Day: |
018 |
Date: |
Saturday, 10 September 2005 |
Start: |
Pine Creek |
Finish: |
Darwin |
Daily
Kilometres: |
233 |
Total
Kilometres: |
3058 |
Journal: |
I got up at 4am and left at 4:40am. There
was no more traffic on the road early than usual. I had thought
that being closer to Darwin it would be busier. There were still
plenty of hills but that helped make the scenery more interesting
and the humidity made it feel a bit like Georgia in the US where I
had spent time. The countryside was mostly timbered with rocky
outcrops and escarpments and more exotic plants and, of course, ant
hills. I stopped at Hayes Creek and had a nice cooked breakfast
sitting on the verandah of the old pub. I then continued on making
reasonable time although the winds were from the NW. At one point I
saw a dingo feeding on roadkill. It then wandered into the bush and
watched me pass by. I reached Adelaide River late morning and
decided to have an early lunch of a pie and pastie sitting in the
shade next to the roadhouse. There's definitely a tropical feel to
the place and creeks were flowing and surrounded by lush
vegetation. About 80km south of Darwin I met a german who was
mid-way through his first day of a bike trip from Darwin to Uluru.
He was finding the going tough but looked fit. He was worried about
snakes. After an ice-cream at Acacia Stores in mid-afternoon I set
out for the last 65km to Darwin. My spirits were good, but
deteriorated on the divided highway into Darwin where the headwinds
were strong and the weather warm. I struggled on and around 5pm
reached a motel near the airport where I checked in (it was a bit of
a dive). I then left my bags there and continued riding into the
centre of town where, after a bit of looking around, I found the
main Post Office about 6pm and took a certifying photograph. The
moment was a bit anti-climactic because it had been a tough late
afternoon, but satisfying nevertheless. I then rode the 8km back
out to the motel, stopping at the Shell roadhouse on the way to pick
up some dinner. All they had were sandwiches so my celebratory
dinner was a bit underwhelming. I ate dinner and watched the
cricket and then went to bed about 9:30pm. |
|
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)
|