Day: |
006 |
Date: |
Monday, 29 August 2005 |
Start: |
Coober Pedy |
Finish: |
Rest Stop (42km south of Cadney Park) |
Daily
Kilometres: |
110 |
Total
Kilometres: |
1009 |
Journal: |
I got up at 6:30am and wandered over to the
service station diner for eggs and bacon before leaving town around
8am - a leisurely start. It started out as a beautiful day but a
strong northerly wind soon sprang up and cycling became a real
chore. At times the wind was so strong I could barely make
forward progress and my average speed was probably little more than
10kph. I struggled on to a rest area at 78km, reaching it around
1:30pm, completely exhausted. The wind seemed to be getting even
stronger and I decided I would stop for a couple of hours and hope
it subsided. Otherwise, I would camp somewhere this side of Cadney
Park and just ride to Marla tomorrow. Even if I pressed on to
Candey today, it would be after dark before I got there. While
stopped, an older couple, who had been at the big truck show in
Alice Springs, stopped for a while and offered me a lukewarm pie
(and a beer) which I accepted (not the beer!). I was also very
thirsty and quickly going through my own drinks though I think I
have enough to camp out if necessary. I waited until 5:30pm and
then decided to start riding again in the hope the wind would die
down. It did by 6pm and I quite enjoyed riding along as the sun set
in relatively calm conditions. Saw a big red roo cross the road in
front of me. I reached a rest stop 42km south of Cadney Park (which
had been my original goal) just as it got dark and found several
camping groups were already there and the choice spots gone. I
found a spot where I couldn't get run over, quickly spread out my
swag and had some muesli and M&Ms for dinner and was in bed,
unwashed, by 8pm. It was a fantastic night for sleeping under the
stars. A few wispy clouds but a brilliant Milky Way and, later, a
quarter moon. It was light enough for me to pack up without a light
in the dark when I got up the following morning at 5:30am. Although
I tossed and turned a fair bit, I slept most of the 9.5 hours I was
in the sack. |
|
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
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Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
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Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
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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)
|