Day 19 – Mitchell and Lynd River Junction to Musgrave Roadhouse (348k)

Day 19 started just after midnight when a couple of pigs, a dingo and a scrub bull decided to pay our camp a visit. All without incident although we did put on a few lights to ensure that the pig hunters who were nearby did not inadvertently fire a few shots our way. After a short time all was quiet and we had a peaceful night.

Morning saw us up early as usual and after breakfast cooked by Les we were on our way West on the Burke Development Rd to the turn off of the Mt Musgrave Road. We had a bit of trouble finding the start of the road as there were roadworks on the junction but once we were on it we soon found ourselves at the Mitchell River ford where we stopped for morning tea and coffee.

The Mitchell was still wide although we were a fair way upstream but the ford was dry. It was not long before we encountered what was the first of many wet crossings. The road traversed through forest interspersed with pastures and of course cattle grazing, although not as many as we encountered yesterday.

After Mt Mulgrave station the country changed and we found the road winding up and down through hilly country which was fun to ride over. At Palmerville Station the road literally disappeared and we found ourselves going through the back yard of a house. The road reappeared and from here to the Peninsular Development Rd turned out to be a great ride through dense forest with plenty of twists and turns and more water crossings. Miles managed to come off in one, ironically a tributary of the Kenndy River.

Riding in front he came over a ridge to find an unexpected water crossing and although he made it by aquaplaning across he slipped on the other side fortunately without doing himself any harm. The final big water crossing was nearly the undoing of Terry, Mark and Clarky who came across it unexpectedly and went through it faster than they preferred but without any of them coming off.

Once we reached the Peninsular Development Rd it felt like a highway in comparison but no where near as much fun to ride on. We reached the Hann River Roadhouse for a late lunch. From there it was a short haul to the Musgrave Roadhouse where we set up for the night at the camping ground.