| Myrons Daily Journal - Page 8 April 4, 2004 Stayed in a very nice motel here last night in Taree called the Highway Motor Inn. The owners just bought the motel and are trying hard to please. They brought me fresh milk for the coffee they supply and asked what I would like for breakfast. They brought my request on a tray in the morning. Last night I was directed to a fantastic Chinese & Australian buffet restaurant about 2 blocks away. It was packed. It was by far the best meal I have had yet since I have been in both NZ and AUS. It is interesting that the Lonely Planet says "it's hard to get excited about Taree" and "don't stay at Taree, unless some of the motels dotted along the main roads take your fancy, like the Highway Motor Inn." this is the only motel they talk about and the owners didn't even know they were listed. Since there were only a few places to stop today before Port Macquarie, I just kept riding until I got to the town, which was just over 100 clicks. It turns out to be a very nice town; think I will stay a day or two. I passed signs warning of koalas on the road. I read a lot get injured and must be rehabilitated. They have a Koala Hospital here in Port Macquarie. I will visit it tomorrow at feeding time for the Koala. Today was overcast, making it a good day both for me and especially those Tri-athletes back in Foster. I couldn't even think of bicycle racing for 180 clicks and then running 26 miles with the hot sun out. Even with no sun, the temperature is a pleasant 26c (80f.) I am staying at the Ozzie Pozzie Backpackers, a very nice place. April 5, 2004 Today is overcast again with a light rain. Just making it a lazy day. I went into town on my bike for coffee. Later I biked over to the koala hospital and met others that were also staying at the hostel. It was very interesting to hear all about how and why the koalas arrive at the hospital. The two most common reasons are bush fires and being hit by cars. The hospital receives operating funds from contributions only. Through a $50 contribution I was able for my grandkids to adopt a juvenile koala presently at the hospital. They will be receiving its name and a picture along with its story telling how it got to be at the hospital. They will be updated on its progress and be told when it is released back into the wild. April 6, 2004 This is the second log for 4/6. My last log performed a hiccup that could not be corrected by electronic reset or by removing the batteries and reinstalling. I called Pocket Mail tech support. They were puzzled and said all I could do is delete the entry and start over. I hope the glitch doesn't occur again. I attempted to send the entry, but I am sure it did not respond correctly due to the lack of transmission time. Anyway, here goes again. --- I met a girl at the hostel who is from Holland. She lives a few blocks away from the Kirk family. They are the ones that own the Lego Company. She went to school with their daughter and says they are a great family that lives in a very modest house. I find lots of travelers from Germany, Holland, and England. None of them can say why their countrymen tend to travel so much. You see hardly any Asians when you are away from the big cities like Sydney, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland. They are there mainly to learn English at the Universities or language schools. I am getting a lot of invites to stay in Europe when I travel there. I met a guy at the hostel who used to race bicycles in Germany. He had to try out my bike and did very well on a recumbent for a beginner. I spent another lazy day in Port Macquarie. I did my usual ride around the city and stopped at one of the nine beaches for a while. I did not spend too long in the sun. On my ride yesterday to the Koala Hospital I came across a Jenny Craig office. It was across the street from the Skin Cancer Institute. Looks like two things the Aussies have to contend with. I am beginning to notice that the people here are running a close second to the states in fat production. Mc Donald’s is leaving its mark. They are everywhere. Other stores everywhere here are K-Mart, Woolworth, and Subway shops. Tomorrow I will bike no further than Nambucca Heads. It is 110 clicks away. I am getting worried about accommodations further north at Coffs Harbor and Bryon Bay. I find they are very popular places over the Easter weekend. In addition, there is a jazz festival at Coffs Harbor that attracts thousands. I am writing this on wed 4/7 after breakfast with the German bike racer, Daniel Horste. He is hitchhiking north and wishes he had his bike so he could join me for a few days. It is 1pm so I had better get on my way. April 7, 2004 I am about 17 clicks out of Port Macquarie and stopped at a service station to use the bathroom. Afterwards I was setting at a table having some fuel (food) when a lady drove up and said another lady was on a bike just like mine and was about 1/2 hour behind me. I waited for about 20 minutes but very dark clouds were catching up with me and I had already been through a lot of rain, so I decided to try and keep in front of the front. The rain is no problem when it is light. I didn't even put on my raincoat. It is a warm rain and you dry out quickly when it stops; but a heavy rain makes it difficult for the cars to see you. I decided to stop at Kempsy which is about 18 clicks inland from Crescent Head. I won't get back to biking on the beach for another 66 clicks at Nambucca Head. It is another 44 clicks into Coffees Harbor. I plan to get there today ahead of the Friday crowd they get for the Easter weekend. I hope I can find accommodations. I will continue to look out for the recumbent lady. April 8, 2004 First thing this morning I stopped at a Shell Roadhouse for a cup of coffee. I keep checking the price of gas (petrol here.) a liter varies from 98 cents to 1.01$au (rounding up for the stupid .9 cents.) diesel is usually the same price or $.01 cent cheaper. Since there are 3.79 liters to a US gallon, that makes a gallon cost about 3.79$aus. with an exchange rate of .73, the cost here in US$ is 3.79/. 73 or $5.20 US/gallon. My friend, Jim Stout, who did the US perimeter ride with me, has just told me his company has moved him to an office that is 50 miles away from where he lives, assuming his car gets 20 miles/gallon. if he lived here he would need 5 gallons per day at a cost of 26$US. good thing he isn't doing this commuting here in Australia. Like in many parts of the US, young people here can't afford to buy in the city and must move further out to afford a house. This is sure to stress the economy of any area, but especially where the petrol is $5.20/gallon. This may be one reason food is more expensive here, considering the transportation cost. The new south whales (NSW) government has just initiated a 2.25% stamp duty charge on all property investment construction. It is said this will have a massive effect on the home and apartment development in NSW. Every city I go through I sees cranes everywhere building apartment complexes. April 9, 2004 I think I gave some confusing information about the last few days. For clarity; on 4/7 I rode from Port Macquarie to Kempsey. On 4/8 I rode from Kempsey to Nambucca Heads and today, 4/9, I rode from Nambucca Heads to Coffs Harbor. I plan to stay here in Coffs Harbor over the weekend. All the beach communities are packed for Easter, which is the last 4 day weekend before winter sets in. The coast road is also packed, making riding unpleasant. It is the noise of cars passing that annoys me. Speaking of holidays, Christmas here falls in summer. Can you picture Saint Nick in shorts riding a surfboard? Maybe after the weekend, biking will be more pleasant, with fewer cars on the road and with the coast highway north of Coffs Harbor joining the beach again for about 50 clicks. The next main attraction is Byron Bay, a surfing Mecca, which is the most popular spot on Australia’s east coast. It is about 200 clicks north of Coffs Harbor. They are having a jazz concert at Byron Bay over the weekend, making all the towns above and below the area packed. I was told that at least 80% of Australia’s population lives on the east and southeast coasts from Adelaide to Cairns. I am now over halfway from Sidney to Brisbane. Lots of time to go a relative short distance. When I get to Brisbane, after checking out the city, I will get a train/bus back to Coolangatt to catch my flight to Auckland. |
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