Day  30:                                Cooktown to Old Laura Campground @ Lakefield NP (54m)

Distance:                             124.72km

Av speed:                            11.1kmh

Total Elevation:                  1078km

Calories:                             4095 per person

Weather:                             Hot (37*C)

With the best intentions of having an easy day, we woke at 6am despite being exhausted from yesterday’s efforts.

Once on the road, we set about looking for the turnoff to Lakefield NP which we had seen yesterday. Unfortunately, it turns out this turnoff is only sign posted as you’re going into town. Furthermore, when your heading from town about 250m after the turnoff is a big sign which talks about Lakefield, Coen, Weipa and Cape York and sets out if the roads are open. So, given that sign was ahead of us... we continued on.... for about 8km. Then we realised something was up and turned around and rode back. A very very annoying mistake! Although were sceptical whether it was really our fault!!!

Once on the right route, we travelled for 35km on sealed roads, finding a grocery shop at the end of it. That was pretty much the end of the luxury and we soon found ourselves crossing the Great Dividing Range again. Fortunately, each of the three times its gotten easier... but we’re well and truly over it by now!

This time it was made harder by the gravel and sandy roads, meaning that with each dip we weren’t able to build up the necessary speed to have a free ride up hill.... plus Chris was excessively cautious after yesterday’s spill.

As the day went on it got hotter and hotter and we were glad we had carried plenty of water with us, despite knowing we would be able to drink from the river at camp.

Jon also had the ‘joy’ of spotting the first snake of the trip. He tells Chris it was brown so we’ll take a stab that it was  a Brown Snake.

Later in the day as we descended the GDR, the road became like a roller coaster... repeated 5m inclines and 5m declines. With deep sand it was a treacherous road and Jon found himself on the deck on a couple of occasions.... fortunately at the speed we were travelling the sand was like a mattress.

 We finally arrived at Old Laura Campground at 6pm, using the last bit of light to have a wash in the river before scrambling to put the tents up.  We were then joined by our ‘neighbours’ Ashley and Khyalla who entertained us, gave us some tins of soup and built us a fire... what a welcome!

Tomorrow we have bout 90km ahead of us, with very sandy roads, meaning it will be another tough day. After being very sore in the hips from yesterday’s spill, Chris hopes the terrain certainly isn’t as hilly!!