I left Mackay a little later than I expected this morning. I was up early but it took me a while to get going. Perhaps something to do with the mini bar's demise but maybe I just didn't feel like rushing. In any case I took some time to enjoy a very decent buffet breakfast at the bistro in the apartment complex and was very happy when I found out when I went to pay that it was included in my room rate! Bonus!
While eating I also took the opportunity to watch the news on TV, the first time I'd caught up with what was happening in the rest of the world for over a week. Nothing.
Riding out of Mackay I was happy that there weren't any signs of the rain that was forecast yesterday but I was aware that it had rained overnight. So south I went, more sugar cane, more refineries, growing signs of tourism and declining temperatures. First stop for fuel, Rockhampton.
The ride continuing south was uneventful but not the least bit boring. My Road King was running great, the roads weren't too bad and kilometre after kilometre passed by. As the day went on though, it became apparent that I wasn't going to reach Coolum, I had a bizarre intention to stay at the Hyatt Regency there. When I reached Maryborough I decided to call it a day and find somewhere to stay. I looked for a Motel within walking distance of food and decided on the City Motel. OMG! I should have run when I first saw the guy at reception. Poorly disguised cigarette odour was a feature of my room that was set up so it could be hosed out.
In the room next to mine was a very body pierced and tattooed woman wearing night attire and ugg boots who went out in a very bashed up Magna with her two teenage daughters . I wasn't sure it I was in a Motel or a refuge. Oh well, life is to be experienced and the bad ones make the good ones better!
With no mini bar and no inclination of hanging around in the room I walked up the road to the Shamrock Hotel and soon got chatting to a well travelled regular and the barmaid. I learned quite a bit about the local area over a couple of beers and the wandered into the bottleshop attached to the hotel and bought some Dark and Stormy hoping that it wasn't a prediction for tomorrow's weather.
I dropped back into my room, stocked the fridge and walked in the opposite direction to locate a chinese restaurant. Good food AND 2 serves of deep fried icecream. After dinner I went back to my hotel room and sat outside it, surfing the net on my iPad. I didn't really feel comfortable sitting in it and watching TV. After a couple of drinks and success not encouraging conversation with the curious mob next door. it was time to face trying to sleep in the odourous room. I checked my Harley was secure (wishing I could fit it through the door), found a side of a pillow that didn't reek of cigarettes or perfume absolutely determined to be up as early as I could and leave that place forever.
Today's Route 721k's
