Day 41

Date:- 24 April 2010
Distance:- 88.75 Km
Distance to Date:- 2037.6 Km
Start:- Grafton
Finish:- Tabbimoble Rest Area
Comment:- Up at 6am this morning after a good nights sleep. There was a light fog mixed in among the bush. On the road to Grafton by 7.15am. I was actually at a rest area about 10 km south of Grafton.

Pulled into a Revive, Survive station with a difference. If Wayne is reading this you maybe able to enlighten us. I had met Greg who was riding his motor bike on a daily round trip. We spent a pleasant half hour together.

Onto the Info office to see if I can glean any further information of what lays ahead. Filled all my water bottles and was on my way.

The sign just out of Grafton read Ballina 129 km Maclean 43 km and Brisbane 321 Km

On my left was the Clarence River which I followed right through to Maclean. On my right the first crop of sugar cane.

Ulmarra is an historic river port, no doubt steeped in history. From Ulmarra the road was flat and good shoulders most of the way. As the day progress a light northerly came in

Clocked up 2000 km today (Half way to Cairns, one eighth the way around Australia)

Stopped for lunch at Maclean. Had a Steak sandwich, chips and salad and a pot of tea. Sitting on the veranda of the café overlooking the river was very relaxing.

About 10 km out of Maclean I had my first real flat tyre. The rear tyre of all things, so unload everything, remove wheel, repair puncture and reassemble everything and half an hour latter we were back on the road.

I was aiming to stay at a particular rest area, but on arrival found it had been set up for trucks only. No toilets or seating. On reassessing the situation I had two alternatives either Tabb mobile Rest Area 17 km farther on or New Italy Caravan Park. I chose the rest area. It leaves about 55 Km to Ballina.