.
I will post more pics when I can.
written by  Mike_Veine on August 21, 2012 from Elliott, Australia

Before I forget
Elliott, Australia
Forgot an important day...
When i left Tennant Creek I rode 100 k to a place called Banka Banka Outback Station where I met up with 4 other cyclists. Everyone there was amazed to see 5 bikes in one so out of the way place. Two of the  bikers were a couple from Belgium rising with another man from Denmark. They were heading south to Adelaide. The 4th rider was a 22 year old bike racer fr the Netherlands who was telling us about riding 230 k days at a 30-33kph average speed. He is headed to Darwin also but our riding styles and my mechanical issues meant that we could nor ride together.
Banka Banka was graat... The men who ran it let all the cyclists stay for free and they had nice showers and a big camp kitchen. They had a night bonfire and a funny older fellow playing 70's songs on a standup organ. Fumny!
Left there early for Remner Springs and invited the Danish rider to stay with me in Melbourne when he gets there in  October. I also signed up with a group called warmshowes.org that help bike tourists find people who will let them couch surf on their trips. Very cool. I will try to find someone to put me up in Darwin and open the Melbourne House to a few riders as well to help out.
Today I rode the 100 k from Renner Spings to Elliot and my bike fix failed after about 20k. When it became too horrible to ride I chances trying to fix if again and this time I had success! I rode the last 60k with no problems or few because it is always in the back of your mind.
Unfortunately the part had not arrived yet so I will check tomorrow am and hope it is here. If not I will probably ride on and  forward the part to Matrinka or Katherine even just to get down the road. I am within 720 k of Darwin now so very anxious to move on.
It oz noticeably warmer here tonight and more humid and the trees are getting taller and greener and I went North today.
We will see what tomorrow brings.
written by  Mike_Veine on August 23, 2012 from Elliott, Australia

Getting closer to Darwin!
Mataranka, Australia
The last two days have been shorter rides- one of 93 k to Larramiah and one of 80 k to Matarinka.
Larramiah had nothing to recommend it except The Pink Panther Pub which is pink and has a zoo with exotic birds including emus, a salty crocodile and thats about it.
They did have a meatloaf special that was good, but not a good as Mom's.
The heat even at night is tough...could not get to sleep easily and didn't use the sleeping bag until after 3 am when I woke up and my legs were a little cool.
Matarinka is better. They have a beautiful natural hot water River in a National park that is free and amazing. When you get in it and let the current carry you it is like riding the jungle boat ride at Disneyland minus the Hippos and Crocs! Tropical plants and trees ae all around you and several types of Dragonflies fly around you just skimming the water and alighting by you on Lotus Flowers. Magical.
I went for two swims and took a bunch of pictures. The water was Crystal clear and not too hot, just a very comfortable and refreshing temperature.
Left there and I am at a small caravan park by the main road. Sunday dinner tonight is Pork Roast and sounds delicious. Mmmm.
Getting closer to Darwin every day now.
written by  Mike_Veine on August 26, 2012 from Mataranka, Australia

Daly Waters, Australia
Going to sleep by a somewhat cloudy sky.... First clouds I have seen the whole trip. Today was an epic day... Rode 160 k from Elliot to Daly Waters old town pub which is a place every top ender told me I had to see.
It was pretty hot today, from noon til 2;30 I had to stop every 1/2 hour to 45 min. To get in the shade and drink. Went through almost all the water on the bike including my 2 liter drom bag and I was still thirsty.
But I made it. Now under 600 k to Darwin and 300 k to Katherine whoohoo!
The pub here was awesome as well, great food and entertainment and I made fast friends with people who passed me and said, "no way is he going to make it to Daly Waters".
They ended up buying me some beers!
Hard day, but good, I know that I am strong enough to go 16o k without the wind helping if I have to and I have an invitation for a place to stay in Darwin when I get there. Cool,
One more thing about the pub- when I finish riding I always like to set up camp and take a shower, so when I got here I did my usual routine. Most camps have a block of showers and toilets for men and one for women kind of like single wide Mobile homes with jut bath facilities. The pub was different with seven small individual buildings that had a toilet, sink and shower in very close confines.
Anyone who knows me knows that I would pick number 7 (lucky number) so in I tromped. I had a great shower and my Surprise came when I flushed the toilet and a green frog the size of my fist appeared in the toilet bowl like Harry Potter had conjured him there! I screamed "Holy Sh*t" and then burst out laughing so hard!
When I left I ran into two couples who had seen me riding and greeted me when I rode into camp. I warned them about the toilet guest in number 7. They all laughed and assured that that happens frequently (!) in Darwin where the green frogs get into the septic tanks. The wonders of the animal kingdom...
written by  Mike_Veine on August 24, 2012 from Daly Waters, Australia

