NOVEMBER 11th, 1998

I am heading up the East coast on Highway 1 and have just passed Newcastle, in the direction of Brisbane and Townsville.

I have stayed in Youth Hostels so far, but have been offered a bed at Byron Bay and Brisbane.

The day time weather is about 20 degrees and cloudy. The terrain is hilly. The scenery, beautiful, with fine sunsets, watched from the beach.The bike is heavy with equipment. When I reach the desert section, from Townsville towards Darwin, I will have to forward some panniers to Darwin in exchange for taking on extra water!

This first part of the journey along the coast road to Townsville is well populated by comparison with what is to come, and I am generally able to keep in touch by Ericsson and Psion as Vodaphone have good connections up to Cairns.

Any readers of this web site in Australia, offering support or hospitality, can e-mail me at cassgilbert@yahoo.co.uk

That's it for now

Cass