We ambled out of Normanton, pausing for a couple of photos of the team in lycra out the front of the Purple Pub and in/on/beside an enormous crocodile ... okay, a crocodile sculpture.
Spirits were high as we rapidly ate up the first 30 km over smooth bitumen. The troopie caught up with us as we turned west for the last 40 km to Karumba, our destination on the Gulf of Carpentaria. We swapped more grateful thanks for dried fruit and water and saddled up for the real downhill stretch.
We say "downhill", simply because we have this perception, probably mistaken, that the road mirages over the last 20 odd days have been leading us steadily uphill. This perception has been very strong on headwind days. If all this is true, we were expecting a descent of about 3,000 metres back down to sea level!
Well, there was no such descent. Instead the countryside flattened out completely and gradually the trees and shrubs, that have been our roadside companions and harbored all that wonderful birdlife for the past few days, gave way to boggy and swampy fields and our first taste of salt air for 30 days. It dawned on us how tough it must have been for Burke and Wills on their final push towards the Gulf. The land is cleared of the mangroves now, but it would still be a real cross country challenge away from the road.
Our iPods provided the usual variety of soundtracks to this, our last day on the bikes. We rode four abreast into the outskirts of Karumba shortly before 11am with Alan, Julie and the troopie waving to us on the video. With a few sighs, woops, high 5s and congratulations various, we continued on the final 5 km to Karumba Point and our first glimpse of the sea for 29 days.
To think, that four Sunday mornings ago, on 18 April 2011, we had paused with our rear tyres sitting in the Spencer Gulf at Port Augusta ...
What a journey it has been.
A flood of thoughts, memories and emotions flashed through all our minds as we do the best we can to imprint them on this trip of a lifetime.
A few final photo opportunities were gratefully taken, first behind the 'Warning Crocodiles' sign above the beach, and then, a little more boldly, on the beach and with our tyres nudging the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Nerves were taught, and a small splash behind us (probably a tiny fish) caused Dom to yelp, and the rest of to head rapidly back up the beach to the safety of the local pub.
Alan returned with a fine bottle of Aussie sparkling, and while we toasted each other and this fabulous trip, another bottle appeared courtesy of some friendly and chatty grey nomads.
With lunch around the corner and Julie clamouring for the fresh prawns Karumba is famous for, the lads set up our final camp at the Sunset Park, had a swim and cleaned up. With prawns washed down by lemon squash (honestly), the boys cleaned and oiled their bikes for the last time. Pete and Dom set off for further reconnaissance of Karumba Point (ie, they went to the pub). Ric and AP did some reading and emailing before the whole gang met up at the Sunset Tavern for a delightful celebration dinner. With Barramundi, prawns, oysters, steaks, salads and chips washed down by beer, wine and nightcaps of scotch and Drambuie, the night was a fitting culmination to a great trip.
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