Darwin, Australia
Good ride into Katherine today. Wind at my back much of the time and rolling hills to ride
But still hot!
Katherine is a big city compared to anywhere I've been since Mt Isa and even has a McDonalds with WiFi! This is also the first place my iPhone has coverage since Cairns.
Katherine is famous for Katherine Gorge which I hope to visit on the way back. I am not taking many side trips now with the finish so close so there are places I want to go back to if I hopefully get a car.
I did visit the Cutta Cutta Caves which were only a 1 k side trip. The Caves are limestone and have stalactite and stalagmite formations that are hundreds of thousands of years old. Not an anthropologically interesting site since the native peoples had no knowledge of it and it was never inhabited or even used in ritual.
At a caravan park tonight where noisy backpacker kids are keeping me awake arguing about their travel plans for like 5 hours. I finally had to ask for some peace and quiet to get some sleep. LOL. I will be glad to sleep in when this ride is done!
written by  Mike_Veine on August 27, 2012 from Darwin, Australia

Darwin, Australia
Rode today to Emerald Springs 135 k down the road. I stopped for a long lunch in Pine Creek to let the day cool off a bit and then rode 30 k or so to ES.
Today was hills and climbs, but not too steep, just up and up and them a down. Getting used to the heat now a bit more and still drinking plenty of water. I had two pitchers full for lunch!
I am getting very anxious about finishing and may be done in two days. Today I had a flat- the front tubs that had been leaking finally gave it up so sat in the shade on the roadside and fixed that little problem.
I had drinks in the bar tonight with three young servicemen who were picking up broken vehicles the army had left behind during an exercise. Nice blokes, we watched Big Brother on the TV and made fun of the contestants.
Emerald Springs is pretty much just the Roadhouse from what I can see- another tiny town built around a waterhole.
The land has changed again and the past two days I have seen large boulders in many places and I saw small palm trees beside the road for the first time today. Also, I found an Australian Flag that came off a car I guess and hung it off the end of my bike. Really cool find. And my bike computer died- I thought it was the wireless sensors battery and replaced it but it still won't work. I will give a final summary of the recorded data on my last blog entry.
written by  Mike_Veine on August 28, 2012 from Darwin, Australia

Darwin, Australia
August 29th
My next to last day!
Today I rode about 90 k or so to Adelaide River. The humidity is really getting up there and today I saw a lot more palm trees and a wildfire!
The wildfire was in the middle of nowhere and seemed quite large and burning out of control about 800 meters or so from the road on the Eastern side.  It was already burned up by the roadway which must have acted as a firebreak for the East wind driven flames. I took some pictures and while I was doing that I noticed some fresh flames sprouting up very close to the roadway in an unburnt area and decided to get out of there!
I have also seen a lot more standing water in creeks and pools and little lakes...I wonder if some of these are billabongs? With the water comes some more of the beautiful Jabirus (Big birds with black heads) and Egrets. I am also hearing more birdsong by the highway and fewer crows and carrion birds. Much greener as well with some areas looking almost like lawns.
The ride today was like yesterday with some climbing of hills not too steep but sometimes kin of tediously long. No good descents really either so maybe I will get one tomorrow.
I am staying in a motel room at a caravan park for the a/c an soft bed, but too excited to sleep....tomorrow is the last day and I should be at the ocean in Darwin by 2 or so (knock wood).
It has been an amazing ride so far and I am so thankful for everything Australia and the good people I have met have shown and taught me the last month o riding. My body has gone through some big changes and I hope to keep up with the improvements and build on them in Melbourne.
Today I met a young couple at the pool and tonight we shared some laughs and they told me about traveling in India which is another place I hope to see in a couple of years.
I will ride especially carefully tomorrow since the end of journeys can often be as perilous as the beginnings, but I am confident and energized as well.
Now back to trying to sleep....
written by  Mike_Veine on August 29, 2012 from Darwin, Australia

Made It!!!!!
I am here finally!! I will write more later right now celebrating with red wine and tapas!
Cheers and thanks to all my friends and loved ones who inspire me to dare an adventure;
You are all amazing

