Day 42

Date:- 25 April 2010
Distance:- 57.45 Km
Distance to Date:- 2095.1 Km
Start:- Tabbimobile Rest Area
Finish:- Ballina (Nikki Foord)
Comment:- Bit of a rough night last night. Cars coming and going. They would see the toilet, didn’t like it, and kept going, something changed their mind. I was awoken at 11.30pm by someone trying to start his car. He had stopped for a toilet break but the car had stopped, period. He finally rang the NRMA who enquired of his whereabouts. “I don’t know, some rest area in the national park on the Pacific Highway” I could sense the frustration, crawled out of bed and informed the man where he was. He was quite appreciative and I went back to bed.

Up at 7am this morning and away by 9am. A short trip into New Italy were I had a cuppa and a chat with various people. I must make a press release to read I started in Geelong and I am heading for Cairns or further I have had 1 flat tyre, etc. I don’t mind the chat, it’s the repetitiveness of it all. Here’s my card you can follow me on the internet.

Off to Woodburn where we were detoured around the main street because they were having their ANZAC parade. South bound traffic was banked up for over a kilometre. Don’t know why they were not directed to take the same detour.

Followed the Richmond river for most of the trip and the road wasn’t too bad. Light traffic. The weather was overcast so it wasn’t too hot and a slight NW breeze.

Travelled through the Broadwater National Park so a sign said. Passed through the small town of Broadwater and I counted three caravan parks and one sugar refinery. Plenty of crops of sugar cane were evident.
Stopped for my snack break about 11.30am before riding into Ballina.

I arrived at Ballina about 1.30pm and found the street I was looking for then idly walked around town, did some grocery shopping, sat on the water front and watched some yacht racing.

I am being spoilt tonight. I am staying with Nikki and Nathan Foord in Ballina. I have a room all to myself. The shower and shave were very nice. I now feel human again after staying in two rest areas in a row.

I haven’t worked out were my destination for tomorrow will be. Somewhere about 70 or 80 Kilometres north from here.