Saturday, 5 November 2011
Day 13 Cocklebiddy - beyond Caiguna - to Bush Camp #3, 121km
Just a short break after a 63km ride to Caiguna. From here its 183km to the next roadhouse, Balladonia. If the winds are good, then I could be there in 2 days, ie Monday night. But if the wind is a headwind, I'll have to bush camp twice and should be at Balladonia Tuesday morning. So, I could be out of contact for the next 2 days.
This is the thanks I get for trying to shoo him off the road.
Day 12 Madura to Cocklebiddy 93km
A much easier ride today. I can almost smell the Indian Ocean from here.
There was some mice in the room last night. I put double sided tape around the bike wheels so they couldn't climb up the bike and into the panniers.
There was about 60km of head wind today. The wind changed to be a side/tail wind that made the last 33km easier.
The country side was more or less uninteresting. Flat, a few trees.
Road kill count includes: camel, wedge tailed eagle, echidna, wombats, lizards, owls, mice, and hundreds of kangaroos.
The internet connection here is best since Ceduna. The computer at Madura had 51 instances of Internet Explorer opened. It was way too slow to add pictures.
Dawn at bush camp #1, between Nundroo and Yalata.
The road goes forever. That's not a crosswalk painted, but a road landing strip for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Next stop will be a bush camp to the West of Caiguna on the 90 mile straight. I'll add an update at Caiguna if they have Internet.
There was some mice in the room last night. I put double sided tape around the bike wheels so they couldn't climb up the bike and into the panniers.
There was about 60km of head wind today. The wind changed to be a side/tail wind that made the last 33km easier.
The country side was more or less uninteresting. Flat, a few trees.
Road kill count includes: camel, wedge tailed eagle, echidna, wombats, lizards, owls, mice, and hundreds of kangaroos.
The internet connection here is best since Ceduna. The computer at Madura had 51 instances of Internet Explorer opened. It was way too slow to add pictures.
Bunda Cliffs
Old Telegraph station. It must have been a hard life for the telegraphists in 1877, but at least they were on-line.
Just outside Yalata
Next stop will be a bush camp to the West of Caiguna on the 90 mile straight. I'll add an update at Caiguna if they have Internet.
Friday, 4 November 2011
Day 11 Mundrabilla - Madura 118km
To quote Banjo Patterson's poem, Mulga Bill's bicycle:
" I've rode a bull around a yard to win a five pound bet,
but that was the most awful ride that I've encountered yet".
Phew, 118km of relentless headwind and rain. This after a dream run of at least 5 days of tailwinds.
Just rolled into Madura -the half way point! Unfortunately the speedometer glitched a few days ago, and lost its accumulated km. Anyway, the sign here says that Pt Augusta is 1144km behind.
The parcel of food is here, and luckily the mice plague around this area has spared it.
Not staying in a tent tonight, booked a budget room and will soon be going to the room. There are some thunderstorms expected tonight.
The road trains just keep getting bigger. Some look like they are carrying large sections of an Aircraft-carrier! I spoke to a driver at Mudrabilla last night. He said that they are in constant radio contact with each other, and know well in advance when a cyclist is ahead, so they give plenty of room.
The traffic has thinned out, and the cars and trucks are about 10 minutes apart.
Unfortunately there is lots and lots of roadkill. There is a reported camel near Madura.
I haven't swatted any blowflies - they are too quick.
Here is a photo of me taken by Hugh and Pauline when we met at Penong:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1r4vFZo&page_id=265728&v=3Z
I'll add some photos tomorrow morning and more reports.
(Postscript - unable to add photos)
" I've rode a bull around a yard to win a five pound bet,
but that was the most awful ride that I've encountered yet".
Phew, 118km of relentless headwind and rain. This after a dream run of at least 5 days of tailwinds.
Just rolled into Madura -the half way point! Unfortunately the speedometer glitched a few days ago, and lost its accumulated km. Anyway, the sign here says that Pt Augusta is 1144km behind.
The parcel of food is here, and luckily the mice plague around this area has spared it.
Not staying in a tent tonight, booked a budget room and will soon be going to the room. There are some thunderstorms expected tonight.
The road trains just keep getting bigger. Some look like they are carrying large sections of an Aircraft-carrier! I spoke to a driver at Mudrabilla last night. He said that they are in constant radio contact with each other, and know well in advance when a cyclist is ahead, so they give plenty of room.
The traffic has thinned out, and the cars and trucks are about 10 minutes apart.
Unfortunately there is lots and lots of roadkill. There is a reported camel near Madura.
I haven't swatted any blowflies - they are too quick.
Here is a photo of me taken by Hugh and Pauline when we met at Penong:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1r4vFZo&page_id=265728&v=3Z
I'll add some photos tomorrow morning and more reports.
(Postscript - unable to add photos)
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Day 10 (Thurs 3rd Nov) - Bunda Cliffs Bush camp to Mundrabilla, 130km
Rob had more tailwinds. He went through Border Village & Eucla - visited Eucla Telegraph Station. No internet access at Eucla or Mundrabilla. Expecting tailwinds tomorrow and will pick up food parcel.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Day 9 (Wed 2nd Nov) - Nullaboor Roadhouse to bush camp along the Bunda Cliffs, 150km.
Rob started the day with tailwinds.He met a French cyclist who was riding the opposite way. He had done 60km battling headwinds to Rob's 130km. Bike stand has broken.
Day 8 (Tues 1st Nov) - Bush camp to Nullaboor Roadhouse
Update from Rob (he doesn't have any internet access) - 120km ride, flat, treeless, the real Nullaboor. More tailwinds! Thermarest is leaking.
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