Day 1 - Brisbane to Beaudesert

Distance: 72.2Km's
Pain Factor: 3 out of 10.
Magpie attacks:1
Cow sightings:832
Accommodation Highlight: Saturday Night "Bo Jenkins" at the Beaudesert Hotel - a one man band playing mostly C&W but who did a wicked rendition of "Hurt" by Johnny Cash.

http://www.strava.com/activities/191510435

Awaking with confirmation that I was getting sick (razors in the throat, plus a voice that sounded like I had had a bender the night before) I proceeded to do the pre-flight checks and get locked and loaded. Strategic packing of two panier bags became a well oiled operation after 9 days on the road.

My aim was the start at the Brisbane GPO, and that is what I did, meeting my co-pilot, Shawn there at 8:30am. Here is the token photo of the rig outside the Brisbane GPO:

A quick chin wag, a setting of the Garmin's and we were on our way.

Following the Garmin's directions out of the city proved a little more difficult than we expected and we were forced to make a few last minute route decisions and "follow our noses" so to speak. Once we found our way to Sunnybank and Calamvale, I knew where I was and we were on our way.

And what is it with you Queenslander's and REBP's? ("Randomly Ending Bike Paths"). Attempting to do the right thing, Shawn and I would jump onto the bike path by the road, only to be confronted with an abrupt ending to the path (usually proceeded by overgrow scrub). At least there was a big sign with a bike symbol saying "end". Does this mean you just stop and turn around and hope that next time you attempt the journey they have extended it?

Once out of the city it was a fairly painless ride to Beaudesert on a typical sunny QLD day. A highlight would have to have been my Auntie and Uncle cheering me on at the side of the road about 20km's out of Beaudesert (complete with Aussie hats and flags). I wondered whom the hell they were in the distance, until I got closer and figured it out). Being a lighter day we stopped for some pub grub at Veresdale, where I indulged in what is the best ever chicken scnitty wrap I have ever had and used my sickness as an excuse to inhale a sweet ginger beer.

Chillin' like mofo's at the Veresdale pub:

As became customary on the trip, we checked into the first pub with accommodation we saw. $30 each a night. Sweet as for two bro's on their bikes, not exactly a place I would take to woo a lady for a night (unless a jail style sink in the corner of the room and a "don't look up" shared shower/toilet is her thing)

Check out my sink!:

Sleep with me, sleep with the bike:

Old school country pub verandah awesomeness:

..and Shawn (who from this point forward will simply be referred to by his Marvel superhero name "Santo"

Our chateau for the first night:

The night was made oh so much sweeter by watching the Roosters beat Melbourne in the NRL, followed by the sweet sounds of one man C&W band/singer Bo Jenkins.

Justin "Buck" Saunders.