|
Day: |
007 |
|
Date: |
Tuesday. 30 August 2005 |
|
Start: |
Rest Stop (42km south of Cadney Park) |
|
Finish: |
Marla |
|
Daily
Kilometres: |
123 |
|
Total
Kilometres: |
1132 |
|
Journal: |
Got up at 5:30am and was on the road by 6am
with dawn just beginning to show. It was a beautiful sunrise
although a light headwind/crosswind breeze made riding a struggle
all of the time. The counrtyside was mostly scrubby with rolling
hills. Unfortunately, the headwind always prevented me enjoying the
downhills, although it wasn't as strong as yesterday. I reached
Cadney Park Roadhouse at 8:15am and enjoyed sausage, eggs and bacon
plus a lime milkshake and hot chocolate for breakfast. I refilled
water bottles and left about 9:20am. The wind was beginning to
build in strength and I was despairing of it swinging around to the
South-East as hoped. I tried to maintain a good pace but was
getting buffeted from the front and side. There were lots of
unusual trucks heading south along the highway following the truck
exhibition in Alice Springs over the weekend. I got plenty of
waves. As I neared Marla, my target for the day, the winds got
stronger and stronger. At Marla it was blowing a gale and a dust
storm raged. I got there soon after 2pm and checked into a roomy
room. I had a relaxing afternoon, including a short nap and some
washing, and had an early dinner - a big chicken lasagne which was
very tasty. I've decided to have an early start tomorrow to see if
I'm up to making Erldunda which is 254km away. the weather
conditions will need to be favourable and I need to be physically up
to it. It's hard to tell whether the two tough days I've had are
because I'm still tired from the last 250+km or just because of the
wind. Tomorrow may tell. Marla is like an island in the middle of
a desert ocean. The campground is very full and the restaurant/bar
buzzing yet, all around, is scrubby plains as far as the eye can
see. It was still quite windy tonight when I had dinner. If it's
too tough tomorrow, I will stop for the night at Kulgera. I would,
however, like to get to Alice Springs on Thursday night if possible
so that I can have a complete day off on Friday. |
|
ADVENTURE LIST
Round Ireland
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Hume & Hovell Walking Track
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Via Alpina
(2012)
Australian Alps Walking
Track
(2011)
Land's End to John O'Groats
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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)
|
