|
Day: |
008 |
|
Date: |
Wednesday, 31 August 2005 |
|
Start: |
Marla |
|
Finish: |
Erldunda |
|
Daily
Kilometres: |
253 |
|
Total
Kilometres: |
1385 |
|
Journal: |
I was woken several times during the night
by the wind blowing outside and began to doubt the wisdom of my
planned early start. When the alarm went at 3am I first walked
around outside to try and judge which was the wind was blowing. It
was definitely cooler and the wind seemed to be coming from the
south. I packed up and left about 3:45am. The wind was either
absent or from behind and I was able to ride in top gear for hours.
It was a superb night for rising. Millions of stars. Deadly
quiet. I found a radio station (Port Pirie) playing the oldies and
I sang along. It was cold, but not unbearable. There were two
trucks in the first three hours and no other traffic. After a
couple of hours, a light to the east turned out to be a quarter moon
rising which added to the magic. There followed a great clear-sky
sunrise. I stopped for breakfast in a nice lay-by - there were now
gum trees in the creek beds - although it was a bit cool. I made
excellent time and continued on to the Northern Territory border
arriving, along with lots of tour buses, about 11:30am. From there
it was a quick 20km to Kulgera where I stopped for lunch - toasted
egg and bacon sandwiches - and watched the world go by while sitting
in the lovely sun. There were trucks from the Alice Springs
exhibition, long-distance buses, backpackers buses, families, local
aborigines, etc. I left about 1:30pm for the last 75km to
Erldunda. Shortly after leaving I met a cyclist heading south.
He'd done 7,000km from Brisbane to the Cape and across the top and
down. He seemeda similar age to me and planned to be back in
Brisbane by Christmas. I continued on with my right knee gradually
becoming more painful which was a bit worrying. A flukey headwind
had also blown up which was a bit annoying. I figure I've had my
share of headwinds. Nevertheless, I still made reasonable time and
reached Erldunda at 5:15pm and got a room. Had a nice pub dinner
(three courses) in their tavern and returned to my room. It's 199km
to Alice Springs so I'll go for a reasonably early start so that I
get there by mid-afternoon. My knee is looking forward to a day
off. |
|
ADVENTURE LIST
Round Ireland
(2016)
Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)
Via Alpina
(2012)
Australian Alps Walking
Track
(2011)
Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)
Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)
Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)
Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)
Three Peaks Race
(2004)
Appalachian Trail
(1986)
Alpine Track
(1983)
|
