Final Days of a Great Port Douglas Holiday
I’d planned to go and have lunch with Kerry today but she still wasn’t well so hadn’t gone into work. I had everything to make another batch of pasties to leave in the freezer, so after breakfast I made the pastry and left it in the fridge while I had a ride into town.
While I was there I got talking to another biker who told me he and his wife were off to Japan on holiday next week. They’ve gone there for the last 10 years as the flights are cheap, currently 99 dollars (about £50) from Cairns, and if you avoid the tourist hotspots it’s cheap once there. That’s a thought for tacking an extra week onto a future visit, then.
Later on I made the pasties and Kerry packed and stored them – uncooked – in the freezer for a future date.
We’d been planning to go camping on Saturday night, but as Kerry wasn’t feeling up to it Conor and I had another ride into the tablelands on Saturday. This time we rode up the Kuranda range, which I’ve previously only ridden down, and for most of it had a good run. We both pulled to the left to let a faster rider go past before the road narrowed through roadworks, and once it did we got a bunch of neanderthals on Harley Davidsons riding close to try and intimidate us into pulling over and letting them past. There wasn’t room, so we didn’t. As soon as we got back to a lane in each direction the lead throwback then led the other morons in overtaking towards oncoming traffic, into blind bends, undertaking in the same lane, and any other practice that didn’t require a brain. None of the riders or vacant looking pillions were wearing jackets, so I’d be surprised if all made it home safely and can only hope they didn’t take anyone else out with them.
Anyway, they were just a distraction and didn’t define the day. We didn’t see them again, although we did see an increased police presence which was possibly due to a motorcyclist having died riding down the Gillies Range a few days earlier. To avoid any issues we just rode legally within the speed limits and enjoyed the day. It’s not difficult.
Although there was rain around we once again managed to avoid it, at one point by taking shelter in Mount Uncle distillery until it passed. Within a few minutes of leaving there again the roads were dry so we had a good run, including down the Gillies range, which I’ve only ever ridden up before.
All the ranges are routes up and down through the rainforest, and as I’ve mentioned before are a collection of bends so you’re constantly leaning from one side to another. Some of the scenery is stunning, but you avoid the temptation to admire it as the roads need concentration.
The Julatten Range is about 10km long, the Kuranda Range 12km, and the Gillies Range 19km with an elevation change of 800 meters through 263 corners. There are occasional passing lanes but you have to be quick as they’re only short. Decent brakes and a focussed mindset help!
We stopped at Macallisters which, as it’s owned by someone originally from Yorkshire, had brewed an authentic Yorkshire bitter. The locals have been slow to try it but I did and have to say it was very good.
We stopped at the butcher on the way back to get some steaks for the barbie later, and got talking to another British biker who lives there now but still maintains his strong Welsh accent. After that we had a run home along the coast with little or nothing in front of us so were able to enjoy the road.
And then all of a sudden it was Sunday, 1st November, my penultimate day in Port Douglas and the last one I could enjoy without thinking about being at the airport for the flight home.
We went for a short ride in the morning, to Mossman for a coffee via the scenic route so I could nudge my holiday mileage over 2000km. Most of Mossman appeared closed, except the café we went to which had round 20 bikes parked up outside, and not a Harley in sight!
For lunch we were booked in at the Golf Club, where we met Andrew, Robyn, Jaz and Noah and I enjoyed an excellent roast pork meal.
Later we were booked on a sunset cruse on the Shaolin, which is an authentic Chinese Junk built in Hong Kong in 1969. We got into town in good time and had a drink at Hemingways at the marina before boarding. As it was such a warm and calm evening we sat at the bow, and enjoyed the complimentary drinks and nibbles during the 90 minute cruise. It was a relaxed and fitting end to what’s been a great few weeks and a packed final weekend in Queensland.
Ripper mate!
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