Australia

My road : Toowoomba, Allora, Warwick, Yangan, Killarney, Woodenbong, Kyogle, Casino, Whiporie, Lawrence, Grafton, Glenreagh, Coffs Harbor, Sawtell, Bonville, Bellingen, Urunga, Macksville, Clybucca, Smithtown, Gladstone, Kempsey, Port Macquarie , Lake Cathie, Laurieton, Crowdy Bay National Park, Moorland, Croker, Forster, Booti Booti, Pacific Palms, Blueys Beach, Pacific Palms, Bungwahl, Seal Rocks, Myall Lakes NP crossing, Boomers, Hawks Nest, Tea Garden, Nelson Bay One Mile, Anna Bay, from 10/09 to /2009/10/25.

My stop to Toowoomba was well appreciated, for my rest, but also to visit its gardens and its lookout.
I also could define my next journey by modifying it. My first choice was to go to Armidale and Newcastle, that along a axis in the land. But Chaz and Sally informs me that it is a busy route, advising me against it. After studying, I decide to go to the coast with the possibility to find secondary roads.
I leave Toowoomba towards Warwick, finding an easy route and relatively flat across large agricultural plains. In my way I come to help a woman by changing a wheel on her car. I finished to Allora, being alone at night to occupy an big place, making me offer a pastry by a woman of passage. But the next morning, I have problems with my stove that does not work, having a leak just before the burner. I must find a solution, but what, with the idea of going to a plumber. I walk into a hardware shop, meeting Warren, and showing him my problem. He tries to put a wire around the pipe in question. But before to leave, I want to see the result that is positive, I am free and happy, being able to start my stage. Passing Warwick, I leave aside the England highway to go away to the east and the coast. But this step is not easy, a wind countering me, seeing a possible stop at a nearby village. Noon past this one seems to weaken, launching me to reach Killarney. It is a nice and pleasant journey, crossing an area of cattle rearing and crops surrounded by hills, often alone on the road, a pleasure found. At Killarney everything seems desert, finding only a man who led me on a site where I can put my tent and even take a hot shower. But the temperature is fell low, must to put the pants and socks, be careful at night.
In the morning before getting up, I hear the rain drip on my tent. When I put my nose out I found a gray sky and low clouds. Around 8.30 am, I am able to go, but with an uncertain weather. This morning I go to New South Wales, aspiring to a beautiful nature, happy to leave Queensland. At Legume, I take the direction towards Woodenbong for a rising trip but superb. A little rain forces me to put myself in the shelter under the porch of a garage for a short time, leaving me to start again. But the sky is threatening, dismounting in front of a house, not knowing what to do. Then a girl approached me asking if something is wrong. I indicate her my anxiety when the rain begins to fall. I asked her shelter under the porch of his house, inviting me, then serving me a hot tea. I announce her who I am and told her my story. Proposing me to eat, she brings me a plate of pasta and a banana. But the rain became stronger, asking her if it would be possible to stay here. From outside she makes me go inside, where a fireplace warms the room. Must to decide what I do, she calls her father, who told her that I welcome. The rest of the afternoon I spent it with Steph for the evening getting to know her parents. The welcome is warm, I am questioned about my journey. Then I am invited to share dinner with this family for a wonderful time, before we prepare me a bed for the night. The next morning I found the whole family, parents preparing for work and children to school.
As for me I resume my journey with a clear sky and sunshine, joyful and happy, full of strength on my bike, all gained from these people. That day I lead my most beautiful Australian stage with the crossing of Woodenbong, then down to Wiangaree and Kyogle. It is a superb journey, by a wonderful nature, going through national parks. This time the New South Wales gives me incredible pleasure, proud that I am, riding in a fast pace. I finished my stage after 90 kilometers, stopping in a farm, meeting Luke. Immediately I welcome, this guy giving me access to the shower while I was going to wash with a tap in the yard, then he offers me a beer. Then it's his turn to go to the shower, coming back me to my tent with another beer, then saying me, "fish, potatoes and salad" is OK, bringing me a copious plate for my dinner. The next day, it's a difficult step that expect me with a strong wind and a dust storm, still reaching the intended point. From this forest road, I reach Grafton, again making a superb meeting with Rob and Maureen, this guy preparing like me a long bicycle adventure. Continuing from Grafton, I'm not very far from the east coast, little more than one stage, reaching it in Coffs Harbor, discovering an ocean of a brilliant blue and magnificent beaches. In passing Sawtell, it is the same whether it is even prettier. But I did not stay long on the coast to avoid the highway is a major axis, I'm going to Bellingen for a trip in the middle of the nature, even borrowing a gravel path. But then I have no choice, I must return to the highway and ride for 2 days. A journey of madness by bike on an axis where the traffic is heavy and fast, noisy, finding on portions little place where run to ride, by finishing dazed in the evening. By reaching Port Macquarie, I'm at the end of this crazy journey, being able to blow the time of a day by staying with David, a guy who would like to do same, hoping in the future be able to live it. From there I can avoid the highway, a coastal road and a forest path across the Crowdy Bay National Park, then after a short return on the highway, I head to Forster and lakes road. Along Lake Wallis, I'm on a narrow strip of land separating the lake from the Pacific Ocean. So I reach Seal Rocks, a paradise place at theedge of the ocean, known for the passage of whales offshore. Passing a man cycling, I see happen on the beach where I am, saying me that he just came back from France, that my country is beautiful. Then leaving me, I continued, going on another beach. Leaving this place, I see this man again happened this time by car, wondering if a coffee or a shower would make me happy. He then led me home, getting to know his wife is preparing a fresh fruit salad with yogurt, followed by coffee and biscuits. These people are retired, coming here to escape Melbourne. Hence, to save me a long hook, I start to cross the Myall Lakes National Park, a forest road closed to all vehicles, saying to me while nothing has to happen at me.But this journey is sublime, just like I like them, only lost in the midst of nature, without any sounds, except those that may be issued by it or its inhabitants, can watch repeatedly goanna, big snakes taking refuge in a tree at hearing me. From this course, I do not really know the distance, but having found on my map on a campsite halfway. Before reaching it, I fell on a sand road, unable to ride, must to walk and fight to advance my machine, under the sun warming my arm. To all this I must save my water without knowing where I can find. Finding an indication of the camp, I directed myself, but the track is not better, sand and sand. When I reach this point, I am not surprised to find nobody here, but more worrying is that there is no water. Despite the hour turn, I have no choice but to head back where I come to reach another camp before nightfall. But back when I left, the track continues with sand, hoping it will last the shortest time possible. It is 8 kms I tear myself to push my bike, when I surprised by a car arrives in front of me. This is a guy from the park, which announces me 1,5 kilometers of sand before being able to ride again. I leave this park after a crossing of 25 kms, this time finding a camp, and the people holding me to provide water. At night it's a festival of lights in the sky by a storm burst.
The next morning I reach Tea Garden for a crossing by ferry and join Nelson Bay and Anna Bay where I am resting. In the coming days, I waited by a couple of friends near Cesnock before proceeding to the Blue Mountains, then Sydney and Melbourne.