Day 17 – Riding across the Tropic of Capricorn

Could be a milestone, not sure! Longer ride today on relatively flat terrain – except for a nasty little ramp at the start which went up to 18% (eeeek!!). Enjoyed a long section of brand new black velvet asphalt on the Bruce Hwy, a bonus. The wind held off, and I felt good mostly because I remembered to drink and eat. Nothing new there…

Gladstone is a pretty town and I took some back ways into Rockhampton too, crossing the old markers of the Tropic of Capricorn.

I have been thinking about the human race today, how we live and where, the care that people put into their houses and gardens (or not) as I ride past them and see a variety of dwellings, materials, colours and, of course, smell the smells: chopped wood, grass, some wild flowers, bakery, coffee, and fresh bitumen. We are such great engineers and can build (and destroy) just about anything. Even thinking about my bike, such a mastery of technology, design, materials… Talking of which, I changed my wheels to the 32s and see how I go tomorrow on the narrower tyres. Hope I do not regret it.