NOV 24, 2004

Getting Machak fixed up. Rowan doesn't like the way my gearing and brakes are, so we will be looking at that before I head off to Cairns later today.

Took off from the Hobart airport to Melbourne. For some reason I was not feeling at all well on the flight - very nausiated and a bit airsick. And it wasn't even a particularly turbulent flight. Landed in Melbourne for an hour or so where we had something to eat. It amazes me that Virgin Blue, the airline we are using, charges for all the food and everything. I'm used to complimentary beverages, free trolleys etc. Then we flew into Cairns.

I was expecting to experience a lot of heat when I stepped off the plane, but that was not the case at all. It was a lovely 21C, but quite humid. We arrived about 11:30 pm, casually and slowly put our bicycles together in the virtually deserted airport, and sorted out our bags so that everything was set up ready to ride, then laid down on the nice soft, huge bench they provide for weary travellors and went to sleep. It's the first time I've every slept the night in such a public space. It was quite quiet for some time, but when the planes started running again it got a bit noisier, and yet I was so tired I continued to sleep right through it.

Modified: