Today we have gathered sufficient satisfaction for two days and it is fortunate because today there is nothing special to report except that we passed the Tropic of Capricorn. We arrive in Rockhampton, Australia’s capital of livestock and cowboy that today, Sunday, are on a trip elsewhere: the city is deserted and even the famous arena for the rodeo is dark and silent. Day uninteresting, sometimes happens.

Twenty-fourth day of the expedition, hit the 4,000 km. mark, we are more than halfway through. In Melbourne, when we left a bit more than three weeks ago, it was cold winter. Here, beyond the Tropic of Capricorn, we begin to smell summertime and exotic seas. Yesterday a flock of colourful parrots wandered in the motel’s garden. We arrived in Townsville, so tomorrow we enter the crocodile area: another potentially deadly enemy to the list of dangerous creatures that live in Australia, a continent where you always stay on your guard. It’s not just about animals: Townsville residents have witnessed at least eight devastating tornadoes in just over a century. But when the weather is nice like today the city is very pleasant and we enjoy it. Better seize the moment, because it will not always be so…

Today we hit the A1 again, in the absence of alternative routes. Which is yet another evidence that we are gradually moving away from the most populated areas. We cross a large plain planted with cane sugar, mangoes and vegetables. It seems that most of the early fruits consumed in Australia come from here. The traffic is again rather intense, chiefly because of the road trains that exceedingly speed with no care for other road users. This is actually a big problem since this chunk of A1 is not even close to what we consider a highway: it’s simply a two-lane road with alternate overtaking lanes! We are forced to pull on the left to let them pass: we do not want to go the way of the dozens of kangaroo carcasses laying on the tarmac. We reach Bowen in early afternoon in time to relax at the beach for one hour. Fantastic and deserted coves, warm and then seafood in the harbour. Why asking for more? The Xtractor Team can well be happy with the day!

The backwater we crossed yesterday has taught us an important lesson: when you find a petrol station you would better refill because the next one could be VERY far ahead. Today we managed to get to a petrol station by a hair, but it’s a risk that we cannot afford once in the outback. We know that as we go north, away from the popular swimming sites, we will drive through less and less populated regions. The town of Mackay is not a typical swimmer destination, but it reserves at least a nice surprise: a beautiful beach just a few steps from the city center. Hard to believe that yesterday’s desolation is just a hundred kilometers from here!

Suddenly today the landscape turns to dry, a wasteland dotted with stunted trees sheltering dusty grazing cattle thin, apathetic, that barely bother to turn their head to watch us pass. The changing face of Australia. There is nothing in the range of tens of kilometers, even Route A1 – usually so busy -  is almost deserted. We stop for lunch in a little village that looks like stolen from a western movie set, a shabby little shop run by Sergio, second-generation Italian who speaks only English, a small miniature station, four houses. It feels like a frontier town. It feels drought. But in the evening we get back to the seaside, to have dinner on the beach. Another day full of emotions.

Yesterday we got enough emotions for two days and this is very lucky because today there is nothing special to report except that we passed the Tropic of Capricorn. We arrive in Rockhampton, Australia’s capital of livestock. However today, Sunday, cowboys are on a business elsewhere: the city is deserted and even the famous rodeo arena  is dark and silent. Flat day – sometimes happens…

Today we enjoed an almost-holiday atmosphere, it was a short but very intense leg. We leave the busy highway and turn into one of those countryside tracks we so much love to we find ourselves immersed in a fantastic world of water, palms and eucalyptus trees that instantly remind you of the tropics. We happened to help a boy whose car broke down and he couldn’t believe our tractors pull down to the dirt road to help him, in the middle of nowhere. Every cloud has it silver lining! We close the day on a postcard-worth beach, watching the surfers play in the waves, while the sun goes down. A great day.