Day 18 – Undara to Cobbold

We were up at just after dawn – our usual time now – and showered, dressed, had breakfast, packed everything up and said farewell to Warren and Joy (who had been behind us) and the family from Bendigo who had been beside us. We left the park at not long after 8 and headed west along the Gilf Development Road. We turned south along the turnoff to Einasleigh and were straight away onto unsealed roads with many creek crossings and quite a few corrugations. All was well as I tackled it at around 60 km/h, slowing for the crossings (no water). About 20 minutes into it, I ran across a tourist minibus (20 seater) stopped in the middle of the road. I went around him, but a few minutes later he caught up to me, witht eh rear end of the bus (and presumably the passengers) bouncing around quite a bit. I pulled over to let him pass and then matched my speed to his so I didn’t get much dust. About 9:50 we got to Einasleigh and went straight to Copperfield Gorge (a mere minute’s drive away from the pub). I walked a bit up and down the gorge and Lynn meditated for a time. I met and chatted to a retired couple from Orange (NSW) about the geology of the gorge. We compared travelling noted and our time at Cobbold would overlap. Lynn had met a lady staying at the pub who was catching the Savannahlander back to Cairns (via Chillago). That day she was travelling to Mount Surprise to stay at the Bedrock Caravan Park. We Had a drink (sarsaparilla for me) at the pub and headed off. Just as we were leaving Einasleigh, we saw the Savannahlander in the distance so stopped to take photos (everyone waved). The pub was supplying 66 lunches (later revised to 72 by someone we met at Cubbold). Then we were off to Forsayth, following parts of the train tracks. Some of the road was unsealed but it was generally it good condition. At Forsayth we had lunch at the pub (just cheese and ham toasted sandwiches) and chatted to a couple whose husband had just been treated by the nurses at the Health Centre there for an eye problem. We then headed off to Cobbold gorge and arrived around 2. I booked in and paid for the campsite and the tour – and found Kellie at the desk remembered me – not too many older people riding motorbikes come through there. We set the tent up (getting used to it now) and commented that it was filling up, and then two vans came in and there was no room! We headed up to the café area and booked in for tea, then chatted to people coming along or returning from tours. We had a look at souvenirs available and I checked through to see when I had been there last – 5/5/2015! Eventually we had tea at the restaurant (rump steak – very good but no chips – they had run out) and were back and in bed by about 8:30.