Go West Young Man (dreaming)!! I made it to Cairns and turned WEST, after going a bit farther north!!I dragged myself away from Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands. I like Airlie very much (remember, it had moved to the top of my favorite beach places) UNTIL I got to Mission Beach (recommended by the skipper of the sail boat that I cruised on). Mission Beach is about 60 miles south of Cairns and has everything Airlie Beach does EXCEPT the traffic and tourists. It is a sleepy little place

with excellent restaurants (right on the beach),

very nice motels, extremely friendly locals, and almost NO traffic and tourists.

Yup, moved to the top of the list (hey, so I’m fickle). It was time to get the bike serviced and I needed to do it at a dealer since it is still under warrantee. Since it was Sunday and the dealer wasn’t open, I thought I would find the dealer and get a fix for the gps, then continue north toward Port Douglas (if Byron Bay is the home of the rich, Douglas is the home of the obnoxiously rich) :=) , Daintree, and Cape Tribulation since they were only about 75 miles north. The ride north was very much like the Big Sur road in California (my home),

and since it was Sunday, it even had the traffic!! :=) There was a ferry ride involved in getting to Cape Tribulation

(missed it by that much, in my best Get Smart voice) :=)
I got back to Cairns late Sunday evening and was at the Suzuki Dealer bright and early on Monday morning. This part is just for my “friends” in the Ventura H.O.G. Chapter back home that give me a hard time about riding around Oz on a Suzuki vice Harley.

The Suzuki dealer in Cairns is also the Harley Dealer.!!!!!!! Got the Suzuki serviced and bought the Harley shirt in one stop! :=) I can’t say enough good things about Wayne Leonard and his dealership. EVERYONE was helpful and friendly. Wayne and his wife Rhonda, service manager Warren, and tire guy Stephen went WAY out of their way to take care of me. While I was waiting, I found a Hog Tales that had a picture from the H.O.G. 2002 Lewis and Clark Ride that included me. They circled my picture and put it (and my Chapter business Card) on the wall with the Cape York Chapter Information. I felt honored (and a little bit like a celebrity).
So much for beaches for awhile. I turned west and will be “inland” for a week or so getting to Darwin to meet Cory. Lots of “outback” lonely roads in my near future!! :=)

I check my regular email every chance I get so let me know what you think about the pictures and the adventure!!
Rick (in the 'Outback")