I wish to report that rumours of my death have been highly exaggerated, however rumours of my laziness in updating this blog are spot on. Sorry about that!

So, after recovering from my various underwater expeditions up on Cape York, it was time to get cracking moving south down the east coast. The weather had anticipated this move by me, and in a cunning counter-strike it decided to drop the temperature to "it's frickin' freezing out here Mr Bigglesworth!" levels. I kid you not, every night and morning since departing Cairns has been an exercise in important appendage shrinking exposure training. Chilly? I should bloody co-co!

I wound my way south mainly sticking to long since abandoned inland routes, as these proved to be far more interesting than the more mundane (but faster) coastal highway. Of course the route I chose had a tendency to wiggle its way up and around the Great Dividing Range, which meant the whole "argh I can't feel my fingers!" situation was somewhat exacerbated. Plus of course me being a clever bugger, I'd posted my thermals back to Perth way back when I was suffering in the oven like temperatures of the Northern Territory. Makes quite a nice change not sweating like a Swede in a sauna though.

Kayaking in the Whitsundays

Popped out to the Great Barrier Reef / Whitsunday Islands when I got to Airlie Beach, as it would really be my last chance before getting further south. Spent quite a nice (and also nicely warm) day kayaking all over the show, spotting turtles, snorkelling and generally making an aquatic nuisance of myself. Continued on south from there before progress was severely arrested in the town of Gympie, by a mechanical gremlin (who thought that would happen to me? to me of all people?!).

Not kayaking in the Whitsundays

I'll not go into too many details (as people may fall asleep), but I was stuck in Gympie for about a week, camping in a highway rest area. Turned out the problem was an air leak around where the carburettor joined the engine, meaning too much air was getting in and the bike was acting like a fish out of water. Gasping, coughing, spluttering and generally giving the impression that it was about to explode. (not that a fish out of water would explode, but you catch my drift)

The leg bone is connected to the...

With some help from a chap called Steve who I met in the camp ground (usefully a small-engine mechanic, what are the chances?), I was back on the road once again and the bike is now like a brand new machine. Runs well, more power, more efficient and it even makes the coffee in the morning. (ok so I made that last part up)

Called in at Surfers Paradise for a quick look-see, and spent most of the time drinking a coffee outside the Tiffany's store. I felt the atmosphere outside the front of the shop would benefit from having a dirty, smelly biker drop dust all over the place. Marvellous! I also managed to catch up with some of the members of the unofficial support team from Cape York, which was really nice. Good to see them again!

Compressing the last few of weeks into a paragraph means that I have now arrived in Sydney. I've also finally managed to get some new suspension for the bike, which I actually managed to fit myself without breaking anything, I must be getting better at this mechanic lark. So now I don't get a free spinal adjustment every time I venture onto unsealed roads, which tends to happen quite a lot.

Replacing the rear shock absorber

Old on the right, new on the left (well, newer-ish)

So I'm camped in the suburbs at a place called Miranda, as finding somewhere in the centre with secure parking for the bike proved to be nigh on impossible. Still, it probably would've felt far too weird sleeping under something other than canvas.

I WILL keep this updated a bit more regularly from now on, but too keep y'all entertained for a while, here are some pictures:

Steve assisting me in rescuing the bike (ok it doesn't look deep, but wait til a bit further down the page)

Pushing uphill, only to turn around to try and start the engine back down the hill

See, I told you it was bloody deep

Getting a helping hand to progress through the thigh deep mud

Friends of mine JUST managing to get across Nolans Brook on the Telegraph Track

Just to prove I don't always end up underwater...

Tally ho!

The Sydney Harbour Bridge (not pictured, the Sydney Harbour Bridge players)

Op-er-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Made it to the most easterly point of mainland Australia

Psychedelic hills

More operatic scenery

Nice back road through the hills

Sydney

Aaaaand, pose!

I am a shadow of my former self

Gosling One, posing for the camera

Helmet hair!

You can't see too well in the photo, but it's about 1KM straight down at this point

Bloody hitchhikers

On the grassy knoll

It's all work, work, work...

Taking it easy

Look I don't just laze around all the time you know

Through the pine forests

Wallaman falls, highest in Australia

Thieving Butcher Bird, after my morning coffee

Ever get the feeling you're being watched?

More relaxing, it's a hard life