Captain's log- Final Entry
Well, I made it and now three days after riding into town I find it odd that I am not getting on a bicycle every morning. My body became used to the riding so it doesn't know what to do and I get little cramps and aches as the motion requirements have changed from riding to walking and standing...weird, huh?
I stayed two nights at a Holiday Inn on the Bay and had a very comfortable room with a little balcony and a restricted view of the Bay. I was pretty comfortable. The first night I just relaxed in and did not explore the city too much...it was time for reflection and giving thanks for safely completing my Mystery Tour and resting.
The next day I was on a mission going to my bank and checking on finances and trying to find a car to drive home in. My car adventures will be blogged here under Mike's Top Gear Challenge so look for that blog to start up soon (or even tonight).
I contacted Peter and Elizabeth who are two friends I made on the trip at the Daly Waters Pub. Peter was the man who explained about toliet frogs to me. That night he gave me his card and told me to call them when I got into Darwin so I did!
We agreed to meet for lunch and they invited me to stay with them for two days on their property in Humpty Doo about 45 K North of Darwin CBD. Elizabeth has horses on their 5 acre property and does show jumping and dressage competitions and Peter is a Master Mechanic who business is as a contractor. He cleared the land on the property and built their house and a recent add on that they sleep in so guests have a bedroom in the main building. They are a fun and lively couple and I have so enjoyed their courtesy and company!
On Saturday, Peter took me on a Quad bike bush trip and we drove around the bush seeing amazing birds on paths that he trailblazed on the quad. Elizabeth brought her horse, Siam, and rode the same trail catching up with us when we would stop at prearranged points- what fun! Peter took me the bush route back to the house and we got to see a beautiful orange sunset over this amazing land.
On Sunday I got to help him clear bush and cut a tree down that was a nuisance while Elizabeth fed parts of the tree to a new chipper that they had just purchased- wow, that thing was making short work of wood and leaves. It is Father's Day here so tonight when we went to the Humpty Doo Pub there was a band and they had a Man vs. Food contest of eating a rack of pork ribs with chips in under twenty minutes. Elizabeth challenged me to try so I did to defend America's honor as insane overconsumers. I took out my daughter, Aubrey's picture for inspiration- "this one is for you, daughter". and the waitress brought a huge plate of ribs. But nothing could stop me and I finished them in 14 minutes gaining the meal for 1/2 price (yes, I think it probably should have been free too!). I will probably suffer later and tomorrow is an all fruit and water day for sure (maybe some yoghurt too).
All this is possible because I met amazing and fun and interesting people on my bike adventure and in the end, like everything in life to me, it is the people and the experiences you have that make life worth living and made this Adventure worth having.
I will spare you the details of riding into Darwin because they didn't matter; my body had become a machine that rode a bike, but my mind remained free and unfettered and my imagination and appreciation of the world around me grew in proportion to the kilometers I racked up.
Love Life and have an Adventure All of You Good People!
Farewell for this phase and now onto the next adventure!

Courtyard of old Saigon Museum

On the boat to dive on the Great Barrier Reef

View on the climb out of Cairns

Skyrid for toursists- no room for the bike or I should have gone this way!

View on the steep climb out of Cairns

On The Climb---Exhausting and Hot!

Steep Climbing out of Cairns

Ride, Ride, Ride

Road is curvy

Pub in the distance- not someplace I stated- just typical of the little places out here

Caravan Park near a river

Typical Pub and Caravan Park on the road to Darwin

Old Truck at Caravan Park and Pub

Smoke from a wild bush fire

If you look closely you can see the flames in the distance

Jabiru Bird escaping brush fires

Riding little hills all day

Little purple flowers on a roadside bush

Last Day...do I look Confident?

My First Glimpse of the City!

Still rural near the city

In Darwin...lots of traffic

I made IT!

Overview of the Park by the Ocean

My First Meal in Darwin....

Ahhh...Luxury!

View of the Bay from my Hotel Balcony

Ocean front park with sunbathers and swimmers

Darwin Skyline from my Hotel

Finally to Normanton

Downtube clamp fail.....

Trying to keep the seat up by putting a box underneath, This did not work.

What the land looks like out of Tennant Creek

Mailbox for some remote settlement- a dirt road ran to the left of this as far as you could see

The offending part and kludge repair job- will hacksaw the end shorter tomorrow maybe...

80 K til the end of my day!

Termites! Termites! Termites!

Still running cattle out here

Trees are definitely getting bigger

More Cave

Bad shoulder here for pavement, but typical

Cave sights

Stalagtites take hundreds of thousands of years to form

We walked on grids with hand rails in mostly in the caves

Cuppa Cuppa Caves are Limestone caves

Guide at the Cuppa Cuppa caves- excellent

Road to Katherine- had the wind at my back sometimes

Back to grasses again

Bigger termite mounds here

Road to Atherton

2nd nights campsite at a free caravan park

Lunch Rest on the third day to Ravenshoe

Road to Ravenshoe

Dry and Sere out Here

Road into the Western Range

The Narrow Line I ride on the Left with trucks passing me!

Mt Surprise Hotel and Julie (owner)

Savanahlander Train (Hopped a ride to avoid 45k of roadwork!)

Bike on the train!

View of Cattle from the train

Dirt Road out of Forsayth