Today promised to be a day marked by strong winds and rain, prompting me to swiftly head south to steer clear of the impending Cyclone Hadi. As the morning unfolded, I found myself waking up in the front passenger seat, which turned out to be a more comfortable night compared to the previous one spent on the backseat. Fortunately, the chair could be adjusted to a sleeping position.
Upon waking up, I attended to my morning routine, visiting the toilet, brushing my teeth, and shaving my face. Home Hill, where I dropped off Moni yesterday, turned out to be quite fortunate as it housed a public rest area. Following my bathroom visit, I tackled the task of doing the dishes with the newly acquired soap. The other travelers at this parking lot were still sound asleep in their cars and campers, leaving me impressed and enamored with this free-of-charge haven.
Following my morning routine, I visited a nearby supermarket that opened early. While browsing through the aisles, I ended up purchasing only a drink. With everything inside the car arranged to my liking, it was time to set off towards the south.
My First Kangaroo Encounter at Mount Inkerman
The weather appeared fine, albeit a bit dull. I pondered when the conditions might take a turn. The tropical low was gradually approaching the eastern coast and seemed destined to move in my direction. Eager to avoid any potential impact, I aimed to depart as soon as possible, as forecasts suggested it might intensify into a cyclone by tomorrow and potentially affect the coastline (spoiler alert: as of 2021, fortunately, it didn’t).
Just a kilometer into the southward drive, I spotted a sizable hill and thought it might host an impressive scenic lookout. Being on my own now, I had the freedom to explore as I pleased. I made a left turn toward the imposing rock and ascended to the summit. Signs cautioned caravans and campers against attempting the hill due to its steep incline, but with my Toyota Corolla, I was fortunate to be allowed to proceed.
Home Hill
As I ascended, the unfolding scenery already captivated me, but it reached a new level at the summit of Mount Inkerman. The vast farmlands surrounding Home Hill sprawled beneath, offering a panoramic view of the road I had recently traversed. Amidst this elevated landscape, I encountered my first wild kangaroo. It sat there, observing me without a hint of fear. Closing in, I captured some memorable pictures, relishing the proximity of about 4 meters between us. Afterward, I respectfully withdrew, savoring the captivating panorama for an additional 15 minutes. Sipping on the drink I had just purchased in Home Hill, I concluded the moment with a few final snapshots.
As I descended, I couldn’t resist capturing more pictures from the window, immersing myself in the breathtaking scenery. The elevated views of the landscapes were truly enchanting. Upon reaching the base, I veered left onto the highway, resuming my journey south (as depicted in the last picture above).
A Storm is Coming
After half an hour, I opted to take a break in Bowen, a quaint but deserted town. My quest for a cafe was thwarted by the closure of most shops due to Sunday. Undeterred, I wandered the empty streets for ten minutes before returning to my car. I then headed towards the nearby beach, parked, and captured some images. The intensifying wind resonated with the crashing waves, a harbinger of the impending cyclone Hadi.
I discovered a renewed determination to proceed with my journey, spurred on by the ominous weather forecast. Cyclone Hadi was closing in on the Australian coast. Ten minutes south of Bowen, a deluge commenced. As I pressed on, the rain intensified, transforming the roads into water-laden paths. The tropical low loomed ever closer. While my usual speed reached 100 kilometers per hour, I had to reduce it to 80 kilometers per hour due to the relentless rain. The downpour, unlike anything in the Netherlands, would qualify as a storm in my home country. Gusty winds relentlessly buffeted my car, and the rooftop tent exacerbated the challenging conditions.
Driving in Bad Weather
After enduring thirty minutes of relentless rain, the roads became thoroughly soaked. Puddles formed in the ruts, and I made every effort to steer clear of them. However, in some instances, particularly when faced with oncoming traffic, avoiding the puddles proved impossible. During those moments, I found myself driving into the water-filled ruts, causing the car to hydroplane. While I had no prior experience with hydroplaning, I was aware of its potential danger.
