Round Australia By Motorbike: Wednesday

Today is 5 weeks we have been on the road, but yesterday was another lay day. Went to Trinity Motorcycles to order chains and sprockets, a new back tyre for my bike, a light bulb for Scott's bike and booked in for another oil change. Just filled in the rest of the day wondering around in beautiful Cairns in the lovely warm sunshine, eating Vietnamese food and thickshakes, dinner at a Thai Restaurant.

This morning we got up at 6.30 with a planned ride up to Cooktown and back. Got down to the bikes and got our gear loaded up, hopped on the bikes and Scott noticed his air hawke seat had been stolen. Of all the places for it to go, in a locked underground car park of the hotel, when at times the bikes have been in really dodgy towns and nothing has been touched.

Headed up the nice twisty highway onto the Atherton Tablelands and onto Mareeba. Stopped for fuel and something to eat for breakfast. On our way again and my chain was jumping something bad. Didn't think it was a good idea to carry on so turned around and headed back to Cairns. Scott tightened the chain and it wasn't quite so bad, but got safely back to the hotel to await the booked in maintenace for tomorrow. Also ordered another air hawke from the bike shop. They had never had any thing to do with them before, but I had got them from Australia and had paid about $250 for them. The guy at the shop said $139, so thats a good price, will be air package on top of that from Brisbane but still a good price.

Well what to fill in the afternoon. Have been to alot of the tourist places in and around Cairns, but not to the museum. After coffee and cake found our way there. Had a lovely chat with the lady at the counter, who was a New Zealander 30 years ago. Then we were accosted by the volunteer gentleman who was really quite interesting but didn't let up for a couple of hours. Even after he was going it was another half an hour before he left to play petonque. .Whew!!!!!