Journal: |
I got up with very little enthusiasm, tip-toed around in another
cabin with paper-thin walls while I got ready and was on the road
around 1:15am. I tried not to think about how many more days I
would have to do this. I have had enough. Once riding
I found it was quite warm (20+C), and soon stopped to take off my
jacket. I also noticed that there were no stars in the
direction I was traveling, which was a bit ominous, and probably
explained the higher temperatures. I tried to put my negative
thoughts behind me and focused on maintaining a good pace and
finding a radio station I could listen to. I finally found a
staticky ABC Radio National station and enjoyed listening to their
various current affairs programs as I cycled along. I stopped
after 60km to have a snack in the dark at a rest area, surrounded by
sleeping caravanners, and again after another 60km in another rest
area just as dawn began to break and the caravanners began stirring.
The light revealed spectacular rocky crags and ridges near and far.
As usual my fatigue abated a little as it got light and my mood
lifted. I continued on the undulating road through similar
country, spotting another loping dingo crossing the road ahead,
until I reached the West Australian border where there was a
quarantine station and they checked my bags for fruit and meat.
I gained 1.5 hours moving into a new time zone. It was then
about 40km into Kununurra, a significant regional town. The
area is near the huge man-made Argyle Dam which provides irrigation
water for a variety of tropical crops and there is also plenty of
mining activity nearby, as well as plenty of tourist attractions.
I stopped at a huge service station/store for lunch and didn’t
bother going into the town itself. The place was buzzing.
I left Kununurra, with the intention of riding another 100km to Doon
Doon Roadhouse which was about where I wanted to end my day, but
where I was not sure there was any accommodation. The road had
turned south and the wind was a strong south-easterly, making the
riding slow, barely above 20kph, and I was tired. It was also
forecast to rain, but I didn’t get more than a few heavy spots of
rain every now and again. However, both the wind and rain are
forecast to continue for the next two days, which is not good news.
Offsetting the weather and fatigue was the magnificent
Kimberley scenery I was now riding through. Long high rocky
ridges overlooking the valley and great views from the higher road
elevations, although the hills added a bit to my misery. I
arrived at the Doon Doon Roadhouse to discover they had just given
away their last accommodation, but I decided to stay in their
campground where they suggested I sleep under the BBQ shelter
because of the impending rain, and I had a nice shower. I had
a chicken schnitzel at the roadhouse for dinner and intend another
early start tomorrow.
|