After the traffic had passed, I navigated out of the water-filled ruts with extreme caution. Aquaplaning occurred multiple times, and, truthfully, it served as valuable practice. Occasionally, a large truck would approach, leaving behind a massive cloud of water. Each time a truck appeared, I had to increase the speed of the windshield wipers. These trucks fascinated me greatly, as we don’t have anything like these long ‘road trains‘ in the Netherlands.
A Stopover in Proserpine
After enduring an hour of inclement weather, I made the decision to halt in Proserpine, the entryway to the Whitsundays. It saddened me to bypass the Whitsundays due to the weather, providing yet another reason to revisit Australia in the future. Upon reaching Proserpine, I navigated through the primary shopping street in search of a parking space. After parking the car and turning off the engine, the sound of the rain pounding on my car’s roof was overwhelming.
While stationed in my parked car, I tuned into the radio and sipped on some water. The cyclone updates indicated it would likely make landfall somewhere between Cairns and Mackay. Mackay was my intended destination for the day, planning to stay overnight before proceeding to Rockhampton the following day. After absorbing the radio broadcast, I powered it down and enjoyed the calming effect of the heavy rain on the car roof. Around 12:30 pm, I resumed my journey.
Beyond Proserpine, I stumbled upon a charming coffee shop adorned with decorations and bustling with customers. Situated in an area devoid of other buildings, it resembled more of a farm than a typical coffee shop. Intrigued, I decided to purchase a drink and set up my laptop to get some work done. Unfortunately, when I inquired about using their Wi-Fi, the girl working there claimed they didn’t have it. Despite her statement, my computer detected only one network, indicating she was likely not truthful. Reflecting on my time in Indonesia, where numerous Wi-Fi networks were available on a single street, I couldn’t help but contrast the experiences. The rain, consistent for hours, provided a stark contrast to my memories of Indonesia. After an hour of typing offline reports, I decided to leave the place.
Continuing My Drive
The persistent heavy rain showed no signs of letting up, making the roads increasingly hazardous. Occasionally, my visibility was severely compromised. Thankfully, the sparse traffic on the road minimized the risks. I received updates about the cyclone every 30 to 60 minutes, thanks to the Australian government’s well-organized information system. Later, I also accessed their detailed cyclone route map on the internet. According to the forecast, the cyclone was expected to reverse its course tomorrow, steering away from the Australian coast and heading back toward the ocean.
At the moment, my primary concern wasn’t the cyclone but the relentless rain. In Australia, many roads are prone to flooding, and the last thing I wanted was to be stranded in Queensland. Making it to Mackay became crucial, with plans to continue my journey to Rockhampton the following day. I believed Rockhampton would serve as a safe haven from the persistent and inclement weather.
After two hours of driving, I reached Mackay, and unfortunately, the weather remained unchanged. I headed towards a shopping center and parked my car in the underground parking lot—another perk of Australian parking lots, many of them were free. Upon entering the mall, I leisurely strolled around, taking the opportunity to look for information on free rest stops on the internet. I found one located south of Mackay and ensured I had another backup plan. After buying a drink, I decided to leave after 30 minutes, considering most shops were closed.
Another Rest Area
As twilight began, I headed to the southern part of Mackay, aiming for the information center. Although online information suggested free parking spots for travelers, it turned out to be disallowed. Seeking guidance, I approached the gas station and inquired about nearby options. I was informed that there were no free rest stops in the vicinity, as it was prohibited to stay overnight. However, the lady suggested that if I continued south for ten minutes, I would come across a trucker stop.
Continuing my journey south in the darkness, I reached the gas station she mentioned after about ten minutes. The station was quite extensive, equipped with toilets, showers, and a restaurant. Upon entering, I inquired about the possibility of spending the night in my car. The lady granted permission and provided information about all the available facilities. Although I considered using their showers, I ultimately found them too questionable. Instead, I brought my laptop into the restaurant, utilized their power socket, and ordered some food. That evening, I worked on some reports before retiring to my car around 11 pm. I set my alarm for 6.30 am.
