NQ 2 NT Journal Entry
Day 14
Leichardt Falls to Burketown
By: Mark “Sharky” Smoothy
Daily statistics
Distance: 73km’s
Accumulated Distance: 2370km’s
Average speed: 20.4kmph
Metres Climbed: Less than 100. (Another nearly dead flat day)
Riding time: 3:33:00
Air Temperature: 42 degrees
Humidity: 65%
Wind direction: North/north east
To everyone following these journals I just wanted to thank you. It means a lot to us knowing that you guys are on board for this journey as well. I was having a particularly hard day today, which you will read about below, I was having doubts whether I was up to finishing today, let alone the next 10 days ahead of us. Anyway I got out of it with a cry and then a hug from Kevvy; as well I had a good long hard think about what Kevvy and Kimmy have given up and their sacrifices in helping me chase my dream. Then I thought about you guys out there, my family, my friends, my work colleagues and especially my other family out there; the Smiddy riders and crew. I know you are all rooting for us to finish, but to finish without killing ourselves.
Two things happened this afternoon that will assure we get to Darwin in one piece. First up, because the days up here are getting so hot and it is tortuous to ride in the middle of the day, we have come up with a plan of doing a morning session, setting up the tarp to provide some shade, waiting out the heat of the day and then finishing the session in the afternoon.
And secondly our group morale received a most welcome boost today, when at 2:30pm the infamous Shano and his Dad Gordon turned up at Burketown. Shano who I hear you ask? Please cast your mind back to last year’s Cape trip and Shane was the road crew member who accompanied Kevvy and I the remaining 800km’s of dirt up to the tip of Qld. Now Shano lives in Homehill and is related to Adam Smiddy through his marriage to Maria Smiddy’s Sister Rita. I can’t speak highly enough of the sacrifice that Shane has made to come and help out for the next week or so. He has not only had to take a week off, against his boss’s wishes, as Shane’s business is managing cane farms and this period of time is their busiest period for the year, but he also had to drive 1160km’s to get here. By the time he has to turn for home he will have over a 2000km journey in front of him. Think about that for a second, what an incredible person and friend is he! It is costing Shane time and money to accompany us for the next five days, yet he does it always with a smile, he brings to the ride his bubbly and energetic positive personality, his awesome camping skills and the best sense of humour this side of the black stump.
We would also like to welcome on board Shane’s Dad, Gordon, who did not want his son driving that far without company. Gordon is 76 years of age and looks so fit that if Scotty or I crack we reckon that Gordon will take over. It is great to have you on board mate.
Anyway onto today’s stage; last year during the Cape York trip I cracked on a particularly difficult day that consisted of 140km’s of bulldust and corrugated roads. Today’s 73km stage into Burketown was meant to be a half rest day. I can honestly tell you it was a rest day I will remember for the rest of this trip. We got away late this morning, not leaving camp until just after 9:15am. The wind started from 8:30 and it was already 32 degrees. It was not until we got underway before the realisation that our run of luck with the tailwinds had run its course. For 73km’s we were hit with a massive 30 knot direct headwind. After yesterday’s epic ride I was smashed and I awoke this morning feeling like I had taken a step backwards. Once again I have to talk up ‘The Falcon’. He knows I am struggling and today did all 73km’s out front to shield me from the wind. I feel bad that I can’t take a turn but if I tried I would die. Falcon assures me he is travelling okay and happy to do it but I still feel terrible I can’t return the favour. At the halfway point today I had a little melt-down, not major like last year’s day 14 but a melt-down just the same. I had a little cry, we had a 30 minute stop; Kevvy gave me a hug, we rolled out and I felt a little better. Amazing what a release a cry can do for you. Those three and a half hours out there today seemed like six hours and it was with great relief when we rolled into town and could get out of the wind.
Burketown was established in 1860’s and originally began life as a cattle station; peak population hit 265 people in 1911. Burketown is now sustained by tourism and a phenomenon known as ‘Morning Glory’. These immense columns of wave clouds are one of the natural wonders of the world. Every spring, battalions of these immense roll-clouds march across the Gulf of Carpentaria. In the early hours of the morning they form on the Cape York peninsular and then roll down the coast and across the Gulf, often at quite incredible speeds, passing over the somnambulant outback towns and stations on their way. Kowanyama, Karumba, Normanton; they rarely see it passing in the wee small hours. The mighty waves arrive at Burketown usually between dawn and mid-morning. Scientists for years have been studying them and trying –without success- to solve the wave's mystery.
Anyway as per our daily ritual when we roll into town we hit the best pub, the only pub in Burketown and had our usual beer, for me a shandie. The local publican Greg Watt, originally from Wagga in NSW, was running a pub in Mataranka in the Northern Territory, needed a change and ends up here in Burketown running the only pub in town. Anyway me old mate coughs up a $50.00 donation and offers a discounted rate on a room for the night.
Incredible acts of kindness today came in Boyd James Keogh a local man of 60 years old and a regular drinker at the Burketown Hotel. Boydy heard what we were doing and made a generous donation of $20.00. He told us that his daughter has cancer now and is going through treatment as we speak. I feel for Boyd as when he speaks of his daughter Becky he does so with great sadness. I felt like giving Boyd a big hug but held back as he is clearly a working class man and I was not sure how he would take it. We invited Boydy to join us for dinner and as he was slightly inebriated it was an entertaining couple of hours.
Other IAOK came from 3 complete strangers pulling up besides Scotty and I 25km’s in to today’s stage, they were on their way to Broome and donated $20.00. They were amazed that we had begun our journey in Brisbane and were heading for Darwin.
Also I would like to make a special mention about Shane’s wife Rita; Rita has loaded us up with a heap of home-made cookies and pasta sauce. Thanks Rita and when we eat we will be thinking of you for sure.
Guys my apologies for not replying to any emails, I have not had time since leaving home to even read them, getting this journal out is the only thing I have time to accomplish before needing to rest my mind and body for the next day’s stage. Thank you for thinking of us.
Sharky.